Let Tetra Pond turn your yard into a Living Showplace!

Dr. Johfl Gratzek, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, is pho­ tographed beside his Tetra pond in his Athens, Georgia home. Dr. Gratzek is one of thousands of people now en­ joying a Tetra pond.

Above-ground a Tetra pond is easily constructed usiflg land­ scape timbers-in fact, you can evefl put a tetra pond ifldoors!

Tetra's flexible pond liners let you create the pond you want ... the size, the shape, and in your choice of location. In-ground, by following simple step-by-step directions, you can create a natural setting any professional landscaper would be proud of. Above­ ground you can use landscape timber to create a design for any The Tetra Luft Pump and location ... even in your home. Tetra's 32 Mil, flexible PVC liners Brillant G Pond filter provide are double-bonded and UV stabilized to withstand the coldest biological and mechanical fil­ winters and hottest summers year after year. t ~ation and aeration for ponds up to 1500 gallons. Tetra's quality pond products let you successfully establish a new pond or maintain an existing pond.

In the winter there is no need to worry. Your Tetra pond liner Tetra Pond fish food and spe­ cial color-enhancing Koi food can withstand the worst conditions and unless the pond water provide complete fish nutri­ freezes completely to its lowest depth, your tion . Tetra foods float and will fish will remain in a dormant state until the never foul pond water. spring. No matter where you live, you can enjoy a yard pond! For more information on how to construct and maintain your Tetra yard Tetra water chemicals ensure pond, write Tetra Sales. the health and well-being of your fish and plants. AquaSafe Pond Formula: Tetra liners are available in seven pre-cut sizes. neutralizes pond water to be Order by stock no.: 16378 (8 ' x 13'), 16370 (10 ' x 16'), safe from clilorine, chloramine 16371 (13 ' x 13'), 16372 (13 ' x 20'), 16373 (16' x 23'), and toxic heavy metal ions. 16374 (20' x 26'), 16375 (23' x 30'). DesaFin: combines formaldehyde and malachite green to treat and prevent a broad range of fish diseases. FloraFin: the optimum fertilizer for growth and hardiness of all water plants including lilies and hyacinths.

Tetra Sales (U.S.A.) We are the 201 Tabor Road, Morris Plains, N.J. 0795Q water garden experts! Telephone: 800-526-0650 TetraJP®nnaIl In New Jersey (201) 540-4285 VOLUME 66 NUMBER 6

President's Page: Season of Growth by Everitt L. Miller 2

Plant Collections: S.U.N.Y. Greenhouse by Patricia Ba rnes-S varney 5

The Design Page: The White Garden by M a rgaret H ensel 11

Jane Loudon: First Lady of Gardening by Elisabeth Sheldon 15

Botanical Prints by M argaret Pa rke 18

Liatris by Stanley M. H armon 25

Longue Vue Text by Doris M. Stone Photography by Roger W . Stone 28

Pronunciation Guide 33

Sources 34

Classifieds 36

Book Reviews by Barbara W . Ellis 40

Public Gardens: Practical but Spectacular by Erin Monica H ynes 42

This hand-co lored lithograph from Jane Loudon's The Ladies' Flower- Garden of Ornamental Perennials rel ates to two of the articles in this month's issue. To rea d the fascinating story of Jane Loudon's life, turn to page 15 fo r "Jane Loudon: First Lady of Ga rdening. " For an article on On the Cover: Liatris is a native Ameri can perennial wildflower th at was, the history of botanica l prints -complete with a useful until recently, overlooked by gardeners. Not only do these plants provide sidebar on starting yo ur own collection - turn to Margaret showy summer color in ga rdens and undisturbed wild areas alike, they Parke's article on the subj ect, whi ch begins on page 18. Print also -as this tiger swall owtai l attests- attract pollinators that rival the courtesy of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. beauty of the fl owers. For more on Liatris, turn to page 25.

