Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society

Volume 48 Number 3 Summer 1990 Cover: Phlox divaricata 'Eco Regal' Painting by Carolyn Crawford, of Louisville, Colorado. A photograph by Don Jacobs served as her model. Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society

Features

Tracking the Timber Phlox, by Don L. Jacobs 163

Pinellias, by James Rugh 169

Arabis, by Vaclav Plestil 173

Rock Garden Plants of Kansas, by James H. Locklear 181

Plant Goals, by Geoffrey Charlesworth 187

Learning to Grow Porophyllum Saxifrages,

by Steve Doonan and Phil Pearson 193

A Secret Structure with Rolling Stones, by Nicholas Klise 211

Rock Gardening with Friends, by Judy Glattstein 215 Departments

The Seed Exchange 218 Troughs: Hypertufa Update, by Lawrence Thomas 220 Propagation: Cuttings in Plastic Bags, by Jerry Cobb Colley 225 Shows: Tally, Don't Dally!, by James Jones 226 Books 228 Phlox pihsa 'Moody Blue', left; P. divaricata 'Fuller's White', right

162 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Tracking the Timber Phlox by Don L. Jacobs

Of the nearly 70 kinds of phlox But, like all plants, phlox do not recognized as distinct species by most occur in nature as species. They occur botanists, only one is native outside as infinitely variable individuals. Only North America. Phlox sibirica appar• groups of individuals produced by ently escaped from its nearest relatives successive vegetative propagations in Alaska by crossing the Bering Strait from a single original individual are more than 100,000 years ago, before likely to be completely uniform in the great Pleistocene ice sheets elimi• their genetic make-up, and in their nated that migration route. Today, it is performance in a specific garden envi• a fairly uniform, small, woody species ronment. Such a group, or clone, growing over a wide range in Siberia. constitutes a cultivar, which is likely to The other species make up a very be given a precise name. This name is diverse, mostly perennial group scat• not to be used for any other plants of tered over all of North America from that species, although it may be Mexico to northern Alaska and Cana• assigned to other unrelated cultivars, da. There are phlox native to each of for example, Rosa 'President Lincoln' 49 states. The native flora of Georgia and Rhododendron 'President includes 13 species and 6 additional Lincoln'. Cultivars may differ not only subspecies, as ascribed by Dr. Edgar in visible traits such as color, size, and Wherry. Several additional species are shape, but also, or only, in invisible grown in our gardens, and some of traits revealed by cold-tolerance, these have escaped and become natu• drought-resistance, etc. ralized. Most notable of these is the If a gardener says, "Oh, yes, I am northern moss phlox, Phlox subula- growing Phlox divaricata," he isn't ta, which is superficially difficult to telling us very much. This species, distinguish from Phlox nivalis, our called the timber phlox by Dr. Wherry, southern pine phlox, or thrift, with has one of the widest ranges found in which it hybridizes. this genus. It occurs from eastern

Tracking the Timber Phlox 163 Texas to central Minnesota, across the tions at each of the range extremities. southern Great Lakes and Canada to In the Texas-Louisiana area, Vermont, and south to Georgia, and notched petals are virtually unknown, in much of the circumscribed territory. plants are most robust in spring, but, It is highly variable, and gardeners in uniquely, go dormant in summer. each part of our country are likely to Only here are deep purple and dark be acquainted with only a few of its blue flower color the rule. In western variations. If major geographic barri• Pennsylvania, notched petals and light ers (a mountain range or ocean) had lavenders prevail. In southern formed to divide the populations of Minnesota, unnotched, light blue to Phlox divaricata, we would undoubt• lavender-blue is characteristic. edly have separated and named at In southwest Georgia, from the Flint least two species. In fact, however, the to the Chattahoochee Rivers, petals differences exist in rather continuous are not notched, and red-eyed flowers series from one region to the next, prevail. The petal ground color is because of freely interbreeding popu• usually some shade of lavender or lations, so no one has been able to light purple. About 1950, Mrs. J. ascertain where to draw lines to sepa• Norman Henry introduced her Phlox rate species in this complex. divaricata 'Chattahoochee' from near From north Georgia to Michigan, the Florida-Georgia border. Edgar southern Canada, and New York Wherry states, in The Genus Phlox, Phlox divaricata characteristically has "Recently Mrs. J. Norman Henry has distinctly notched petals, averages placed in the trade as 'Chatta• 10"-12" in height, and has flowering hoochee' clones of t. laphami [sic] shoots with glandular hairs, and rather from the valley of that name in north• blunt-pointed leaves. These plants ern Florida, with deep violet corolla- comprise P. divaricata as originally limb and intense purple eye-ring." described. To the west, from central It is significant that Dr. Wherry used Georgia to east Texas, and north to the plural clones, indicating that the Minnesota and Wisconsin, plants collected material was not genetically characteristically have unnotched uniform, and therefore represents a petals, average taller (12"-15"), and color type but not a single clone. To have upper leaves more taper-point• complicate this situation, at least two ed. These plants have been designat• cultivars which are definitely not ed as subspecies laphamii. forms of Phlox divaricata are avail• In the northwest corner of Georgia, able through several mail order nurs• a particularly diverse group of wood• eries as Phlox 'Chattahoochee'. They land phlox occurs. Each clump may are each very attractive in their own have a unique combination of flower right, and worthy of independent color, petal width, petal notching, recognition. plant height, and hairiness, but all are One of these imposters, a non- physiologically adapted to the same divaricata cultivar, is a decumbent environment. From this diverse popu• plant with thick, firm, dark green, lation, the different traits appear to roughly hairy, tapered leaves, less sort out into more uniform popula• than one quarter inch wide at the

164 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) base, and with margins rolled under. amoena or P. divaricata. The petals are rounded and purplish- Mounting evidence indicates a blue with a contrasting violet-red eye. British garden origin for this cultivar; it Unlike Phlox divaricata, this plant was probably a spontaneous hybrid in does not root freely at the nodes, and the early 1970s. Will Ingwersen it bears no gland-tipped hairs on its published his Manual of Alpine flowering shoots. In fact, it resembles Plants in 1978 to commemorate the Phlox divaricata only in flower Golden Jubilee of his Birch Farm color. In vegetative characters, it most Nursery. By his statements, we know closely approaches Phlox amoena the writing was done within the two ssp. lighthipei, to which it is similar in prior years. He states in his list of leaf shape, texture, hairiness, lack of phloxes: "x 'Chattahoochee'. Possibly glands, non-rooting decumbent stems, a hybrid between P. divaricata and P. and petal shape. The rich P. divarica• pilosa. A recent introduction and a ta fragrance is absent from both this splendid plant." Here Mr. Ingwersen cultivated plant and Phlox amoena ignored his earlier reference, "I am ssp. lighthipei itself. Furthermore, indebted to the admirable monograph both plants commonly exhibit purple of the genus Phlox written by Dr. stems and undersides of leaves, Edgar Wherry, and published in seldom seen in P. divaricata. 1955." Wherry unequivocally identi• I have obtained this plant from fied 'Chattahoochee' as a selection of several different nursery sources, P. divaricata ssp. laphamii, not a including Holbrook Nursery, Fletcher, hybrid. I find no record of the Ing• North Carolina, but none could estab• wersen plant known as 'Chatta• lish an origin for it. Despite the hoochee' in the USA prior to 1980, resemblance, it is not a simple selec• nor do I have information as to who tion from P. a. ssp. lighthipei. It is supplied him with it. Allen Bush of most likely a garden hybrid of that Holbrook Nursery introduced it here species with an eyed P. subulata or at about that time. At this point, it P. pilosa. The eye of the hybrid is becomes obvious that the plant needs composed of a pair of purple bars at a cultivar name. I will leave it to the the base of each petal, making it nurseries propagating and distributing sharply defined. This is characteristic the plant to choose a new name. of eyed forms of P. pilosa and P. I first observed a second aberrant subulata, but eyes in P. divaricata phlox at an ARGS plant show as a diffuse onto the petals. Phlox divari• superior specimen exhibited by cata is a species of mature floodplain Howard Porter of Connecticut under woods and surroundings, whereas the the name x 'Chattahoochee'. As with chalice phloxes {P. amoena) are sand• the P. amoena hybrid above, many hill, and more exposed upland plants. gardeners express familiarity with this The blue flower color of the hybrid second plant, indicate it has had a distinguishes it from its likely relatives, short stay in their garden, and believe whose flowers are pink to mauve. It it was a clone from Mrs. Henry's has hairs on its flower tubes as found collections. This is not possible since in some Phlox pilosa, but not in P. this second plant is clearly a form of

Tracking the Timber Phlox 165 Phlox pilosa. A characteristically able, red-purple-eyed, bluish form. detailed drawing of this plant, by The flower is outstanding, not only for Laura Louise Foster, appeared on the its sharply-defined reddish eye, but cover of the ARGS Bulletin in 1975, also for the blue ground color of the while Howard Porter was editor. petals on a strictly erect plant (photo, This May, new light was finally shed p. 223). Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery on the identity and origins of this is again propagating this plant and will phlox as, with immeasurable delight, I henceforth sell it under the new name opened a carton from Baldassare P. pilosa ssp. fulgida 'Moody Blue'. Mineo of Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery. Finally, we come to the problem of It contained a specimen of the plant Mrs. Henry's 'Chattahoochee'. The which they have distributed since the name apparently was based on a mid-1970s as 'Chattahoochee'. This collection of several similar plants, matched in every detail my memory definitely belonging to the P. divari• of Howard Porter's plant. I can now cata complex. According to Miss confidently assign it to P. pilosa ssp. Henry, daughter of Mrs. J. Norman fulgida, the glistening prairie phlox. Henry, and current Director of the This subspecies was first collected Henry Foundation, there have been near Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the no verifiable descendents of the origi• northernmost segregate of P. pilosa, nal collections at the Foundation for a ranging from Alberta to Wisconsin, number of years. Plants purchased Illinois, and Nebraska. Apart from its from other nurseries for reintroduc- conspicuous hairiness, including even tion have included the two plants the flower tubes, it is distinct in other discussed above. Other specimens ways from all forms of P. divaricata. were similar to Mrs. Henry's original Flower tubes of P. divaricata are collections. Taking into consideration always hairless, but stems, leaves, and the confusion surrounding this cultivar sepals bear gland-tipped hairs. No name, I recommend using the term gland-tipped hairs occur on P. pilosa "Chattahoochee type" (photo, p. ssp. fulgida. Other characteristics that 222), and assigning new, precise culti• align this phlox with P. pilosa and var names for red-eyed P. divaricata separate it from P. divaricata are that forms. For several years I have propa• it has a vigorous, erect habit, without gated a clone which I have named P. stems rooting at the nodes; there is an divaricata 'Eco Regal' (photo, p. 222) absence of broad-leaved sterile shoots; from a West Georgia collection made and the broadest leaves are near the between the Flint and the Chatta• inflorescence. hoochee Rivers. Compared to other The P. pilosa complex is second plants of the type, this cultivar is taller only to P. divaricata in the extent of (15"), larger-flowered (1.5" diameter), its range and exceeds that species in and has a purple-blue ground, with a north-to-south distribution, and in contrasting violet-red eye in a pale morphological diversity. Wherry zone. It exudes a rich fragrance. It recognized at least seven subspecies. epitomizes the 'Chattahoochee' type. The plant of Howard Porter and Wherever Phlox divaricata occurs, Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery is a desir• albinos may appear, but they are rare.

166 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) The best-known cultivar is 'Fuller's conditions readily, but our usually high White', a northern, deeply-notched rainfall leaches nutrients and induces form that does not perform as well in increasing acidity. Frequent light Piedmont Georgia as it does in the applications of lime and a balanced glaciated areas north of here (photo, fertilizer will therefore make our p. 221) 'Eco Notchless White' was timber phlox happier here. Some selected from northwest Georgia cultivars can even tolerate full-sun seedlings and is a dependable exposure, if year-round moisture is performer here (photo, p. 221). adequate. With such versatility there Other desirable cultivars, all with should be cultivars to please every delightful fragrance include 'Eco Blue gardener. Moon', a superior 10"-12" blue with broad, overlapping rounded petals, sometimes six (photo, p. 221), and Reference 'Eco Texas Purple', with large, dark- purple flowers with red-violet eyes, to Wherry, Edgar. The Genus Phlox. Associ• 15" (photo, p. 223). No clear pink ates of the Morris Arboretum: Philadel• flowers have been observed in this phia. 1955. species, but they may occur some• where. Once superior cultivars are ob• tained, every effort should be made to perpetuate them, but we must not put all our eggs in a few baskets. Natural seedling production, both among selected garden forms, and in wild communities, should be encouraged and monitored to ensure the fullest potential of timber phlox for the Don Jacobs is a pioneer rock gardener in future. the Southeastern Uplands. His garden, near Stone Mountain, Georgia, has served Throughout its range, the timber as a laboratory testing a broad range of phlox seems to prefer stabilized, traditional alpines under southerly skies. wooded, flood plains, wet from fall He has sought out little known natives in through spring, but quite dry in their haunts throughout the South. He has summer. The deciduous trees that also travelled and introduced ferns, hardy dominate such habitats are leafless gesneriads and other novelties from as far from fall until midspring, and this is away as the mountains of Southwestern when the phlox are most active. Mois• China, and distributes his plants by mail ture is abundant, sunlight is unimped• order through Eco-Gardens. He has a ed, though less intense than in PhD in ecology, and formerly taught plant geography and ecology in Georgia and summer, and temperatures are cool, Minnesota. but conducive to sturdy growth. The soil is moderately fertile and near neutral, never strongly acid. Gardens in the Southeast can furnish these Illustration by Rob Proctor.

