Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society

Volume 52 Number 3 Summer 1994 Cover: Sedutn pachyclados with Spider Wasp of the family Pomilidae by Cindy Nelson-Nold of Lakewood, Colorado All Material Copyright © 1994 North American Rock Garden Society Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society

Features

On the Track of Daphne Aabuscula, by Joan Means 163

Calochortus, Sensational Native American Tulips, by Claude Barr 169

Harmony with Nature, by Jaroslav Faiferlik 175

Pacific Treasures for the Temperate Fern Garden, by Sue Olsen 181

South African Journal, Karroo to the Drakensberg, by Panayoti Kelaidis 185

Troughs, a Few More Comments, by Waid Vanderpoel 205

Hypertufa Rocks, by Wayne Kittredge 210

What Do They Want?, by Bob Nold 213

Departments

Seed Exchange 215 Awards 217 Plant Portrait 227 Books 228 Daphne arbuscula

162 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 On the Track of Daphne arbuscula by Joan Means

^A^hen they heard of our plans to Our trip was upcountry, to the rural join a botanic group visiting the Czech parts of these countries that few for• and Slovak Republics during the sum• eigners have visited. Farmland was mer of 1993, our friends had two ques• punctuated by small villages, their tions: "Are you sure you'll be safe?" houses surrounded by gardens con• and "Will you buy me one of those taining everything from Alberta yellow spring gentians that the Czechs spruce to chickens, their streets deco• grow so well?" rated with red floribunda roses—and But Czechoslovakia was not Bosnia by loudspeakers on poles. These origi• or even Miami. Although the country nally relayed government announce• divided its name and territory only six ments, but apparently they've been months before our visit, it was an ami• kept so that residents without cable divorce. Yes, sometimes we Walkmans can enjoy music while they crossed the border between these two work. Usually we stayed in small small Central European nations sever• towns with well-stocked state super• al times in a single day, and each time markets, private shops with rather we had to show our passports to bare shelves, old churches, beer halls, fuzzy-cheeked guards who wore arm• and medieval buildings in the process bands because their uniforms hadn't of restoration. We could easily have yet arrived. And, no, we couldn't buy spent our time sightseeing, but we'd Gentiana verna var. oschtenica. We joined a group from the New England didn't visit any nurseries, and we Wild flower Society in hopes of seeing didn't even visit rock gardens, except Daphne arbuscula in the wild. And we one owned by an abashed forest did find that enchanting miniature ranger—though in several cottage gar• shrub—but not until we'd seen a great dens we did see Trillium grandiflorum many other wonderful plants. growing under apricot trees just a few Happily, we were in the hands of E- feet away from carrots and leeks, not Tours, a Czech firm which is carving to mention Papaver somniferum, univer• out a niche in special-interest tours— sally grown to provide poppy seed for bird-watching, farm practices, wine delicious rolls and pastries. production, etc. For nearly three

163 weeks, starting in late June of 1993, we us to the stores.) As for young Borek, crisscrossed the Carpathian Moun• he spent his evenings switching our tains, and everywhere we were joined reservations from youth hostels to by local botanists and conservationists more "appropriate" quarters and per• ready to help us identify the plants we suading botanists that, no, our group were seeing. This was important, really couldn't manage eight-hour because it was too late in the year to treks over the peaks of the High locate many familiar alpines by their Tatras. His right-hand man was... flowers. Still, other small plants of great interest were in bloom, and they Frank—champion bus driver of the weren't all on the tops of tall peaks. Czech Republic (I couldn't possibly Indeed, because most of our group make this up). Because he was practic• was interested in ferns and orchids, ing for the international competition we had the pleasure of exploring to be held in Finland in August, Frank places most rock gardeners might tended to put the pedal to the metal have bypassed: fields where pink and on the straights, but he could wheel cream scabiosas bloomed along with his big bus over precipitous, rutted thyme and teucrium; magnificent lumber roads where I would have beech forests carpeted with Soldanella opted for a Jeep. Despite a penchant and Hepatica; limestone cliffs studded for flirting with pretty girls and break• with campanulas and, yes, Daphne ing into folk songs, this 30-something arbuscula. native Slovak was a mother hen, con• To fully appreciate our experience, stantly worrying about our comfort you must meet the tour's cast of char• and welfare. When, on the second full acters: day of the trip, my interest in orchids had been so dampened by a down• Paul—our American leader, is a lec• pour that I returned to the bus, Frank turer on wildflowers who told E-Tours took one look at my soggy jeans and he was bringing his "botany students" said, "You take off." I'm past the age to study the flora. Naturally the that excites general male interest, but, Czechs expected a group of young not knowing him well, I declined, adults, so you can imagine the con• although he made his intentions clear• sternation felt by er by offering me a dry pair of his own sweat pants. Borek—a 27-year-old Czech with a degree in forestry, who served as the Finally, there was the bus—large for E-Tours agent and as our interpreter. our small group, washed daily by Though urbane and charming, he Frank, it was equipped with a small clearly was surprised when he first refrigerator to keep bottles of the mag• saw... nificent local beer and the execrable local soft drinks cold. It did not, how• The 16 Students—most of us well past ever, have a toilet. "Why can't you use retirement age. At least two were nature, as we do?" asked young clearly along just for the ride, one Borek. Beech forests are markedly recovering from a hip operation, and deficient in underbrush, so we cam• another an octogenarian unable to paigned for less exposed facilities. No walk without a cane. (Give us an hour doubt Borek will tell his grandchildren for shopping in a little town, though, about the day he escorted a dozen and these two would beat the rest of American ladies to a public loo

164 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 because, having failed to get us to a vation land, they are carefully cut by bank during the unpredictable work• scythe to preserve late-ripening seed. I ing hours, he was the only one with especially remember, in damp mead• coins in the right currency. ows, red and pink orchids (Dactylo- rhiza majalis and Platanthera chlorantha) Natural functions aside, pollution is mixed with spikes of Gladiolus imbrica- a major problem in both countries. To tus, underplanted by the leaves of keep rural populations employed, the Colchicum autumnale and Primula veris. communists scattered factories every• Drier fields were colorful with tall, where—even tiny towns had at least purple salvias and yellow verbascums, one high-rise block of apartments for the pink cluster-heads of Dianthus workers. As a result, most rivers are carthusianum, and cream Scabiosa full of industrial chemicals, not to ochroleuca, among too many others to mention sewage. In short, they are mention. Nearly every open place where the USA was 30 years ago. Still, boasted a trio of ubiquitous campanu• we were struck by environmental las: lavender C. persicifolia, purple C. efforts that don't require large capital glomerata, and mauve C. patula. Less outlays. Forests are selectively cut or well known, the third is a short-lived clear cut only in very narrow bands; charmer with up-facing bells. Shadier landfills are promptly capped with a spots at the edge of woodlands were layer of earth; even when they have rich with yellow and purple aconites, tractors, farmers use horse-drawn Campanula trachelium, the attractive machinery and hand labor to reduce white buttercups of Ranunculus plan- erosion on steep slopes. Most impres• tanifolius (longer stemmed than its sive, as land is returned to private cousin, R. aconitifolius), Lilium marta- ownership, and it becomes clear that gon (we saw only one white one), and the heirs don't want to farm, small lO'-tall spikes of Delphinium elatum conservation groups are buying up (Foerster cultivars are available in tracts to save them from development. Germany). The white plumes of Many of the glorious meadows and Aruncus Sylvester filled the narrow cuts woodlands we visited, especially in made by selective timbering. Even the the Czech Republic, were in the hands forest floors were gardens: there were of these miniature nature conservan• ferns, of course, but also Paris quadrifo- cies. lia (a trillium relative), Asarum europeum growing mixed with Hepatica As mountains go, most of the nobilis and lily-of-the-valley, Con- Carpathians are small potatoes, just vallaria majalis. low, wooded hills, which east of the Danube sweep in a great half-moon Confusingly, the small plants trea• from Hungary to Poland to the sured by rock gardeners often showed Ukraine. Composed of limestone that up among border plants. Adonis ver- in some places has been carved by nalis and the alpine thistle, Carlina streams into spectacular caves, gorges, acaulis, nestled among tall campanulas and pinnacles—usually crowned by in dry meadows; encrusted saxifrages the ruin of a castle—they boast a flora covered limy outcrops only inches that seems to owe as much to cen• from the tall spires of Digitalis grandi- turies of farming and timbering as to flora; and a mat of 6" stems bearing geographical location. Indeed, the racemes of spectacular purple bells—a open fields looked like herbaceous campanula we weren't able to identi• borders, and, where they are conser• fy—grew in a hay field.

On the Track of Daphne arbuscula 165 After the gardenesque comfort of By then, only Borek was with us. the western Carpathians, the brutally "Joan, I don't think you should go far• glaciated granite peaks of Slovakia's ther," he said. I didn't think so either, High Tatras came as a shock. We had so we contented ourselves with the traveled along the highly industrial• plants at hand. Campanula alpina ized Vah River to the city of Poprad, caught our attention immediately where chemical plants belched fumes (photo, p. 222). Huddled against boul• over a high plain. And there in the dis• ders out of the wind, it had furry little tance, thrusting into the sky as abrupt• leaves and 4" stems carrying several ly as the Grand Tetons, was a small large, purple bells, The last few gold- cluster of rugged peaks: at 8,500', bossed, white cups of Pulsatilla alpina much taller than we ever imagined, nodded in the wind; glistening white yet occupying not much more territo• daisies of Chrysanthemum (Leucan- ry than the island of Manhattan. The themopsis) alpinum hugged the ground; High Tatras is a national park and also and along the brook tumbling from the an enormously popular tourist and ski hanging lake, mats of the rather succu• resort—both the Czech Republic and lent leaves of Arabis alpina were topped Slovakia are incredible vacation bar• by long-stemmed white flowers. gains for most Europeans. Paul was afraid of ski lifts, so six of We frittered away most of a morn• us interested in alpine plants left the ing on still another Dactylorhiza beside group the next day to ride a chair to the road, but finally, about noon, a few just below the snow line. There was of us started up a trail with several another fee for those wishing to hike thousand tourists and the park the trail to a lake, but we were happy botanist, Dr. Rudolf Soltes, a burly enough crawling over a steep slope of man who is an eminent expert on turf and scree, as Borek and Frank lichens. We hadn't even entered the watched over us like sheep dogs from woods before we saw one of the out• the lift terminus. With the added alti• standing plants of our trip: Campanula tude, we found pulsatillas newly tatrae, a bellflower in the rotundifolia opened, along with the glistening complex (photo, p. 223). This one white, multi-flowered inflorescences of makes a neat clump and has sumptu• Anemone narcissiflora (photo, p. 222). A ous purple bells hanging in profusion patch of Silene acaulis mingled with a on sturdy, 6" stems; apparently, it is handsome plant new to me, Pedicularis not in general cultivation—but should verticillata, with typical ferny foliage be. The trail rose through the forest— and, on stems only a few inches high, we nearly stumbled over a Soldanella heavy little spikes of brilliant pink carpatica nestled among the rocks— flowers (photo, p. 223). A very differ• and wound into a stand of mugho ent, classic alpine was far less conspic• pines, where the purple-spotted yel• uous. We'd been kneeling on it, and its low flowers of 18"-tall Gentiana puncta- mossy matrix, for an hour before we ta were magnificent. Eventually, the realized that the dime-sized rosettes of path emerged on a gentle alpine shiny, little, notched leaves were those meadow of turf and willows. Beyond, of Primula minima. The big pink flow• the path to a hanging valley and lake ers had been replaced by capsules, but was blocked by a cliff that had been the slope must have been spectacular draped with what looked like a cargo with them a month earlier. net. Anyone wishing to climb up had Still, for biodiversity, nothing beats to pay a fee to a park functionary. limestone. As it turned out, the largest

166 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 array of alpine plants we saw grew auricula had seeded into the crevices. well below treeline, southwest of the In a glade in the woods across the High Tatras on a 4,000'-high plateau road, near a stand of golden Trollius peppered with sink-holes and ice altissimus, another limestone outcrop• caves. The Muranska Planina is part of ping was covered with moss in which a large "protected landscape/' similar colonies of the delicate, pale blue hare• to our national forests, established in bell, Campanula cochlearifolia, grew 1977 and taking in about 5,000 square next to Pinguicula vulgaris, a moisture- miles. It is administered by only ten lover more often seen in bogs. Farther employees compared to 2,000 in the along the main road, where a hair-pin High Tatra National Park. This is the turn sliced through heavy clay banks, wildest part of the two republics, the the gorgeous pink pincushions of last place where wolves, bears, lynxes, Scabiosa lucida waved on foot-high and wild boars still roam. It was stems next to compact clumps of empty of people. Once away from the Campanula carpatica. The latter had few farms and villages, we saw only a rather congested foliage and huge couple of woodcutters—indeed, to lavender saucers on short stems and- pass down several of the lumber looked close to the form called roads, we first had to unlock wooden "turbinata." gates. The next day, Frank inched the bus We stayed in the rather impover• up a precipitous lumber road and ished town of Revuka, in a hotel parked it in an open meadow fragrant which only two weeks earlier had with thyme. From there, the able-bod• been sold by the State to private own• ied walked up a trail lined with ers. We were their first guests. In fact, Pinguicula and Moneses uniflora, the the hotel wasn't really open yet, and round leaves of Soldanella hungarica they were still cleaning the wall-to- (slightly larger than S. carpatica, which wall carpets by scrubbing them with we'd seen growing in the acid Tatras) soap and water in the parking lot. carpeting the adjacent deciduous for• Needless to say, the carpets didn't fit est floor. After crossing a field stud• very well when they were nailed back ded with newly planted conifers, we down. No matter, our hosts couldn't ducked under some larch branches have worked harder to make our stay and crawled (at least I, with no head pleasant. After the first morning, they for heights, did!) out to the edge of a bought an espresso machine especially cliff. And there they were: 8"-high to satisfy the American demand for shrubs with narrow evergreen leaves breakfast coffee, and one evening a and with every accessible seed head gypsy musician accompanied our covered with a little white bag. Dr. hilarious attempts—under Frank's Turis is conducting research on enthusiastic guidance—to dance Daphne arbuscula, trying to discover polkas and the csardas. why it is so rare in the wild. The Our daytime guide was Dr. Peter daphne, as are many of the other Turis, the young chief botanist for the alpines growing on the Muranska Muranska, and right away he took us below treeline, is a relict of the Ice to where the main road (beautifully Age, but it is also an endemic and asphalted) rises to cut through a lime• indeed, according to Dr. Turis, is fairly stone formation. The white fringed well restricted to this particular cliff. pinks of Dianthus hungaricus splayed Sometimes it is listed as coming from from the rock; a colony of Primula Hungary, but that in itself is a political

On the Track of Daphne arbuscula 167 relict dating to the end of the First Curious to see what was going on in World War, when Czechoslovakia was his domain hundreds of feet below, Dr. created in part from Hungarian terri• Turis disappeared over the edge of the tory. Now, of course, the daphne must cliff while the rest of us ambled back to be listed as Slovakian. the bus. Frank had borrowed cups Whatever its nationality, Daphne from the hotel and had rigged an arbuscula is a marvelous rock garden immersion heater to make coffee, com• plant with clusters of tubular laven• plete with fresh cream from the bus der-pink flowers appearing in May refrigerator. Sitting on the thyme, we and often again in the fall. It doesn't strained particles of coffee beans seem to set seed in cultivation, but it is through our teeth (in these parts, certainly hardy at least into USDA "Turkish" coffee is made by pouring Zone 4 and is easy to grow. Lime hot water over regular grind) and doesn't appear to be a requisite. passed around Frank's pictures of his Certainly most of the bushes we saw wife and two children. Eventually, Dr. were rooted directly into the cliff, but Turis came bounding up the trail to some also seemed to be growing in the report that soldanellas were still layer of humus overlying the lime• blooming, in mid-July, in the gorge, stone. This was acid enough to sup• where patches of snow and ice were port mountain cranberry, Vaccinium still melting. Somehow, I wasn't sur• vitis-idaea, although lime-loving prised. In this charmingly enigmatic Primula auricula and Gentiana clusii, a part of the world where revolutions are trumpet gentian in the acaulis group, velvet and even the Communists tried grew there as well. As the King of to preserve the land, why shouldn't Siam said in the musical comedy, "It's down be as good as up, or alpine plants a puzzlement." grow happily in the woods?

Along with an acre of garden in Georgetown, Massachussetts, Joan Means shares with her husband, Bob, an interest in searching for great plants in their natural set• tings. Joan reports that for the first time this spring Boykinia jamesii bloomed in her garden. Nine cherry-red flowers appeared on a single flowering stem of the Pikes Peak form, and Joan is thrilled!