EDITOR, PUBLI CATI ONS DIRECTOR: Barbara W. Ellis. ART DIRECTOR: Rebecca K. McClim ans. ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Lynn M. Lynch, A. Brooke Russell , Brian C. Little. HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANTS: Gilbert S. Daniels, Jane Steffey. ASS ISTANT TO THE EDITOR: Martha Palermo. PR ODUCTION ASSISTANT : Lynn M. Lynch. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATI VE: C. W. Advertising, P.O. Box 138, Moun t Ve rnon, VA 22121, (703) 360-6666. M EMBERSHIP DIRECTO R: Sa llie Hutcheson. COLO R SEPARATIONS : Chromagraphics Inc. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Dr. Gerald S. Barad, Fl emington, NJ; Dr. Harrison Flint, West Lafayette, IN; Peter Loewer, Cochecton Center, N Y; Dr. Elizabeth McClin tock, Sa n Francisco, CA; Frederi ck McGourty, Norfolk, CT; Janet M. Poor, Winnetka, IL j Maire Sim ington, Ph oenix, AZ; Jane Steffey, Sy kesvill e, MDj Dr. James E. Swazey, Newark, DE; Phillip E. Chandler, Santa Monica, CA.

Repl acement issues of AM ERI CAN HO RTICULTURIST are avail able at a cost of $2.50 pe r copy. The opinions expressed in the articles th at appear in AM ERI CAN HORTICULTURIST are those of the authors and 3re not necessarily those of the Society. Manuscripts, art week and photographs sent for possible publication will be recurned if they are accompani ed by a self­ addressed, stamped en velo pt-. We ca nnot guarantee th e safe return of unsolicired material.

AMERI CAN HO RTI CULTURIST, ISSN 0096-441 7, is the offi cial publica tion of th e American Horticultural Society, 793 1 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virgi nia 22308, (703) 768-5700, and is issued monthly. Membership in the Society includes a subscription to AMERICAN HO RTICULTURIST. Membership dues sta rt at $20.00 per individual or $25.00 per famil y pe r year, $12.00 of which is designated for AMERI CAN HORTIOULTURIST. Copyright © 1987 by the Ameri can Horticultural Soci ety. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offi ces. Postmaster: Pl ease send Form 3579 to AM ERI CAN HORTICULTURIST, P. O. Box 0105, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121.

American Horticulturist PRESIDENT'S PAGE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Season ofGrawth omCERS 1986·1987 Mr. Everitt 1. Miller Ke nnett Square, Pennsl'Iv3nia President Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Linduy s spring takes hold here at River Farm, we gear up for our Sum­ Rochester, ew York Fb~t Vice President mer Internship Program. Each year we select as many as five col­ Mrs. John M. Maury A lege students majoring in horticulture or a related field to work Washington, DC and learn on the 25 acres of our headquarters' estate. Since many of Second Vice President these students attend colleges that offer little or no practical horticultural Mrs. Charles W. Allen, Jr. Glenview, Kemuckv experience, the internships are vital. After all, academic study can only go Secretaryl so far in this profession. Hands-on experience is truly essential, as any Mr. Richard J. Hutton gardener knows! West Grove, Pennsvlva nia Treasurer ' Looking back over the Internship Program's history, I am pleased to Mr. Edward N. Dane see many former interns thriving today. Notable among them are Steve Boston, Massachusetts Bender, now Assistant Garden Editor at Southern Living magazine; Karl Immediate Past Presidelll Stromayer, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa; and Brian Little, Associate Editor in the Society'S Publications Department and Horticulturist for our Gardener's Information Service. These former interns have already repaid BOARD OF DIRECTORS the Society'S investment in their futures by contributing much to their Mrs. Charles W. Allen, Jr. chosen field. And Brian Little, intern from the summer of 1985, tells us Glenview, Kemuckv Mr. Richard C. Angino that our investment in his career has proven invaluable as he handles Harrisburg, Pennsylvania hundreds of questions from Soci@ty members each year. Gerald S. Barad, M.D. "Without the internship, I would have the theoretical knowledge to Flemington, New Jersev answer the questions," Brian said recently, "but I wouldn't have the first­ Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole, Jr. Cleveland, Ohio hand experience with the problems. There's a big difference between say­ Mr. J. Judson Brooks ing 'Oh yes, I read about that in college' and 'I know what you mean, Sewicklev, Pennsvlva nia I had to help solve that problem in our garden.'" Dr. Henry M. Cathey Society members depend on Brian's education and practical knowledge Wash ington, DC when they have gardening questions. (If you have not taken advantage of Mr. Russell Clark Boston, Massachusetts Brian's expertise through our free Gardener's Information Service, avail­ Mrs. Erastus Corning, II able to members only, I invite you to do so by writing to Brian in care of Albany, New York the Society.) As members, we reap the benefits of Brian's training, and Mr. Richard J. Hutton we can be proud that we sponsored a program that gave Brian and other West Grove, Pennsylvania former interns precious practical experience. Their internships laid a Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York foundation for superb careers in horticulture, and many people who love Mrs. John M. Maury gardening will benefit from the talent and dedication of horticulturists Walhington, DC who got their start at River Farm. Mr. Everitt 1. Miller Of course, our interns would not have had the chance to gain this ex­ Kennett Square, Pennsl'lvania pertise without the support of Society members. The Summer Internship Mrs. Daniel Pierce Dedham, Massachusetts Program is funded entirely through contributions from our members, and Mrs. Frances J. Poetker this y@ar I invite you to help once again by underwriting a portion of an Cincinnati, Ohio intern's salary. Whether you can help by supporting a single day of intern Mrs. Edward King Poor, III work-time or by sponsoring an entire summer, your generosity is much Winnetka, Illinois Dr. Julia W. Rappaport needed and greatly appreciated-not just by me and by the Society'S Sama Ana , Ca liforn ia Board of Directors, but by the young horticulturists who jump at the op­ Mrs. Philip Temple portunity to spend a summer being paid practically nothing, and working Little Compton, Rhode Island from dawn to dusk in the sweltering Virginia heat and humidity, just to Mr. Roy G. Thomas Woodstock, Vermom learn first hand the beauty, excitement, and challenges of horticulture. Mrs. Harry J. Van de Kamp I hope summer finds you reveling in the glories of your garden. At Pasadena, Cali fornia River Farm, we are enjoying a multitude of perennials and early flower­ Mr. John H. Whitworth, Jr. ing trees. We owe much of River Farm's recurring splendor to the efforts New York, New York of all our American Horticultural Society interns. I hope I can depend on Mrs. Jean Verity Woodhull Da)~o n , Ohio you to help ensure their return this year to another season of glory, and Dr. John A. Wott of growth. Sean Ie, Washington -Everitt L. Miller President