Tracking the Timber Phlox 167 168 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Pinellias

by James Rugh

All right, I admit it: I'm rather fond The genus Pinellia is an obscure of odd plants. That said, I'm attracted branch of the aroid tribe, in the to the aroids. Deni Bown, in her book subfamily Aroideae. The genus was Aroids, points out that, "if you rid named in 1830 by an Italian, Michele yourself of ideas of prettiness the inflo• Tenore, and it is so closely related to rescence can be appreciated for its Arisaema that it almost takes a sculptural quality, an almost space-age botanist to separate the two. The attention to line and form which is at main difference is that Arisaema the same time primitive in its symbol• ovaries always have two or more ism." However, let's face it; a family ovules in each locule, but Pinellia has with plants that have hoods and ovaries with a single ovule. In other tongues and smell vile is just plain odd. words, Arisaema berries usually have The huge aroid family is more two or more seeds, but Pinellia common than many suppose. It berries have just one. There are other includes such familiar house plants as differences, but to the casual observer Monstera deliciosa, economic plants they are not noticeable. such as sweet flag {Acorus calamus) There are six species. Of these, and taro {Alocasia and Colocasia), as Pinellia integrifolia, P. cordata, P. well as ornamentals, such as calla peltata, and P. pedatlsecta are native lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) and to China. Pinellia tripartita is Caladium. An aroid species familiar endemic to Japan, and Pinellia to many American gardeners is the ternata is widespread across China, native jack-in-the-pulpit, an arisaema. Japan, and Korea. Like all aroids, the "flower" is actually Every plant family seems to have a an inflorescence; a modified leaf (the black sheep or two. Unfortunately for "pulpit") surrounds a spadix or shaft Pinellia, one plant has caused many (the "Jack"), around which are found gardeners to avoid the entire genus small, primitive flowers. for fear it may be weedy. Let's get

169 the black sheep out of the way first. species. From it the drug tubera ari is It's Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breiten- extracted. Studies of the drug have bach, and it appears to have been the shown that it does relieve nausea. first species described. That was in However, it can be poisonous in 1784, and it was originally named quantity. The Chinese recommend Arum ternatum. Tenore then listed it ginger as an antidote. as Pinellia tuberifera when he split The Japanese endemic, P. triparti- the genus. The rules of nomenclature ta, is similar in appearance to P. support the first species name given, ternata. It has broad, green, 6"-8" and thus the plant is now known as leaves with three lobes. The leaves are Pinellia ternata. In its region of not divided into separate leaflets as in origin, it is found in a wide variety of P. ternata, and they are twice as habitats, including cultivated fields and large. The center lobe can be up to 6" along roadways. It has even been long, the side lobes smaller. The reported growing beside the Great spathe is pale green and glossy on the Wall of China. It is a small plant, 4"-6" outside, light purple and covered with tall, and has green, three-segmented wart-like projections on the inside. leaves 6"-8" long that are oblong-ellip• The spadix forms a thin tail that tic to ovate-lanceolate in shape. Often extends 4"-6" above the spathe. Like the juvenile leaves are entire. Each all members of the family, it forms a segment is about 2" long. A narrow, small underground tuber and blooms 3"-long, pinched, green inflorescence in summer. It does not form bulbils. with a purple cast is produced on a The smallest member of the family scape that rises above the leaves. A is P. integrifolia, at 6" tall. It can be slender spadix extends out and recognized by its sharply pointed upward an inch or two beyond the leaves, which are ovate and unlobed. slightly hooded spathe. An extended The tiny green spathe is just over 1" spadix is a common feature of the long with a spadix extending not genus, and it is believed that this more than half an inch above the directs insects to the flower parts spathe. Pinellia peltata is the most hidden within the spathe. recently described species, first What makes this plant unwelcome published in 1935. It has leaves to some gardeners is its habit of shaped like a shield. It is rarely forming bulbils at the base of every referred to in the literature. stalk near the soil surface. Some We now come to a real gem, growers report that it pops up every• Pinellia cordata. The late H. Lincoln where, while others do not find it so Foster grew this in his alpine house invasive. I have found it easy to pull and pronounced it a real beauty with up—some of the wild seeders are far a scented bloom. I second his assess• harder to control [Aquilegia comes to ment, although I find the odor very mind). faint. In Japan, it is grown as a pot In China, pinellias are used medici• plant, and this has caused it to be nally to cure vomiting, malaria, reported as native to Japan. It actual• toothache, and earache. Pinellia ly comes from southeastern and east• ternata is the most commonly used ern China, and it has proven hardy in

170 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Key to the Species of Pinellia (Based on a key to the Chinese species, supplied by the Beijing Botanical Garden and translated by Dr. Shiu-Yang Hu.)

1. Leaves simple 2. Leaves not peltate 3. Leaves ovate or oblong, base not cordate P. integrifolia 3. Leaves elongate-triangular, oblong-ovate or sagittate, purple beneath, base cordate, bul• bils form at junction of leaf and stalk P. cordata 2. Leaves peltate, ovate or oblong P. peltata 1. Leaves trilobate or palmately parted 4. Leaves lobed or cut in threes 5. Leaves cut to base in three parts; plant 4"-6" tall 6. Lobes not linear, bulbils form at base of stalk P. ternata f. ternata 6. Lobes linear P. t. f. angustata 5. Leaves only lobed in threes; plant 5.75"-7.75" tall; endemic to Japan 7. Spathe light purple inside P. tripartita f. tripartita 7. Spathe deep purple inside P tripartita f. atropurpurea 4. Leaves palmately parted, like the fingers of a hand P. pedatisecta zone 5 gardens in New England. with a pale purple interior. The Considering its small size, the spathe ends in two blunt tips which genus Pinellia offers an amazing cuive over the top. The spadix is thin array of leaf shapes. The leaf of and extends out of the spathe at an Pinellia cordata is quite striking and angle, then bends and shoots very handsome. It has an undivided, skyward. This one also forms bulbils, heart-shaped leaf (some of the other both on the stalk near the soil surface species produce cordate leaves when and at the junction of the leaf and the immature) and is the only one with stalk. They are horned, perhaps to variegated leaves. The leaves are catch in the fur of passing animals. glaucous, often reaching a length of Considering what a choice plant this 6", held on pink or purple petioles. is, I don't imagine many would find The undersides of the leaves have a the bulbils objectionable. pronounced purple cast. The upper The most stately member of the sides are dark, glossy green with the group is Pinellia pedatisecta. It was vein network clearly defined and originally described as a subspecies of nearly white. P. ternata. Having grown both, I see It comes up early and soon pushes very little similarity. This native of up a very small, pale green spathe eastern China is hardy at least to

Pinellias 171 zone 5. Like all members of the phlox is finished blooming and forms genus it grows best in rich, well- a green carpet. Letting the Pinellia drained, woodland conditions. Its leaf grow through this light cover adds an is so different from the single leaf of exciting summer interest to an other• P. cordata that, out of flower, you wise dull area. would hardly suspect the two are Arisaemas are often functionally related. Pinellia pedatisecta self-sterile, but not Pinellia. The produces lush, ten-segmented leaf seeds of P. pedatisecta mature rapid• fans 2* tall. The separate bloom stalks ly and by September the bloom stalk reach 3' and have the typical, narrow, flops. The white berries can be pinched, green Pinellia scapes, 9" collected and the seeds removed and long. There is an amazingly strong sown fresh. If kept warm, they will resemblance to our native Arisaema often germinate in a few weeks. They dracontium. can also be stratified moist over In New England, Pinellia pedati• winter in a refrigerator. During the secta does not show itself above first year a tiny tuber and a single leaf ground until mid-June but then grows are produced. The immature leaves rapidly and is in full bloom just three are usually cordate. Each year the leaf or four weeks later. It will come up gets larger and begins to take on the through low, early spring bloomers. I mature characteristics of the particu• planted a clump in a bed of Phlox lar species. After four or five years stolonifera f. alba. By June, the the plant will be of blooming size.

Acknowledgement Z.M. Zhang of the Beijing Botanical Garden graciously provided information on the Chinese species. Jennifer Quigley of the Arnold Arboretum kindly obtained Chinese reference literature.

References Brown, Deni. 1988. Aroids. Portland: Timber Press. Foster, Laura Louise. 1987. "Pinellia: Harper's Poison, Hamilton's Meat." Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society 45(4): 201-202. Glattstein, Judy. 1987. "Hardy Aroids in the Garden." Arnoldia Vol. 47(2): 27-34.

Jim Rugh is a very active member of the New England Chapter of ARGS and is editor of their newsletter. He gardens in Northborough, Massachusetts.

Drawings by Dick Bartlett.

172 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Arabis

by Vaclav Plestil

The genus Arabis is a widely bluntly-dentate leaves, covered by conceived one with more than 100 scattered, short, stiff bristles, and held species. With the sound of the name, close to the ground. The flowers have most of us immediately think of petals a bit narrower than in A. Arabis caucasica, commonly grown caucasica and are in a loose raceme as a border plant, or even as carpets on a stalk 20-25 cm tall, with one to over graves in cemeteries. It is really several stalks per rosette. In the a good groundcover for drier places garden, it does well if planted in and poor, alkaline or neutral soils, moister places in a well-aerated soil and is even tolerant of partial shade. mix with a good part of limestone. It There exist forms and cultivars with is always short-lived in the garden, lilac flowers and double flowers, and and thus it should be retained by cultivars with variegated foliage. For a continual repeated sowing. In my smaller rock garden, it is a bit too opinion, it is a plant for collectors. robust and fast-spreading, but it is But I am writing about it because always worth having some small there is another closely related colony somewhere in the garden. species, A. pieninica. This plant is Propagating by cuttings or layerings endemic to a very small area of Trias- is easy. sic limestone on the border of Closely related is our European Slovakia and Poland, a bit eastwards Arabis alpina. It is a dweller of moist of the High Tatras. It inhabits cliffs places, brook sides, and moist screes and crevices along the river Dunajec. at upper elevations of the Alps and Arabis pieninica is smaller and dain• the Carpathians, always preferring tier than A. caucasica, forming simi• limestone. This plant does not form lar carpets of grayish green rosettes, large, cushion-like colonies, but only its white-flowered stalks only 10-15 one to several loose rosettes of vivid, cm tall. This plant is easy in the pale green, sinuate or irregularly garden and easily adaptable even to

173 harsh conditions—and in contrast to survive and be beautiful both in A. caucasica, it is more shade toler• scorching sun and in shade, on nearly ant, not becoming lax and loose. It is pure limestone grit or even on pine easy both from cuttings and seed. leafmold, which is very acidic. As it Another medium-sized European self-sows well, only one care need be species is A. muralis, with lilac to taken—from time to time remove all pale mauve flowers in dense, spike• surplus seedlings. like racemes on 20-25 cm high Another interesting and often- stems. Leaves are appressed to the grown group of plants is the alliance ground, arranged in rosettes which of species around A. soyeri. All of are not too dense, rather similar to these plants come from corners of those of A. aJpina. However, the the Alps and have spatulate or nearly leaves are leathery, dull green to rounded, ovate to obovate, signifi• bronze-tinged, and a bit glossy on the cantly petioled leaves, arranged in surface, with short, stiff hairs loosely more or less dense rosettes about 4-6 scattered over their surface. This cm across. The leaves are in most plant is often only biennial. For us it cases a bit leathery, glabrous, and is significant that this species often glossy. In A. soyeri ssp. jacquinii, mistakenly appears in seed exchanges which is most often grown, the leaves in place of the more desirable Arabls are grassy green and regularly blepharophylla, even in many botan• arranged. Arabis caerulescens seems ical garden exchanges. But it is a very to prefer more sun and a drier spot. modest and well-meaning plant, able There are numerous forms and vari• to survive even under conditions eties, sometimes listed as separate where only the hardiest semper- species, but if you have one of these vivums will grow. in your garden, you have them all. Sometimes here and there seed of Another quite different group are A. japonica is offered, now correctly the plants forming carpets composed called A. stelleri var. japonica. This of smaller rosettes, mostly less than 4 is a lovely, smaller plant, so often cm across. Many species grow in only biennial, but self-sowing well in southeastern Europe, some in the the rock garden. Most beautiful are Alps, and nearly all of them are very plants with very regular, single lovely and desirable alpines. Arabis rosettes of a darker, bluish-green, aubrietioides can sometimes be ligulate leaves loosely crenate on their obtained from specialized nurseries. margins, and always appressed to the Its ash-gray to greenish leaves really ground. The flowers are smaller than do recall some species of the related in the previous species, but numer• genus Aubrieta. The flowers are ous, and held densely together in white. Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi short, cylindrical to conical inflores• from Bulgaria is a dainty species with cences. The entire plant is usually small, grayish-green rosettes arranged only about 10 cm high at flowering in a dense cushion and white flowers time, up to 15-18 cm in the fruiting on stalks 5-8 cm high. stage. Its tolerance of very variable Some time ago, two species from conditions is admirable, as it can the Alps were grown here more

174 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) commonly and were offered as excel• the segregate genus Boechera lent plants for beginners! One is (named to honor the author of Flora Arabis x sturii with small, grass- of Greenland, Tyge W. Bocher), green rosettes of lanceolate, more or seem to be very different. None of less blunt-tipped leaves only 15-20 these is carpet- or cushion-forming. cm long, rapidly increasing into The majority of the species are colonies over a foot across on lime• perennial with a branched caudex, stone. The second species, unidenti• often becoming more or less woody, fied, seems to prefer more moisture, and forming rich, dense clumps of and its leaf rosettes are densely silky- rosettes on its branchlets. Many of hairy to tomentose in a sunny posi• these plants are lovely and worth tion. In both plants, the flowers are in having in the rock garden. Several loose racemes, irregular, pure and have become a constant part of shining white; neither is usually more plantings in our rock gardens here. than 8-10 cm high. I like them very Perhaps most popular and most much. Arabis androsacea also often seen in rock gardens is A. belongs here, another lovely species blepharophylla, introduced into our forming only small, more or less country about 25 years ago. Its dense cushions, with white flowers on magenta flowers are large and make short stems. I cannot say more, as the whole plant very attractive. There I've never grown this species. are some selections of pinkish or Arabis x kellereri is really a gem carmine-shaded flowers. In stature, it among the European species, as it is is similar to A. muralis at first a very small and slow-growing alpine sight—especially when not flower• of the eastern Alps. Its rosettes are ing—and it is very frequently mistak• usually less than 2 cm in diameter en for this plant. It is not difficult here and composed of tiny, lanceolate, in any well-drained soil, but is often dark green leaves sometimes turning short-lived. For older plants, our regu• bronze, and covered with very short, lar mid-winter thawing periods are appressed hairs, especially on its often fatal. But they are easily margins. Shining white flowers about replaced by new seedlings. Perhaps 1 cm across are held in loose, irregu• the nicest effect is when the plants lar racemes, all only 5-7 cm high. are scattered on scree. My first plants This is a limestone dweller, doing best of A. blepharophylla were received on drier scree or in a crevice among in the 1960s from Mr. Bohumil stones, or in the tufa. It seems to be Janouch, to whom I am still grateful happiest in the same conditions for many good plants and much under which warmth-tolerant poro- know-how. phyllum saxifrages grow. Here it is Another species relatively frequently shy in setting seed but easily propa• grown here and originating in the gated by cuttings. Similar, but more American West is Arabis lemmonii, a robust, and with vivid green leaves, is small plant with nice rosettes of bluntly A. x sundermannii—but this plant I spatulate, glaucous leaves with fine, have never tried here. scattered and appressed hairlets. The All the American species, including entire clump is rarely more than 8 cm

Arabis 175 wide. Inflorescences are about 10-15 The seeds have wide, pellucid, cm high on a leafy stem, the flowers winged rims. smaller than those of A. blepharo- About 20 years ago I had Arabis phyUa, lilac to pale mauve or rose. parishii, a jewel with tiny leaves, on This plant is very adaptable to an first sight recalling Petrophytum, but ample spectrum of conditions, tolerant less blue. The stems were only 2-3 of hot sun or partial shade, and soils cm tall and the flowers very small and from very acid to pure limestone grit, rose. The silicles were only up to 8 often self-sowing but not becoming mm long and about 2 mm wide. Over weedy. A close relative, Arabis /ya/- time this species has been lost here. If Hi, seems to be much more difficult, somebody is growing this lovely dwarf and it is probably less ecologically Arabis, please let me know. Arabis plastic and adaptable. It forms, with microphylla is also related, but it is age, dense tufts of very small and still not available. narrow, ligulate to narrowly lanceo• Finally, I will mention two hirsute late, blunt-tipped leaves, pale, glau• and ciliate to bristly species. Arabis cous green but less glaucous than cusickii is worth a try. Although it those of A. lemmonii. The rosettes does not belong to the true dwarfs, its here are therefore smaller, only 20- open clumps of bristly, leafy stem 35 mm in diameter, and dense. Flow• bases are quite nice, as are its pinkish ers are borne on stems only 5-7 cm to nearly white flowers. But I'd like to tall at anthesis, and are small and of recommend—even simply as an inter• the same shape and color as in the esting foliage plant—Arabis sparsi- previous species. Here, it does best in flora. Its variety atrorubens I have a sunny spot on very sandy, gritty acquired as seed from the Berry soil, mildly acid to neutral, and top- Botanic Gardens, in Oregon, and it is dressed with chips of volcanic mela- becoming one of my favorites. Its phyre. It is grown in combination rosettes, when not flowering, recall with other plants that also dislike too some smooth-leaved Draba of the much moisture, such as Town- Aizopsis section. They are only about sendia, Astragalus purshii, Draba 4 cm in diameter, nicely grassy or sierrae, etc. It sets seed relatively darker green, bristly, and hairy. The well. I hope that this species will stems become too tall to be decora• spread itself among our alpine tive, up to 10 cm tall. But if these are gardeners and be retained in cultiva• cut off in time, the plant will flower tion, since in the wild—they say—it is again several times. It is very drought becoming endangered and scarce. resistant and it self-sows freely. So I I also like A. platysperma, a very would like to recommend this species small plant with dark green, glossy, to beginners. widely spatulate, small leaves in rosettes on a semi-woody, branched Vaclav Plestil is a highly experienced and caudex. The flowers are small and widely travelled Czechoslovakian garden• lilac, on stems 3-4 cm high. They are er. He is very knowledgeable about Amer• followed by very wide, long silicles, ican plants, as well as those from other which are bizarre and very decorative. parts of the world.