Drawing by Rebecca Day-Skowron

168 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Calochortus

Sensational Native American Tulips

by Claude A. Barr

In the western half of our conti• Spanish adventurers in California nent dwells a brilliant and versatile aptly saw as the wing-eye of a mari• race of spring bulbs that are known posa—butterfly, in our tongue. This and enjoyed but little outside their "eye," this scintillant peacock feather natural area. Calochortus, comprising motif, seems the reason for being of the mariposa tulips and related groups the flower's tri-part structure, peculiar popularly known as fairy lanterns or grace and exquisite modeling. globe tulips and cat's ears or star The rich effect is enhanced by tex• tulips, are the instant delight and envy ture and color in the ground of the of every flower lover who sees them, often bearded segments: pure, daz• whether as specimen groups in the zling, fine-velvet white in Calochortus garden or in nature's lavish land• catalinae, melting lilac in C. macrocar- scapes, where fifty thousands hold pus, pinks, grays, citrons, purples and their shining cups stiffly erect to the reds in the C. venustus varieties, sun and the breeze on a quarter-mile molten gold in C. clavatus, and slope. orange-vermilion in C. kennedyi, so The mariposas gain their devotees intense that the delicate pile of its vel• through many lines of appeal. The vet gives reflections of pale lavender typical form of the flower is of match• in certain lights. There are perhaps less grace. Three very broadly obovate half a hundred species and nearly as petals with recurved tips form an many more varieties and color forms, ample bowl or a deeper chalice with a all widely set apart in appearance broad rim; three like-colored sepals from the forms and species of Old that alternate between the bases of the World tulips. petals. Low upon the inside of each Slight acquaintance does not com• petal is a splotch of strikingly contrast• pass the wonder of these flowers. But, ing hue called the gland. It may be flat believing, one demands, "Why are not or deeply pouched, is often surround• these rare beauties in all our gardens?" ed by decorative tufts of bright hairs, Ah, there! Though more than a hun• and usually forms the axis of a fanciful dred years have gone since David and intricate pattern which the early Douglas gathered the first of them for

169 eager English experimenters and provided a natural laboratory for though 50 years or more some or observing various limits of adaptabili• many of the species have been on the ty. Yet here has been met an encourag• market, still they remain the play• ing success in growing nearly all the things of a few lucky or extremely kinds available commercially in recent clever gardeners who somehow meet years and a number of rare ones sent their exacting requirements. Just what me by friends. these are a steadily augmenting coterie My first effort, with a mixed lot of of admirers is striving to know. the vaunted gaudy Californians, was The usual final failure under the as fruitless as anyone may expect who best available advice and care and plants them wholly without under• their usual advent from California are standing. There followed a splendid the basis of the familiar assumption performance by one of the local kinds, that these most desirable of all natives the lovely C. nuttallii, brought in from are not hardy. The generalization goes a gravelly ridge a mile or so from my very wide of the mark. Those which home. This gave new courage and pre• have their origin in California include pared me for the next step, the posses• tender kinds from the southern coast sion of Carl Purdy's wonderful cata• that bear practically no frost to others log, which described species and that withstand fairly low tempera• forms in bewildering variety and gave tures, even light freezing during early explicit cultural directions. growth if the all-important factors of Bulbs for a good-sized planting soil and moisture are right. were purchased and put into the In addition a few high-mountain ground in October, the soil of the gar• sorts are quite hardy and—a fact not den being lightened by the addition of commonly dwelt upon—some twenty sand and gravel to a depth of six inch• species are native outside the mild es. Taking on faith an impression as to coast state or but touch its colored bor• hardiness, no protection was given. ders. While a few of these are Mexican, But as the good Deity looks after fools others, chiefly in the showy class and and children, the winter was mild, including some of the most outstand• with light snowfall, and frost did not ing and distinguished in form and strike deeper than six inches. Spring beauty, are to be met with from north• brought no superabundance of wet, eastern California far into the inter- thus furthering the absorbing adven• mountain dry belt of British Columbia ture, and a dozen kinds, Californians and across Washington and Oregon, and others, gave thrilling bloom. The Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, two record notes that two or three kinds species extending onto the plains of did not bloom at all, possibly from too the Dakotas and northwestern little moisture, that C. plummerae and Nebraska and following the cold C. catalinae, too tender, had renounced ranges of the Rockies far to the south. earthly cares, and that an occasional In the difficult environment of my bulb was missing from others. garden on the South Dakota plains the Calochortus catalinae and C. plummerae, superhardy species have proven their procured a second time, have since true worth. Here a basically heavy soil, performed faithfully, year after year, often a shortage of moisture in the given full protection from cold. growing time, occasional deep wetting So began an extensive series of in the dormant, and rapidly fluctuat• experiments, testing many types of ing and extreme temperatures have soil, varying the planting depth,

170 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 improving subdrainage, increasing or large bulbs. They grow well at two lessening shade, seeking the right and a half inches apart but make a moisture for the growing period. One good show spaced four inches. Bulbs year severe cold came. All the that have remained so dry that they Californians had been given their then- have merely swelled their root nodes accustomed blanket of 12" of hay at the and made a start of tip growth by first serious onslaught of winter—all, early March bloom freely if they that year, but a test lot of the receive moisture at that time or as redoubtable C. vestae, one of the finest soon as the ground is frost free. of mariposas, perhaps the most adapt• Within the month shoots of the able of all, and one of the hardier of the most precocious will appear, red- Californians. The cold wave held for a nosed and hardy, but from the first month. A drop to 40°F belowcame one activity of the tips beneath the soil night, and the unprotected lots had until blossom buds are in evidence is a only an inch or so of snow cover. touchy time and moderate moisture is Calochortus vestae failed utterly, and I the safe rule. For the less hardy kinds noted with surprise and shock, in it is well to have lath frames, burlap April, the vacant spot where my only pads, perhaps hay, at hand until frosts bulbs of the rare and costly "pink are surely past. They want plenty of shades" had been ventured. From that I water from the appearance of the buds quite lost interest in cold tests, and so I until just before flowering time; then, do not know, exactly, how much some preferably drought. The new bulb of the Coast Range bulbs will bear. which grows annually within the old, Circumstantially, side by side with crowding the flower stalk into a C. vestae through that fatal trial stood curved position against the old husk, C. macrocarpus, C. lyallii, C. apiculatus, is fully developed at flowering time C. gunnisonii, C. nuttallii from south• and matures without further supply of western Colorado, and other cold-cli• moisture. At this time or with little mate kinds, and 40°F below impressed delay a thorough drying out serves them not at all. They came through to perfect ripening. In a congenial envi• a bulb. ronment the bulbs continue for many The following data are now clearly years. determined: outside the growing sea• Just here a criticism of accepted son, early March to mid-July, here, the beliefs is due. Alternate freezing and soil may be as dry as ground can thawing during early growth is credit• become in this dustbowl climate, even ed with being enemy number one of for the Californians accustomed to Calochortus. Granted that repeated their winter rains; a dry dormant bulb freezing is injurious, the careful obser• is a safe one. There has been no oppor• vations of years are 1) that frost injury, tunity in many years to observe the even killing back to the ground, may effect of a continuously wet summer be only an accessory act and that when and fall, but occasional soaking rains fatality occurs, a clinging, smothering are not fatal when soil texture and moisture does the dirty work after the drainage provide quick dissipation of freezing of a heavy, soggy wet soil; the excess. Planting may be done as meanwhile calochortus bulbs are late before winter sets in as conve• entirely immune in this same soil if on nient. Four inches to the base of the the dry side. 2) That the semi-hardy bulb is a good depth; deeper planting ones really do not differ in their essen• is of no advantage except for extra- tial reaction, as I have had them

Calochortus 171 resume growth after sudden cold—in increase moisture capacity, do they this garden a late March blizzard has not? Avoid them, along with all that forced the mercury to zero—had taken tends to defeat dryness. One must not the first few inches of leaf, when the fear to provide starvation rations, for soil warmed quickly and moisture was an astonishingly little fat-of-the-land not excessive. And 3) that the bulbs will nourish a mariposa's beauty. perish in wet ground in an apparently A medium of the desired qualities identical manner without Jack Frost's may be compounded of one-third very coming on the scene. fine clean sand, one-third fine lime• But ahead of suggestions for garden stone chips, and one-third lean loam. handling let us pause to look into the Alternates are coarser sand, any fine- private lives of the mariposa bulbs. In screened gravel, any convenient earth the West's great open places, with a that has not been enriched. It may be few exceptions, they forgather, wor• necessary to employ a portion of sub• shipping an ardent sun, selecting their soil. If a heavy loam must be used the particular abodes with a knowing eye measure may be reduced by half or to to a sloping surface and a subsoil that just enough to fill in not too complete• is fully capable of carrying downward ly between any sand grains. and away any unbearable surplus of In early planting, one species water taken into the earth. More often showed unmistakable dissatisfaction than not they grow in regions of low, with drainage facilities or growing irregular rainfall and active and dessi- medium or both. That most brilliant of cating winds. Further, the prairie soils them all, C. kennedyi, darling of the which are acceptable to them, the desert gods of Ojai, the Panamints and adobe soils, or sandy deserts and sage• Death Valley, freely sacrificed herself brush plains, and the stony mountain• to demonstrate the family hatred of sides where a pick is required to extri• stagnant wet. The least affected of the cate the bulbs contain little humus, plants came blind, that is, withheld and this leanness also aids drying. their blossoms; others suffered the With these habitat characters in usual sickening and withering of the mind the gardener will seek a moder• foliage, and the bulbs, still firm, were ately light medium such as will be hastily rescued and dried; some, damp readily warmed by the sun and avoid too long, were full of a mushy decay richness. A lean soil like the subsoil when examined. from an excavation or a cut bank will Desperate, I vowed to build a suit• return to relative dryness while rich able desert for C. kennedyi. And little as soils are still reeking wet. Some fine• I knew of real deserts, I happened to ness of texture at least in contact with do the right thing. Well out in the the bulb seems their preference and open a place was selected, away from conducive to good coats. Clay, accept• the close air and fitful reflected heat of able to such as C. eurycarpus, C. nuttal- walls and with practically a full day of lii, C. vestae, C. venustus, C. purpuras- sun. An excavation of 20" exposed an cens in their native climates for its absorbent shale which, it seemed, greater storage capacity, in a wet cli• would take care of subdrainage. mate may become a clinging death Twelve inches of coarse gravel were through that same property, that and tamped in, an inch of fine gravel to its natural coldness that holds back support the soil layer, three inches of growth when growth must be surging sand with just a slight admixture of upwards. Clay, leafmold, and humus loam. At this depth, four inches, the

172 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 bulbs were placed, covered with the to be used to dress the beds after the samesoil, and the balance of the hole bulb season is a matter for considera• filled with almost pure sand. Abraca• tion. Mulches or cover, as such, over dabra! And a winter of suspense— the dormant bulbs are best not used doubt—and condemnation. except when the ground is dry or at The greater wonder and excitement, freezing temperature. then, as C. kennedyi came forth to greet Digging and storing the bulbs over the spring in all her native queenly summer, sometimes effective where splendor, and as thus, responsively, that season brings much rain, doubt• recurrently, she serves her foreign less may be obviated by the adjust• bondage. ment of soil and drainage. When sum• But as the treatment seemed unduly mering in the ground results in failure, harsh, a similar planting was made, predisposing factors have with cer• another year, with the difference of a tainty been at work prior to the dor• little more and "better" soil. The mant time. Digging gives the grower result? No drama here. The C. kennedyi opportunity to note the condition of lives but has never flowered. And the his bulbs, and if they are anything less leaf growth is narrower, more chan• than perfect, he will do well to remod• neled, lacking most of the frosty bloom el his program. On the other hand if and white margin that mark luxuriant the set-up has produced thrifty growth well-being in this species. and good flowering, full-sized replace• In the desert type of planting, which ment bulbs and crisp and clean ripen• doubtless will aid in growing many ing, with fair probability they will mariposas where other efforts have summer in the ground. fallen short, the gravel layer acting as a An unhappy phase of Calochortus catch basin is not intended to remain a culture in the form of a disease also reservoir; an outlet must be assured. involves moisture. It is popularly Thus moisture depletion is permanent• called lily leaf rot, botrytis, or mildew. ly provided for, and capillary moisture The critical period is just before flow• is cut off from below, a further vital ering. If at that time cloudy, damp advantage. The gravel may be shal• weather comes, infected plants will lower if the escape is good. Some darken and wither at the leaf tips, and coarser gravel may be added to the as the trouble advances, buds droop recommended sand-limestone chip- and flower parts and portions of the lean loam mix, up to the level of the stem may be destroyed. The blight is base of the bulbs, augmenting sometimes detected at an earlier stage drainage and simulating a common in distorted leaf tip growth, noted in natural footing. For most species a 4" lateral curling, browning and stunting. rooting layer is preferred as many Hot sun and dry air halt the destruc• kinds are stronger growing. tion at any stage. The infection is often Means of surface drainage are the present in wild stands of the plants, usual ones of raising the beds and tilt• appearing with wet weather and hav• ing the surface. As in the wild, grasses ing no more final effect than to ruin a and other vegetation compete with the crop of blossoms. The bulbs are not tulips for available moisture. Shrubs directly destroyed. Scientific knowl• that form networks of shallow roots edge, as far as I can learn, is lacking, may be made use of where they will and at present no one can prescribe. not cast shade. Whether low annuals The answer may lie in Clorox treat• that will survive without watering are ment or in hormones. Fortunately

Calochortus 173 some species and certain strains of If a prophecy may be entertained, others seem immune. In my garden, the calochorti of the future are des• Old World tulips grown in close prox• tined to prolong the glory of spring imity have not contracted the trouble. bulb bloom. They will follow close Among very hardy kinds C. apicula- upon the receding wave of the Darwin tus, C. macrocarpus, C. greenei, C. gun- tulips and surge on into July, and nisonii, C. eurycarpus, and C. nitidus are surely we may look forward to the day best ventures for the beginner, while when first one, and finally numbers, C. venustus var. purpurascens, C. venus• will be brought under the transform• tus var. citrinus, and C. vestae, of the ing influences of hybridization and Californians are very adaptable and selection and made amenable to gener• fairly hardy. Mr. Purdy recommends al garden use. Now and again nature C. venustus var. citrinus, C. venustus takes a hand at adapting her offspring oculatus, C. vestae, C. nitidus, C. eurycar• to meet new and different conditions, pus, C. lyallii, and C. apiculatus as prac• and in any lot of bulbs may appear tically immune to the leaf rot. one that survives and prospers while The fairy lanterns and cat's ear its fellows perish. Such a marked indi• tulips are less exacting than the major vidual is to be treasured as a pearl of branch, liking some shade and leaf- great price by the gardener whose mold, and where the mariposas can be understanding eye detects it, and the accommodated, these groups will be utmost thought and effort given its found more uniformly hardy and ami• preservation and increase. This is the able. Each variety has its own distinct primary commission to those who character, charming in degree, and grow Calochortus. For in strange cli• when one has come to know them, to mates and in strange soils may new look for the silken glow of the lanterns adaptive characters best be observed or to expect the half-mischievous and and tested, and doubtless there also ever watching "eyes" of some of the will this aloof and many-starred race cat's ears, an absence would be noted be wholly fitted to stand alongside sadly. present favorites.

Claude Barr lived on a ranch in South Dakota. He was the pioneer horticultur• ist for the Plains and Rocky Mountain regions, the original xeriscaper, and one of the greatest early voices of the North American Rock Garden Society. His Jewels of the Plains is a classic of horticultural literature. This article was found (with the help of Prof. Ronald Weedon, Director of the Chadron State College Herbarium) in the Claude Barr archives in Chadron, Nebraska. Written in 1939, it was accompanied by a folder containing a decade of notes and correspondence on growing Calochortus. The last entry in the folder was a 1940 rejection by Flower and Garden. This was early in Barr's writing career, and it appears that Barr was devastated by the rebuff, and in any case, he put the manuscript and the folder aside forever. —Tom Stuart

[Carl Purdy was a plant collector of note who sold many wild-dug bulbs of Calochortus in the 1930s. He died in 1945. Current sources of Calochortus include Robinett Bulb Farm, PO Box 1306, Sebastopol, CA 95473. There is now an American Calochortus Society. Write: ACS, 260 Alden Road, Hayward, CA 94541. —Ed.]

174 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Harmony with Nature

by Jaroslav Faiferlik

^Everyone is part of Nature. We we can change the final face of the all depend on her, our vital functions, landscape—artificially—but where including mental ones, yielding to her there is a desert, we often find our• laws. There is an instinct in us that lets selves modelless in ridding ourselves us sense and emotionally live through of that bleak scenery, in completely Nature's various scenes and stages. converting it to something else. And We find an inner harmony and heal• how hard it would be not to plant ing for our souls in her. riverine growth next to a rich supply Country scenery has its genius loci, of water! True cooperation between the spirit of each place, which Nature and the gardener suggests that impresses and excites our emotions— we refrain from inventing artificial whether in a joyful, beautiful, sad, or vegetation inconsistent with the origi• unpleasant way. The impact of a par• nal conditions of natural reality. ticular landscape depends on the sen• By respecting the original composi• sibilities and mood of the individual. tion of the ground and choosing the We look to Nature for ways to put right plants and other natural ele• ourselves at ease again in the world ments, the desired psychological effect after the hustle and bustle of human may be acheived. The larger the gar• trade and interaction. This could per• den, the more variety we may grant it. haps be gained by arranging our gar• An undulating landscape with clumps dens in a natural style. Having of trees and shrubs offers us a great dreamed of a desirable garden scene, chance to add a variety of habitats. we try to obtain the best flowers and Then each small area just waits for us natural materials to in order to bring it to arrange it well and finally be in to being. Some plants, for example, rewarded by a wonderful magic of require the company of rocks or peb• light and shadow. bles, while others prefer decaying A garden's shady groves, for exam• wood, and so on. ple, perfectly complement an incon• If we really want to cooperate with spicuous footpath. The path brings up Nature, we should take advantage of mystery likely to strengthen and local ecological conditions. Of course, develop our interest and imagination.