2 June 1987 Is your garden missing jewel-like flowers floating on a one of the most satisfying forms of gardening. If you shimmering water surface and the darting brilliance of haven't one, you are missing a great deal of satisfaction goldfish? Are you missing the melodic sounds of water from your garden. spilling from a fountain, vessel or waterfall? Let LUypons and TETRA POND help you to get started What you need in your garden is a water lily pool. A water today by ordering one of our durable TETRA POND 32 mil, lily pool is a garden whose plants like damp to very wet flexible 2 ply PVC pool liners. So €asy to install and main­ feet. Fish and frogs li.ke to live there and butterflies will tam you will ask yourself why you waited so long to begin like your garden oett€r than eVer. A water garden is simply this adventure. Choose fr@m the seven sizes listed (sizes are approximate, for depth lY2' to 2' in your own d€sign.): o Lilypons water gaFi;l~nihg catalogue subscription ...... 8 4 '. 0 8 ' x 12 ' liner makes 4 ' x 8 ' pool ...... 8 99 o 10 I x 16' liner makes e' x 12 ' pool...... 8145 0 13' x 13' liner makes 9 ' x 9 ' po@l ...... 8165 o 13 ' x 20' liner makes 9 ' x 16' pool. . . . . ', ...... 8199 0 16' x 23 ' liner makes 13 ' x 19 ' pool . ..' ...... 8299 o 20 ' x 26' lp1er makes 26 ' x 22 ' pool...... 8399 0 23 ' x 30' liiler makes 19 ' x 26' pool ...... 8499 Use your personal check or circle credit card: AE CB CH DC MC VS. Card Number: . Exp. Date ___ _ ~------~-~~_----- Name Address _~_~~~ ___~_~ ______City State Zip Phone ( Cata~ogue free with liner order. Maryland (5%) and Texas (5-1/ 8%) residents please add sales tax. Lilypons Water Gardens 1526 Arehort Road 1526 LI1ypons Road P.O. Box 10 P .O. Box 188 L.!lypons, Maryland 21717-0010 Brookshire, Texas 77423-0188 (301) 874-5133 Washington Local 428-0686 (713) 93~525 Houst on Local 391-0076 PLANT FOOD SO GOOD IT'S BEYOND BELIEF. .. PLANT COLLECTIONS S.UNYGre