176 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Aquilegia jonesii, David Vesall Androsace lanuginosa (see p. 189) in the Vesalls garden (see p. 192) Panayoti Kelaidis

Androsace jacquemontii Panayoti Kelaidis Androsace mucronifoha Panayoti Kelaidis

177 178 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Phlox oklahomensis James Locklear Clematis fiemontii (see p. 182) James Locklear (see p. 182)

Melampodium leucanthum (see p. 184) James Locklear Aster fendleri (see p. 183) James Locklear

179 Hedyotis nigricans (see p. 185) James Locklear

Nemastylis geminiflora (see p. 181) Panayoti Kelaidis

180 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Rock Garden Plants of Kansas by James H. Locklear

It is no secret that Kansas suffers States are found in the singular Flint an image problem. In the minds of Hills of eastern Kansas. Wildflowers many, no place is closer to the middle abound in this region and many, such of nowhere than Kansas. Even the as prairie violet (Viola pedatifida), state's tourism slogan, "Linger Longer white-eyed grass (Sisyrinchlum in Kansas," implies that Kansas is a campestre), and prairie iris (Nema- place people pass through to get stylis geminiflora; photo p. 180) are somewhere else. of rock garden stature. Once, when writing about the Farther west, mixed grass and then uninviting nature of Great Basin land• shortgrass prairie dominates the land• scapes, Panayoti Kelaidis suggested that scape. It is in this part of Kansas that plantspeople should take such apparent the finest rock plants are found. Here, emptiness as a signal that great riches particularly on rocky hilltops, river are to be found there. Given Kansas' bluffs, mesas, and buttes, natural rock reputation, it should come as no gardens of unexpected beauty occur. surprise that there are many gems to be In the mixed grass prairie region of discovered in the flora of the Sunflower north central Kansas, two ranges of hills State, if one takes the time and knows give a rolling topography to the land• where to look. scape. The eastern range is referred to Kansas is famous for its wheat as the Smoky Hills, underlain principally fields, and a good portion of the by Dakota sandstone. The western western half is cultivated to this crop. range is called the Blue Hills, and here There are, however, excellent stretch• limestones predominate. The Blue Hills es of native grassland in the hillier are also referred to as Post Rock Coun• parts of the state that possess a wide try. A familiar sight in this region are array of wildflowers. miles of limestone fence posts, quarried Some of the largest and finest by the early settlers of this essentially tracts of tallgrass prairie in the United treeless country and still standing today.

181 It is in the Blue Hills that some of in south-central Kansas are the Red the state's most distinctive wildflowers Hills, an area of buttes, mesas, can be found. Many gardeners are canyons, and mixed grass prairie. familiar with the Missouri primrose The name for this region comes from (Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. macro- the brick-red color of the local soils. car pa), which occurs here on rocky The scenery here is magnificent and hillsides and roadcuts. A hardly-known the flora is distinctive. A number of local relative is Fremont's evening plants from the southwestern US primrose (O. macrocarpa ssp. reach their northeastern limits in the fremontii), once held as a distinct Red Hills. species and now treated as a sub• One of the very special plants of species. Imagine a smaller scale this region is the Oklahoma phlox Missouri primrose with narrow, silvery (Phlox oklahomensis; photo, p. leaves, pale yellow flowers, and a 179). Known only from Kansas, more tufted growth habit. That is the Oklahoma, and one county in Texas, description of this attractive plant. this is a low, somewhat sprawling Another rock plant found here is species. The leaves are narrow and resinous skullcap {Scutellarla resln- rather stiff. The flowers are borne in osa)—an unfortunate name for a beauti• loose clusters from late March into ful wildflower. Semi-shrubby in habit, May and are quite fragrant. Whites, this member of the mint family has blues, and pinks can be found. Edgar boxwood-like foliage and bears numer• Wherry noted the horticultural poten• ous purple flowers over a long period tial of this species in his book, The from May into July. We have a shell- Genus Phlox. pink form in our collections at the Dyck There are several species of golden Arboretum of the Plains. Claude Barr, asters (Chrysopsis) in the Great in his book, Jewels of the Plains, Plains. Chrysopsis stenophylla is an describes this as a species "of great especially attractive one, flowering charm and perfect garden behavior." over a long period in the summer, The real eye-catcher of the Blue primarily in July. The gray-green Hills is Fremont's clematis {Clematis foliage, soft to the touch from a fremontii; photo, p. 179). A non- covering of silky hairs, contrasts well vining type, this clematis sends up with the pale gold daisies. Growing to robust clusters of 6"-12" stems bear• about 12" in height, it is a resident of ing large, thick, leathery leaves. The upland sites in the Red Hills. bonnet-shaped flowers, produced Another relative of the previously from April into June, have an almost mentioned Missouri primrose occurs ceramic look. A perennial with three- in the Red Hills. The hoary evening season interest, Fremont's clematis primrose (O. macrocarpa ssp. bears large, attractive clusters of seed incana) is similar in most ways to through the summer and fall, and the Missouri primrose except for its leathery foliage, dried and brown, silvery leaves. This species blooms persists into the winter. This is a over a relatively long time in early species of rocky, limestone prairie. summer, and, as an additional bonus, At the opposite border of the state its silvery foliage makes it an attrac-

182 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) tive plant even when it is not in flow• land, this is shortgrass prairie country. er. It is particularly striking against a Scattered here and there throughout backdrop of the red soil that charac• this region, however, are areas of rocky terizes this special part of Kansas. hills, and these are the places to search As the Smoky Hill River makes its out the finest wildflowers. way from Colorado across western Kansas, it passes through a region of badlands in Trego, Gove, and Logan Counties. One of the ironies of the plains is that the most delicate wild- flowers often occur in the harshest habitats. Such is the case in these badlands. One of the finest plants found in this region is the needle-leaf gilia (Gilia rigidula). Its overall habit resembles that of a creeping phlox except for its bright blue flowers with their yellow throats. Blooming in April and May, this species could be a good substitute for Phlox subuhta in drier home gardens. The oval-leaf bladderpod (Les- querella ovalifolia) makes a home on the rocky knolls and barren clay soils of this region. This is the most attrac• tive of all of the Great Plains lesquerellas, forming relatively large In the very southwest corner of the mounds of round, silvery leaves. The state, north of the town of Elkhart, flowers are a nice yellow and are the historic Santa Fe Trail passed a produced from April into June. prominent landmark called "Point of "The prime rock aster of the Rocks." On these rocky bluffs over• Plains" is the way Claude Barr looking the Cimarron River, a wide described Fendler's aster (Aster array of rock plants can be found. fendleri, photo, p. 179). Growing Two dwarf prairie clovers occur only 10"-12" tall, this fall-bloomer here, James' dalea (Dalea jamesii) occurs in rocky areas throughout and slimleaf prairie clover (Dalea much of western Kansas. The tenuifolia). The later is a refined, composite flowers have lavender-blue decumbent version of the larger ray florets and yellow centers. On purple prairie clover (Dalea [Peta- harsh soils in the badlands this plant lostemon] purpurea), and lights up takes on a domed shape. the scene with its clusters of bright, Probably the part of Kansas which rose-purple flowers. James' dalea is a people find least interesting is the High tufted plant with silvery, three-parted Plains. A vast stretch of nearly level leaves and orangish-yellow blossoms.

Rock Garden Plants of Kansas 183 the Arikaree River north of St. Francis a number of these can be found, including Arenaria hookeri, Astragalus hyalinus, A. spatulatus, Lesquerella alpina, and Paronychla depressa. The silky orophaca {Astragalus sericoleu- cus, see photos, p. 178), common in southeastern Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle, occurs on eroding hill• sides in three northwest Kansas counties. A number of other desirable rock plants are more widely distributed over the High Plains of western Kansas. The The plume-like teeth of the calyx add Easter Daisy {Townsendia exscapa) to the attractiveness of the plant as it starts blooming in March and is finishes flowering in early summer. setting seed by the time May arrives. Two daisies of southwest origin A low, tufted plant, its flowering is also thrive in this semi-arid habitat. assurance that spring is coming soon. The blackfoot daisy {Melampodium Another dwarf composite, the leucanthum, photo, p. 179) bears babywhite aster {Leucelene [Aster] white flowers with yellow centers. It ericoides), has a very different grows to 10" tall and flowers over a growth habit than that of the Easter long season beginning in June and daisy. It grows in colonies of slender lasting into September. Barr referred stems, generally under 6" in height. to it as "a veritable rock garden The foliage is heath-like and the jewel." The Rocky Mountain zinnia daisies, produced in early summer, {Zinnia grandiflora) is a shorter, are only one half inch across. The mounded plant, producing golden effect is pleasing though, and one yellow daisies over a similarly extend• wonders about the potential of this ed period. plant as a groundcover. A markedly different assemblage of As the name implies, the lavender- plants is found in the rocky habitats leaf evening primrose {Calylophus of northwestern Kansas. Here, a [Oenothera] lavandulifolius) has person acquainted with the flora of gray-green foliage reminiscent of Wyoming's plains and basins would garden lavender. This matted, almost find familiar species. On bluffs above shrubby rock plant produces a daily

184 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) yield of afternoon-opening flowers To see the Blue Hills, follow High• from May through June. The deep ways 18 or 24 through north central yellow petals are somewhat angular, Kansas. To take in the Red Hills, trav• giving a square look to the flowers. el Highway 160 between Medicine Barr called this plant, found through• Lodge and Meade. Highway 83 south out western Kansas, "a gem of the of Oakley (on Interstate 70) will take first water." you close to the Smoky Hill River Narrowleaf bluets {Hedyotis nigri- badlands. cans, photo, p. 180) occur through• Let me also extend a warm invita• out Kansas, but more compact forms tion to ARGS members to stop in can be found in the western part of and visit the Dyck Arboretum of the the state. This attractive, semi-shrub• Plains in Hesston, Kansas. Located by plant has dark green, linear leaves about 35 miles north of Witchita, we and blooms over a long stretch of are a young, developing institution time beginning in May. The small, emphasizing in our collections plants waxy-looking flowers are produced in that are native to Kansas. Most of the crowded panicles. White is the typical species described in this article can be color, but pinks are sometimes found. found in our Prairie Demonstration Blooming from May into July, Garden. Please feel free to write or NuttaH's evolvulus {Evolvulus nuttal- call for information about the Arbore• lianus) is another small, almost-shrub tum or how to route your next trip of the prairies and plains. The foliage through Kansas. Perhaps we can get is linear-oblong and very silvery. In you to linger awhile. the axils of the leaves are morning glory type flowers a half inch wide References and of a pinkish-lavender color. Barr, Claude. Jewels of the Plains. Many other rock plants from west• University of Minnesota Press: Minneapo• ern Kansas could be listed, but hope• lis. 1983. fully those described provide a Wherry, Edgar. The Genus Phlox. Asso• glimpse of the wealth of the state's ciates of the Morris Arboretum: Philadel• flora. Others include Arenarla strlc- phia. 1955. ta ssp. texana, Hedeoma drum- mondii, numerous Astragalus species, Hymenoxys scaposa, Paro- nychia jamesii, several species of Pen st em on, and Polygala alba. Jim Locklear is director of the Dyck Descriptions of these can be found by Arboretum of the Plains. Telephone (316) consulting Claude Barr's Jewels of 327-8127. the Plains. For persons wanting to explore the flora of Kansas while travelling Illustrations for this article are by Margy through the state, the first rule is to Lanham taken from The Enchanted keep off Interstate 70. There are Mesa, by Url Lanham, published by Url many fine two-lane highways that will Lanham, Boulder, Colorado, 1974. Used take you through more scenic areas. by permission.

Rock Garden Plants of Kansas 185 Physoplexls comosa

186 Bulletinof the American Rock Garden SocietyVol.48(3) Plant Goals

by Geoffrey Charlesworth

This must be recorded before it all We might get a plant from a nurs• becomes a memory, growing in spuri• ery. This only needs the foresight to ous importance like History or dimin• order it before it is sold out, to get it ishing to ignominious irrelevance like through the mails safely, and to pot it stale News. Perhaps some people up. Alternatively, we could go to don't have specific plants as an Oregon, find a plant with or without important aim in their gardening life a local guide, take a cutting, get it and are willing to collect plants and safely home, root the cutting, and pot plant experiences like tourists collect• it up. Or we could visit a friend who ing Countries with delight and grows it and, by charm or guile, dispatch, each destination chosen proceed as before to the potting because there was a bargain involved. stage. Or we could order seed from a But we all have vague desires of seedlist, sow it, grow it, and trans• obtaining and growing some particu• plant it. lar plant we have read about or seen At this point we have a plant in a a picture of. We may have invented pot. Is our goal reached? I think not. our own mystique about a plant, Very few of us would be satisfied by allowing it to represent an ideal that merely owning a plant for a week or seems in some way unattainable. so. Most would agree on a minimum What happens when these goals are requirement: that it should flower. actually reached? Some would have their eye on Before we can frame an answer to competition rules and want the flower that question, we have to ask what exact• only after the requisite three months ly constitutes reaching a goal? Suppose have gone by, making the plant eligi• we yearn to grow Silene hookeri, and ble to be placed in a show. But most deliberately set out to do so. There are people would want to achieve more several routes that the Odyssey could laudable results than merely to display take and several stages in the journey. a baby potted plant on a show bench.