175 Beyond each visual obstacle appears a staturesque species, such as Mis- surprise hidden in the very next scene. canthus, Heracleum, Rheum, Polygonum. Such a path may astonish us with These may succeed in growing to an graceful changes caused by the pro• admirable height in a short time. gression of Nature through the sea• Flowers with large and colorful petals sons. In such scenes we find the origi• have a similar effect. nal models of the paintings of the mas• Dreary scenery where the develop• ters, including spring buds tensed with ment of plant life is limited troubles maximum vitality as well as the tran• the human mind. During hot summer quillity of winter rising through snow days our gardens may remind us of and hoarfrost. Thanks to the infinite such landscapes. Similarly, people variability of weather, the continual may find the dead remains of organ• shifting of day to night, and the alter• isms ugly and useless. But Mother nating beauty of the seasons, the Nature values all of these as bearers of atmosphere of the landscape is at one picturesque shades. Doesn't this push moment stimulating or at another sub• us to borrow them from her and find a dued, always of interest, always new. place for them in our gardens? Beauty and holiness call to us from Strongly impressive scenery will be the softly undulating grassy ground produced in this way. Among these and from the proud semicircular gifts of Nature belong crumbling crowns of trees and shrubs. Connected rocks, the dead trunks of trees, and so by the simple "S" pattern curve of a on. "The symbol of mortal life," one trodden footpath, a creek's meander, would add. But actually we are going or the edge of a planting, the effect of to express the cycle of life in our gar• such a landscape is certainly deep• dens. As soon as first plant takes root ened. A feeling of pleasant satisfaction from an old stump, we realize there is found in various green hues and are no cemeteries in Nature. The light-colored petals. Such harmonious decaying tree just carries on with scenery moves our thoughts, most another task—the one parents go powerfully in the corners of a shad• through. owed, mysterious garden. Where Thoughts, born of Nature's spirit, there are dark pines and overhanging have constantly led us to the gate of woody plants, one might even become optimism. We should never forget that a bit nostalgic and sad. this is a mission of our gardens, too. Let's create optimism then! The Let's create our favorite scenery, no sunny parts of the landscape planted matter what it actually consists of— with tiny and bright plants, as in real rockery, grove, heath. Only we must wildflower meadows, are the very remember, it is not for cheap decora• best places for that! Trembling tiny tion that we build, but rather to truly leaves, sparkling half shadows, the charm, to stimulate sensitivity and soft movements in the rapids of happiness by obeying and under• brooks are joyful as well. standing Nature's effects and laws. Nobility is another emotion that may be evoked by natural scenes. If Jaroslav Faiferlik gardens in Plzen, in the there is, however, no view of moun• Czech Republic, and strives to create his tains, of giant trees nor of powerful gardens in harmony with Nature, to live rivers from our window, one of the through natural activities, and to make quickest ways to evoke a feeling of the workings of Nature available also to grandeur is to plant large and other people.

176 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Blechnum penna-marina (p. 183) photos by Sue Olsen

Dryopteris erythrosora (pp. 182-183) Woodsia polystichoides (p. 183)

177 Adiantum venustum (p. 182)

Polystichum polyblepharum (p. 182) photos by Sue O sen

178 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (pp. 181-2)

Athyrium otophorum (p. 183) 180 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Pacific Treasures for the Temperate Fern Garden by Sue Olsen

X he ferns of nature's wonderland Not all of these imports are small were first cultivated for both ornamen• plants, however. In fact, there's not a tal and medicinal purposes. Some are rock garden "cushion" in the crowd. still in use as herbal remedies today, But, as I've seen 3'-plus. Osmunda is in especially in the Orient. However, perfect scale in such places as the rock ferns, with their monochromatic hues, garden at England's Sizergh Castle, I are primarily used in the contempo• guess it all depends on your site (and rary landscape to give coherence to perspective)! garden design. Victorian Britain en• Meanwhile, at least four prize joyed its fern craze, but for most of this imports in the flowerless category century the only selections available have made their way into mainstream for the North American gardener /hor• garden design in the '90s. These once ticulturist were our natives (which rare plants are here presented, were regrettably mostly wild collected, admired, and promoted for their beau• and unfortunately in some cases still ty and adaptability. They are followed are), and several of the select British in the text by newcomers that can cultivars and European species. It was compete for the gardener's attention not until relatively recently that the and, in time, for priority in the land• abundance of mostly evergreen materi• scape structure. Unless noted, all of al native to Pacific Rim countries has the ferns described are hardy and suit• been researched, imported and intro• able subjects for at least Zones 6-9. duced. And what wonderful introduc• Athyrium niponicum var. pictum is tions they are. Colorful Dryopteris, the overall best-selling fern in North creeping blechnums, and an evergreen America today (photo, p. 179). I have maidenhair are but a few of the been in gardens where (lamentably) it delights now available for cultivation. is the only fern in the plant communi• With today's increasing horticultural ty—the token fern of choice. exchange with China and more diverse Commonly known as the Japanese spores arriving from Japan and the painted fern, its deciduous foliage is Himalayas, the prospect for discover• indeed painted with gray, blue, and ing future treasures is very high. pink-to-burgundy tints in varying

181 intensity. Normally, this exceptionally throsora var. prolifica is a smaller coun• hardy variety grows to 15-18" in the terpart, again rosy and evergreen, but garden; however I have been given with a more finely cut profile and plants that vary widely from this propagable bulbils along the frond's norm—stately knockouts that midrib. It is openly elegant and distin- approach 3'! There is some speculation quished in effect. that genes of the lady fern, Athyrium Polystichum polyblepharum, the tassel filix-femina, may be involved with fern, is a lustrous, evergreen staple for these giants; however, further research any woodsy planting (photo, p. 178). is desperately needed before the varia• At 18" the shiny foliage gives life and tions can be defined with scientific light in shady somber or, for that mat• accuracy. Meanwhile, it is a beautiful ter, in the flower vase. It must not be plant that serves well as a tidy ground allowed to dry out. It looks especially cover under the burgundy foliage of nice with low-growing, rustic wood• Japanese maples, or in the company of land wildflowers...trilliums, hepaticas, any shade-loving foliar or floral blues. violets, but nothing too boisterous. Over time it has been in the trade as The fourth in the category of better- Athyrium goeringianum var. pictum, and known Asian ferns is Adiantum venus- as Athryium iseanum var. pictum,—• nei• tum, the Himalayan maidenhair ther of which it is. Athyrium iseanum, a (photo, p. 178). This evergreen garden delicately lacy but untested species, is extrovert creeps about in partial shade, just now becoming commercially giving an airy elegance to any available. Athyrium iseanum combines planting, without overwhelming its well with A. niponicum var. pictum or companions. The pale new growth with typical plants of the species A. sprouts surprisingly early in the niponicum, which, while less flamboy• spring and at 12" is a refreshing under- ant, are in themselves worthy plants story carpet for heavyweight ever• for subtle color in the sylvan scene. greens, especially rhododendrons, aza• Color, by definition, is part of the leas, and kalmias. Unfortunately, it is glamour of another cosmopolitan most inconsistent as a spore crop, one workhorse, the autumn fern, Dryop- year producing in quantity, and never teris erythrosora (photo, p. 177), progressing beyond the prothallia although in reality the "autumn" color stage the next. Flooding a spore cul• display takes place in April! It is hard ture often resolves this problem by to believe that this fern was virtually encouraging fertilization, but results unheard of in cultivation in the United have been erratic at best. States 25 years ago. It was the very unavailability of this ornamental that The following species tend to be less led me to venture into the wonders of familiar than the above selections, but propagating from spores...a subse• as they become increasingly available, quently addictive activity! Autumn they should indeed be future standards fern is a tall, broad evergreen that fur• for fern collections or be used as nishes a colorful complement in a bed embellishments in the mixed bed. of epimediums. Both plants prefer Amongst the lower growing species dappled, deciduous shade, although there are several species of Asple- when established both perform nium—A. incisum, A. sarelii, and A. admirably well in almost full sun. A tenuicaule, all of which are delicate and little kindness by way of shade in the lacy. But unless you have better-man• midday helps, however. Dryopteris ery• nered slugs than I do, all must be culti-

182 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 vated with every precaution available. the winter view. While most ferns Woodsia polystichoides is a more reliable must be propagated from spores, this choice in the dwarf category (photo, p. species can easily be divided once sev• 177). As the name implies, the fronds eral crowns have formed—fall is the hint of Polystichum in outline, but preferred season. unlike Polystichum, the foliage is soft Two species of Blechnum add diver• and deciduous. I like it in a casual set• sity to the garden design. New ting with shiny ground covers such as Zealand's Blechnum penna-marina is a Coptis, Vancouveria or Asarum. Be sure fairly well-known evergreen ground to note its location so that you don't cover that once established will colo• accidentally plant something on top of nize in poor soil and sunshine (photo, it during dormancy—or am I the only p. 177). A sunny exposure is recom• one who does this? mended for keeping the planting com• Another deciduous beauty is pact and tidy. New growth is a mix• Adiantum pedatum 'Japonicum' (Adi- ture of holiday reds and greens, which antum japonicum, in ed., photo, p. 180) will be maintained throughout the sea• Tissue-thin fans of sunset reds radiate son in a sunny location. Blechnum from brittle stipes (stems) as the gar• niponicum, by contrast, grows as a sin• den comes to life in the spring. In time gle rosette of sterile fronds with a the color fades to a more traditional fountain of fertile fronds at its center. green, but the grace of the typical Like many species of Blechnum, this maidenhair silhouette remains beloved too has colorful new growth. Unlike and unchanged. This surprisingly stur• many species, however, this is quite dy one-footer is an outstanding choice cold tolerant. My own spores came in soft shade at water's edge. from a good friend who rock gardens Athyrium otophorum has been on the in Connecticut. Blechnums in general market for just over a decade and want a lime-free soil and resent pot bears uniquely colored fronds of lime culture. This latter must be taken into and raspberry (photo, p. 179). This 2' consideration when propagating, or species retains its foliage in frost-free potting for a show. Let them share root winters but can be more wisely han• space with a fellow plant. dled as a deciduous specimen. The Dryopteris bissetiana and Dryopteris sherbet shades associate harmoniously purpurella, which may very well be with dark greens and wine-reds. confused in the trade, are offered as However, unless you're into scream• alternatives to (or in addition to) D. ing combinations (say Houttuynia and erythrosora. They, too, are evergreen, variegated ajuga), it should be well have autumn colors in their new removed from anything even vaguely growth and are reputed to be even blue or yellow. hardier than D. erythrosora. They are Phegopteris decursive-pinnata is my bushy and like shuttlecocks in form final suggestion in the deciduous cate• and can perform the landscape duties gory. This is a refined ground cover of a small shrub. In their company with stiffly erect, apple-green 15" Dryopteris decipiens makes an excellent fronds. It is very hardy and adaptable foreground plant or edging species. and an excellent cover for maintaining The foliage has a satiny, metallic pati• a tidy appearance in neglected areas or na that plays delightfully with varying to dress up the formal shade border. It angles and degrees of light. At one will wither with the first frost so foot in height, it is a quiet evergreen should not be used as a focal point in partner in the fern composition.

Pacific Treasures for the Temperate Fern Garden 183 Mickel lists it as Zone 5 in his new nation with each other. Or, try com• book. bining them with various textures and Another Dryopteris, D. championii, colors of hostas for a visual feast. has survived cold winters with class. While this is but a sampling of the This Japanese evergreen saves its beau• bounty of recent imports, hopefully it ty for maturity. As a youngster it could includes a new fern or two for your be any of several attractive species. garden. The introductions of the past However, in established plants the 2'- 25 years have indeed extended the plus fronds unfurl with a dusting of options and increased enthusiasm in silver and when fully expanded are a the fern world, whether for the collec• rich, dark, velvet green. It is especially tor's appetite, the beginner's wood• handsome as a guardian of white and lands, or the shady rock garden. pastel primroses. Enjoy!!!! Dryopteris polylepis, introduced to American horticulture by NARGS leg• For the fern lover, horticulturally end Roy Davidson, stands out in the adventurous, or the botanical enthusi• spring garden by virtue of the crozier's ast, a new non-profit organization, The dense cloak of prominent nigrescent Hardy Fern Foundation, is working to scales (photo, p. 180). These are in expand these introductions by testing bold contrast to the warm green tones ferns for hardiness and ornamental of the fern's emerging foliage. Plant it value in the Northwest and at numer• under your Acer shirasawanum ous satellite gardens throughout the 'Aureum' (formerly A. japonicum), USA. There should, in time, be one where the fern will anchor the color of near you. Members receive quarterly the tree. In the Zone 8 Pacific newsletters with reports and observa• Northwest Dryopteris wallichiana has tions on fern culture in North America long been admired, yet it has been and throughout the world, have access totally unpredictable in cold winters, to a spore exchange and are offered sometimes surviving Zone 6 weather plants as they become available. You while at other times expiring in Zone 8 can help this program and your fern termperatures. Although smaller, D. garden as well. For further informa• polylepis is clearly the better choice. tion send a SASE to The Hardy Fern Treat it with patience, however, as it is Foundation, 12921 Ave. DuBois S.W., both slow-growing and resentful of Tacoma, WA 98498. Thanks and good transplanting. growing!! A trio of polystichums round out this brief portfolio of fern delicacies from Pacific populations. Polystichum makinoi, P. neolobatum, and P. rigens are all excellent evergreens for general purpose landscaping, specialty fern plantings, and green unity in the color• Sue Olsen has been growing ferns for ful bed. All appear to be more cold tol• many years in her garden in Bellevue, erant and less moisture dependent Washington. She has travelled to than the attractive P. polyblepharum, China and England studying ferns and which they resemble in shape and has introduced many new species and gloss. They are rigid, toothy species of forms through her specialty nursery medium height that best display their Foliage Gardens. individuality when planted in combi•

184 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 South African Journal Karroo to the Drakensberg

by Panayoti Kelaidis

iR.ecent years have seen a flood of African alpines grew very quickly germplasm from the Andes, Turkey, from seed or cuttings, often blooming Central Asia and the Western United the first year. They seemed to be States into horticulture. Rock garden unparticular with regard to soil and journals are filled with pictures of culture; a large proportion of plants exotic plants from these locales, and from the southern part of Africa more and more plants are showing up apparently approximate that holy grail from these areas—mostly in pot cul• of nurserymen—the Ever-Blooming ture and plant sales. With a few Perennial. notable exceptions, much of this mate• One of the first African plants I ever rial appears to be more exacting, and grew was Euryops acraeus, the epitome certainly more challenging to grow for of silver leaved shrubs. Assuming that long periods of time in the garden than such shimmering foliage properly more familiar, traditional European belonged to a dryland plant, I placed alpines. the Euryops on a rather dry scree, I remember reading an article, once, where it proceeded to grow—eventu• that spoke of plants that "paid rent"— ally attaining a foot in height and which is to say plants that bloomed for almost two across. It smothered itself an extraordinarily long period of time, year after year with golden flowers. or else plants that had such beautiful Marty Jones from 8000' at Vail, foliage throughout the year that they Colorado, asked to try a few cuttings hardly needed to bloom. Viola cornuta once, and I blush as I remember my is an example of a plant that blooms rather grudgingly agreeing to his hav• virtually the entire growing season in ing one or two, thinking why send a my climate at least, while Sempervivum poor African to certain doom? Of cultivars in their infinite variety are course, this bona fide alpine from the classic example of foliage alpines. 10,000' cliffs felt right at home in Vail Year after year I discover that practi• where it grew more luxuriantly than it cally any African alpine I acquire fits ever did in Denver. This exemplifies neatly into one or both of these cate• the cultural versatility of South gories. I began to notice that the African plants.

185 Then there was Oxalis depressa, bed with some shade in Colorado.) known for so long as O. inops. This Only a few helichrysums are being spread its underground bulbils though grown in rock gardens, but like so many square feet of rock garden many plants from the Drakensberg before I realized that even the harshest they bloom in our gardens from July Colorado winter wouldn't faze it. The onward, making them invaluable for leaves don't appear until early June, extending bloom in rock gardens. but the cheerful, pink, cup-like blooms African plants are fulfilling the dream on 3" stems last for much of the early of year around gardening. summer. Place it where it can spread Many more helichrysums have with wild abandon, and enjoy. So joined H. marginatum to enliven the much for the myth of tenderness in summer doldrums with pink, white Southern Hemisphere plants! Now and yellow. A myriad of other South that a host of bulbs and succulent African daisies—white, purple, and herbs, including Anacampseros, four lavender Osteospermum, yellow Gaza- species of Lithops and almost 50 nia, and black-and-white Hirpicium, to species of Aizoaceae, have come name a few—will often bloom for through Colorado winters unscathed, three months on end. Three species of it is apparent that not just high alpine Diascia have thus far proved to be South African plants possess tremen• hardy, and suddenly there are avail• dous genetic tolerance to cold. One able more and more species of cannot make pat judgments based on Kniphofia and Crocosmia, and the first the much warmer isotherms of the hardy Moraea. Southern Hemisphere. The plant that most quickened our In the early 1980s I visited Van• enthusiasm, however, was the mysteri• couver Island in midsummer. A high• ous ice plant that had made the circles light of that trip was visiting Albert of rock gardeners for years labelled DeMezey's remarkable garden on Foul simply "Othonna sp. Basutoland," or Bay Road in Victoria. A steep bank "Mesembryanthemum sp. Basutoland." I carpeted with Echeveria spp. next to remember accepting three such plants the house alerted me to how mild from Bob Putnam in the spring of 1980 Victoria can be in the winter. Peat with considerable trepidation—surely banks covered with the foliage of no ice plant would grow in Colorado. Pleione were a further sign. But the Like so many people who first grew open, sunny screes were dotted with this plant, I was astonished as I innumerable plants of Helichrysum watched it spread with such gusto that marginatum—a simply stunning mid• first summer. I took a few cuttings in summer bloomer. (This has been con• the autumn, since surely anything so fused with the woolly leaved H. milfor- lush, so green, so vigorous couldn't diae with crimson buds that blooms possibly be hardy. When it turned that much earlier in the season, but the real remarkable ruby-purple color in the H. marginatum is a deep blue-green, winter, I hardly knew what to make of leathery-leaved plant with a silver the plant! But when it cleverly turned stripe on the margins of leaves borne back to Irish green with the first warm in lax rosettes; the 2"-wide, white days the next spring, I was completely strawflowers are displayed on stems 4- charmed by this chameleon of a plant. 8" tall. I have subsequently obtained Each spring since I think I fully recap• this plant from several sources and ture the shock and delight I first expe• find that it does much better in a peat rienced when for a few weeks this ice

186 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 plant completely covers its much- tivated clone, is it self sterile? How branched stems with such cheerful, does it compare with wild germplasm? inch-wide, shimmering, daisy-like yel• These are some of the questions that low blooms. And to think, at first I nagged at me for years and spurred didn't even have a clue to what it was. me on in the desire to visit the high You can imagine how pleased I was mountains to seek out this remarkable when I found out that Bruce Bayer, the mysterious mesemb. leading authority on plants of the South African karroo was to come to Johannesburg may be the principal Denver and give a lecture. People in administrative capital of South Africa, the know assured me that no one but Cape Town will always be the knew South African succulents better point of departure for the botanically than Bruce. I grew impatient as this inclined. Not only is Kirstenbosch one wise scholar lingered over every bit of of the most exquisite public gardens in vegetation the quarter mile or so it the world, but the fynbos floristic takes to get down to the Rock Garden region, where Cape Town is situated, from the entrance gate. Upon arriving is generally acknowledged by botan• at our specimen, Bruce proclaimed "A ists to be the richest floral domain on Delosperma, of course," and I heaved a earth in terms of plant speciation, rela• sigh of relief—it would be no problem tive to its total area. From a distance, to determine a species once we'd got• in midsummer the mountains of the ten it down to genus. "Don't be so Cape look rather barren, but from sure," he went on, "The genus has sev• close-up I had to agree with Kuus eral hundred names, and it's never Roux, an African botanist who felt that been properly monographed, and I, for fynbos with its proteas, plumy restios, one, have never seen anything like this and a welter of shrubby, bulbous, and specimen in the karroo." succulent plants really does resemble a Although I have subsequently dusty Victorian parlor when viewed at investigated major American herbaria close range. Species density approach• trying to find out more about es the equatorial rainforests in number Delosperma in general and this species and variety. Even though I arrived in in particular, I have never seen a speci• early January, after the summer sol• men of Delosperma nubigenum taken in stice, I was amazed to find ericas, the wild. And almost 15 years later, I restios, proteas, and numerous bulbs was stunned to find no specimens of still in full bloom every time I visited a this species or its close allies in the patch of fynbos. It was only toward Compton Herbarium at Kirstenbosch the end of my trip that I realized that in Cape Town. John Wurdack, of the the high mountains both north and US National Herbarium in Wash• east of Cape Town rise to sufficient ington, DC, took the initiative to write heights that a great range of fynbos leading workers on the family Mesem- plants might well prove hardy one day bryanthaceae, and I will never forget in Colorado: after all, we grow a good receiving from him copies of the corre• many alpines from the hills surround• spondence—three different scholars ing the Mediterranean Sea from a lati• had given him three different names! tude with climatic parameters closely Delosperma nubigenum seemed to fit approximating the higher parts of the our plant the best. What does this Cedarberg and the Swartberg. If this plant look like in the wild? Since no prove true, bar the door, Katy; our gar• one has ever seen a capsule on the cul• dens will never be the same.