djacent to the biology building on the campus of the State University "We try to ... al­ A of New York (S. U.N.Y) at Bing­ hamton is a large glass building. Most peo­ low the students ple pass right by this structure; others stare in amazement, for on the other side of the to observe the glass are over 5,000 species of plants rep­ actual growth resenting almost every continent, from New York's own native club mosses (Lycopo­ and develop­ dium spp.) to South African succulents. This is S.U.N.Y. Binghamton's Teaching ment of a great Greenhouse, one of the best educational number ofplant and research facilities in the state. Plans for building a large greenhouse syeCles~h' .. .. " facility at S.U.N.Y. Binghamton were years in the making. The original greenhouse was a small glass house attached to the old biology building. Eventually, a larger greenhouse was built at the same location to accommodate the growing number of plants. For nearly 15 years, this structure was used by biology students and research­ ers. Then, the Biology Department moved to a new building, leaving the greenhouse facility behind. This arrangement made it very difficult to teach botany laboratories, since plants for study and dissection had ABOVE: Students examine the many unusual succulents to be carted from the greenhouse to the found in the desert section of the S.U.N.Y. Greenhouse. biology classrooms three buildings away. RIGHT: A staghorn fern (Platycerium sp.) thrives in the Winters took their toll on many fragile tropical room. plants, while rainstorms added to the problem. instrumental in building up the greenhouse huge silver air conditioner hanging over­ Finally, the state allocated money for the collection. Besides lecturing to students and head in the alpine room. When winter construction of the Teaching Greenhouse, tending and keeping track of the thousands strikes the Binghamton area, side heaters which was finished in 1982. This structure, of plants, they travel all over the world in take over for the sun. In the spring, sum­ close to five times the size of the old green­ search of additions for the greenhouse col­ mer, and fall, a delicately balanced cli­ house, is attached to the Biological Sci­ lection. "We are basically a teaching and mate-control system maintains correct ences Building. The facility also cGntains research facility, with an emphasis on temperatures. a headhouse, offices of the greenhouse staff, teaching," explained Heier. "We try to add Around September, the greenhouse be­ and a teaching section, where students use pl ants to our collection that will allow the comes a center of activity as undergraduate old soapstone laboratory tables for plant students to observe the actual growth and and graduate students study plants from dissections and lectures. Since this new development of a great number of plant four separate botanical environments. A structure was built, the Biology Depart­ species. Not only will they gain an insight wall of glass separates the different plants ment has been able to expand its collection into the basic biology of plants, but they from one another-the diverse specimens and enhance the reputation of the green­ will also gain a greater understanding of of the subtropical room; the colorful, cool house as an educational facility by ex­ the diversity of world environments." plants of the alpine section; the strange changing and purchasing groups of rare, In order to keep the plants healthy, the shapes of the dry desert area; and the exotic, and primitive plants from botanical greenhouse environment is thermostati­ greenery of the hot, humid tropics center. gardens all over the world. cally controlled. There is evidence of tech­ Visitors need sweaters at one end of the Two full-time staff members-Ike Heier, nological ingenuity everywhere, from the greenhouse; by the time they reach the manager of the greenhouse, and Paul automatic misters that create an oppres­ tropics room, however, they are sweating. Campbell, assistant manager-have been sive humidity in the tropics room, to the Besides the 600 to 700 students that pass