187 Some goals are disposed of by going as far as you need to go in order to feel satisfied that you are doing the right thing by not going any further. You would want to stop asserting your mastery of Dianthus deltoldes short of filling your entire garden with color forms. Perhaps not true of Hemerocallis, but even there, there is probably a point where one says "Enough." My goals have been in the same Androsace carnea general direction for ten years or so, although they are constantly changing Here are examples of alternative to accommodate the self-confidence triumphs: The plant should live born of success and the wisdom born through a summer in the garden and of failure. Let's state four early goals flower. It should overwinter in the tentatively. garden. It should live a full year in the garden. It should live long enough to Goal 1: To grow all the species and be propagated either by cuttings or subspecies of Androsace in the seed. It should live two or more years open garden. in the garden. It should self-sow in Goal 2: To find the right place for all the garden. It should be a permanent species of Primula. denizen of the garden. Or it should Goal 3: To recognize every species of live through several pottings-on in the Penstemon. (ditto Delphinium, greenhouse, perhaps reaching the Aconitum, Paeonia). stage when it is too big to transplant. Goal 4: To grow the classic alpines It should be the mother plant for a Eritrichium nanum, Physoplexis succession of alpine house and show (Phyteuma) comosa, Draba mollis- bench offspring. sima, Jankaea heldreichii, Aquile- Alpine house aspirations are not on gia jonesii. my agenda, but the pleasures of such goals are self-evident. As far as grow• Well, these goals have been modi• ing in the garden is concerned, for me fied considerably as time passed. I no every stage counts as a success. When longer expect "the open garden" to be Ulysses reached Circe's island he was hospitable enough to please every nowhere near home, but it must have plant and certainly not all the been a relief to stop rowing for a androsaces. Some plants will last a few while, and perhaps take time off to years and that's OK; some will flourish botanize the island. Later the urge to in a container with winter protec• go on would reappear. Sublime tion—second best but still acceptable; gardening is also reached in stages; some plants will have to wait until I every stage yields contentment until a have the facilities, time, and patience need to go further takes over. for year 'round alpine house treat-

188 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) ment. This is not likely to happen. always temporary (we can always Goal 1: By now most of the come up with an adequate explana• androsaces fit into little mental boxes: tion and a guarantee of success next open garden and raised bed (A. time). I can now admire the 12"- sarmentosa, A. lanuginosa (photo, p. diameter mounds of Androsace 177), A. chamaejasme, A. villosa, vandellii on the show tables of A. lactea, A. sempervivoides, etc.); England without envy, because on the container (A. mathildae, A. ciliata, whole Goal 1 has been eliminated. A. carnea, A. hausmannil, A. tauri- Not by sailing down river into port, ca, A. barbulata, A. muscoidea, but by finding the river opens out into etc.); container with alpine house, or a delta with some branches navigable, at least cold frame, protection (A. some boring, some forbidden. cylindrica, A. vandellii, A. pubes- cens, A. alpina, A. helvetica, A. hir- Goal 2. I have not been very te//a, etc.); easy with a little effort (I successful at growing primulas. The mean the biennial A. albana which is Vernales and the Cortusoides sections very miserly with its seedlings and has are easy enough in the woodland. to be sown afresh each year); easy Farinosae and Auricula sections are with no trouble at all (annuals such as still in an experimental stage, but I A. lactiflora); and not worth growing think I understand several species by (the difference between this category now. Candelabras and Nivales won't and the last depends on which form stay long without a stream or a well- of A. occidentalis, A. septentrion- made bog, and that is still in an alis, A. elongata, etc., you have unlikely future. I have grown many sowing around). A few are unobtain• other species, always for brief periods able (e.g., A. zambalensis) or tantaliz- of time, but long enough to see the ingly rare (A. brevis, A. bulleyana, varied profiles of this remarkable etc.). There is one kind of androsace genus. The only fun has been the that is still not in any little box. My journey; the final destination is experience with large leaf kinds (A. reserved for gardeners with the right foliosa, A. strigillosa, A. rotundifo- growing conditions. I am reluctant to lia, A. geraniifolia) is inconclusive, admit this, but having seen primulas but I have decided not to care, as they growing in splendor in gardens near should probably be primulas anyway. running water, I realize that my Even if not, their effect on me is the attempts are objectively a sad failure. same. This is not a reason to regret the experience of trying to grow them. A The pleasure from growing andro• poor plant in one's own garden can saces has been maximal, and still is, be a triumph—nobody else need see making allowances for the fact that it. The optimistic conclusion is that no repeat experience can compare the genus Primula is big and varied with a first time. Things may get enough for every gardener to grow a better with repetition but there is no few of its members. For this be grate• surprise after the first time. Repeating ful. Many excellent gardeners are a success confirms our skill (feeding happy enough to succeed with Ver- our self-satisfaction). Failures are

Plant Goals 189 nales cultivars or forms of P. sie- know just one of you without the boldli. It seems pointless to be upset others to compare? Does it matter? because one cannot grow P. whitei. Well, if it doesn't, I have lost sight of my goal. If it does, I haven't arrived. Goal 3: At least penstemons are Delphiniums and aconitums may be obtainable. The American Penstemon even harder than penstemons. My Society puts out a long list of avail• experience is still in the formative able seeds every year; ARGS always stage. has 30-50 species in its seed list; and Perhaps the answer is to take the other clubs and societies, a good species even more seriously. To number; every state in the west has descend to Botany. Most of the time penstemons growing in every kind of we look at a delphinium and see a habitat. Also penstemons are grow- plant for the border, piercing blue, or able. Nearly all of them will last subtle violet. Its leaves are all-purpose through one New England winter and Ranunculaceae leaves that vary from flower the following May, June, or species to species and are not differ• July. Some of them need to make a ent in kind from anemones and Trol- summer rosette or a side shoot if they lius. We hoped that by growing a are going to last more than one year, dozen species of delphinium, some but that often happens, and in any magical picture would imprint itself on case if you know what to expect you our memory with little arrows pointing won't be disappointed. Besides, you out diagnostic differences between the can collect seed and keep the species species. Alas, magic is insufficient, you want going. Penstemons are fine and we end up with home-made clas• as long-lived or short-lived perennials, sifications: the red ones, the short or even as biennials. They are beauti• ones, the annuals. I think it is impossi• ful, interesting, worthwhile plants. ble for ordinary gardeners to know all The problem is my goal. Shall I the penstemons and all the delphini• confess that I can't always see the ums, at least not all at the same time. difference between some of the Not for me. You could do it if you scores of species? And even when I started at age 13 and made it your can see a difference, I am unable to life's work. Or you could be satisfied store and retrieve at will that much with partial success, recognizing some information when needed. Not of the species some of the time, never enough for the Instant identification reaching the goal, forever learning needed when a visitor wants to know, and relearning, like some horticultural "which Penstemon is that?" So, Sisyphus. while I have mastered several species, I no longer anguish over subtle and The fourth goal is the excuse for unmemorable differences. Penste• this article. If and when it is printed, mon murrayanus, P. barbatus, P. my Eritrlchium nanum may have alamosensls, P. kunthli, P. eatonii: perished; hence the urgency. Nobody all scarlet, all beautiful—when I see really believes History. Even News you altogether, I know you apart. taxes one's credulity. Eritrlchium Shall I know you next year? Would I nanum has been the impossible

190 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) dream, the ultimate criterion, the gatum, E. jankae, and E. argen• unfinished business of so many of us. teum. Sometimes seed is sent in With some trepidation, I want to simply as E. nanum. I got E. argen• suggest that one of the reasons for teum again in 1982, and, in 1983, the overall dismal failure to tame E. E. aretioides, E. argenteum, and E. nanum is statistical. Not enough jankae. All these germinated, but that people have had enough seed to is as far as I got. In 1984,1 managed experiment on a broad enough scale. to get transplants of E. elongatum From the time we receive three seeds and E. jankae, but these died in the in an enormous envelope, or a open garden. All these seeds were pathetic seedling surreptitiously dug sown in my usual mix of half coarse from the wild, until the moment of sand and half commercial soilless mix truth when we are forced to admit, "I with a little slow-release fertilizer. lost it," we treat them as orphans and They were left exposed to the weath• invalids. Our hands tremble as we er from sowing time until germination sow the seed. We protect seedlings and again left outside until ready to from dangers real and imagined. We transplant. After transplanting they fuss about whether to grow them remained outside without any special indoors or out, whether to fertilize, attention (unless you count drooling). whether to water, whether to spray, My aspirations almost petered out whether to remove the soil before after raising plants, yet still believing planting out, what the growing medi• deep down that what everybody said um should be, etc. All legitimate fuss, was true: E. nanum cannot be but in this case with no reliable guide tamed. But in 1985, I was again to instruct us. One has heard of planting E. argenteum and E. partial successes involving refrigera• nanum, this time in containers, and tion and constant breeze across the the following year E. jankae in a plants, but these are two utilities most raised bed. Many of these plants of us lack in the garden. So I shall survived a winter, but not the follow• outline a little bit of History and ing summer. In 1987, I raised plants throw in a little bit of Method as back• of E. nanum from ARGS seed. One ground for my own News and, as it of these plants flowered, and I collect• turns out, Photo Opportunity. ed seed. In 1988,1 had two seedlings Before 1981, I was too overawed from my own plant grown in a raised by seedlists to think of ordering bed. The mother plant died, and so anything really rare, believing that did the seedlings, but at least they had such seed should and would be reached transplant size and died in reserved for Good Growers. But that their beds, not in the pots of infancy. year I threw scruples to the wind and Meanwhile, Vojtech Holubec had ordered E. nanum var. argenteum been to the Rockies in the summer of from one of the exchanges. And got 1987 and collected seed of £. it. The names lumped under Eritri- aretioides, from Mt. Evans, I believe. chium nanum are subspecies or vari• He shared his seed with me, and I eties, I am not really sure which. sowed it that fall. This germinated, They include E. aretioides, E. elon- and one plant developed rapidly

Plant Goals 191 enough to plant out that summer. A some humus and slow-release fertiliz• black spot developed in the center er. By the end of the summer another late in the fall, and I gave up hope for dead patch had formed, this time its survival. The summer had been covering half the plant. Unfortunate• hot and dry, and I did two things I ly, several good gardeners have been usually never do. I watered the shown this plant, and I fear that the crevice garden, and I fertilized the gods that punish hubris will do a Eritrichiwm. This was before winter number on my Eritrichium. I don't weather set in. The following spring want to single out any growing the black spot was still there, but the method—container, raised bed or plant was expanding, and eventually crevice garden—as the best way to do the blemish was almost invisible and it. Everybody finds their own methods neither hurt the plant's well-being nor in their own garden. its looks. It flowered in May. The As for Aquilegia jonesii (photo p. flowers were bright blue, on stalks 192), it is common knowledge that the that emerged horizontally from the problem is to make it flower. I had one base—unlike the plants of Eritrichi• flower once. It was encouragement um I had seen on Independence Pass enough to try it every year since. and elsewhere, where the flowers Jankaea is another story. I don't think I covered the top of the bun. Each am entitled to try it until I have success• stalk had several flowers, and the fully grown ramondas and haberleas. flowering period was quite extended. That is also unfinished business. There were plenty of opportunities Physoplexis comosa needs another for photographs, and it turned out to season or two, and Draba mollissima be the most expensive plant I had has been written off as tender. There ever grown. I was confident that I are many other "classic alpines" that would be collecting seed and exam• are on my list, but these are enough to ined the spent bloom every day for illustrate my most pressing goals. Of weeks. I collected whatever the seed course, I have other goals than to grow capsules contained. I didn't examine individual plants, such as introducing the chaff too carefully, so as not to running water into the garden with a know if there was really no seed waterfall and a Chinese bridge; making there. I shall sow it this winter with cold frames with lids that stay on in fearful hope. As for cultivation, the winter; building a pit house, a gazebo first plant to flower was on the and a fernery; but they seem secondary summit of a small, artificial hill with a to my main goal. That is to grow every good depth of sand over soilless, plant. Or at least most of them. sandy compost, over turfy compost. I'm pretty sure the roots never got below the sandy layer. The second plant to flower is still growing in the Geoffrey Charlesworth is a preeminent crevice garden made for me by Josef plantsman, and author of The Opinion• ated Gardener. He gardens near Sandis- Halda. Originally, the growing medi• field, Massachusetts. um was pure gritty sand, but before I planted the Eritrichium, I added Drawings by Al Stavos.

192 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Learning to Grow Porophyllum Saxifrages by Steve Doonan and Phil Pearson

The genus Saxifraga has over flowering of the saxifrages can last 300 species, many of which make three months. Cold weather and valuable assets in the rock garden. freezing nights may slow the progress There are 15 sections in the genus, of the flowers, but any short period of but the Section Porophyllum is the mild weather results in flower bud real backbone of the group. For a development. This gradual but long period of time, this group was perceptible bud growth, promising called Section Kabschia, but the rules spring, is exciting after the long of botanical nomenclature dictate the winter dormant period. use of the earliest validly published- Many rock gardeners are afraid to name—hence the name change. The try the porophyllum saxifrages term porophyllum refers to large because so few people have had pore glands found on the leaves. success with them in the garden. These pores are visible to the naked Some think the only way to cultivate eye and in some cases are arranged them is in pots, requiring an alpine artistically. house or covered frames for rain While the appeal of the porophyl• protection. Of course, in their native lum section is frequently attributed to mountain homes the species require the rather small stature and neat, none of this apparatus to grow, flow• compact habit of growth of the er to perfection, and reproduce. The plants, the flowers are among the porophyllum group has been exten• showiest of alpine rock plants. These sively grown in Europe for many saxifrages are some of the earliest years, especially in Britain, where plants to bloom, and, here in they frequently appear in pots for Issaquah, Washington, can begin show bench exhibits. The techniques flowering as early as mid-February. In that growers use for pot culture work areas with more severe winters, the with great success, but their pot soil bloom season starts in late April. The formulation, in combination with

193 Saxifraga burserana overhead protection, does not always were left outside to the whims of transfer to the open garden with its nature. The soil soured with excess frequent excess of winter rain. moisture, and the plants turned At Grand Ridge Nursery, we have anemic and began to decline. Just as experimented with various soil formu• this was happening, we acquired a las and have observed the results of copy of Winton Harding's Alpine these experiments. We also grow the Garden Society publication Saxi• porophyllums in pots, but with a frages. His cultural suggestion for a highly aerated soil. In this mix, they soil medium was simply "a well- can tolerate full exposure to nature's drained, gritty compost." precipitation, sometimes as much as Taking a lead from Winton's use of 200" of rain a year here. Our experi• "coarse grit," Phil and I made a trip ences have lead us to use an open to a nearby mountain where Phil had soil mixture composed of very sharp seen a road bank composed of such particles and relatively little organic "stuff," while he was on a fishing trip matter, that in the form of peat. The years before. After some difficulty original porophyllums we acquired with brush and black flies, we were potted in a modified John Innes managed to screen out ten gallons of soil formula and had been grown what Phil interpreted as coarse grit. I successfully in a glass-covered house remembered that our grandmother by the late Bob Putnam. Since we did fed such grit to her chickens to grind not have an alpine house, the plants food in their gizzards. Most farm

194 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) stores that supply feeds carry granite The ratio of ingredients we arrived at grit, so when we needed more grit we is 4 parts #2 granite grit (about 2-3 simply ordered a ton from our local mm thick), 4 parts washed sand, and store. A sales person probably would 1 part coarse sphagnum peat. Use not usually sell this much grit over granite grit and not quartz grit; gran• several years, and ours curiously ite is rich in mineral nutrients, quartz inquired how many turkeys these two is inert. The sand available in our new customers were raising! area has too much clay, silt, and fine About this time we also came sand, so it has to be washed thor• across an extension bulletin from oughly on a window fly-screen. Oregon State University with infor• Washed sand has a clean look and mation on the need for air space in makes a sharp sound when rubbed the growing media of container- between the fingers. If "dirty" sand is grown plants. The bulletin gave an used, the mixture will hold too much easy method to quantify the amount water. of air space in various soil formula• After a batch of this "new" soil was tions, the scientific tool we needed. mixed, several porophyllum saxi• The percent air space is easy to frages had their original soil gently measure. Simply tape shut the removed and were repotted in our drainage holes of a pot and measure own new concoction. One's first the amount of water the full pot will impression is that the soil medium is hold; record the number of liquid too lean, but plants grown outside in ounces with a kitchen measuring cup. this mix for a season showed convinc• Using the same pot, empty of water, ing results. To prevent the moisture in fill the pot with the soil mix to level the medium from wicking water to full, shaking the pot to make sure the the surface to evaporate, a 2 cm soil settles. Slowly add water to the layer of crushed limestone chips is soil-filled pot until water has dressed on the surface, carefully completely filled the pore spaces. surrounding the saxifrage's main Carefully remove the tape over a pan stem. It takes some experience to and let excess water drain for several judge the watering schedule since the minutes, then measure the water that moisture content of the soil can't be has drained out. To get the percent seen by color because of the mulch, air space of this particular soil mix, but it is very difficult to overwater divide the amount of water that with this coarse mix. Remember, the drained by the total amount of water main benefit of the 4:4:1 mix is to the empty pot held, and multiply by prevent waterlogging, especially 100. during the season of heavy rains in Research work by the university outside plantings. had found that even rhododendrons Saxlfraga x boydii 'Faldonside' needed at least 18% air space in the was the first success we had with this soil mix. For the saxifrage soil, we group of plants. The plant was mixed varying amounts of granite yellowed and rather straggly by the grit, sand, and spaghnum peat until time it was placed in the new "4:4:1 we found a mix with 20% air space. Saxifraga mix," as this soil combina-