South African Journal 187 Careening through the Karroo and an almost solid ground cover of My first destination for a field trip herbaceous plants like pelargoniums, lay but a hundred and fifty miles from dried stalks of who knows how many Cape Town, beyond the first few kinds of bulbs, and tiny crassulas, ranges in the heart of the karroo. mesembryanthemums and other suc• Karroo is a term used in South Africa culents intertwined. Time and again I to characterize the drier interior por• was struck by this dichotomy—a tions of the country. Karroo generally seemingly barren vista transforming to has richer soil substrates than the incredibly rich vegetation on close nutrient-poor quartzitic sands one inspection. finds in fynbos. Karroo is nearly as species rich as fynbos—and might be Of course, large stretches of the kar• compared to the desert/steppe vegeta• roo have been terribly overgrazed, tion of central Anatolia or the Iberian reducing species diversity drastically. peninsula contrasted to the macchie It is inevitable that agriculture will one finds in these same regions, or the prosper on these rich soils, and large karroo-like Great Basin desert or stretches of karroo vegetation near Mojave contrasted with coastal Worcester have been turned into table California chaparral. grape plantations to satisfy Europe in I had managed to grow quite a the winter and spring. Saddest of all number of plants from the karroo and were the acres that had been plowed wanted particularly to investigate the and planted to an exogenous Atriplex, escarpment of the Roggeveld moun• which must be thought to produce tains near Sutherland in the heart of fodder more efficiently than the native the Great Karroo, an area renowned in vegetation. Even so, there is still quite South Africa for its harsh winter cli• a bit of karroo left to enjoy—and I mate. I was fortunate to be accompa• believe that the floral bounty in this nied by Fiona Powrie, Kirstenbosch region has barely been touched by horticulturist specializing in Pelar• rock gardeners. gonium, who has explored extensively Our base camp in the karroo was in the mountains of South Africa and the town of Sutherland—renowned in has a tremendous grasp of the native South Africa for its cold winter weath• vegetation—both as a botanist and er. The vegetation in the town was vir• horticulturist. There is a stark contrast tually identical to what one might find between the coastal mountains, with in the lower Rio Grande Valley—the their magnificent protea forests, and little town of Truth-or-Consequences, the lowland karroo, reminiscent at for instance. I am quite sure that the times of madronos on the American rainfall and temperature patterns are Pacific coast, and then again of olive very close to some of the mountains groves in Greece—until one notices the around El Paso or Roswell. And, of gigantic flowers! But soon we descend• course, plants from these parts of the ed to an even sparser scene, with tan United States are proving to be quite soils and even more burned up vegeta• hardy, so when I saw giant Agave tion, a setting that obviously had not americana in Sutherland, or Eucalyptus seen rain in many months. When we in valleys not far away, I didn't lose finally stopped to look around, the heart altogether. Even colder weather variety and density of plants growing must occur in the escarpments 1000' or on the karroo astonished me: giant more above the town. Tylocodon shrubs with muscular trunks The landscape felt utterly familiar—

188 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 from a distance the mesas and land era of mints, Stachys forming billowing forms could have been Utah or north• silvery mats among rocks on many ern Arizona. The soils are mostly cliffs with large pink flowers and a derived from shales and are apparently powerful smell that justified the com• circumneutral or even acid, which sur• mon name "Dead man's mint," a won• prised me. Unlike Western America, derful, tiny gray Ballota africana with there seems to be relatively little calci• much larger flowers than its European um in the rocks of the karroo. Both cousins. There were dried remains of landscapes are dominated by gnarled, bulbs everywhere, Albuca, Galaxia, dwarf shrubs—almost entirely Homeria, Lapeirousia, Moraea, Ornitho- Artemisia and Atriplex in the dry West, galum and who knows what else. but in Africa the variety of shrubs was There was even an Allium that must bewildering. Mostly Compositae, they have been native along one stretch of were almost all beautiful ornamentals: lonely highway. dark-green-leaved Pteronia with large Of course, there were succulents yellow flowers; Eriocephalus in a num• everywhere—primarily mesembryan- ber of species, all with small white themum but also large cushions of flowers transforming into woolly seed- Drosanthemum from deep pink to heads; many species of Euryops—some white; spiny Eberlanzia looking like with waxy, succulent leaves, others some Mediterranean Sarcopoterium on with tiny, raspy leaves. At many stops, steroids; Malephora and Ruschia and we saw neat mounds of Osteospermum Delosperma in many species that cuneatum with habit and dusty gray seemed to vary significantly from one leaves resembling Atriplex cuneata hilltop to another; and smaller clumps somewhat, only with 3" cream and yel• of annuals—true Mesembryanthemum low flowers. There are also unexpected and the famous local Pherolobus. We families, such as gnarled shrubs in the finally even found Aloinopsis, one of Campanulaceae called Lightfootia, the true specialties of the colder, cen• which had tiny stars, sometimes yel• tral karroo. This was the only pink low, sometimes pale lavender. There one, A. spathulata, which by midsum• were frequent groves of dwarf, desert mer had retreated into the dusty clay, persimmon in a number of species, leaving only a few leaf tips visible. forming dense colonies. Unlike the It was surprising to find plants that West where the same two or three I associate with gaudy annuals, such shrubs can dominate for thousands of as Nemesia, forming dense and very square miles, the species composition perennial mounds several places along changed at every stop, and new genera the Roggeveld. At least three kinds of and even families kept cropping up. these have germinated well and come And the ground layer is a rock gar• into full bloom less than a half year deners dream! There are a few familiar from the time I first saw them. It genera—Dianthus, for instance. At remains to be seen how perennial they every stop there were pinks rather prove in Colorado—but even as annu• similar to the European species we als they are attractive. already grow. At one place near I had seen pictures of Selago in vari• Fraserburg I found a cushion with a ous picture books on South African trunk of a root that would be the envy plants, so I immediately recognized of any bonsai enthusiast—at least an the first of these I saw in the wild. inch and a half across: decades old for Imagine a veronica with billowy, puffy certain. A few species of familiar gen• flowers as if it had studied posture

South African Journal 189 from a baby's breath. Sometimes the would be quite a picture—and a starry flowers are pink, and often delightful plant pun to put along white, but most often they are a vari• Vitaliana. ety of lavender shades or even a range Of course, it is more than a little of blues from powder and lavender to presumptuous to write about the kar• cobalt blue. roo on the basis of a week's travel in the middle of the summer heat there. For rock gardeners the genus So varied is the flora in this extraordi• Aptosimum, commonly called karroo narily rich, vast region that the local violets in Africa, will undoubtedly botanists find it necessary to special• become a major new pinnacle to con• ize, and few pretend to know the flora quer. There are several dozen species comprehensively. From a few dozen of Aptosimum, one occurring on practi• strolls and hikes over the period of a cally any roadside in the karroo. These week I know I saw more fascinating may be tiny tuffets, like A. procumbens and attractive mats, cushions and studded with bright blue flowers tuffets than I have seen in months in (photo, p. 197). Imagine a lax rosette the Northern Hemisphere. of a compact, glossy-leaved penste- My final day spent exploring in the mon such as P. humilis. Now imagine karroo was on top of a broad table that flowers are stemless, an inch or mountain just north of Calvinia called more across in thick clusters of true Ham Tarn Mountain—Hamtamberg in blue. I doubt that I will ever forget a Afrikaans. It is privately owned by thunderstorm that punctuated the ranchers who are sensitive to over• drive between Sutherland and grazing, and the flora appeared to be Fraserburg early this year. As we tried quite pristine on top. The tableland to speed as quickly as possible over was perhaps 15 miles across with 1000' the slick tarmac, I noticed dark cliffs all the way around. We were mounds along the road. Stop the car! It given keys to go through several stock looked as if some jokester had planted gates, and we wound up a narrow innumerable giant cushions of path to the top, where broad slabs of Vitaliana primuliflora ssp. canescens ran• naked stone were exposed on much of domly across the desert pavement the surface. A dizzying assortment of among prickly mounds of Eberlanzia— shrubs and herbaceous plants grew an acanthamnoid succulent with pow• across the top—which was consider• dery gray leaves and pink flowers. The ably cooler than the dry desert below. Vitaliana look-alike turned out to be There were Nemesia still blooming, and much stiffer to the touch—almost many of the dozen or so species of spiny. Eventually we determined that Helichrysum were at the peak of bloom. this was either Aptosimum spinescens All of a sudden we began to see (photo, p. 197) or something quite giant, symmetrical mounds with a close to it. We were to see this again very alpine look to them. They were of and again throughout the Roggeveld, a densely pulvinate Ruschia, one of the but never as densely pulvinate as at largest genera of mesembs. You could our first stop. The cushions were stud• probably walk upon it and not make ded with hard, round seed capsules any dents in the cushion. Only a few that were almost—but not yet—ripe. pink flowers persisted on a few indi• Finally we found a fresh bloom—iden• vidual specimens, but the plants were tical to Aptosimum procumbens and simply stunning in their vegetative pure blue. A mound in full bloom state—studded with hundreds of deep

190 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 maroon capsules. Some of the barren very lush and subtropical, and has rocks where this grew in thick flocks been largely displaced by agriculture must have looked as if they were cov• and free-ranging livestock of all ered by giant scoops of raspberry ice kinds. But as you climb higher onto cream in early December. passes and the mountains, shep• I left the karroo behind me wistful• herds find it harder and harder to ly—so much like my native Western watch their flocks and get them back landscape, only filled with endless to safe haven for the night. novelties. What would the Drakens- Consequently much of the high coun• berg hold? try was still pristine. As we ascended to the rather over• The Drakensberg stated "God Help Me Pass," I was I was very lucky to be accompanied extremely agitated to have spotted by Kuus Roux—a botanist from the my first Dierama (7' tall and laven• Compton Herbarium at Kirstenbosch. der), and Zantedeschia albimaculata Kuus is the leading authority on South in all the moist swales. We again African ferns (many species of which dropped back into the steamy low• he has named, and genera as well.) lands, where giant eucalypts make Our plan was to circumnavigate the me question just how cold it could principal ranges of the Drakensberg— get here. Throngs of little children visiting strategic sites on the west side pursued our car through villages. first, then to the north, next to the With considerable relief we climbed famous Sani Pass half-way down the out of this lowland and saw before us Drakensberg on its east face, with sev• broad patches of color staining the eral days devoted to exploring the East hillsides on the next pass. Blue Cape Drakensberg at the southwestern Mountain Pass is one of the better terminus of the range toward the end known places in Lesotho for alpines, of the trip. and the density of plant species There were a few species of plants there, the extraordinary beauty of we saw again and again, such as the massed flowers and their vibrant Euryops tysonii (photo, p. 198), shades compare with the most beau• Passerina montana and Felicia filifolia, tiful meadows I have seen anywhere all three of which were common in the Alps or Western America throughout the karroo as well, (photo, p. 201). although they lagged by many weeks Shrubby mounds of Geranium pul- and even months in blooming cycle chrum with silver leaves and mauve from the desert species up there. faces grew in drifts everywhere, con• Felicia filifolia is a deep blue-green trasting dramatically with nearby leaved shrub that was completely scarlet patches of Phygelius capensis. covered with deep lavender-blue One charred hillside was punctuated daisies in spring. I was surprised to with the gaunt black carcasses of see it in fynbos as well, making it Buddleia loricata and the common• one of the most universal and abun• est native shrub, the rosaceous dant plants of South Africa. Leucosidea,marking a burn of an ear• The first day we drove into the lier year. But underneath these and Drakensberg on the peaks just east between them a dozen or more of the large and bustling metropolis species of just one genus, Heli- of Maseru, capital of Lesotho. The chrysum, grew as tiny, white-flow• lowland vegetation of that country is ered tuffets, large shrubby mounds

South African Journal 191 with yellow flowers, and ground cov• Nearby, Helichrysum aureum, the ers. In places, deep violet-blue only large-flowered yellow straw- Senecio speciosus formed thick flower in this part of the colonies alongside glowing salmon Drakensberg, grew in a vast colony Diascia anastrepta, which itself that was in full, puffy seed. The formed mounds 3' or more across and large, yellow-bracted flowers should over 2' tall (photo, p. 200). make superb everlasting bouquets. No wonder Delosperma cooperi is Soon I began to notice tight cush• so hardy; here at almost 7500' it ions on some rocks—Helichrysum makes dense mats on a wet cliff sessiloidesl—the tiniest and most (photo, p. 200). Many, many species abundant saxatile everlasting. A of ferns grow on steep cliffs. Orchids number of species of white-, pink-, are tucked away among rocks, and and purple-flowered forms of Erica different orchid species grow in wet grew densely in low spots among the meadows. Here I became acquainted grasses. A giant patch of blue Selago with a dozen or more exotic plant grew tight against the ground. genera. Two of the most widespread Amazing numbers of succulents were Scrophulariaceae: intensely were everywhere. Crassula ranged aromatic Sutera in every color imag• from sedum-like tufts in the rocks to inable, and Zaluzianskya with bright the shrubby C. sarcocaulis, which scarlet stripes along lower surface of grew 3" or more in height and the corollas. Grassy knolls were lit breadth and was covered with waxy, up with innumerable pale yellow ivory flowers. Pale pink and white flowers of Scabiosa drakensbergensis Delosperma dominated this hill, and numerous stately clumps of along with rather congested mounds Berkheya, the Drakensberg specialty of yet another Ruschia, R. putterillii, that looks like a hybrid between a surely the highest altitude Mesem- very choice thistle and a sunflower. bryanthemum. There, in the dis• I lost count of what was blooming tance, was a flash of scarlet. The after nearly a hundred different closer I got the less likely it kinds—but I was never to see such a seemed—and then I realized that magnificent meadow of solid, cardi• this was the highest elevation nal colors again on the trip. Cotyledon orbiculatum (photo, p. A half-mile or so farther along 198) I could imagine. This is perhaps brought us to the summit of Blue the most widespread succulent I saw Mountain Pass with its endless in Africa. It grew on cliffs near the views in all directions across the sea in fynbos, on open slopes in the deep green Lesotho countryside. An karroo and here near freshets on top altogether different group of plants of the Drakensberg! Very reluctantly arrayed themselves across the top of I returned to the car, knowing that the mountain, beginning with a new every few feet there were yet more assortment of Helichrysum. Many intensely beautiful ornamentals com• years before I had received Heli• pletely new to me. chrysum bellum and H. marginatum The very next day we had estab• from this very spot; they are now lished ourselves in Sir Harry's Hotel indispensible July-blooming everlast• in Harrismith, a bustling and pic• ings for the Rock Alpine Garden. turesque town nestled at the base of And here they were in the wild, look• yet another Table Mountain (this ing just like my plants in the garden! time called Platberg), some 30 miles