American Horticulturist 5 PLANT COLLECTIONS

through the greenhouse during the year, with the genus and species name, as well iferous period, approximately 310 million students from area high schools and visi­ as information about the origin of the years ago. Only nine genera and over 100 tors and researchers from all over the world plant-a necessity for students studying species of cycads are known to exist come to enjoy the beauty of the green­ botany. For special tours and certain throughout the world. The greenhouse has house. People with varying degrees of in­ courses, the greenhouse staff has placed specimens representing all nine genera and terest in plants, from the casual observer larger, plastic-covered labels in various lo­ around 40 species, including a species of to the serious plant enthusiast, come to cations. These labels provide interesting Zamia native to Florida. "It takes years visit the facility. "We even have people bits of information, such as how a banana for the cycad plant to reach maturity," said with anthropology, art, physical geog­ plant develops sucker shoots from a long­ Heier, "and once a male cone starts to shed raphy, chemistry, or photography back­ lived root system to replace its annual top pollen, you have to find a compatible fe­ grounds visiting the greenhouse," said growth; or how the banyan tree begins its male plant. Unfortunately, cycads seem to Heier. "For instance, a chemist interested life by climbing up other trees. have a mind of their own, because the male in extracts from various plants once visited The temperature in the first room, la­ and female cones often mature at different the greenhouse. And we often have pho­ beled "subtropical," never falls below 55° times. That is one of the reasons why the tographers taking pictures of some of the F, and the climate is similar to that of population has decreased over the last few rarer plants in bloom." central Florida, where cool winters and million years." Both tiny seedlings and mature speci­ warm summers dominate. Multicolored Adjacent pools located at the far end of mens are on display. Most of the potted coleus, begonias, and tropical orchids dot the room offer two different aquatic en­ plants throughout the greenhouse have been the room, and in springtime, the smell of vironments. One pool, kept at a warm placed on waist-high benches made of metal pink, blue, and white hyacinths fills the temperature, is home to lilac- and white­ mesh. These benches, arranged in rows or air. These familiar hardy flowers are used flowered tropical water lilies (Nymphaea against the greenhouse walls, allow air to in introductory plant systematics courses spp.). The other pool is kept at room tem­ circulate around the plants. In the desert for dissection and study. perature and is filled with papyrus and and tropics rooms, several of the larger There are also some rarities in the sub­ floating bunches of the tiny organism­ plants are grown in a deep raised bed that tropical room, including many male and trapping bladderwort (Utricularia). Also covers about one-fifth of the room. female cycads, primitive plants whose in this cooler pool are two turtles and sev­ Each plant has a white identification tag ancestors date back to the Upper Carbon- eral small fish, which help maintain the TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS NKESSARY WITH MOST PESTICIDE~ AND YOU COULD HTEN THE BU,-S TO DEATH. Conventional pesticides are made from petro­ chemicals. So you're well-advised to make certain that they don't come in contact with your body, and that you don't inhale their fumes. Safec pesticides, on the other hand, aren't petrochemical-based. Scientifically derived from bio­ aegradable ingredients, Safer products kill bugs and weeds, but they're safe to use, indoors and -__ out. Even around children and pets. . ~ You decide. Are you going to use a pesticide that requires you to dress to kill? Or are you going to take the Safer approach?

7•. i: Safer , The Safer Pesticide

6 June 1987 Sculptured 14kt gold. Glistening emeralds. And a brilliant diamond. The ultimate rose.

The rose. More radiant than ever Europe's titled and elite for more than before. Blooming in a romantic ring of two centuries. solid 14 karat gold and set with a Indulge yourself in jew€lry so dazzling full-cut diamond. Surrounded exclusive you won't find it in the finest by precious leaves of faceted emeralds. Fifth Avenue shops . .. or even in the Brilliant design. Uncommon value. world-famous Coppini studio. It's An original design by The House of available only from The Franklin Mint. Fratelli Coppini. Master jewelers who The Coppini Rose Ring. Elegant. have crafted exquisite works of art for Fabulously rich.

~ 1981 FM

COMMI SS IO N AUTHORIZATION Please mail by June 30, 1987. The Franklin Mint Indicate ring size ___ Franklin Center, Pennsylvania 19091 If no size is specified, you will receive a ring sizer to enable I wish to commission The Coppini Rose Ring, to be you to determine the correct size with your first invoice. crafted of solid 14 karat gold and set with four Correct fit is guaranteed. If the ring does not fit when you faceted emeralds and a full-cut diamond. receive it, you may return it for adjustment at our cost. THE HOUSE I need send no payment now. I will be billed shortly OF FRATELLI before shipment for a deposit of $150. * and, after COPPIN! NAM E -----~P~c.~•• ~ . ~P ~'N~T~cc~. ••~ .~Cy------shipment, in 4 equal monthly installments of $150. * · Plus my state sa les tax. ADDRESS ______