Learning to Grow Porophyllum Saxifrages 195 tion was to be called. In less than two nice thing about a loose, open, gritty weeks, the color changed and the soil mix is that you can never overwa- plant commenced to grow. By the ter. The soil structure created by the end of the summer, the new growth large particle size prevents rain or had completely covered over any over-irrigation from becoming a prob• evidence of the former plant. The lem. Growers of porophyllums who same results were experienced with use heavier soil must be ever cautious other porophyllum saxifrages, S. not to overwater and to prevent 'Rosemarie', S. x irvingii 'Walter soggy soils that could rot the plants. Irving', and S. burserana. Now, some The biggest complaint about poro• twenty years later, there are more phyllums is the problem of sun scald• than 250 porophyllum species and ing that causes big brown patches in hybrids grown at Grand Ridge. Some the middle of the cushion. Often the specimens were originally just a single blame for this scalding is given solely rosette, sent from other enthusiasts to the midsummer sun, but my expe• and from botanic gardens around the rience is that the scald occurs when world, and today many of the plants the plants become too dry for a short have formed domes a foot in diame• period of time. Plants have been ter that cover themselves each spring grown in full sun here, to 106°F, with flowers. without burning, as long as watering The porophyllums are perfectly was attended to. The healthiest plants hardy in our area, where tempera• are grown with an open sky to a tures drop to -2°F in a normal winter. northeasterly exposure. This place• However, late winter cold, with near ment gives good light in the coolest zero temperatures occurring after part of the day and protection from growth has commenced, has caused the hottest summer sun. Porophyl• problems for potted plants, especially lums need good light to have abun• those saturated with moisture. dant flowers and neat and compact Friends in Minnesota, in contrast, cushions—the attributes that make have most of their cultural problems the plants so appealing. The majority not from cold, but from the muggy air of plants in our collection receive full of summer, with its simultaneous high sun in the summer until noon and heat and high humidity. Since poro• then they fall into the shadow cast by phyllums are true alpines, this weath• either a 50-percent shade screen or er will promote fungal attack and by large willow trees. death. By growing plants on a north• The plants are generally watered eastern exposure, in a soil mix similar vigorously and thoroughly over the to the 4:4:1 Saxifraga mix, success whole cushion with no ill effects. An has been greatly improved. A loose, exception to this overall watering is open soil in the garden may need whenever we expect or experience more attention to watering in the botrytis attacks. One such time would summer, but a heavier soil will have be late spring, when the weather is less oxygen and make a perfect grow• warm, moist, and overcast while the ing environment for the anaerobic new foliage is not hardened off suffi• bacteria that attack these plants. The ciently to resist disease. The use of

196 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Spring Flowering at Grand Ridge Nursery, Issaquah, Washington (see p. 193)

Saxifraga x apiculata (see p. 208) photos by Phil Pearson

197

200 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Saxifraga x irvlngii 'Walter Irving' Phil Pearson In Betty Lowry's garden. (see p. 205) Saxifraga x 'Princess' (see p. 210) Saxifraga burserana (see pp. 205, 209)

Saxifraga x arco·valleyi 'Ophelia' (see p. 208) Saxifraga x sa/monica 'Marie Luisa' (see p. 206) Ir. the University of British Columbia alpine house.

Saxifraga x sa/monica 'Melrose' (see p. 206) Saxifraga burserana 'John Tomlinson' (see p. 210) Saxifraga x borisli ., 'Mona LIsa (see p. 208)

Saxifraga x boydii? " "Albert's Yellow (see p. 206)

Saxifraga x boydii , 'Aretiastrum (see p. 206) Saxlfraga x anglica 'Harlow Car' Phil Pearson In Jim Jermyn's garden. (see p. 206) fungicide (Bravo 500) will prevent of Betty Lowry) is one of the easiest any serious problem, if applied in and showiest clones for the beginner time, so pay attention to the occur• with porophyllums. Saxifraga 'Walter rence of these periods of weather. Irving' is an old hybrid (1909) One species in particular, S. burser• between S. burserana (European) ana, has a tendency to be attacked by and S. lilacina (Himalayan). The a rust that can cause patches to die foliage looks more like the parent S. out, so copper spray formulations burserana, with the flower color may be used coming from the S. lilacina. The Liquid feeding is recommended just plant will completely cover itself with as new growth commences. A formu• flowers the size of a dime and is sure lation of 5-10-10 (nitrogen-phospho• to totally entrance anyone who has rus-potassium) given in one half of never seen one before. the recommended dose several times For years we knew of this plant as through the summer will benefit next just 'Irvingii'. Then Radvan Horny, year's bloom and increase the vigor and others, of Czechoslovakia, found of the plant, which can live for many that confusion reigned with the years. Porophyllums are not touchy naming and ordering of the myriad of about disturbance. Transplanting is hybrids that existed and are still being best performed before the buds devel• created today. So, in collaboration op in the spring, just after flowering, with Dr. Jiri Sojak of the Department or in the very early fall. The dead of Botany in Prague, they devised a flowering stems can be removed with system of names in accordance with a scissors or by slightly rotating the the International Code of Botanical stem between the finger tips. Nomenclature. Since there are sever• Propagation can be done nearly al very nice hybrids between S. burs• anytime, but the best time is in the erana and S. lilacina, a grex name very early spring. When the flowering was proposed. A grex is a group of buds show activity, cuttings taken as plants derived from the hybridization single rosettes may be removed from of two or more species and usually around the edge of the cushion. The represents a quite varied genetic rosette is buried so only a small part group. It can include many named of the tip is showing. The old leaves cultivars. Walter Irving of the Royal help hold the cutting in the soil medi• Botanic Garden at Kew first made the um until roots develop. The cuttings S. burserana and S. lilacina cross are struck in 4:4:1 Saxifraga mix and was honored by having his name with a north light exposure, and the attached to that grex. So all cultivars soil medium kept moist. Saxifrages with these parents have the same are early season growers and the grex name, x irvingii, and the various cuttings should have roots in about a cultivars, designated "cv." or with a month. Leave the cuttings in the root• name enclosed in single quotes, ing container until the following follow the grex name. This gives an spring and transplant then. order and an awareness of the rela• Saxifraga x irvingii 'Walter Irving' tionship between the vast number of (photo, p. 201, taken in the garden hybrids grown by specialists. The S. x

Learning to Grow Porophyllum Saxifrages 205 iruingii grex has 13 or more worthy is known as S. x salmonica. The cultivars. Saxifraga 'Jenkinsiae', cultivar S. x salmonica 'Marie Luisa' 'Mother of Pearl', 'Mother Queen' is very attractive, has bold flowers, (photo, p. 200) and 'Walter Irving' and is one of the earliest to bloom are some of the best known. These (photo, p. 202, growing in the alpine hybrids are all rose to pink and have house at University of British a similar, familial appearance. Columbia Botanic Garden). Saxifra• The grex S. x boydii is between the ga 'Melrose' (photo, p. 202), another species S. burserana, a white-flow• of this grex, is uniquely distinctive. A ered plant, and S. aretioides (Euro• third hybrid known as S. 'Joy' is pean), which is not a showy species. sometimes erroneously put in S. x The mixing of the best qualities of the salmonica, but should properly be parents, the easy-growing, large, called S. x petraschii 'Kaspar Maria showy flowers of S. burserana and Sternberg'. The grex S. x petraschii the good yellow color of S. is another cross of S. burserana, bred aretioides, albeit in a flower of rather with S. tombeanensis (European). insignificant size, have again produced The most alluring hybrids may beauty. Saxifraga x boydii 'Aretias- belong to the S. x anglica (S. trum' (synonyms 'Valerie Finnis' and a aretioides x S. lilacina x S. media) host of other names) has medium- group. My favorite is 'Harlow Car' colored yellow flowers and is an easy (photo, p. 204, growing on tufa in plant to grow (photo, p. 203). Jim Jermyn's Edrom Nursery, Cold- 'Faldonside' is another S. x boydii of ingham, Scotland), a probable S. x great merit, with a red calyx and stalk anglica. 'Harlow Car' has the best of preceding the slightly crinkled, yellow all characters—intense deep crimson- petals of good size. Other nice red flowers on short stems and a members of this grex are 'Cherry- good-looking, tight cushion. 'Chris• trees', 'Hindhead Seedling', 'William tine' is another S. x anglica hybrid Boyd' (photo, p. 199), and one we with a cluster of smaller, cerise flow• believe is a S. x boydii hybrid that we ers (photo, p. 199). Saxifraga x call "Albert's Yellow," for lack of the anglica 'Winifred', 'Cranbourne', and proper name (photo, p. 203). Before 'Myra' exhibit good traits, too. 'Rose- Horny's publication of Porophyllum marie' (photos, p. 198), one of the Saxifrages in Czechoslovakia, and first plants we acquired, has proven John Byam-Grounds' translation into to be one of our best plants. It never English with additional information fails to cover itself with deep rose pertinent to British and American buds that open to a softer pink. The saxifrage culture, the porophyllum plant originated from Franz Suender- hybrids lacked a good system of classi• mann's Lindau Nursery in Germany fication and were very confusing. and was one of his many fine hybrids. Some excellent white hybrids exist Another of Suendermann's hybrids between two white-flowered species, is between S. luteo-viridis (European) S. burserana again, and S. margina- and S. semperuivum (Greek; photo, ta (European), a plant of several p. 199). Known as the grex S. x geographic forms. This hybrid cross gusmusii, they belong to what was a

206 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Saxifraga 'Cranbourne' subset of the porophyllum section blooming. Others in this grex are called Subsection Engleria. This 'Kewensis', a compact, bluish- subsection generally has multiple foliaged dome covered with open, flowers on nodding stems. The plants cup-shaped, rosy flowers; and 'Suen- hybridize freely with members of the dermannii' (photo, p. 199), with rosy- other subsection, which generally red flowers that are slightly pendant. bear single, larger, up-facing flowers. Another plant grown mostly for its The flowers on S. x gusmusii are bright red bud and flower stalk is pendant like S. luteo-viridis, and 'Theresia' (photo, p. 199) from the have rosy-colored petals like its other grex S. x mariae-theresiae. This parent. A cross between S. burser- cross is between S. burserana and ana and S. stribryni has produced a S. frederici-augusti (Greek). The group of rosy-colored, up-facing flow• open flowers are rather small and not ers. This grex, known as S. x at all attractive compared to most in kellereri, is best represented by the porophyllum group. Saxifraga x kellereri 'Johann Saxifraga lilacina, a Himalayan Kellerer'. 'Johann Kellerer' is another species, is used in crosses to get the of the very first to bloom and often rich pinks in hybrids (photo, p. 200, still has a few flowers when all the growing in Betty Lowry's garden). other porophyllums are finished Crossed with S. marginata, it has

Learning to Grow Porophyllum Saxifrages 207 Saxlfraga x arco-valleyl given rise to several beautiful clones Saxlfraga x apiculata (photo, p. in the grex S. x arco-vaJleyi. One 197), resulting from S. marginata especially choice pink is 'Dainty and S. sancta, has produced a vigor• Dame'. An anomaly of the parentage ous race of hybrids that is usually is the very desirable 'Ophelia', which recommended for the "open" garden. blooms later, with large, white, crin• They are fast-growing and form nice kled petals with bright anthers (photo, sized plants. Their coarseness makes p. 202). 'Ophelia' is very slow-grow• them less appealing than their other ing, but is worth the wait. After many brethren. A bud mutation of this years, it will form a rounded dome normally yellow-flowered grex with distinctive rosettes, making it produced a very nice white called S. x beautiful through the whole year. apiculata 'Alba'. Saxlfraga marginata is used in a Hybridizing Saxifraga aretioides cross with S. ferdinandi-coburgl, a and Saxifraga diapensioides, two yellow, to produce a very floriferous not-so-easy species, has resulted in a plant know as S. x borisii 'Mona good, late-blooming plant that forms Lisa' (photo, p. 203). The medium- a tight, rounded dome of very small sized flowers form heads of soft foliage; when other porophyllum yellow that face up. cuttings have filled their containers,

208 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) the S. x malbyana 'Primulina' has yet known, with the exception of S. to become a sizeable plant. Our spec• lilacina from Kashmir. Saxifraga imen plant is only four inches across ferdinandi-coburgi from northern after 15 years. Greece and Bulgaria, a warm region, Hybridizers have been making has nice yellow flowers. This species crosses with the idea of creating better needs a brighter and warmer location and better hybrids. The ultimate in to do its best. A particularly fine form hybridizing leads to a grex with at known as S. ferdinandi-coburgi var. least four separate parent species. rhodopea 'Dracula' will catch your One such grex is S. x megaseaeflora eye in a collection of good yellows. from S. aretioides x S. burserana x The name 'Dracula' comes from the S. lilacina x S. media, obtained by shape of its spiny leaves that look crossing hybrids with hybrids. The like—Dracula's teeth! The most spec• lovely 'Robin Hood' (photo, p. 200) is tacular flower bud development reputed to be in this group. Others, belongs to the Greek species known such as 'Josef Capek', are also most to most of us as Saxifraga gries- attractive, this cultivar having flowers bachii, whose name has recently that vary in color from salmon-pink to reverted to its first recorded name, rosy yellow on the margin of the S. frederici-augusti. The best known petal, with the flower changing color variety of this species is probably as it ages. 'Wisley Variety' with its lime-covered Even today hybrids are being leaf margins and large rosettes. In made. Winton Harding recently early spring, it throws up a bright red, named an exciting new hybrid curled flower stalk. The stalk lasts for 'Nancye', for his wife. 'Nancye' is nearly a month, only to open to a from another grex with four species less spectacular flower. Closely related in its parentage. He made the cross is a smaller version, with a purplish with S. x anglica 'Winifred' (S. bud development, S. sempervivum. aretioides x S. lilacina x S. media) Saxifraga sempervivum is easier to and a recently introduced species grow and forms a nice bluish cushion. from Nepal, Saxifraga cinerea. Saxifraga media is similar to the two Saxifraga cinerea has an excellent previously mentioned species, but the cluster of white flowers and lime- flowering heads are more attractive covered leaf margins, like some of when they open. From the central the encrusted saxifrages. 'Nancye' Caucasus of the USSR comes S. has a very bright pink cluster of flow• caucasica, a species with yellow, ers with lime-covered leaves. Every• globular flower heads, that may hold one who sees it makes a favorable interest only to a collector, although a comment. plant from such far off mountains is sure to add interest to any garden. For the alpine purists who spurn hybrids, there are many interesting Cultivating the species Saxifraga and beautiful species of porophyllums burserana (formerly spelled S. burs- from Europe, the Caucasus, the Near eriana) is worthwhile just to see the East, Sino-Himalaya, and Asia. The range of individual variation that can European ones are probably best occur in a single species (photo of

Learning to Grow Porophylhim Saxifrages 209 general type, p. 202). There are two and this cultivar should be used as a varieties found throughout the east• hybrid parent where S. burserana ern limestone Alps, and it seems that has successfully been used before. every grower has sought the best There are two varieties and over 22 form from the wild and introduced it. cultivar selections of Saxifraga burs• The cultivar S. burserana 'John erana, though some of these selec• Tomlinson' (photo, p. 202) forms a tions may not merit special attention. nice silvery-colored cushion with Currently, the great interest the large, well-shaped, white flowers. porophyllum section historically held 'Princess' is a distinctive seedling is re-emerging. The recent publica• selected by the late H. Lincoln Foster tion of several helpful books, the and forms a compact, rounded dome formation of specialist study groups, that is very attractive even out of and the desire to preserve historical flower. My favorite of the cultivars is clones made nearly 100 years ago 'Crenulata'. It is very dwarf and has will keep this most enjoyable and tight, fine, needle-like leaves. The colorful race alive. flowers are in scale with the plant,

References

Harding, W. 1970. Saxifrages. The Alpine Garden Society: London, England.