192 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 north of the main Drakensberg drifts everywhere on the top. Several escarpment. Kuus was surprised I Crassula species made big patches of wanted to spend a day on top of this creamy white on rocky ground, often mountain that was a thousand feet interspersed with bright blue or vio• or so lower than the main ranges of let Nemesia capensis. One of the the Drakensberg. The entire most congested mats of Helichrysum Platberg is a preserve and well I have ever seen, sprinkled with fenced, and I was fortunate to have stemless, pink buds, grew among his guidance. The cliffs responsible over an outcrop. When will I ever see for the table-like shape are largely it in bloom? Nothing seems to match sheer and unscalable by casual hik• its form in Hilliard and Burtt's mag• ers, but Kuus quickly led us up "One nificent monograph of the genus. Man Pass"—which might have been And then, there was another dream! appropriately named "Screaming A delightful, clump-forming race of Baboon Pass" that morning, for our Helichrysum chionosphaerum with distant cousins managed to curdle small mats of linear leaves and 6" my blood when they launched into a stems with bubble-like white and vigorous family squabble a few dozen yellow blooms on top. feet from me. Bulbs were everywhere, the odd Views of Harrismith and the blue Albuca, an occasional Gladiolus, hot and distant high berg would have pink Hesperantha on cliffs and made this hike memorable even if I speckling a meadow. Then the exotic, hadn't noticed a single flower. Here whorled flowers of a Bulbine on again, an extraordinary number of stems less than 1' high really cap• ornamentals came into view every few tured my imagination—no seed, darn feet: There was a deep blue Strepto- it! Kuus summoned me over some carpus gardenii in pockets on the hundred feet ahead. On a gentle rocks in the woodlands; several south-facing slope, among three or Pelargonium species including the four species of tangled rock ferns he gigantic, peachy yellow P. lurida found a huge plant of Aloe aristata in along the road. An Ipomoea with 5" full bloom, with dozens of giant flowers of velvety purple-maroon racemes. The bent scarlet trumpets formed a deep-green-leaved mat were beautiful. The deciduous-leaved (photo, p. 198). Aloe ecklonis grew nearby in a pure Superficially Barliera monticola yellow phase—a delightful rock plant looks like some sort of brooding, vio• barely a foot high. let blue penstemon, but closer Among patches of Gazania lin- inspection reveals the Ruellia-\ike earis studded with nosegays of yel• structure of the flowers and the stiff low bloomed a hot pink Delosperma Acanthus-like pose of the flower of the ashtonii group, the two form• stems. Once we reached the top of ing a rather disturbing contrast. And the mountain an incredible array of then, another marvel—a dense flowers wove a veritable tapestry of mound of tiny, blue-green heads, on color everywhere. On rock outcrops Euphorbia puluinata. This is rather around a pond near the edge a par• smaller, making a flatter mound ticularly exciting assortment of than the magnificent E. clauarioides plants appeared: Hebenstreitia, that I saw on practically every hot wand-like scrophs with speckled slope of the Drakensberg. white or yellow flowers, formed wide As we gradually worked our way

South African Journal 193 to the edge again and found one of crowd the edges, distracting you the few descents over the cliffs, a from the dizzying vistas off toward whole new vista and assortment of Platberg and the rolling plains of the plants appeared. Dianthus basuticus Orange Free State. made big masses of wide-petalled In the morning we were greeted pink flowers over dense tufts of with a number of delightful Moraea foliage—incredible! Hundreds of species drooping gracefully from husky plants of Hirpicium armeri- cliffs: I could identify Moraea trifida oides grew coarsely on 8" stems in the and M. modesta—willowy-stemmed tall grass—very different from the plants with pale blue-and-white- utterly prostrate and nearly stemless speckled flowers. Dense clumps of species from Blue Mountain Pass. Moraea alticola did a good job of How carefully we picked through mimicking Iris pseudacorus in steep rocky areas, for Agapanthus campan- gorges on the way up the mountain— ulatus ssp. patens grew in such only with gigantic pale yellow flow• dizzying numbers everywhere (photo, ers 6" or so across. What a contrast p. 203). The stark cliffs even had a to Moraea alpina a few miles higher misty blue tinge from a distance due on the summit plateau, barely an to these lilies of the Platberg, which inch or two high with prismatic flow• emerge out of every crevice, redefin• ers an inch across. Late in the after• ing the meaning of rock plant. noon as I scampered down the moun• Platberg must be one of the most tain a little worried that evening inspiring hikes a gardener could might descend before I did, all these dream of on a toasty January day. were closed, but in their place there were tremendous drifts of Moraea Mont-aux-Sources inclinata—a vivid-blue-flowered The second highest peak of the plant with four or more flowers on Drakensberg forms the divide each stem a foot or so high (photo, p. between Lesotho, Kwa-Zulu/Natal 203). Kuus told me of finding Moraea and the Orange Free State. The clas• carnea in the gorge below us. And sic approach is via Witziehoek, an who knows what might have been elegant subalpine resort in what blooming a few weeks later in the used to be the QwaQwa homeland. season in just this one genus. Fantastically rich subalpine mead• Other bulbs included at least two ows filled with color climb toward species of shockingly blue Aristea: the escarpment, and for many miles who would have dreamed they'd be the cliffs drip with ferns, several up here at 9000'! Several kinds of mat-forming Helichrysum species, Dierama grew on the mountain—a and airy sprays of Wahlenbergia giant one (D. cooperi?) on top, but the undulata. queen of the mountain that day had The car was quite secure in a to be Dierama dracomontana, grow• barbed-wire enclosure at almost ing in dense colonies with thousands 8000' at the base of the Sentinel, an of tomato-red bells swaying. Whole immense block of basalt that has cliff faces were dotted with the tiny drifted, so to speak, a mile or so cones of a dwarf pineapple lily, north of the main escarpment. A Eucomis humilis, and ghostly wonderful, wide path snakes up the colonies of Galtonia viridiflora often steep cliffs for several miles, and an grew out of mossy beds on the way extraordinary assortment of alpines up (photo, p. 203). I was particularly

194 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 startled to find large mounds of up, then gazing out to the melting Nerine bowdenii in full bloom in the distance. Soon Kuus was far out of equivalent of July. This is obviously sight, and I found myself at the foot a different form from that in cultiva• of a chain ladder, the only way to tion, and at 9000' it may be hardier scale the last hundred feet onto the as well. top of the plateau. One other bulbous plant cannot be I hadn't noticed the wind blowing omitted: Crocosmia pearcei, appar• before I began to climb up the clink• ently named only recently. A colony ing, clanging rungs. Better not look of this giant-flowered alpine with down. Higher and higher I climbed. stems barely a foot high startles visi• Suddenly I saw up above me two tors as they depart the parking lot. rather fierce looking warriors with For over 50 years English growers Zulu style shields and spears—with• have propagated a vivid purple out a stitch of clothes, despite a stiff Osteospermum under the name O. alpine breeze. This unofficial wel• barberiae var. compactum. Osteo• coming committee has probably star• spermum barberiae is an intensely tled quite a few visitors. The men aromatic plant from low altitudes. gestured "smoke a cigarette" in a The would-be variety compactum is universal sign, and I paused—I O. jucundum, the purple daisy of the hoped anything I said or gestured in Drakensberg. I found dozens of mats return won't mean "Please throw me identical to the deep magenta-purple off this cliff in Sotho. I smiled and forms sold as var. compactum grow• shrugged sort of vaguely and walked ing almost a yard across. No wonder off quickly. Looking back, I realized it's considered so much hardier than that the welcoming committee are O. barberiae—this is a bona fide probably two shepherds playing alpine that probably experiences hookey, enjoying a few hours of frost most any month of the year in tourist viewing. I'd never thought of nature, and it will not condescend to myself as Sotho television before. grow in Cape Town, because it needs Incidentally, all this transpired in a long cold winter. On Sani Pass I view of a colony of Delosperma nubi- found it again, only a much pinker genum growing on the cliff right color and dwarfer habit. But on along the chain ladder. Kuus luckily Platberg it was an icy-cool white. picked a tiny sprig from this spot and Rock gardeners must enjoy this showed it to me once we met again everblooming gem as long as we can, back at the car that evening. I never for it undoubtedly has a glorious hor• noticed it—for some reason! ticultural future as an edging to bor• The summit plateau at the base of ders or even as a ground cover. Mont-aux-Sources constitutes a Mont-aux-Sources possesses a huge, gentle, rolling bowl a mile or so palette of plants entirely different wide, sheer cliffs falling off toward from those of the Platberg and Blue the Northwest and Northeast. In Mountain, and so very different from January practically every plant in what I was to see farther south! I the bowl is in full bloom, including was practically feverish from the solid carpets of several species of extraordinary panorama, the lush, Rhodohypoxis in wetter areas and dripping tundra on either side of the dense mats of Helichrysum flana- path, pulling out camera, taking ganii yards across, completely hid• notes, looking first at a plant close- den under yellow pussytoe blooms.

South African Journal 195 There are mottled-leaved Disa shrub is only an inch or so tall, orchids with pink or purple flowers, branching and spreading along the and a shaggy white-leaved shrub, ground, with glossy, dark green Eumorphia sericea, with almost leaves reminiscent of a tiny willow. waxy white daisies mimicing the way Only a few blossoms were fresh— shrubby potentilla grows in the pinky-white everlastings 2" across, Northern Hemisphere. The compos• but hundreds and hundreds were ites are abundantly represented, filled with fluffy, blowing seed. with bright purple senecios, white The vista was utterly exotic, helichrysums of a dozen species, speckled with mounds of white and bright yellow flowers like the cutleaf, yellow, violet and red flowers. These trim Ursinia alpina. There are festive colors are so much more vivid densely packed mounds of Maco- than those usually seen in the wania sororis, growing a foot or two Northern Hemisphere. high along the cliff edge, incredibly Here on the Mont-aux-Sources wooly Helichrysum trilineatum, and would be a good place to set up camp H. splendidum blanketing the area. and spend a week or two. If Heaven As far as I can tell, the only plant isn't this floriferous, this rich in on the entire summit plateau not species, this colorful, I imagine I will blooming was Helichrysum retor- be disappointed. Assuming, that is, toides. This remarkable miniature that I'm even admitted!

Acknowledgements I would like to express my deep gratitude to the North American Rock Garden Society for a generous grant that paid for my travel to and around South Africa. I am likewise grateful to the management at Denver Botanic Gardens for consider• able support for this venture. I thank Elisabeth Harmon for distributing seed from this trip so promptly, to so many, with such efficiency. I have a special debt of gratitude to Sean Hogan and Parker Mache-Sanderson who provided the inspi• ration and impetus for this trip. They introduced me to Shawn Johnston, who with Ernst Van Jaarsveld helped me plan and execute the trip of a lifetime. In the next issue I will describe the last half of this expedition—the Eastern and Southern face of the Drakensberg.

Panayoti Kelaidis is Curator of the Rock Alpine Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens.

196 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Aptosimum procumbens at Sutherland Observatory (p. 190)

Aptosimum spinescens (p. 190) photos by Panayoti Kelaidis

197 Cotyledon orbiculatum Ipomoea sp. on Platberg (p. 193) on Blue Mt. Pass, Lesotho (p. 192)

photos by Panayoti Kelaidis Diascia integerrima, Euryops tysonii Delosperma sp. 10 miles north of Sani Pass at Sani Pass (p. 191)

198 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Hermannia cf. stricta, on Hamtamberg

Crassula sp. at Blue Mt. Pass Delosperma cooperi at Blue Mt. Pass, p. 192 photos, Panayoti Kelaidis

Diascia anastrepta at Blue Mt. Pass, p. 191 Delosperma sp., Blue Mt. Pass

200 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Blue Mountain Pass, South Africa (pp. 191-192) Mont-aux-Sources, South Africa photos, Panayoti Kelaidis

Macowania glandulosa

202 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Agapanthus campanulatus ssp. patens on Platberg (p. 194) photos, Panayoti Kelaidis

Moraea inclinata on Mont-aux-Sources (p. 194) Galtonia viridiflora, Mont-aux-Sources (p. 194)

203 Faiferlik garden, Czech Republic. "A small lake dominates this garden. The universe isreflected in its surface at night, the neighboring rich vegetation during the day." Butomus umbellatus, Lysimachia punctata, above. Below, a more autere part of the gar• den, with Physaria didymocarpa, Yucca baccata.. Photos by Jaroslav Faiferlik

204 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Troughs A Few More Comments

by Waid Vanderpoel

T' A ve been asked to comment on any points missed in the wonderful last issue of the ARGS Bulletin on troughs. What can I add to the marvelous assem• blage of information, expertise and tips set forth in the six excellent articles which collectively covered troughs—would that we could mulch as completely as this topic was covered. My good spouse read those articles and informed me I'd be writing a very short piece. Nevertheless, I'll give it a try.

Regional troughs More rock gardeners are utilizing this concept. It is one I have always enjoyed, partly because it provides interesting contrasts of foliage. Regional trough themes allow us to create miniature landscapes aimed at simulating nature—a goal towards which we strive.

How long do troughs hold up? After fifteen to seventeen years I do observe serious deterioration of the struc• ture of my oldest troughs. However, the modern acrylic bonding agents and fibers mentioned in Michael Slater's articles should extend trough life, possibly dramatically.

Evergreens in troughs While Anita Kistler would disagree, and her reason is based on solid, success• ful experience, I do not feel my own experience would support the use of ever• greens in troughs over a long period of time. I have two small troughs each con• taining a handsome little Picea abies 'Echiniformis'. However, the roots are so dominant that only one faithful Erigeron pinnatisectus survives as a companion in one trough after a dozen years, while nothing else remains in the second trough.

What do you do with a trough now dominated by only a very few faithful old plants? This is not an easy question, and it is probably best decided by each individ• ual rock gardener. However, most gardeners will enjoy their troughs most if

205 they own at least containers boasting some relatively young plant communities. Life's greatest expectations come to the young—troughs or people. If a dominat• ing but still interesting plant can be replicated by seed, cuttings, or division and planted elsewhere, the decision to relenquish it in the trough is simplified.

Is there an ideal trough age? Rock gardeners strive to group plants such that neighbors mature on a com• plementary scale. Young plants can be introduced into obvious spots, but I find I enjoy troughs where most of the space is occupied by plants of fairly similar maturity. A trough can look mature in three years; in fact, many plants look wonderful after two years. Conversely, some troughs look enchanting a decade or more after the original planting, though by then a number of the first inhabi• tants are only a memory. Matching trough plants is always challenging, always fascinating.

Troughs in water Troughs, by variations in size, shape, soil mix, location, and plant material, lend themselves to experimentation. I've had my share of failures. However, I would like to share a winner with you. I've always enjoyed growing little Aleuritia primroses, particularly P.farinosa, P.frondosa, and P. halleri. The books say they like "damp meadows." On our vis• its to the Alps, they could usually be discovered, and often by the hundreds, even thousands, near the tiny little brooks and rivulets that drain sunny mead• ows. However in my garden in the sun, in our intense Midwestern heat, they often wilted and needed near constant attention. I established some primulas in complete shade, where they have thrived to this day, though perhaps they are not as compact as one might like. I consigned some P. farinosa to a small trough and placed it in our fishpool in an inch or inch and a half of water (photo, last issue, p. 120, center left). This was to be the equivalent of a wet, sunny meadow. Since hypertufa is water porous, the soil, even though the surface was 3-4" above the water, wasn't wet—it was soggy! At first the primroses thrived—I kept waiting for them to rot out in the autumn. They looked remarkably healthy for plants about to perish. The little trough wintered in a cold frame and in spring exploded into growth, then into bloom. The tight little plants had considerably shorter stems than those in the shade—but produced a mass of dainty little flowers. Over the years these little sun lovers have thrived with precious little atten• tion. Every year, there is a surge of bloom, never a sign of wilt no matter how intense the sun, how high the temperature. I've added troughs, tried other species. I later planted several species of Dodecatheon, a genus notorious for its tendency to wilt when it is hot and dry. All three species have thrived for five or six years. If you have a pool and like little primroses and shooting stars, give the technique a try.

Species for troughs After Geoffrey Charlesworth's masterful exposition on species for troughs, there isn't much I can add. Despite the differences in our climates and rainfall, Geoffrey's observations on certain short-lived plants closely parallel my own experience. I'll simply provide observations on plants based on my experience.

206 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Androsace—would be ideal except most small ones succumb in my garden to the combination of summer heat and wet. Androsace chamaejasme and A. villosa have both persisted as species though with casualties among individual plants. Certainly a premier genus for trial and error. Aquilegia saximontana—is trough-sized, miniature, pretty, neat, easy, persistent as a species. Has never produced strange gawky hybrids. Arenaria obtusiloba—seldom mentioned in our literature, but a winner for me. Makes a persistent, attractive, tight mat—even deigns to bloom now and then. Dianthus—only wee, tight ones which appear at home in a trough. Draba—lots of potential material, American, European, Asian—but choose the tiniest species. Erigeron—any small, neat ones are trough material. Erigeron pinnatisectus, though larger than many, rates a description such as "particularly nice foliage, faithful, tops in bloom." Gentiana verna —far from immortal; consider growing more every two years. Lesquerella arizonica—rather new to me. Tiny, neat, gray foliage, colorful in bloom and easily grown, but expect casualties. Grow a few every year—a small charmer. Myosotis alpestris, an alpine forget-me-not you can grow. Persistent and trough- sized. Overlooked since it isn't its glamorous cousin. Petrocallis pyrenaica—a tiny gem from the European Mountains. For me, difficult to get past seedling state—BUT the three I own which met this challenge have been with me for a number of years. Give it a try—with special attention at time of first transplanting. Penstemon—any attractive, smaller, low member of this vast race can be consid• ered good trough material. Penstemon aridus has faired very well for 15 years in my troughs. Penstemon hallii, P. eriantherus (those big, exotic blooms display wonderfully in a trough) and P. teucrioides are ones I've particularly enjoyed. Experiment to the hilt. Primula—in mountain-setting troughs I enjoy species auriculas, P. auricula, P. clusiana, P. daonensis, P. hirsuta, P. marginata (obtain a good form—quality varies widely) and certain Bernina Pass hybrids, particularly P. 'Windrush'. I find P. villosa too large, while P. glaucescens, P. minima, P. tyrolensis, and P. wulfeniana have all shared one characteristic in my garden—they have a death wish. Hybrid auriculas should be small, compact and floriferous. Saxifrages—You will try them in your troughs, and you should. They are even more appealing when you can see them up close. Silene acaulis—One of my top favorites, as much for foliage as its bloom, and can often overcome damage. Townsendias—ideal for troughs, but given to sudden death. Since they are easi• ly grown, a solution is to have a stream of young plants in our "farm systems."

Waid Vanderpoel has a large garden near Barrington, Illinois. He has been gardening in troughs since 1976. Many of photographs of his troughs appeared in the last issue.