Horny, R., K. M. Webr, and J. Byam-Grounds. Illustr., Eva Zoulova. 1986. Porophyl• lum Saxifrages. Byam-Grounds Publications: Stamford, Lines.

Koehlein, Fritz. 1985. Saxifrages and Related Genera. Translated by David Winstan- ley. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Webb, D. A., and R. J. Gornall. 1989. A Manual of Saxifrages. Timber Press: Port• land, Oregon.

Steve Doonan and Phil and Kitty Pearson are co-owners of Grand Ridge Nursery and Pottery in Issaquah, Washington. Steve is a superb grower of plants in pots, specializing in hardy gesneriads, lewisias, and Ericaceae, as well as porophyllum saxifrages. The color photos that illustrate this article were all taken by Phil Pearson. The stoneware pots shown in the photos are manufactured at Grand Ridge by Phil. Unless otherwise indicated the plants pictured were grown at Grand Ridge Nursery. Steve and Phil also delight in making superb selections of native American alpines and bringing them into cultivation. The nursery does not currently mail order.

Illustrations by Panayoti Kelaidis.

210 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) A Secret Structure with Rolling Stones by Nicholas Klise

A rock garden is a structure that leaf mold before planting. The archi• nurtures a diversity of small scale tect built houses out of discarded plants and displays them to advan• tires, filled with earth and laid up tage. Since the plants are small, our horizontally like big round bricks. He enjoyment is enhanced by proximity then plastered the undulating surfaces to the eye. A well-executed rock for a thick, adobe-like wall appropri• garden raises the plants so that the ate for the climate of the Southwest. viewer is not required to bend down Many rock gardeners get along nor to genuflect. The essential without a rock outcrop—or even a element in rock garden design is stuc- rock garden—because they are not ture. Alas, the avid rock gardener of fortunate in the way Epstein is. He modest means has always felt that has a large scale rock structure that creating a monumental structure affords a dramatic setting for small required big rocks. Here's an alter• scale plants. I had a location near my nate idea: You can roll a monumental house where I needed a rock structure into position. outcrop. No shrub, nor a tree, nor The inspiration came from two anything else I could think of would diverse and unlikely sources: Harold do as well as a massive mound to Epstein, a preeminent gardener in separate an area where I buck fire• Larchmont, New York, and a coun• wood from a Japanese style path terculture architect in New Mexico, with stepping stones placed in a field about whom I remember reading 20 of moss and Mitchella repens. A years ago. Harold Epstein grows rock outcrop would be the perfect small rhododendrons beautifully on solution. The problem was that none the rock outcrops that are a feature existed there, so I decided to of the lovely, shady garden he and his construct one using a technique simi• wife have created. Epstein packs the lar to that of the architect in New crevices and basins in the rock with Mexico. The rural road on which I

211 live is a final resting place for the some distance from the construction jetsam of civilization: old refrigera• site. I have learned to carry only what tors, sofas, and household debris of is comfortable for me without any every description are surreptitiously exhaustion, so that the greatest effort and unceremoniously put out along involved in this part of the operation the road. Last year someone unload• was simply the walking back and ed a truckload of used tires. I had my forth. I've rediscovered what must choice of a plentiful supply. have been elemental to every pre- I first leveled the construction site. twentieh century Jack and Jill: two The most noteworthy aspect of a lighter buckets are easier to carry project such as this is that it can be than a single heavy one that throws accomplished by one average person. one's body off balance. Gravel could A nice thing about tires is that they be purchased, of course, or another can be rolled into position, quite an material could be used to fill the tires improvement on rocks. Rolling tires as long as it has the characteristics of requires no strength, only a realiza• a fast-draining subsoil. The tires have tion that tires are filthy. Black grime to be filled and packed completely will get on your hands and clothes. with no big air spaces. Push the fill After the first layer was positioned, into the tire cavity around its circum• just laid horizontally on the level ference before filling the middle and subsoil, I started filling each, and the packing it down. I used a hose to spaces between with buckets of grav• water down each tire and be assured el. The tires must be packed by hand that it was filled to capacity. and consequently the gravel will need For each succeeding higher course, to be moved and positioned in small I used tires with a slightly smaller quantities. diameter and was careful to bridge I am fortunate in having an unlimit• any two lower tires with a higher, ed supply of sand and gravel in the smaller one, like laying bricks. I bed of a fair-sized creek running repeated the filling process and posi• through my property. The creek is tioned more tires on top of these. I

212 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) knew what I wanted my rock outcrop unseen, of the broken bits of strata to look like, so I just positioned the visible between the beautiful, small- tires to approximate the shape I was scale plants. I went into the woodlot trying to create. The tires are easy to and collected bushels and bushels of position and reposition before they are chocolate leaf mold. Since the soil in filled. My structure had five stories with this creek valley is rocky, I collected the foundation comprised of seven football-size rocks at the same time, tires rising to a penthouse of one tire. scavenging on hands and knees. When the structure was completed Use rocks for the surface that just and filled, I could take satisfaction in tax your strength but do not exceed realizing that I created, bit by bit, an it. I laid up the surface much like one everlasting landscape feature as would lay a stone wall, but using permanent as the mounds built by generous amounts of leaf mold ancient American natives. The whole behind and around each rock. Unlike ensemble must have weighed tons! a mannered stone wall, the effect I I knew I was going to grow small was aiming for was naturalistic and rhododendrons on my new mound, free-form, and, of course, I tried to so my planting soil was leaf mold. get all of the strata parallel. I had Someday I may build a mound or tire some rooted cuttings of small rhodo• outcrop in a sunny position and use a dendrons and I planted these as I lean grit for my planting soil. In any arranged the rock. I hope that some• case, the planting soil is held in place day I will have to judiciously prune and planting pockets are created by a the small shrubs to see bits of the surface of natural rock. Here there rock. I covered over the entire tire can be no substitutions: Handsome, structure with rock and leafmold, native rock must be employed to even over the top, although I left create the impression that this convo• large planting areas on the top. lution of the earth's crust is The mound fulfills its intended composed of massive monoliths that purpose, beautifully separating my are duplicates, underground and work area from the Japanese style

A Secret Structure with Rolling Stones 213 path, but one certainly would not by threading a hose through the tire need such a good excuse to build a foundation while it is being laid up. mound. This small rock garden could The female connecting end of the be created anywhere there is a desire hose can surface at some convenient, to grow small plants. The total remote location, and, when the garden picture will be enhanced, mound requires water it is simply a however, if its placement has logic. I matter of connecting a supply hose could imagine a mound in a tiny city and adjusting the flow. The sprinkler garden to create visual depth and heads will be inconspicuous surround• increase the square inches of the ed as they will be by a dazzling array pied-a-terre. I could imagine a subur• of rare plants. ban yard where it would seem logical There is another aspect of this to have a mound paralleling a drive• project that appeals to me very way or creating an enclosed, personal much. I, like many gardeners, revere space near the front entry and reliev• the concepts of conservation, thrift, ing the monotony of an unbroken and husbandry. What better way to expanse of cut grass. implement these sentiments than to No gardener needs to be told all of utilize a product discarded? Tires, the horticultural advantages of grow• necessary to our lives, become, when ing plants in raised beds, but it is their useful lives are over, very ugly worth pointing out that this well- and very bothersome. How gratifying drained mound can take, and will to know that this garden mound has a require, lots of water. The establish• secret, that the exquisite beauty of a ment of plants will necessitate careful rare plant is displayed on a plinth of attention to their water requirements. civilization's leftovers, salvaged, and I position a lawn sprinkler on top of put into the service of gardening. the mound and adjust the flow of water to that of a gentle rain falling Nicholas Klise gardens in rural Brogue, on the entire mound. It is possible to Pennsylvania. build in the sprinkler head, or heads, Drawings by the author.

214 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Rock Gardening with Friends by Judy Glattstein

Rock gardening is more than rocks if he had been so kind as to go to the and plants, it is a life style. This fascina• trouble of sending the application to tion with plants of the high mountains, me, the least I could do was to join rolling hills, and forests was passed for a year to see what the society was along to me by the members of the like. Things have never been the American Rock Garden Society same since. through their infectious enthusiasm and At the time I did not drive. Getting generosity. This generosity extends to meetings was difficult, but occa• from shared plants to experience, sionally I could cadge a ride. The knowledge, and liberal hospitality. other members of the Connecticut About two decades ago I worked in chapter were very friendly to an a feed and grain store. One autumn unenlightened newcomer. Ed Leim- day a gentleman came into the store seider told me to come and visit his to purchase a hundred Scilla sibiri- Westport garden, and he would give ca. In an attempt to be polite, I said me a few plants. I went with a little that I often thought these little bulbs basket, not wishing to appear too were more appealing than the big greedy. When I left, after that first hybrids—this comment causing me to visit, a 30-gallon trash bag heavy with lose count of the bulbs. "Ah," said plants needed to be boosted into the he, "then you will like the American car. "Try this, take that, this really Rock Garden Society!" Little did I needs dividing," and Ed's flying trow• know that I was speaking to Larry el was providing me with plants I'd Hochheimer, then secretary of the never heard of. That visit to Ed's organization. In due course, a garden was only the first of many membership application arrived in the down through the years. He so well mail. Not knowing what changes this communicated to me his enthusiasm was about to make in my life, I filled for American and Japanese plants out the form and sent it in. After all, that many of them now grow in my

215 garden. And, as my gardening skills couple of hours later I called her back increased, I was able to share some and said, "Don't laugh, but I've signed new plants with him. up for driving lessons." She laughed so One thing about the ARGS is that hard, she dropped the phone. the level of expertise and the quality With the increased mobility provid• of plants grown are well above that of ed by a driver's licence, I began to the general gardening public. Without attend more meetings, more plant any attempt to aggrandize, it is taken sales, and to visit more gardens. I was for granted that correct scientific still rather timid on the road, refusing Latin nomenclature will be used. to drive on superhighways, at night, "What, using baby talk?" is the harsh• in congested traffic, in bad weather. est criticism I ever received for using My husband Paul reminded me of this a common name. after my solo trip back from Raleigh, At about this time the Brooklyn North Carolina, in 1989, covering Botanic Garden offered a one-day about 700 miles on superhighways, course on rock gardening, taught by at night, etc., etc. H. Lincoln and Laura Louise Foster. I Branching out beyond local meet• thought I should take it, to gain some ings, I attended a couple of winter understanding of what it was all these study weekends. And then in 1976, I people were enthused about. That attended the First Interim Internation• was the first time I met two of the al Rock Garden Conference in Seattle grandest people I have ever been and Vancouver. After that there could privileged to know. At that class I be no doubt about my addiction to asked several questions for which I the fancy, to rock gardening. Up in now blush. Line always had the the Olympic and Cascade Ranges, patience to answer questions. If you walking on permanent snow in the were interested enough to ask, he hot summer sun, seeing elegant assumed you were interested in the alpine plants in their natural setting, I answer. With never a slight nor a put- took the bait—hook, line, and sinker. down Line would gently instruct in It was more than the scenery and the such a manner that the information plants, though; it was the cama• was never forgotten. He gave not raderie of the people on the tours. merely an answer, but the basis for Strangers when we got on the bus, the answer. The class gave me a we were best of friends when we got foundation for understanding some of off. People are territorial and will the discussion at meetings, about always choose the same seat, all day, matters that the other members took each day. The conversation progress• for granted as common knowledge. es from a simple greeting, such as, Now remember, I did not drive. One "Hello, my name is X, and I'm from day I was chatting on the telephone Y," to "Do you grow A?" and "Did with Selma Miriam, and she said, "I you see B at the last stop?" Seat have a great job for you, taking care of mates become acquaintances. The a private greenhouse. Only trouble is, intensity of the experiences shared it is in Westport and you are in condense the time frame needed, and Norwalk. And you don't drive." A friendship ripens.

216 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Back at home, I demanded a gardens, talking plants, and never a bigger garden. In Norwalk we were night in a motel watching MTV and on one-eighth of an acre, and I had bored to tears. run out of room. So we moved to The sequence from ignorance to Wilton, with a full acre of land. That knowledge, from annuals to Arisae- move can certainly be ascribed to the ma, has been a path along which I ARGS and its influence on me. was conducted by helping hands. At ARGS conferences, friendships Many plants in my garden are there are made that extend beyond the few through the generosity of others—by days of the meetings. As an example, seed or division of someone else's I think of Sandy Snyder of Colorado. treasure. Such plants bring pleasure When we met I knew I'd found a not only in and of their intrinsic beau• kindred spirit. I came back again with ty but in the memories they can my husband for an engineering evoke. I look at Primula abchasica conference, and we stayed on with from Line, and I can hear his voice as Sandy and her husband Bill, who he told the story of his correspon• took us up into the high mountains, dence with Mrs. Evtushenko of hiking near Aspen. Paul became Leningrad Botanic Garden. Trillium convinced that life begins over grandiflorum 'Flore Pleno' (photo, p. 10,000'. He is still not a plantsman, 224) blooms, and I remember how it nor interested in plants, but he loves had to stay in John Osborne's cold the alpine habitat. frame for a year after he gave it to Then Sandy came to visit me, and me. It was mine, no question, he was we toured gardens in Connecticut. merely loathe to see it go. I look at One of the pleasures of having Leucojum vernum, given me by a gardening guests, I've decided, is that friend who is not a rock gardener, you get out to see other gardens. All and I think of the other gardens it too often I get caught up in the now graces. mundane and routine. While it would There is no question in my mind be nice to take off and go garden- that rock gardening is both personal hopping, it can be difficult to justify and personnel. It was the willingness as a solo adventure. But with house of experienced, knowledgeable guests, ah, then one is obliged to be a members to reach out to the novice good host and take visitors off to see that brought me into the rock garden these gardens. At one time or anoth• society. It was, and continues to be, er, rock gardeners from Colorado, the individual fascination with saxicole North Carolina, Minnesota, and plants, and the person-to-person shar• Pennsylvania, from Scotland, and ing of interest and affection. That long Japan have stayed chez Glattstein. ago autumn day was pivotal in my life, And I have slept on beds, divans, and and how greatly I have been enriched sofas in many different states. The by that chance meeting. hospitality of rock gardeners, I think, is such that I could crisscross the Judy Glattstein is a free-lance writer, nation for a year and stay with enthusiastic gardener. She lives in Wilton, kindred spirits all the way, visiting Connecticut.

Rock Gardening with Friends 217 The Seed Exchange

The Seed Exchange is one of the basic functions of the American Rock Garden Society. We will begin by accepting that as a rock-bottom tenet. It is popular, it is successful—and therein lies a problem. It has become so success• ful that it threatens to outgrow the capability of any one chapter to manage it. The time has come when change is inescapable.

There is one area that immediately suggests itself for improvement. Some 2000 species of seeds that have been contributed are never ordered! That approaches a third of the total listing. Since there is a direct, one-to-one corre• lation between number of seed contributions and amount of Exchange work required, it is clear that a great burden will be lifted if contributors show greater discernment.

You will note that Guideline 2 specifically states that the seed contributed must be suitable for rock gardens. The Exchange will now go further. Species not deemed to fall into the rock garden category will not be accepted; the contributor will not receive donor credit for them.

Just what are these unacceptable species? Optimally, a list of them would accompany this announcement, and it is hoped that a list can be published in the near future. For the present, as in the past, we will rely on your judge• ment. Give thought to the scale of the rock garden, and also consider the need for proper and useful identification. Do not send seed of Aquilegia species with no further description. At least note that it is blue and low. If you do not exercise judgement, expect disappointment. In addition, please note the enclosed list of endangered and threatened species and varieties. These will not be accepted for the Exchange.

Other great helps for the Exchange are clear as well as correct labeling and proper cleaning. We know we can count on you for that.

218 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Seed Exchange Guidelines

1. Seed will be accepted only until November 1, 1990. An exception is late- ripening seed, which will be accepted later if an alphabetical listing has been received before that date. Overseas members, please try to mail before October 15. 2. Send a minimum of 5 different kinds of seed suitable for rock gardens to meet the requirement to receive donor priveleges of 10 free packets and to have your order filled before those of non-donors. We do appreciate any amount of seed, even if you can't meet this quota. 3. Send clean, dry seed of suitable rock garden plants ear/y.Do not feel you have to send your whole offering at the same time, at a date close to the deadline. 4. Use envelopes no larger than 2" by 4" (5cm x 10cm). One envelope of this size filled with seed is likely to be sufficent for our requirements. As few as five seeds of a variety will be accepted. 5. Mark each envelope clearly and legibly with the botanical name and, if collected in the wild, the location where collected and the altitude. 6. Include an alphabetical listing of the species sent with the seed packets. Please make every effort to verify the accuracy of the names and to have the list correspond to the actual packets sent. For greatest convenience the listing should be on a standard 8 l/2 " by 11" sheet of paper. 7. If only the generic name is known, include a brief description such as height and color. Both generic and specific names should be given where at all possible. 8. Bind envelopes alphabetically with a rubber band and place in a mailing envelope along with the alphabetical list. 9. Be sure your name and address are clearly written on the list and on the outside of the mailing envelope.

All current members of ARGS will receive a seed list.

Send Seed Early to:

Jim Jones, Director ARGS Seed Exchange 45 Middle Street Lexington, MA 02173 USA

219 Troughs

Hypertufa Update by Lawrence B. Thomas

You can take much of the heartache and roughing-up of hands out of trough-making by discarding the chicken wire armature usually suggested. In a trough-making workshop conducted by Hal Lange (Hudson Valley Chapter), we substituted a polypropylene reinforcing agent called F1BERMESH for the unwieldy wire. Check lumberyards and cement suppliers in your area for FIBERMESH, or write the manufacturer for the distributor in your area. (FIBERMESH, 4015 Industry Drive, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37416. Tel.: (615) 892-7243) The product comes in different lengths. We used W length, which we obtained for $8 per one-and-a-half-pound bag, a quantity sufficient to reinforce one cubic yard of concrete. Our batch recipe, which makes one trough 12" x 16" x 7", is:

1 V& ounces FIBERMESH (roughly one handful) 2 gallons Portland cement 2 gallons perlite 2 gallons peat moss, sieved to remove twigs, etc. 2 gallons water, approx., added slowly until correct consistency is obtained,about like cottage cheese.

IMPORTANT: Do not experiment by substituting sand or substances such as pulverized, dry leaves for the perlite. It doesn't work, as there isn't sufficient surface area for the polypropylene fibers to bind to. Such additions will weak• en rather than strengthen the texture of the mix. We formed our troughs in greased wooden forms, tamped the mix down well, and let it set up for an hour. Then we took the inner form out and wrapped our troughs in heavy gauge plastic (we used garbage bags) to cure overnight. The following day, we removed the outer forms, patched any rough spots with the same mix, rasped down the sharp edges with a wood rasp, and burned off any protruding fibers with a butane torch. The mix can be used for free-form troughs or stones as well. One member made her trough using a sand mound as a form. Be creative and use whatever is handiest. Good luck!

Modified from the Manhattan Chapter Newsletter.

220 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Phlox divaricata 'Eco Blue Moon' (see p. 167) Don Jacobs

Phlox divaricata 'Fuller's White', left, and 'Eco Notchless White', right (see p. 167) Don Jacobs

221 Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii 'Chattahoochee', left, Don Jacobs and P. divaricata 'Eco Regal', right (see p. 166)

Phlox amoena hybrid, previously sold as x 'Chattahoochee' (see p. 165) Pamela Harper

222 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Phlox x pilosa 'Moody Blue', Panayoti Kelaidis formerly distributed in error as P. 'Chattahoochee' (see p. 166)

Phlox divaricata 'Eco Texas Purple' (see p. 167) Don Jacobs

223 Trillium grandiflorum 'Flore Pleno' (see p. 217)

Judy Glattstein

224 Propagation

Cuttings in Plastic Bags by Jerry Cobb Colley

Propagation is usually at its most intense level in the spring. The flush of growth and the warmer days and nights make this the most practical time for taking cuttings. However, in the fall, before the usual gardening processes come to a screeching halt, we might consider plastic bag propagation. This method eliminates the need for a greenhouse, heating cables, and highly sani• tary conditions. One desirable feature of this method is that cuttings can be left in the bag throughout the winter without any tendency to overgrow or suffer from not being potted up. Stem cuttings of many rock plants, alpines, and perennials root easily. Root cuttings (sections of roots perhaps one or two inches long) of almost any plant that forms buds along the roots will strike exceptionally well. How do we go about it? Any clear bag from the produce department of a grocery store will serve our purpose. Bags stored for sometime in a drawer at home should be inspected for cleanliness, and, if dubious, they can always be washed out with soapy water, dried inside out, and are then ready to use. Cuttings with leaves that are soft and might rot will benefit from being dipped in a liquid fungicide before being placed in the bag. Trimming the leaves to one-third their length also helps to prevent decay. If possible, attain barely moist, fluffy, live sphagnum moss from coastal bogs, an excellent medium to use. Simply fluff the moss, put in a two-to-three- inch layer on the bottom of the bag, place several cuttings on this layer, add more moss, and continue layering, alternating cuttings with moss. After using all the cuttings, blow up the bag with your breath and tie it very tightly to keep the balloon effect. The bag should then be placed in a room kept above freez• ing but below 60°F, in bright but indirect light. Leave the bag until spring, and then open it and pot up the cuttings. Try to place the potted cuttings in an area that is cool and has adequate humidity rather than in a warm, dry place. Other media that can be used in the bag are coarse, slightly moist perlite, pumice, florist's peat moss, or any sterile medium that can be kept lightly moist. If none of these materials are available, simply place cuttings that are clean in the bag, blow it up, and place it on a flat surface in a cool room with adequate light. Excellent results should be obtained. These cuttings should be potted on as soon as the roots appear, as the available moisture will be used up more quickly without a moist medium present. Plants that have proven to be ideal for this method of propagation include

225 erodiums, geraniums, evergreen daphnes, Epigaea species, alpine primulas, and penstemons. The plastic bag method can also be put to another use. Occasionally there are plants that do not successfully make it through the winter in containers or in the ground, due to excessive moisture or undue cold. The combination of these two can be deadly to many choice, rare plants. Take the plant and wash the roots free of all soil, dry with a towel, blotting all the excess moisture from the roots and stems. Place the plant in a plastic bag of adequate size, blow it up, and seal tightly. Place in a 40°—60°F location with medium light and leave until spring. Early on, as soon as danger of heavy frost is past, remove from the bag and re-pot or re-plant.

Revised with permission from an earlier article published in the Siskiyou Chapter Newsletter.

Tally, Don't Dally! by James Jones

Plant shows are an important part of ARGS meetings, local or national. They give us a chance to show off plants, look at plants, learn about plants, and talk about plants endlessly. Plant shows are great! Who could possibly say anything against them? I could, for one, as someone who runs them. For a person in my position, they can mean drudgery, however rewarding. And the biggest, most objection• able drudgery is in the tally. Typically, each show includes a number of classes, and each class will have from zero to six entries. Each entrant will fill out a card, and each entry will be assigned a class number and an individual number on a slip of paper. Votes are registered by having the members write both these numbers on a slip of paper and pop that in a container. (We have initiated a variant which permits a vote for both first and second place, by depositing two slips for the first choice and one for second. This was my idea, since I continually seemed to come in with second-best plants that under the usual system would have gotten no votes at all. Or maybe one.) Then the fun begins for the show committee. All those slips have to be counted up, by volunteers who would really rather be hearing the talk. It is true drudgery. The results then have to be gathered together and prepared for presentation, all in an atmosphere that is often that of a three-ring circus. There is a large margin of error, and of frustration. I have been working out a way to avoid some of this, specifically the count-

226 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) ing-up part. The new method has its own cumbersome aspects, but they have to do with the initial set-up and can be dealt with at home, in calmer circum• stance. The mechanism is to provide a single mechanical counter for each entry, with an array of counters for each class. Each counter is numbered to correspond to the individual entry; the counter is pressed twice for first, once for second, and there you have it. The tally is ready to be read. No volunteers are needed, the possibility for human error shrinks, and the time required is

quarter size

reduced ten-fold. In addition, there is none of the worrisome business of slicing up enough paper slips before hand, lugging around pencils, containers, etc. Nonetheless, it must be recognized that we are talking about a large number of counters. Shows vary in size, but one must always plan for the maximum number of entries likely. This might well mean 12 classes times 5 entries per class, which equals 60 individual plants and an equal number of counters. But that hardly need be a sticking point. Appropriate counters are cheap ($2-$3) and small; and counter holders, each holding perhaps five counters to corre• spond to the plants of a single class, are readily constructed. My first thought was to use grocery shopping counters, those little plastic things that let the housespouse click up the flowing dollars. But between one year and the next the supply totally dried up. I surmise that these devices were victims of inexpensive little electronic calculators. But that was okay. A better- rounded member of the board suggested golf score-keepers, which are even better—smaller and cheaper, and designed (clearly by realists) to count only in one direction. Mounting these was the simplest thing in the world: I sliced five slots of the right width and depth in a section of two-by-four, then nailed on

227 strips of plywood to cover the bottom and front of the slots, leaving the top open for inserting and removing the counters. The ratchet mechanism that is turned to enter a vote is left exposed, but the tally itself is hidden. The method has been tested, and it works. In particular, voter acceptance has been good, in the face of something new and different, and show secre• tary acceptance has been very good. Therefore, pencils, paper, and coffee cans will be a thing of the past (or, more accurately, reserved only in case of overwhelming participation), and a much better time will be had by all.

Books

Cuttings from a Rock Garden: Plant Portraits and Other Essays. H. Lincoln Foster and Laura Louise Foster. Atlantic Monthly Press: New York. 1990. Hardcover, 464 pp., 40 illustra• tions, 8 color pp. List price $29.95, available from the ARGS Bookstore at $23.00. by Wayne Winterrowd

On my desk is an advance copy of the last writings of Laura Louise and H. Lincoln Foster, Cuttings from a Rock Garden: Plant Portraits and Other Essays, edited by Norman Singer, and to be published by Atlantic Monthly Press in July 1990. As long as the host of fine plants the Fosters brought into cultivation and generously disseminated continue to bloom, this book is not their last gift to gardeners. But it is a splendid one, and should grace the shelf of every American rock gardener. Timmy and Line, as they were known to their many friends, married in 1949. Timmy's Aunt Do moved out of a beautiful colonial house in Falls Village, Connecticut so that they could move in, and left to them a garden thickly planted with privet and yew. Around the back flowed a splendid old mill race. This stream was to be the nucleus of the garden which became known to gardeners as Millstream. The saga of what followed, the clearing of the privets and yews, the scrabbling out of weed-infested soil to make place for treasures, is best left to Timmy. The first 108 pages of this remarkable book are her writ• ing and recount the creation of Millstream. No one who has read Timmy's articles in the Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society over the last 25 years will be surprised at what a good writer she was. More than anything else, there emerges from her narrative

228 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) what a good, happy marriage was theirs, happy certainly for their garden and for gardeners everywhere, but most happy in itself. One has a powerful sense of two people who adopted a purpose for their lives and went about it passionately together, encouraged not so much by the achievement (which was considerable) as by the act of sharing. Timmy was, by her own account, "Line's weeder." But one should not make the mistake of assuming that she was not herself a fine botanist, as her learned essays make clear. Her exquisite line drawings, some 40 sprinkled throughout the book, amply verify this. Most of these drawings have never been published previously, and one is grateful for them all. Botanically accu• rate in every way, they positively excel in the depiction of the roots of the plants. The second part of the book is a collection of essays, mostly written by Line. Called "Plant Portraits," the essays were originally composed for the ARGS bulletin, and have been assembled here. There is magic indeed, when one considers the things they grew, and how they grew them, the knowledge they had, and their words to other gardeners ready to make the attempt at growing. It is Line's voice that emerges most firmly here, and one thinks he could never have been so happy as when he had grown a plant which was a real botanical conundrum and could trace its identity through as many refer• ences as could be stacked on the end of a large library table. Beyond his erudi• tion and his keen—ever so keen—eye for the minutest observation, he could also give way to flights of botanical fancy, as when he speaks of the flowers of asarums: "This secret and dungeon flower, in the chilly spring days, by its abili• ty to raise its temperature, lures into its darkened halls early flylike insects to perform the rites of fertilization as they move from one intoxicating tavern to another, to ensure the mingling of genes from a diversity of individual plants." The last section of the book is titled "Essays: Reflections on the Gardening Art," and it is here, though one has wished it all along, that one most wants more. There are two beautiful poems, one by Line and one by Timmy, and a scattering of observations on how to garden, and why to garden, and if you will garden, what to do and not to do. Laura Louise Foster died in 1988, and H. Lincoln Foster about a year later, in 1989. Both are buried in Falls Village, and there are beautiful words on their stones. But for me, the best epitaph for both is still Timmy's fine and character• istic phrase in her essay—"It was hot dusty work, and most satisfactory." No mention of this book should end without comment on the many labors of love which have brought it into existence. John Barstow, a near neighbor of the Fosters and an editor at Atlantic Monthly Press, saw it into publication. Dianne Rugh most skillfully prepared the index, in a way which will make it a valuable tool for rock gardeners for many years to come. Panayoti Kelaidis contributed a fine elegiac introduction, remembering the Fosters at their very best. But mostly we must be grateful to Norman Singer, who saw the concept of the book to completion, and who worked with Line Foster in the last year of his life to be sure that this last fine bouquet of writings would not be lost.

229 ARGS Coming Events

1991 Eastern Winter Study Weekend: The Plants of China January 25 to 27,1991 Featuring a scenic bus trip to the US National Arboretum to tour the new Asian and China Valleys and view the expanded Bonsai collection and the famed Gotelli Dwarf Conifer collection.

Speakers: Lawrence Lee, Theodore R. Dudley, Robert McCartney, Kurt Bluemel, Alexej Borkovec, George W. Ring, and Phillip Normandy. Place: The Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, Virginia. Registration Fee: $60 before December 1,1990, $70 thereafter. Questions? Registration: Kevin Mclntosh 4229 Blue Barrow Ride Ellicott City, MD 21043. Other questions: George Phair 14700 River Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-926-8944

1991 Annual Meeting: A Kaleidoscope of Gardens White Plains, New York

May 10 through May 12,1991

Featuring the gardens of: Wave Hill Stonecrop The New York Botanical Gardens —and more!