Troughs 207 Colorado Rockies Waid Vanderpoel, Barrington, Illinois SIZE: Length 36" Width 24" Height 8" (all outside dimensions) EXPOSURE: east-southeast, but slightly more sun than Alps trough SOIL MIX: 2 parts sharp, coarse sand; 1 part gravel, 1 part humus (peat and leaf mold) TOP DRESSING: stones and coarse gravel

1. Draba 2. Erigeron sp. and Erigeron pinnatisectus 3. Androsace chamaejasme 4. Myosotis alpestris 5. Penstemon aridus 6. Penstemon (small) 7. Townsendia sp. 8. Aquilegia saximontana 11. Hymenoxys acaulis 9. Sedum lanceolatum 12. Hymenoxys grandiflora 10. Silene acaulis 13. Arenaria obtusiloba

208 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Alps Waid Vanderpoel, Barrington, Illinois SIZE: Length 36" Width 24" Height 8" (all outside dimensions) EXPOSURE: Facing east-southeast SOIL MIX: 2 parts sharp, coarse sand; 1 part gravel, 1 part humus (peat and leaf mold)

TOP DRESSING: stones and coarse gravel —Strive to attain vertical effect with rock placement 1. Draba 2. Petrocallis pyrenaica 3. Primula 4. Encrusted saxifrages, set into holes drilled in rock 5. Thlaspi rotundifolium 6. Gentiana verna 7. Kabschia saxifrages, set into holes drilled in rock 8. Vitaliana primuliflora 9. small cultivars of Sempervivum 10. Silene acaulis

209 Hypertufa Rocks

by Wayne Kittredge

.^Vmong the memorable events of perlite, and 2 parts cement. I cut holes my rock garden career was the through the layer of standard mix for ungrateful upbraiding I received from planting and holes on the bottom for those to whom I had generously given drainage. While the surface was still samples of my latest batch of home• wet, but after it had set slightly, a culi• made hypertufa rocks. Winter had nary fork was used to poke holes shal- turned the soft "rock" into mush, leav• lowly and densely over the entire ing the plants my friends had so lov• upper surface to give the rock some ingly planted sitting atop heaps of semblance of real tufa (photo, p. 224). ashy mud. Instead of a showy home Over the years, rocks made of that for a treasured specimen, there was recipe have proven durable. Encrusted now a mess to clean up. My own rock saxifrages grow elegantly on them, had suffered the same fate—what to while Lysimachia japonica var. minutis- do but apologize? sima believes it owns every available But my need for tufa was undimin- growing hole. Dianthus alpinus sub• ished, so I have continued undaunted mits to life in a planting hole and occa• to experiment with my hypertufa rock sionally spends a few flowers, while recipe, having as my goal a product Draba aizoid.es flourishes and flowers that not only looks like real tufa but with its usual abandon, although it behaves like real tufa. This year I built does not seed into the fake tufa. a walled garden using my most recent Because the original artificial rocks recipe, and shortly after completion were performing well, I began reading visitors claimed to have mistaken the about the chemical character of rocks for real tufa. cement and other ingredients, hoping My first hypertufa rocks—not the to improve on the mix. I got side• ones I gave to friends, but the first tracked on the matter of the cosmetic batch— used 6 parts peatmoss to one appearance of the surface of the rocks, part cement. I built a mound of this in trying acrylic paints, waterproof whatever shape the fancy ran to and cements, cement pigments, even pot• covered the whole with standard tery pigments; none of these were hypertufa mix of 3 parts peat, 3 parts much use, and the kitchen fork

210 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 method, while very labor intensive, product (designed to absorb liquid produced the most satisfactory floor spills), and grass clippings (or appearance. other organic material which would I tried more ingredients—perlite for break down fairly quickly, unlike lightness; vermiculite and long-fiber wood chips). When organic matter sphagnum for moisture retention; breaks down, it leaves channels for wood chips for their ability to decom• roots to penetrate, similar to the chan• pose eventually, leaving air gaps as nels caused in real tufa by water well as humus in the rock; and movement during the formation of the diatomaceous earth because of its rep• rock. utation for deterring bugs. The ratio of ingredients in hyper- After the mush incident, I overre• tufa is inexact and is apt to change acted by using waterproof cement as according to availability or whim. the outer layer over a softer core, hop• However, if the ingredients are used ing for greater strength and better in the ratio of 6 parts non-cements to moisture retention. Waterproof one part cement, then the rocks are cement is, however, pure white and likely to be durable. Even though the pure ugly, and it cracks over winter, soft core is covered by standard although the rocks do not usually hypertufa, it must be able to retain its actually fall apart. Many plants dislike own integrity and not go to mush. A this very hard and very alkaline white recipe I now favor might be: 4 parts cement, yet others like Gypsophila nana Portland cement: 16 parts peat moss: 1 and Dianthus gallicus have taken to it part diatomaceous earth: 1 part play without complaint, and Symphyandra sand: 1 part expanded clay: 1 part ver• wanneri has sown itself into the cracks miculite: 1 part perlite: 1 part long- and made very neat, healthy rosettes. fiber sphagnum peat: 1 part grass clip• The next year I added play sand (a pings: 1 part a serendipitous ingredi• dolomitic limestone available as sand- ent of your own choosing. size grit, used primarily to fill chil• Over time, hypertufa weathers and dren's sand boxes), an expanded clay becomes quite handsome, but that can

211 take years. It's worth spending some tively filled a vertical crevice with its effort in applying the surface to have it cute, fuzzy, rounded leaves below the look natural. The most irregular, Acantholimon araxanum. Primula mar- lumpy surface looks most like real ginata (named clone) has a shady tufa. The kitchen-fork method previ• crevice away from the wind and is ously mentioned has its merits, but kept purposely very moist; it is flour• I've found a neat and efficient short ishing. Saxifraga is already creeping cut. Apply diatomaceous earth to the out over the hypertufa surrounding its very wet to slightly set outer surface. planting hole, Thymus 'Elfin' peeks out Diatomaceous earth can be shaken or at the sun from a deeply overhung thrown onto the surface by hand (use crevice. Teucrium subspinosum and gloves), resulting in somewhat spotty Verbascum dumulosum have escaped coverage, or blown on with a rubber their pot prisons into sunny crevices, ear syringe. Complete coverage of the which I am hoping will provide surface is the goal. Diatomaceous enough protection for them to survive earth gives the surface a grainy zone 5 winters. This spring, potted appearance instead of the glossy sur• plants of Campanula zoysii and face of cement. Excess diatomaceous Physoplexis comosa were planted in the earth may be washed off after the wall. I still have ample room to sow cement has set for a day. Spraying the seed and put in plants. The hypertufa wet surface with a solution of chelated rock wall provides an attractive set• iron after washing imparts an uneven ting for plants that prefer crevices. tan stain. The finished color is a com• Readers might think the alkalinity bination of the gray of the cement, the of the hypertufa could be a liability. grainy white of the diatomaceous However, in my experience, the peat earth, and the tan stain, the whole moss neutralizes the alkalinity of the bearing a remarkable resemblance to other ingredients adequately. I don't real tufa. The kitchen fork method can expect to be able to grow the entire be used in addition, but I feel it is range of plants one can grow in real unnecessary. tufa, but I am encouraged by the suc• cesses I have had to date. Plants already occupying the August 1993 wall built of these hyper- tufa rocks include: Acantholimon arax- Wayne Kittredge gardens in North anum on top of the sunniest, windiest Reading, Massachusetts. part of the wall, Aethionema armena in the hottest, windiest planting hole, and in crevices: Campanula andrewsii v. hirsuta in shade, C. cashmeriana beneath the Aethionema armena, C. hakkiarica in shade, and C. waldsteiniana in sun, Convolvulus cantabricus on top, Draba acaulis, Draba paysonii on top and out of the wind. Hypericum athoum has posi•

212 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 What Do They Want?

by Bob Nold

few years ago I had the oppor• ply have no place in rock gardens—it tunity to visit what is probably the says so right here. Look, "no minia• most unusual rock garden I have ever ture roses under any circumstances." seen. Not that I get around much, and And earlier it said—I had skipped this not that I enjoy finding my innate and part—"no cacti." entrenched snobbery revealing itself In fact, I even came across a brief in a variety of uncontrolled gestures article practically condemning the (walking hurriedly around the gar• very existence of cacti, as though they den), but here was a garden, a rock were some horticultural abomination garden, shockingly devoid of anything threatening the concept of rock gar• I considered "appropriate," consisting dening as practiced since the dawn of almost entirely of hundreds of minia• time. The next page had a picture of a ture roses. I don't like miniature roses. woodland plant. Why are woodland Miniatures, in my opinion, have no plants acceptable in rock gardening place in the rock garden, and there are circles and cacti (not to mention plenty of people who will agree with miniature roses) are not? No wood• me. Of course, there are plenty of land plants this side of the Himalayas alpine roses that are small and suit• grow at higher altitudes than does able for the rock garden, but they're Pediocactus simpsonii, an alpine if ever species and not lilliputian hybrid teas. there was one, so whence the preju• I mentally made comparisons with dice? There are many arguments to be another garden I knew, featuring made. It could be said that the majori• every known lawn ornament high• ty of rock gardeners live in areas more lighted with matching colored grav• amenable to the growing of woodland el—and hurried home to tend my plants than to cacti, and that the sheer androsaces. acquisitive nature of plantsmanship Snobbery is a strange state of mind, brought woodland plants into rock usually a sign of an inability to think gardening's ambit. It could be said for oneself, a mind too ready unthink• that, being primarily desert plants, ingly to receive codified, narrow opin• cacti represent an unwelcome intru• ions. There are certain plants that sim• sion into the rainy greenery of the

213 average garden concept, and that are woodland plants. Not "high miniature roses, being products of alpines," but woodland plants. To be hybridization, are artificial plants hav• sure, there are no cacti or miniature ing no place in what is essentially a roses. Of the first 25 entries, five are wildflower garden, regardless of the species of Arisaema. In fact A. climatic zone it represents. Well, who sikokianum and A. backii were the top says so? Every book I know on the two most-requested seeds; six times as subject implicitly (at least) admits that many requests for these as for a classic "alpine" is a term used not as an high alpine like Androsace vandelii. adjective, meaning in precise terms Shortia, another genus currently in plants come from high mountain fashion, is represented by five species meadows in the Alps, but as a noun, totalling 369 requests. There are also referring to plants "suitable for the Trillium nivale, Anemonella thalictroides, rock garden." "Suitable," here, can and so forth, interspersed, of course, safely be interpreted as meaning "of a by the usual classic choices such as certain height or character." Campanula zoysii, Aquilegia jonesii, vari• So you can have cacti—and minia• ous forms of Lewisia tweedyi, and the ture roses if it's absolutely necessary— perennial favorite (if not perennial in in a rock garden, after all. You can the garden) Eritrichium nanum. A cynic even have bananas, if you want—the (although there are surely none dwarf kind, to be sure. The purist will among rock gardeners) might point stand his/her ground and still insist out that aroids are in fashion, and that that these are inappropriate criteria. ten years from now cacti or miniature "Let's admit nothing but plants under roses might head the list, given six inches," the suggestion might go, enough exposure. Maybe everyone deriving this rule from the truth that has the Androsace, and it's now becom• all "high alpines" are indeed small— ing passe. This printout, more than any but this then excludes all woodland textbook on rock gardening or any plants, many being small but none rules of appropriate plant choices being "high alpines," but admits handed down in secret through gener• many cacti and even a few miniature ations, tells us what rock gardeners roses. This definition could be carried think should be in their gardens. All further: only plants from certain geo• these plants are desirable, all are beau• graphical areas, only plants which tiful. Rock gardeners want their gar• bloom in spring, only plants having dens, whether they are woodland gar• orange flowers with purple stripes, dens, high alpine gardens, cactus gar• only plants whose names have the let• dens, or miniature rose gardens, to be ter "b" in them, and so on. filled with beauty and interest. When selecting plants appropriate for a rock I have at hand a very interesting garden, that's all you need to know. document: a computer printout of the number of first choice requests for seed from the 1992-1993 ARGS seed exchange. More than a collection of "rules" determining what should or shouldn't be grown in rock gardens, this printout shows what it is that Bob Nold gardens in Lakewood, ARGS members want in the way of Colorado, specializing in dryland rock plants for their gardens. Of the first 50 plants, but sampling all—well, almost most-requested plants on the list, half all.

214 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Seed Exchange 1994

Seed listings will be accepted only until November 1,1994. Later ripening seed will be accepted only if an alphabetical listing has been received before that date. Overseas members—please mail before October 15th.

Any amount of seed is appreciated. Less than 5 seeds will not be list• ed. To receive donor privileges (10 bonus packets) send a minimum of 5 different kinds of seed suitable for the rock garden.

Send clean dry seed as early as possible. We appreciate several mail• ings as the seed ripens. You will be issued a 1994 donor number with your first submission. Please include this number with subsequent mailings.

Use paper envelopes no larger than 2" x 4". Use separate envelopes for each kind of seed. One small envelope is usually sufficient, except for such large and frequently requested items as Arisaema sikokianum, AA. backii, candidissimum, purpureogaleatum, Glaucidium palmatum or Trillium

215 Trillium simile. Besides the preceding, the following smaller items are always in short supply: Campanula zoysii, Aquilegia jonesii, Eritrichium nanum, Dicentra peregrina, Lewisia tweedyi, Campanula piperi, Shortia sol- danelloides, Shortia galacifolia, Paraquilegia spp., Jeffersonia dubia, Phlox hoodii and Dionysia involucrata.

5. Mark, legibly, each envelope with the botanical name printed in block letters. If collected in the wild, state the location.

6. On the Seed Donation Form provided (as an insert in this issue of the Bulletin) list the botanical name in alphabetical order, followed by: the class, Annual, Biennial, Bulb, Fern, Shrub, Tree; the approximate height, including flower, in inches; the flower color, red, blue, bi-color, mixed, etc.; the location if collected in the wild; the reference book or Flora z/this is a new listing for the seed exchange. Be sure to fill out the donor name and address.

7. Group envelopes alphabetically. Check that seed envelopes sent match the list. Secure the envelopes with a rubber band and enclose in a padded mailing envelope with the Seed Donation Form. Be sure your name and address are clearly written on the outside of the mailing envelope. Ask the postmaster to hand cancel the envelope.

8. All members of NARGS will receive a seed list. When you receive the list, please return your order promptly.

Mail seed early to:

Elisabeth Harmon, Director 1994 NARGS Seed Exchange 75 Middlebury Road Watertown CT 06795, USA

216 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Awards

Award of Merit

Given to persons of demonstrated plantsmanship who have made outstand• ing contributions to rock and alpine gardening and to NARGS.

Barry, Yinger

We are very proud, as members of the Watnong Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society, to be able to announce that Barry Yinger has received the Award of Merit. He has indeed made outstanding contributions to rock and alpine gardening and to the NARGS and is unquestionably a person of demonstrat• ed plantsmanship. His career interests were set from an early age, when he graduated with high honors earning an interdisciplinary degree in botany, horticulture, and Asian lan• guages. He served a term as Curator of Asian Collections at the US National Arboretum, where he designed and developed Asian Valley and led the first of many plant expeditions to Korea. Since then, he has organized and carried out more than 30 explorations to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and England. His ability to speak Japanese and Korean has been an important asset. From 1988 until recently, he has been Director of Horticulture for the Somerset County Parks, in charge of ornamental horticulture for a 6,000-acre park system. A primary focus of interest was the Leonard J. Buck garden, 33 acres of alpine and woodland gardens. Here he improved the plantings and increased the educational value of this beautiful landscape, by careful labeling of plants and by issuing weekly lists of what to look for in the garden as the bloom season progressed. His contagious enthusiasm, his can-do attitude, and his really extraordinary knowledge of plant material have been major influences on gardeners in our area. Membership in the Watnong Chapter greatly increased, and he frequently attracted outstanding speakers and programs. His Obsession Weekend, the 1993 Eastern Winter Study Weekend he organized as chapter chair, was a sell-out and genuinely enjoyed by many people. His personal obsession is asarums, and he certainly seems to know all there is to know about this genus.

217 Barry has introduced many new plants into this country and several have been named for him, e.g., Hosta yingeri. Some of the best nursery catalogs men• tion him as the source of special offerings. He is always willing to share a cutting or rooted plant of something unusual. He has presented programs to many groups, including the NARGS, the International Plant Propagators' Society, the New York Botanical Garden, the Perennial Plant Association, Longwood Gardens, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and garden clubs too numerous to mention. In addition, he has published arti• cles in Arnoldia, Plants and Gardens, the American Conifer Society Bulletin, the Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society, and many other journals. Barry main• tains an active membership in many horticultural organizations, including the International Dendrology Society and the Hortus Club of New York. Late last year, Barry moved back to his family farm in Pennsylvania, where he tends a significant garden. He is an advisor on new plants in the nursery indus• try and continues to serve as consultant to several organizations. Barry has been honored by the Japanese government for service to the Japanese nursery industry, and it is fitting that we be able to honor him here in North America. —Jeanne T. Will

Ev Whittemore

Evelyn (Ev) Whittemore has been an active member and has ably served the North American Rock Garden Society at national and chapter levels for a number of years. Her term as National Board Director con• tinues through 1995. She directed the ARGS Seed Exchange for several years and under her direction the seed list came out before Christmas. She has contributed arti• cles to the Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society, as well as to chapter newsletters. Her interest in alpine and rock garden plants may be expressed as "At the drop of a hat, Ev will travel from coast to coast to find a rare or unusual plant." She finds rocks, too! Her garden friends are national and international, and she stays in touch through correspondence and seed and plant exchange. On many occasions she has hosted gardening friends from here and abroad. Before moving south to North Carolina about ten years ago, Ev was a member of the New England and the Connecticut Chapters of the NARGS. In June 1986 she was instrumental in chartering the Southern Appalachian Chapter, and, largely through her efforts, the chapter has grown and prospered. She and her husband Bruce opened their home, gardens, and hearts for the chapter meeting place. Ev was elected our first Chairman, and during the past five years she has

218 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 given many programs: slides, workshops on trough making, seeds, seedlings, plants and plantings, and the basics for making a rock garden. She always pro• vides choice plants from her gardens for our plant sales. Ev and Bruce live in Penrose, North Carolina; their place is called Fort Courage. It is a natural beauty spot crossed by a flowing stream with a waterfall. Several years ago Ev cleared the vegetation from her mountain side and hauled in tons of rock, gravel, soil, and mulch, creating a rock garden, and adding more water features. Fort Courage is unique and interesting; it is a show place for growing and displaying rock garden and alpine plants. Ev's plantsmanship is amazing. Fort Courage has been created with toil, sweat, back-breaking work, and perseverance. Ev abounds with energy, enthusiasm, and strength. She shares it, too! She cooperates with local garden clubs and other groups for educational purposes and tours of her gardens. Ev was instigator, motivator, planner, and mover for the 1994 NARGS Annual meeting, Appalachian Spring. In spite of some early skepticism and neg• ative comments about the chapter's "youthful age and inexperience," Ev forged ahead, and the meeting was a huge success. —Jude Gregg

Marvin Black Award

Given to a member of NARGS who promotes membership in NARGS and organizes meetings. Emphasis is placed on members who have helped other people to reach their potential in the plant world.

Eleanor Brinkerhof Spingarn

The 1994 Marvin Black Award is presented to Eleanor Spingarn of Georgetown, Connecticut. Ellie was one of the organizers of the first Eastern Study Weekend, held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1969. Subsequently, she was the guiding force in the organization of Eastern Study Weekends held in Connecticut in 1974 and 1981 and served as general chairman for the 1994 Eastern Study Weekend in Stamford, Connecticut. She was also involved in the planning and organization of the 1978 Annual Meeting, held in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition to the above activities, Ellie was responsible for organizing the Connecticut members, initially as a dis• trict within the North Atlantic Region and, after a change in the bylaws, as the

Awards 219 Connecticut Chapter. In the early days of the chapter, she initiated annual seedling sales for the purpose of making choice plants available to all members at modest prices. For the first several years, these sales were held at Ellie's home in Georgetown, and many of the plants were provided from her very successful propagating benches. For many years Ellie has been an inspiration, not only to members of the Connecticut Chapter, but to members of surrounding chapters as well. She is richly deserving of this award. —Richard Redfield

Marcel LePiniec Award

Given to a nursery-person, propagator, hybridizer, or plant explorer currently actively engaged in extending and enriching plant material available to rock gardeners.

Panayoti Kelaidis

Panayoti Kelaidis has brought excite- | ment, high expectations, new ideas, and new plants to Colorado gardens. Private gardeners, nursery people, landscape architects, and individuals who wish to build Western-style gardens are constant• ly requesting his counsel. With Panayoti's help, the rest of the world is beginning to realize that the joys of gardening in Colorado have been a well-kept secret. Panayoti has also made outstanding national and international contributions to gardening. Few individuals have ever grown so many diverse plants so well or shared them more widely. Panayoti is an acknowledged authority on the cultivation of alpines, with a simi• larly wide knowledge of native herba• ceous and woody plants, as well as those from temperate climates from eastern and southern regions of the world. He is an avid reader and scholar, researching the latest floras and systematic treatments to discover new species of possible interest to rock gardeners. His enthusiasm for the unattempted, the unknown and the exotic never flags or wanes. Nor is he content merely to grow thousands of kinds of plants, artistically dis• played. As much as a collector of endless appetite, Panayoti is a dedicated seeds• man. He can spot a novel species of Eriogonum in seed on a roadcut while dri• ving 60 miles an hour on a blazing-hot afternoon when his travelling compan• ions are wiltingly longing for the comforts of camp. He's never too tired to col• lect that smidgen of seed from his garden after a long day's work. And for years

220 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Faiferlik garden Campanula alpina (p. 166) Joann Knapp

Anemone narcissiflora (p. 166) Bob Means Doronicum styriacea (p. 166) Joann Knapp

222 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3

224 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 he has enlisted the enthusiastic help of his volunteers at DBG in collecting hun• dreds of kinds of seed for distribution to other botanic gardens, nurserymen, and interested growers. He has been a driving force in Rocky Mountain Rare Plants, his wife's commercial seedlist, which has led the way in offering seed of Western American natives not before distributed commercially. Among plants now common in cultivation because of Panayoti's efforts are Delosperma nubigenum, D. cooperi, Veronica Hwanensis, and Penstemon 'Claude Barr'. Yet Panayoti is not a taciturn mountain man or a reclusive scholar but rather a charismatic and active participant in a wide range of horticultural organizations, continually sharing his knowledge and discoveries with others. He has lectured locally, nationally and worldwide: at the Royal Horticultural Society, the International Rock Garden Plant Conference, the National Meetings of the North American Rock Garden Society, the Perennial Plant Association, and the Western Region of the American Conifer Society. He has been active in these groups at both national and local levels. He has spoken at conferences in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. As curator of the Denver Botanic Gardens' Rock Alpine Garden, Panayoti has collected, planted, observed, and continuously learned about how plants grow and can be grown in many different microclimates. He estimates that he has grown as many as 10,000 kinds of plants in this garden, often growing a dozen or two individuals of a new accession at a time, testing them in the many ecolog• ical and edaphic situations of the Rock Alpine Garden. The knowledge and experience Panayoti has acquired in all his plant adven• tures has been shared with a wide national audience, through his writings directed both at specialists and general audiences. Some of the intriguing titles included in his list of publications are: "The Chihuahuan Phloxes," "The Tethyan Garden," "Prickly Charmers," and "Spontaneity on the Rocks." Bob Nold, a sophisticated collector of specialized plants, credits Panayoti with making it possible to have more plants than he could have dreamed of in his life. He writes, "A luminous sky-blue Aquilegia scopulorum, choice townsendias, Western micro-phloxes, penstemons, cacti, dwarf parsley, Astragalus, Turkish salvias and androsaces, acantholimons, fuzzy and spiny things from the Mediterranean, mesembryanthemums—the range of plants is astonishing, the discrimination impeccable. Collectors of eriogonums will find their gardens infi• nitely enriched thanks to Panayoti's enthusiasm—I must have half a dozen vari• eties and forms of Eriogonum ovalifolium alone in my garden. The flora of central Asia now finds regular representation in our gardens, thanks to his re-thinking of the relationship of garden climates to plant choices. His recent expedition to South Africa may well prove to be the event that makes Panayoti's name holy to rock gardeners for generations to come." Panayoti has received three major awards from the North American Rock Garden Society, the Award of Merit, the Edgar T. Wherry Award and now the LePiniec Award. Line Foster is the only other person to have received all of these awards. Congratulations, Panayoti. —Sandy Snyder

Awards 225 Edgar T. Wherry Award

Given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution in the dissemi• nation of botanical and/or horticultural information about native North American plants.

Noel Holmgren

It is with great pleasure and absolute cer• tainty that I state that the description of a Wherry Award recipient is the perfect description of Dr. Noel Holmgren. No one who knows him or his extensive body of work can doubt that his noteworthy contri• butions have increased our knowledge of North American native plants. His writings on the Western flora are not only of high standing in the scientific community but are relevant and useful to the ardent amateur naturalist and gardener as well. Dr. Holmgren's field experience is exten• sive and far-ranging, well beyond the bor• ders of this country, to South America and Asia. His professional positions have culmi• nated in his present ones as Curator of the Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden and Editor-in-Chief of its scientific journal, Brittonia. But it is from his numerous publications that the members of our Society have most benefited. We have learned much from his descriptions of new species and his clarifications and taxonomic revisions, notably of Castilleja and (the current NARGS favorite) Penstetnon. More directly, his generosity with his knowledge and his time have served those chapters that have invited him to lecture. But his most valuable contri• butions have been his work in the Flora of the Great Plains and, especially, the several volumes of the Intermountain Flora. As we are finally learning to value our own west• ern American flora, his publications guide us and often ride with us as we explore the back roads of the West. They assume an added significance for us as prepara• tions are made for the 1996 Annual Meeting in Utah. —Joyce Fingerut

[Editor's Note: A new volume of Intermountain Flora has just been published, this one covering the Asteraceae of the Intermountain Region. It is available from the New York Botanical Garden for approximately $75. Write Sandi Frank, NYBG, Bronx, NY 10458-5126.]

226 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Plant Portrait

Anemone caroliniana

The first time I saw Anemone caroliniana (photo, p. 224) was in Minnesota Chapter member Ed Burckhardt's garden. It was the end of April and a beauti• ful, sunny day. The bright blue of that wonderful patch of prairie anemone was a sight I will not soon forget. The blooms on 2-4" stems were so abundant that you couldn't see the tiny, wine-green leaves nestled close to the ground. The inch-and-a-half wide flowers with their clusters of bright yellow stamens were the stars of his garden that day as they swayed in the spring breeze. Anemone caroliniana was a favorite of Claude Barr's, a self-trained botanist and rancher from the Black Hills of South Dakota. He spent much of his life learning about and growing the wildflowers of the Great Plains. In his book, Jewels of the Plains, he says this plant grows on its favorite rich loam untouched by the plow. The competitor-protectors of this anemone are low forage plants, mainly buffalo grass, blue grama, and some small sedges. The sparse turf pre• vents serious erosion during rains, which can be heavy at times. Anemone caroliniana is by no means growing everywhere on the plains. It does not grow on low, wet ground. It grows in colonies rather than as single plants. Most flowers are white, but there are plants that bear blooms of a magnetic sap• phire blue. Others are various lighter tones of blue, some with a white eye; rarest are the few pink flowers. "Flowers of eight to twenty sepals in a daisy pattern, 4" or so above ground, develop from a small tuber or rhizome an inch or two down. This half-inch or shorter, delicate structure is the vital part of the plant; in the dormant period, from seed ripening until fall, all other parts, including roots, are absent. During lush spring growth, thick, short stolons are sent out horizontally from the rhi• zome, each to form a new rhizome at its tip, thus slowly developing a colony. Leaves return with fall moisture to remain all winter; healthy leaves ensure good flowering. Anemone caroliniana is surely one of the world's prime trea• sures." —Claude A. Barr My dear friend Ed entrusted me with a location of this treasure, and I gave my word to keep it safe—and I keep my word. It was exciting to look for Anemone caroliniana that fall with Ed: I was almost run over by a train and knelt on a cactus. Of course, we did not find it, because the rains had not returned the tubers to growth. Even when leaves are present, they are so tiny and very diffi• cult to see. In spring of 1993 I went back to take pictures, only to be rained out and scared by huge rain storms and tornadoes—the road became impassable under a wildly flowing creek that even a cow would be afraid to set foot in, and I had to leave in a different direction. The next morning was sunny, but there was a stiff breeze. I set off anyhow,

227 hoping to get some pictures. The wind was blowing so hard, the flowers were lying on the ground, and I thought all the hair had blown off my head. To top it off I kept hearing this roaring that terrified me because I thought it might be another tornado. Finally, I figured out it was jet airplanes taking off from an air• port—not to worry! So I vowed to return later to collect seed, and I did. Anemone caroliniana listed in the 1993 ARGS seedlist was collected on that prairie, as well as listed in seedlists of other societies of which I am a member. I have noticed that the small tubers of this plant are sometimes washed out of steep areas in the garden, so I am careful to keep good cover over them in the form of turf or a fine gravel mulch. Some growers have lost this anemone in their gardens after it slowly dwindles away. They thought that perhaps it didn't like limestone, but Barr wrote of finding the plant near limestone bluffs in nature, so that can't be the problem. I think rather that it is a matter of planting them in too lean a soil, too narrow a crevice, or of allowing other plants to grow over them and crowd them out. -Karen Schellinger

The Genus Arum, by Peter Boyce. 1993. The Royal Botanic Garden: Kew. ISBN 011-250085-4

My sister lives in Israel. A number of years ago, she wrote that she was sur• prised to see lack-in-the-pulpits growing there. What she had mistaken for Arisaema triphyllum of our childhood days in Connecticut was some species of arum, also a member of the family Araceae. Those of us who are bemused by aroids and their bizarre flowers will wel• come the publication of Peter Boyce's book, The Genus Arum, published by HMSO Books in association with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. It has the sub• stantial, horticulturally sound appearance one expects of such an institution. The color plates are elegant—suitable for framing—and the black-and-white illustra• tions of botanical details are of great assistance in distinguishing between the 25 different arum species. Of the maps, the less said the better. Perhaps a box of col• ored pencils should be included to allow purchasers to fill in the bare outlines. The text is informative and scholarly without needlessly dry pedantry, even quite lively at times (how else to characterize a description of the inflorescence of Arum italicum as "smelling strongly of stale urine or occasionally reminiscent of pineapple and citrus."?). The nomenclature includes an extensive list of syn• onyms to encompass taxonomic revisions; particulars of each species and sub• species are clearly given, with anatomy lucidly described. Pollination, germina• tion, and cultivation, both outdoors for hardy species and indoors under glass for the tender ones, are also covered.

228 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 For both botanists and gardeners, this book will be a welcome, handsome addition to the library of those interested in this genus. Judy Glattstein

Errata

Vol. 52(2): pp. 97,124 . Photos attributed to Michael Slater were taken by Jane Grushow. The editor apologizes. Vol. 52(2): p. 120. Captions are reversed for top right and bottom right photos. Vol. 52(2): Inside of back cover: The wrong address was given for Elisabeth Harmon. The correct address is 75 Middlebury Road, Watertown, CT 06795.

All the stylized drawings of troughs in this issue (p. 208, 209) and the last issue were drawn by Dick Bartlett.

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229 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 229 ORDER NOW!! at the special pre-publication price of $19.95!

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Geoffrey B. Charlesworth, a retired professor of mathematics, received the 1987 Award of Merit from the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) and its Carlton Worth Award for "distinguished writing."

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Dept 1, 2825 Cummings Road, Medford, Oregon 97501 Visitors Welcome by Appointment - Phone (503) 772-6846 SHIPPING TO U.S. and CANADA ONLY

PERENNIALS, WILD FLOWERS, ROCK GARDEN PLANTS, ^Books - rare, old, out of print CONIFERS, FLOWERING SHRUBS on rock and general gardening, land• over 1,000 varieties available at our nursery scaping, flowers, pomology, botany, Sam Bridge vegetables, and related subjects. Nursery N' Greenhouses Catalogue available. 437 North Street, Greenwich, Conn. 06830 (203) 869-3418 Calendula Rare Boob Box 930/K SORRY, NO SHIPPING Picton, Ontario K0K2T0 Canada

,<^X Serious Collectors A Distinguished Collection can find genuine, personalized service for...

Over 1500 hard to find • rare and dwarf conifers and useful varieties alpine and rock garden perennials Catalogue $4.00 ROSLYN NURSERY (refundable with first order)

211 BURRS LANE, DEPT R PORTERHOWSE DIX HILLS, N.Y. 11746 41370-R S. E.Thomas Road, Sandy, Oregon 97055 Descriptive mail order catalog Telephone/ Fax (503) 668-5834 $3.00

THE ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY

Membership of the Alpine Garden Society puts the American Alpine gardener in close touch with those throughout the world who share his interest in one of the most absorbing branches of horticulture. The Quarterly Bulletin of the A.G.S. is respected internationally as one of the most informative publica• tions of its kind. It will bring into your home a distillation of the experience and ideas of some of the finest gardeners, plant explorers, and horticultural thinkers of our time. Among the many other benefits of the Society, its uniquely comprehensive seed list alone is worth more than the modest subscription of $32.00 US. For Overseas Members Apply to: The Secretary, The Alpine Garden Society

AGS Centre, Avon Bank, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3JP, England

232 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 Rocky Mountain Gardener , Tahoma Nursery The only magazine exclusively for gardeners in the Rocky Mountain States Alpines for the Enthusiast

Rick Lupp (206) 847-9827 Alpines, Washington State Natives, Species Primulas, Troughs and Trough Plants Dwarf Shrubs

We cover topics such as growing wild- Nursery open weekends and by flowers, cold hardy cactus, alkaline soils, appointment tree and shrub varieties, low water land• scaping, short season gardening, envi• ronmental issues, composting, visiting gardens, tips from experts Send $1.00 For List and more! 28111-112th Avenue E., Graham, For a one year subscription (4 seasonal issues) Washington 98338 send $12. Two years - $20. Samples available for $4. Send payment to: RMG, PO Box 1230,Gunnison, CO 81230.

THE PRIMROSE PATH R.D. 2 Box 110 Scottdale, PA 15683

Choice and unusual perennials, alpines, woodland plants, all nursery-propagated. Specializing in new hybrids and selections from our breeding program, species Primulas and Phlox, native wildflowers, western plants adaptable to the East. Mail-order Catalog $1.50 (412) 887-6756 Primula veris

SCOTTISH ROCK GARDEN CLUB 1933 -1993 invites you to join nearly 4500 members who receive: "THE ROCK GARDEN" -our twice yearly journal, illustrated in colour, devoted to plants and dwarf bulbs suitable for the rock garden, peat garden and alpine house The ANNUAL SEED LIST with over 4000 species of plants and bulbs Our TWICE YEARLY BOOKLIST For Details of membership contact The SRGC Membership Secretary, Mrs. J. Thomlinson, 1, Hillcrest Rd., Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2EB Subscription: Ordinary Members £9 Sterling, £10 if paying by Giro, or $20US. Family Members £3.50 or $7US for each additional person. Junior Members (under 18 yrs) £3.50 or $7US. Includes participation in the SEED EXCHANGE and DISTRIBUTION.