For more information write:

Michael Donovan 214 Highbrook Avenue Pelham, NY 10803

230 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) RJCE CREEK American GARDENS, INC Rare & Unusual Perennials Rock Garden Rock Garden Plants Dwarf Conifers Hardy Rhododendrons Society Shrub Roses Wild Flowers Herbs & Water Plants Join Today! Nursery Sales 11506 Hwy. 65 Benefits of Membership Include: Blaine, MN 55434 Mailing Address Beautiful, Colorful Quarterly Bulletin 1315 66th Ave. NE Seed Exchange offering Thousands of Fridley, MN 55432 Species of Seed at Low Prices We Build Authentic Spectacular National Meetings Rock Gardens Full Participation in the American and Community of Rock Gardeners Complete, Distinctive Catalog $2 Landscapes Send $20 to: Secretary, ARGS, PO Box 200483, Denver, CO 80220-0483

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Catalog: $2.00 refundable on first order PORTERHOWSE 41370 S.E. Thomas Rd. Sandy, Oregon 97055

Telephone/FAX (503) 668-5834

232 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Wild Collected Seed of Cushion and Saxatlle Plants from the Rocky Mountain States. Send $1 for November catalog to PO Box 20483, Denver. Colorado. 80220.

A (Distinguished Coftection TIME TESTED H0STAS including VARIETIES Over 1500 hard to find suitable for and useful plant ROCK GARDENS varieties Fresh Hosta seeds available ROSLYN NURSERY from January 1 to June 1. 211 BURRS LANE, DEPT. R DDI HELLS, N.Y. 11746 Homestead Division 124 page Mail Order Catalog $2.00 9448 Mayfield Road,Chesterland,OH 44026 Catalog $1.00 deductible from order.

PERENNIALS Pacific Horticulture Extensive list of top-quality nursery-propagated a magazine about perennials for the fine and unique gardener. plants and gardens of the west Featuring exclusively McEwen Siberian Iris.

illustrated color quarterly Catalog of over 1,000 varieties of annually, in US currency: US $15; perennials,$1.50. Canada & Mexico $18; overseas $20 write to: Circulation Department PO Box 680, Berkeley, CA 94701 Fieldstone Gardens, Inc. 620 Quaker Lane, Vassalboro, Me. 04989 • (207)923-3836

Calochortus Fritillaria Wildflowers of the Southern Other Western Native Bulbs Appalachians Choice, hardy, reliable, showy.

C.H. Baccus FROM OUR NURSERY TO YOUR GARDEN 900 Boynton Ave. be it woodland, rock, moist or dry. San Jose, CA 95117 Send $2 for 40 pp. descriptive catalog or SASE for (408)244-2923 list of wildflowers, hardy ferns and perennials SASE For July mail order list. Spring Sunlight Gardens container and Fall dormant bulbs Rt. 1 Box 600-R2 sold by appointment only. Andersonville, Term. 37705

233 Unusual Alpines For over 20 years & Hardy Plants we have specialized in dwarf Rhododendrons, Nursery established 1927 Azaleas and dwarf coni• From our extensive plant collection fers. We also have one of we can offer an interesting range of New England's largest jselec- tions of rare Alpines, Primulas, Saxifrages, Hardy cialty Alpine* Perennials, Shrubs, and Dwarf Con• perfect for the ifers. All are fully described in our trough or rock current catalogue. (Please send $2.00 garden. in notes, not cheques.) Seed List also Free 120-page catalog when you available (2 reply coupons please). visit us. Orders dispatched worldwide by AIR To send for catalog, MAIL, carefully packed. include $3.00 Holden Clough Nursery to Dept. ARGS, Holden, Bolton-by-Bowland NURSERIES, INC. Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 4PF England 1159 Bronson Road, Fairfield, CT. 06430 Telephone: 2007 615 (203) 259-5609 (Sorry we do not mail order.)

Chehalis Rare Plant Nursery 2568 Jackson Highway, Chehalis, Washington 98532 After 30 years of selecting and Exhibition - Alpine Hand Pollinated Show Auricula breeding, I have developed an Petite Hybrids, a strain of Red Self Green Edge improved strain of Garden Auric• small species and hybrids in a Yellow Self Gray & White Edge ula with a complete palette of wide range of color. $1.00 per $2.00 per packet of 25 seeds. color. packet of 50 seeds. Mixed Garden White Garden Primula Florindae Hand Pollinated Yellow Garden Brown Garden & Mixed Candelabra Double Auricula Mix Blue Garden Red Garden Generous packet $1.00 each. $3.00 per packet of 15 seeds. MINIMUM ORDER $5.00 Post free in U.S. and Canada Overseas orders please add 500.

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Write for free Catalog Send 650 in Stamps for List

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234 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) ^oybohovtyk k

cAfutee/ty, $nc. Growers oh Dwarf and Unusual Conifers, Broadleaves and Trees Custom Grafting & Liners Available LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION CONIFER & ROCK GARDENS W. David Thompson By Appointment Only Street, Maryland 21154 (301) 836-7023 Retail & Wholesale

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COLLECTORS DWARF BULBS Our 1990 catalogue contains many old favorites for garden and Alpine House. mm In addition, we offer numerous rare AMERICAN CONIFER SOCIETY and new introductions. Full and Descriptive Catalogue $2.00 Interested in dwarf conifers and their POTTERTON & MARTIN companion plants? Join the American Nettleton, Nr. Caistor, North Lines. Conifer Society. For information write: LN7 6HX, ENGLAND ACS, c/o Maxine Schwarz, Secretary, tel 0472-851792 PO Box 242, Severna Park, MD 21146.

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235 Marty and Sandy Jones

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Large 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 catalogue refunded with first order. Featuring: Aquilegias, Dianthus, Hardy ice plants, Gentians, Iris sp, Mexican Phlox, Penstemons, and many interesting plants of the Rocky Mountains, and North America, Europe, Africa and Asia (303)949-6464 P.O.Box 2708 (303) 949-6672 AVON CO 81620

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236 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Mt. Tahoma Nursery Rick Lupp (206) 847-9827 Alpines, Washington State Natives, Species Primulas, Troughs & Trough Plants Custom Propagating

Nurseries Open Weekends and by Appointment Mail Order: U.S. & Canadian Only Send $1.00 For List 28111-112th Avenue E., Graham, Washington 98338

THE PRIMROSE PATH Primula veris 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

THE CUMMINS GARDEN DWARF RHODODENDRONS Yes, We Ship! DECIDUOUS AZALEAS Catalog $1.00 DWARF EVERGREENS y COMPANION PLANTS (Refundable With Order)

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THE SCOTTISH ROCK GARDEN CLUB invites you to join The Club's twice yearly Journal, well illustrated and containing authoritative articles on a varitey of rock plants—especially those which do better in the North—is spoken of in the most flattering terms by members outside Scotland, whether elsewhere in Britain or overseas. The Seed Exchange and Distribution Scheme is first-class both in quality and scope. Subscription £7 & £1.50 for each Family member. Application to Hon. Subscription Secretary, Miss K.M. Gibb, 21 Merchiston Park, Edinburgh EH 10 4PW, SCOTLAND.

237 A • R • G • S BOOKSTORE

New Listing

Cuttings from a Rock Garden Plant Portraits and Other Essays

written by H. Lincoln Foster and Laura Louise Foster illustrated by Laura Louise Foster edited by Norman Singer A unique collection of writings and illustrations by the late H. Lincoln and Laura Louise Foster, the extraor• Curlings from a dinary husband and wife team, who ROCK GARD EN for decades have been America's preeminent authorities on wildflower Plant Portraits and Other f*r«jt* and rock gardening. The heart of the text is a collection of Line Foster's closely observed plant portraits, writ• ten for the ARGS Bulletin over the • past four decades. More than 100 genera are described in detail and invaluable cultural information is provided for each. The soul of the book is Laura Louise's heartwarming story of how the Fosters came to Millstream House in 1949 and turned a woodland

H. Lincoln and Laura Louise Foster mountainside in Connecticut into one of the most enchanting and ambitious private rock gardens in the world.

Laura Louise Foster was a botanical artist of the first order and the book is illus• trated with 40 superb pen-and-ink portraits of the plants described. Included are also 8 pages of color photographs, a detailed map of the property, an illustrated glossary, and an introduction by Panayoti Kelaidis, curator of the Denver Botanic Gardens Rock Alpine Garden. In addition, thoughtful essays by both Fosters touch on conserva• tion, the ethics of plant collection in the wild, the ebb and flow of the seasons, and other topics of interest to gardeners. This new book is an invaluable guide and an ideal companion to Foster's classic work, Rock Gardening. It represents a culmination of the Fosters' careers and an inspiration to rock gardeners everywhere. List $29.95 Special Offer for ARGS Members: $23.00 ( plus $2 postage and handling) Published by Atlantic Monthly Press 6" x 9" hardcover, 464 pp.

238 Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society Vol. 48(3) Additional Books

Alpine Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains*, by J. Duft & R. Moseley $7.00 Auriculas*, by Brenda Hoyatt 14.00 The Genus Lewisia*, by Brian Mathew 23.00 The Iris*, by Brian Mathew 23.00 Iris*, by Kohlein 27.00 The Genus Cyclamen*, by Christopher Grey-Wilson 22.00 The Smaller Bulbs*, by Brian Mathew 34.00 Vascular Plants of Wyoming, by Robert Dorn 15.00 Vascular Plants of Montana, by Robert Dorn 9.00 Utah Flora*, ed. Stanley Welsh et al 36.00 Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region*, by Fred Case 26.00 The Opinionated Gardener*, by Geoffrey Charlesworth 14.00 Rocky Mountain Alpines*, publ. Alpines '86 Intl. Conference 30.00 Rock Gardening, by H. Lincoln Foster 18.00 Manual of Alpine Plants, by Will Ingwersen, reprint edition 15.00 The Bernard Harkness Seedlist Handbook, by Harkness et al 23.00 Sucessful Southern Gardening*, by Sandra Ladendorf 18.00 Clematis*, by Barry Fretwell 19.00 Genus Pleione*, by Cribb & Butterfield 25.00 A Manual of Saxifrages*, by Webb & Gornall 40.00 A Manual of Alpine and Rock Garden Plants* by C. Grey-Wilson 22.00 The Rock Garden and its Plants *, by Graham Stuart Thomas 26.00 Modern Miniature Daffodil Species and Hybrids*, by James Wells 26.00 Campanulas*, by Peter Lewis and Margaret Lynch 22.00 Rare Plants of Colorado, by Colorado Native Plant Society 6.00 Alpine Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains, by Willard, Smithson 3.50

* denotes a hard cover

Please mail inquiries and orders to:

Jean Stevens, Manager American Rock Garden Society Bookstore Route 6, Woodland Drive Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 USA

All ordersrs must be prepaid in US dollars by check on a US banbar k or by international money order. Add postage and handling: First Book US $2 Outside US $3 Each Additional Book $1 Your zip code or postal code must be included. Chapter Chairpersons

Adirondack William Dress, 716 Elm Street Ext., Ithaca, NY 14850 Allegheny Walter C. Betzold, 131 Rochester Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Arizona Sonia Lowzow Collins, RR 3, Box M365, Lakeside, AZ 85929 Berkshire Anne Spiegel, 73 Maloney Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Columbia-Willamette Diana Reeck, 1602 NE 162 Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98684 Connecticut Joan Lee Faust, 11 Field Road, Riverside, CT 06878 Esther LeGeyt Bailey, 157 Douglas Street, Hartford, CT 06114 Delaware Valley Joyce Fingerut, 2106 Pennsylvania Ave., Ft. Washington, PA 19034 Emerald Ernest O'Byrne, 86813 Central Road, Eugene, OR 97402 Great Lakes Jim Briggs, 3270 E. Lansing Road, Bancroft, MI 48414 Hudson Valley Edith Young, Box 332, RFD 3, McDougal Ln., Peekskill, NY 10566 Long Island Shelley Herlich, 43 Greenfield Lane, Commack, NY 11725 Lillabeth Wies, Box 233, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 Manhattan Lawrence Thomas, 340 E. 74th, #11G, New York, NY 10021 Minnesota Florence Keller, 6412 Indian Hills Rd., Minneapolis, MN 55435 Mt. Tahoma Doreen Pohlman, 10623 125th Street East, Puyallup, WA 98374 New England James L. Jones, 45 Middle St., Lexington, MA 02173 Newfoundland Bodil Larsen, Site 78, Box 36, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5H4 Northwestern Art Dome, 4832 54th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118 Ohio Valley Harry Butler, Rt. 1, 2521 Penemit Rd., Spring Valley, OH 45370 Ontario Cyril Baker, 258 West St., #506, Brantford, Ontario, N3R 6N1 Piedmont Bobby Wilder, 1213 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607 Pikes Peak Gary Mueller, 2103 Essex Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Potomac Valley Don Humphrey, 6540 Oakwood Drive, Falls Church, VA 22041 Rocky Mountain Joan Schwarz, 26290 Clear View Drive, Golden, CO 80401 Siskiyou Joseph Shelton, PO Box 8311, Medford, OR 97504 Southern Appalachian Ruth Samotis, 2618 Hebron Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739 Watnong Barry Yinger, PO Box 565, Far Hills, NJ 07931 Western Margery Edgren, 50 Oakhaven Way, Woodside, CA 94062 Wisconsin-Illinois Douglas Macdonald, 1214 Grant Street, Evanston, IL 60201

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

Guest Artists Carolyn Crawford Phil Pearson Margy Lanham Nicholas Klise James Locklear Judy Glattstein Al Stavos Don Jacobs Dick Bartlett Panayoti Kelaidis David Vesall Pamela Harper Officers

President Lee Morris Raden (215) 935 2323 Alpineflora, 1 Alpine Way, Phoenixville, PA 19460

Vice President Sandra Ladendorf (919) 942 1734 123 High Hickory Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Treasurer Diane D. Kern (518) 392 3516 PO Box 53, Spencertown, NY 12165

President Emeritus Harold Epstein (914) 834 1551 5 Forest Court, Larchmont, NY 10538

Directors of the Board.

1987—1990 Nan Ballard, Issaquah, Washington Pat Bender, Seattle, Washington Andrew Osyany, Shelburne, Ontario 1988—1991 Muriel Milsted. Downers Grove, Illinois Nickolas Nickou, Branford, Connecticut Ramona Osburn, Jacksonville, Oregon 1989—1992 Nancy Goodwin, Hillsborough, North Carolina Joan Means, Georgetown, Massachusetts Sandra Snyder, Littleton, Colorado

Managers—

Seed Exchange James L. Jones 45 Middle St., Lexington, MA 02173 Archivist Mamie Flook RD 3, Box 278A, Chestertown, MD 21620 Slide Collection William Plummer 10 Fox Lane East, Painted Post, NY 14870 Library Janet Evans c/o Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 325 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Bookstore Jean Stevens Route 6, Woodland Drive, Eau Claire, WI 54701

You are Invited to Join the American Rock Garden So iety. Membership includes a subscription to the Bulletin and participation in the seed exchange, as well as other benefits. Annual dues, to be submitted in U.S. funds by check on a U.S. bank or by International Money Or^i, are: General Membership, $20.00 (domestic or foreign, single or Joint); Patron, $50.00; Life Member, undt: 55 years old, $350.00; over 55 years old, $300. Membership inquiries and dues should be sent to Secretary, ARCS, PO Box 200483, Denver, CO, 80220-0483. Address editorial matters pertaining to the Bulletin to C\ven Kelaidis, Editor, 1410 Eudora Street, Denver, Colorado, 80220. Advertising matters should be addressed to Al Deurbrouck, Advertising Manager, 6915 Hilldale Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236. The Bulletin is published quarterly by the 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 Darien, Connecticut and additional offices. Postmaster-. Send address changes to Bu//erin of the American Rock Garden Society, (ISSN 0003 0864), 15 Fairmead Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820.