233 American Penstemon Society f^m Learn all about the largest CO genus of flowering plants For over 20 years endemic to North America. we have specialized in Bulletins twice a year, seed dwarf Rhododendrons, exchange, round robin corre• Azaleas and dwarf coni• spondence, and yearly meet- fers. We also have one of u s*T^ ings. Join us by sending $10 New England's largestselec- to Ann Bartlett, 1569 South Holland tions of rare spe- cialty Alpines, Court, Lakewood, Colorado 80232. perfect for the trough or rock garden. Free 120-page catalog when you visit us. To send for catalog, /* H r { T Hardy Camellia include $3.00 M^J 1( V J.>^V Dwarf Conifers Sa^-t^ff-a^a _ _^ ... Rare Asian Trees to GwiELUA and Shrubs vT FOREST Catalog: $1.00 NURSERIESw, INC NURSERy 1159 Bronson Road, Fairfield, CT. 06430 125 Carolina Forest Road (203) 259-5609 (Sorry we do not mail order.) Chapel Hill. N.C. 27516

Rare wild collected seeds from Siberia, Crete, European Alps, and selected garden seeds. Send U.S. $2, in bills only, for October Catalogue. Nursery V. Jane, PO Box 1 inc. 789 61 BLUDOV P.O.Box 693 Truro MA 02666 Czech Republik Garden Shop on Depot Rd. New England grown Heather We grow the hardy cuttivars of Calluna and Erica in 4", 5 1/2" Wildflowers of the and 1 gallon pots. Excellent Southern Appalachians availability of cuttivars selected Choice, hardy, reliable, showy. for their unique foliage and FROM OUR NURSERY TO YOUR GARDEN flower color. Visit our garden be it woodland, rock, moist or dry. shop April-OctWe ship UPS the Send $3 for 2-yr. subscr. to illustrated descriptive year-round! Wholesale-Retail catalog of wildflowers, hardy ferns and perennials Color catalog loaded with all Sunlight Gardens the information you will need in 174-R5 Golden Lane selecting plants for your garden Andersonville, Tenn. 37705 only $1.00. (508)349-6769

234 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 BOX - 74 70800-OSTRAVA-8 CZECH REPUBLIC yJt s&ip afonps? anywn&w... -PGR THIS YEAR WE OFFER YOU- SUMMER-1.EXTENSIVE OFFER of Bulbs Native in Turkey, Greece.Russian Middle Asia and all Caucas. AUTOMN-2.Seeds of Alpine pi. from Turkey,Pyrenai mts. fiaxdv fwti&s * fLoatdars Kirgizia,NW China,Yugoslav. 3.Super selection of PLEIONE for aiOxmr co(or inifu Orchids-species and hybrids, garden, 4.Seeds of very Easy-to-grow Alpine spec.from cultivation. 5.Super Bid of Succulenti seeds from exped.to S.Africa. yQaths SO-katfUrd

-HIGH QUALITY and LOW PRICES- ®o% 650, CCma.'vJa. 9854-1 (206,) 482-3255 Send US % 2.in bills for Cata• SEND S.A.S.E. FOR FREE LIST. log and postage,please . NURSERY VISITORS WELCOME!

EXCITING PLANTS FROM AROUND It THE WORLD TREES, SHRUBS^0%Mir CATALOG

PERENNIALS,^// \\W $2 00 IVINES^TAI Wr (206) 574-3832 ^COLLECTOR'S NURSERY 16804 NE 102nd Ave. THE COMPLEAT Battleground, WA 98604 GARDEN ALL PLANTS NURSERY PROPAGATED CLEMATIS NURSERY Homeplace Garden MAIL ORDER CLEMATIS Exceptional List of Rhododendrons, Unusual and Hard-To-Find Varieties includes Dwarf Species and Hybrids, Small and Large Flowered Azaleas, Dwarf Conifers, Maples, In Pots and Choice Natives Wide Selection Write for Catalog, $2 1994 Descriptive Listing $1.50 Rt. 1 PO Box 300 217 Argilla Road Commerce, GA 30529 Ipswich, MA 01938-2614 Phone (706) 335-2892

235 WE-DU NURSERIES A SPECIALTY NURSERY WITH AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION, FEATURING:

American and Asiatic wildflowers; unusual perennials; rockery plants; species iris and daylilies; ferns and fern relatives; hardy and tender bulbs. All nursery propagated.

Catalogue (over 650 items) $2.00, refundable with first order. Sorry, no shipments to CA, AZ, or HI.

We enjoy having visitors; please call ahead for directions and hours.

RTE. 5, BOX 724, MARION, NC 28752-9338 TEL. (704) 738-8300

Marty and Sandy Jones

Colorado ftfyvnes, Inc Grown at 8,000' in the Rockies, our plants are hard and hardy Plants shipped in 2-1/4' pots to help insure healthy arrival and transplant Shipped regular or blue label U.P.S. Send $2 ($5 for overseas) for catalog. P.O. BOX 2708 (303) 949-6464 AVON, CO 81620

Unique and Unusual Plants "IOVCREEK 1000 Hardy Perennials Including N~/IMVJRSER • \ Penstemons, Dianthus, Salvias and Northwest Natives

Catalogue: $2.00 - Refundable With Purchase 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Bin 1- Scappoose, OR 97056

WESTERN WILDFLOWERS over 1000 varieties, nursery propagated plants WILDFLOWERS, PERENNIALS, WESTERN SHRUBS & TREES for free catalog, WRITE OR VISIT

AGUA FRIA NURSERY 1409 AGUA FRIA ST. DEPT. ARG, SANTA FE, NM 87501

236 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 PETITE ALPINES LOW-GROWING PERENNIALS SELECTED SHADE-DWELLING PLANTS Some choices are: Alliiini cyaueuui, Arabis audrosacea, Dryas octopetala 'Minor', Gypsopbila uaiia, Hyloiuecou japouicuiu, Iris gracilipes, Primula modesta alba, Seduui sieboldii, Solidago cutleri, Tiarella wherryi, and a variety of other favorites.

WOODLAND ROCKERY 6210 KLAM ROAD OTTER LAKE, MI 48464

• Mall order catalog $1.00 Shipping within USA only All plants nursery propagated

WOODLANDERS Pacific Horticulture a magazine about NURSERY GROWN TREES, SHRUBS, plants and gardens of the west PERENNIALS, SOUTHERN NATIVES & EXOTICS illustrated color quarterly Please send $2.00 for mail-order list or $3.50 to include Descriptive Catalog #2. annually, in US currency: US $15; Canada & Mexico $18; overseas $20 WOODLANDERS, DEPT. RG write to: 1128 COLLETON AVENUE Circulation Department AIKEN, SC 29801 PO Box 680, Berkeley, CA 94701

SEED GERMINATION LEWISIA THEORY AND PRACTICE 22 species and hybrids By Norman C. Deno —wide variety of flower colors The only book you need on seed germination. Extensive data on 146 families. 803 genera, and over 2000 sped83. international orders accepted Optimum condition* for germination are given for nearly every species studied. Extensive data on the effects of —retail, wholesale gibberelic add on seed germination. Extensive discussion of the theory and principles governing seed germination. Send $2 or SASE to: The second edition is priced at $20 (postpaid by surface mail anywnere in the World). Order from Norman C. Deno. 139 Lenor Drive. Rare Plant Research 13245 SE Harold State College PA 16801 USA Portland, OR 97236 USA FAX (503) 762-0289

Wild Collected and Cultivated Seed of Cushion and Saxatile Plants Send $1 for November catalog to PO Box 200483, Denver, Coloraao 80220.

237 N-A-R-G-S BOOKSTORE

Books—mostly at 80% list price

A Manual of Alpine and Rock Garden Plants*, by C. Grey-Wilson $22.00 A Utah Flora*, by Welsh $35.00 Albums*, by D. Da vies $24.00 Alpine Wildflowers, by Strickler $8.00 Alpine Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains*, by J. Duft & R. Moseley $7.00 Alpines in the Open Garden*, by Jack Elliott $23.00 Alpines*, by W. Ingwersen $45.00 Azaleas*—NEW, by Galle $56.00 Bitterroot—NEW, by J. DeSanto $10.50 Bulbs*, by J. Bryan $90.00 Cape Bulbs*—NEW, by Doutt $28.00 Colorado Flora—Eastern Slope, by Weber $22.00 Colorado Flora—Western Slope, by Weber $22.00 Crocus & Colchicum*, by E.A. Bowles $13.00 Cuttings from a Rock Garden*, by H. Line Foster & L.L. Foster $23.00 Daffodils*, by D. Barnes $18.00 Dictionary of Plant Names*, by A. J. Coombes $8.00 Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers, by E. Pratt $10.50 Flora of the Great Plains*, by Great Plains Flora Assoc $50.00 Flora of the Pacific Northwest*, by Hitchcock & Cronquist $50.00 Flowers of Wyomings Big Horn Mtns & Big Horn Basin, by E. R. Jensen $13.00 Gardener's Guide to Growing Hardy Geraniums*—NEW, by Bath & Jones $24.00 Gardener's Guide to Growing Hellebores*, by Rice & Strangman $20.00 Gardening with Native Wildflowers*, by S.B. James & L.E. Foote $25.00 Gentians*, by F. Kohlein $23.00 Hardy Heather Species, by Metheny $25.00 Hardy Orchids*, by P. Cribbs & C. Bailes $38.00 Hillier's Guide to Connoisseur's Plants*, by Toogood & Glover $31.00 Hosta*, by Grenfell $30.00 Index of Garden Plants*—NEW, by Griffiths $48.00 Japonica Magnifica*, by D. Elick & R. Booth $120.00 Iris*, by Kohlein $27.00 Manual of Cultivated Conifers*, by Krussmann $52.00 Manual of Saxifrages*, by D. A. Webb & R.J. Gornall $40.00 Manual of Vascular Flora of the Carolinas*, by Bell $24.00 Meconopsis*, by J.L.S. Cobb $23.00 Miniature Gardens*, by J. Carl, trans. M. Krai $21.00 Modern Miniature Daffodil Species & Hybs.*, by J. Wells $26.00 Narcissus*, by W. Jefferson-Brown $28.00 Orchids of the Western Great Lakes*, by F. Case $26.00 Plant Hunting on the Edge of the World, by F. Kingdon-Ward $8.00 Plant Propagation Made Easy, by Toogood $13.00 Plants of Waterton-Glacier National Park, by Shaw & On $7.00 Poppies*—NEW, by Grey-Wilson $26.00 Prairie Wildflowers, by Strickler $7.25

238 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 52:3 N-A-R-G-S BOOKSTORE Primula*—NEW, by Richards $40.00 Propagation of Alpine Plants and Dwarf Bulbs, by B. Halliwell $20.00 Rainbow Bridge, by R. Farrer $8.00 Rare and Endangered Plants of Oregon, by Eastman $12.00 Rare Plants of Colorado, by Colorado Native Plant Soc $8.25 Rock Gardening, by H. Line. Foster $18.00 Rocky Mountain Alpines*, by Alpines 86 Int'l Conference $30.00 Saxifrages*, by F. Kohlein $25.00 The Alpine House*, by R. Rolfe $22.00 The Crocus*, by B. Mathew $20.00 The Bernard Harkness Seedlist Handbook, 2nd Ed., by Harkness et al $23.00 The Dolomites, by R. Farrer $8.00 The Genus Cyclamen*, by C. Grey-Wilson $22.00 The Genus Hosta*, by W. G. Schmid $48.00 The Genus Lewisia*, by B. Mathew $23.00 The Genus Pleione*, by P. Cribb & I. Butterfield $25.00 The Genus Primula, by J. Halda $32.00 The Hosta Book 2nd Ed, by Aden $14.50 The Iris of China*, by Waddick & Yu-tang $23.00 The Iris*, by Brian Mathew $23.00 The Opinionated Gardener*, by G. Charlesworth $14.00 The Rock Garden and its Plants*, by G. S. Thomas $26.00 Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest—NEW, by D. Strickler $16.00 Wildflowers of North Carolina, by W. S. Justice & C.R. Bell $14.00 Wildflowers of SW Utah, by Buchanan $5.50 Wildflowers of the Northern Great Plains, by F. R. Vance et.al $13.00 Wildflowers of the Western Cascades, by R.A. Ross & H.L. Chambers $15.00

Please mail inquiries and orders to: Ernie O'Byrne North American Rock Garden Society Bookstore 86813 Central Road, Eugene, OR 97402 USA

Please print name and address clearly. Country of origin and postal code must be included. Allow 8-12 weeks for overseas shipment. Orders must be prepaid in US dollars by check on a US bank or by intl. money order (VISA and MC accepted—include signature, date of exp., and full acct. #). Add postage and handling

First Book, US $3.00 Outside US $5.00 Each Additional Book $2.50 This is a partial listing. For additional titles, see previous bulletins, or write

239 Chapter Chairpersons Adirondack Bill Plummer, 10 Fox Lane East, Painted Post, NY 14870 Allegheny Al Deurbrouck, 6915 Hilldale Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Berkshire Doroyth Clark, Route 1, Box 58, Stamford, NY 12167 Calgary/ Alberta Sheila Paulsen, 6960 Leaside Dr., SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Columbia-Willamette Don Howse, 41370 SE Thomas Road, Sandy, OR 97055 Connecticut Sally Katkaveck, 82 Ashford Road, Ashford, CT 06278-9609 Delaware Valley Jane Grushow, 213 Meadow Valley Road, Ephrata, PA 17522 Emerald Loren Russell, 3420 SW Willamette, Corvallis, OR 97330 Gateway June Hutson, 10601 Knollside Circle, St. Louis, MO 62123 Great Lakes Tony Reznicek, 890 Wickfield Court, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Hudson Valley Thomas Stuart, PO Box 517, Croton Falls, NY 10519 Long Island Shelley Herlich, 43 Greenfield Lane, Commack, NY 11725 Fred Knapp, 58 Kaintuck Lane, Locust Valley, NY 11560 Manhattan Lawrence Thomas, 340 E. 74th, #11G, New York, NY 10021 Minnesota Steve Roos, 311 Sunnydale Ln. S.E., Rochester, MN 55904 Mt. Tahoma Steven Hootman, 7714 196th St. SW, Edmund, WA 98026 New England Stuart Sotman, 73 Mt. Vernon St., West Roxbury, MA 02132 Newfoundland Bodil Larsen, Box 50517, SS#3, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 4M2 Northwestern Judith Jones, 1911 Fourth Ave. W., Seattleo, WA 98119 Ohio Valley Barbara Abler, 990 Blind Brook Dr., Worthington, OH 43235 Ontario Andrew Osyany, Box 146, Shelburne, Ontario, L0N ISO, Canada Ottawa Valley Lois Addison, 201 Wagon Dr., Box 9015, RR 1 Dunrobin, Ont. KOA 1T0 Canada Piedmont Norman Beal, 2324 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27708 Potomac Valley Robert Faden, 415 E. Mason Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301 Rocky Mountain Marilyn Raff, 8055 W. Ontario Place, Littleton, CO 80123 Shasta Barbara Coatney, PO Box 160, Etna, CA 96027 Siskiyou Barbara Lane, 2945 Lone Pine Road, Medford, OR 97504 Southern Appalachian Furman (Frank) Strang, 105 Albany Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830 Watnong Jeanne Will, Rd. 2, Box 119, Chester, NJ 07930 Wasatch Bruce Grable, 2166 Wellington, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 Western Jana Olson Dobrinsky, 917 Avis Dr., El Cerrito, CA 94530 Wisconsin-Illinois Jack Ferreri, 3118 Timber Lane, Verona, WI 53593 Bulletin Staff Editor Gwen Kelaidis (303) 322-1410 1410 Eudora Street, Denver, Colorado 80220 Advertising Manager Al Deurbrouck (412) 653-0281 6915 Hilldale Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236 Proofreading Assistants Barbara and Ted Cochrane, Madison, Wisconsin Anne Spiegel, Wappingers Falls, New York Bernice Petersen, Littleton, Colorado Editorial Advisors Rochelle Herlich, Commack, New York Grazyna Grauer, Columbus, Ohio Guest Artists Cindy Nelson-Nold Panayoti Kelaidis Joann Knapp Bob Means Wayne Kittredge Sue Olsen Jaroslav Faiferlik Dick Bartlett Rebecca Day-Skowron Officers. President James L. Jones (617) 862-9506 45 Middle Street, Lexington, MA 02173 Vice President Patricia Bender (206) 364-1561 4123 NE 186th Street, Seattle, WA 98155 Recording Secretary Alice Lauber (206) 363-7357 18922 45th Place NE, Seattle, WA 98155 Treasurer Robert Mills (609) 924-5003 150 Prospect Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540 Administrative Director-at-Large Joann Knapp (516) 671-6590 58 Kaintuck Lane, Locust Valley, NY 11560 Immediate Past President Norman Singer, North Sandisfield, Massachusetts President Emeritus Harold Epstein, Larchmont, New York

Directors of the Board- mi—-1995 Panayoti Kelaidis, Denver, Colorado Margery Edgren, Woodside, California Ev Whittemore, Penrose, North Carolina 1993— 1996 Joann Knapp, Locust Valley, New York Bobby Wilder, Raleigh, North Carolina Lawrence Thomas, New York, New York 1994— 1997 Brian Bixley, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Jack Ferreri, Verona Wisconsin Micheal Moshier, Seattle, Washington

Managers Executive Secretary Jacques Mommens (914) 762-2948 PO Box 67, Millwood, NY 10546 Seed Exchange Elisabeth Harmon (203) 274-0290 75 Middlebury Road, Watertown, CT 06795 Bookstore Ernest O'Byrne (503) 935-3915 86813 Central Road, Eugene, OR 97402 Archivist Marnie Flook (410) 778-4038 23746 Lovely Lane, Chestertown, MD 21620 Slide Collection William Plummer (607) 962-2640 10 Fox Lane East, Painted Post, NY 14870 Library Janet Evans, c/o Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 325 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

You are invited to join the North American Rock Garden Society. Membership includes a subscription to the Bulletin and participation in the seed exchange, as well as other benefits. Annual dues: US $25; UK £17; Canada $32. Payment by check on a US bank, International Money Order, VISA, MC, or check in appropriate currency from coun• try listed above. General Membership, $25 (domestic or foreign, single or joint); Patron, $75; Life Member, 40-59 years old, $500; over 60 years old, $450. Membership inquiries and dues should be sent to Executive Secretary, NARGS, PO Box 67, Millwood, NY 10546. Address editorial matters pertaining to the Bulletin to the Editor. Advertising matters should be addressed to the Advertising Manager, 6915 Hilldale Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15236. The Bulletin is published quarterly by the North American Rock Garden Society, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. Second Class postage is paid in Millwood, New York and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society, (ISSN 0003 0864), PO Box 67, Millwood, NY 10546.