CITY /STATE / ZIP ______SIGN ATURE -:.-;-;cc--:c:::o.:-::.::::,. :0"7. 'O:::N::-. ::::,."', -::-,u::::'::::"::::CT:-:T-:::-O-::.c::::c.;:-;:":7.=NC::- •.---- - 20 THE COPPINI ROSE RING· EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE FRANKLIN MINT Why not plant the very PLANT COLLECTIONS best Quality Perennials? oxygen/carbon dioxide balance. The next section in the greenhouse con­ The Famous Andre Viette Farm tains the alpine plants. The climate here is and Nursery, located in not that of the Himalayas, but of the high­ moumain, tropical alpine areas-cool, but Fishersville, has one of never freezing. Many of the plants here are the largest collections crossovers from other climates where cool in the East. We ship temperatures, especially in summer, help them to flourish. For instance, there are nationally. conifers from the warmer regions of Cal­ ifornia and the Mediterranean Sea, along Fields of Flowers with primroses, camellias, begonias, and other showy plants that provide splashes Specializing in of bright red, yellow, and orange. As ifl Flowering Perennials viJ the subtropical section, the more common (pc plants are used for classroom study and Rock Garden Perennials 'P4Jd dissections. Woodland Plants One of the more popular trees in the Daylilies alpine room is the giant redwood (Se­ J4ncfrtViette quoiadendron giganteum). Sequoias grow rapidly to great heights; many of the trees Rare and Unusual in California are 2,000 years old and over Accept No Substitute 300 feet taIL S.U.N.Y.'s redwood, with its Plants tiny green needles, was started from seed 703-943-2315 • Dept. AHS, Rte. 1, Box 16, Fishersville, VA 22939 eight years ago and is already over four feet taIL Write For Our Catalogue - $2.00 The environment of the greenhouse de­ sert could pass for that of the deserts of the southwestern United States or South Africa: cool winters and dry, hot summers. The plants that fill this room are extremely diverse, and include euphorbias and living­ stones (Lithops spp.) from South Africa, as well as Mammillaria species from the southwestern deserts of this country. In the center of the room is a large rock garden created by Mr. Campbell, where over 50 green, spiny, succulent plants poke out from a dark desert sand. There is tremendous diversity among desert plants, including strange coloring and twisted shapes, cacti with leaves, and climbing euphorbias. Students learn about how each plant has adapt€d special defen­ ses against predators and the hostile en­ vironment. For instance, Agave horrida has "," ' spikes on its leaves to ward off predators, ' .J I " while Pachypodium succulentum has a bulbous trunk to store much-needed water FREE when rain is scarce. CATALOG The last and most spectacular room con­ tains the tropical plants. Misters provide Sundials, humidity, while the sun (or wall heaters, Weathervanes. on cloudy winter days) supplies rropical heat. This room is the best place in the Wind & Weather greenhouse for plant propagation; over 100 stems and leaves line the far waIL The cut­ Box 2320 - AH tings of such plants as begonias and im­ Mendocino, CA 95460 patiens grow quickly and are excellent for (707) 937-0323 demonstratiflg propagation principles in

8 Tune 1987 Turner Its ~rm~t 'for introductory botany classes. The only difference between this trop­ Greenhouses the Very Finest in ical oasis and the real tropics is that the Miniature Roses former is a controlled environment. Trees FREE CATALOG are pruned to provide sufficient sunlight Choice 01 two coverings. to all plant species. In addition, no trees, Rib-spacing 24 inches on center. Some competitive models use leaves, or plants are allowed to lie and only hall as many. selection, featur­ decay to create a mulch for further prop­ agation. This control is necessary; along ing the very best with decay come fungi and insects, cre­ ating a stress this jungle microcosm could the very newest not handle. As in the rest of the green­ house, any traces of insects are eliminated varieties. by direct water spray, Malathion, Pyreth­ rum, or a new biodegradable, non-toxic Inexpensive base soap. Extendability. requirements. The plants in this room display typical tropical characteristics. The larger plants A Turner Greenhouse makes try to maneuver for position in the sun, gardening year-round a reality. while others cling to the taller trees. Cer­ Call 1-919-734-8345 or write to: tain plants, such as members of the genus Name to Xanthosoma, channel water their base Address through trough-like stalks-an adaptation TURNER GREENHOUSES City to speed rainwater to their roots in spite Hwy. 11 7 Bypass of their large leaves. Goldsboro, NC 27530 State Zip Some of these tropical plants have grown in the greenhouse for only a few short years. .for~t Miniature Roses, Inc. 58 Hammond Street, Dept. AM One particular specimen of Brachychiton, Rowley, Massachusetts 01969 commonly called bottle tree, is a favorite ,------______-- - ______I of Heier, who carried the seed in his back pocket all the way from Australia. By the time the plant was five years old, it had been cut back twice (an average of 10 feet) and still reached the 38-foot peak of the greenhouse. That same year, in between the sassafras-like leaves, several bunches of bright red flowers appeared for the first time. The greenhouse staff plans to expand the collection by planting about 350 rare and unusual annuals, biennials, and per­ ennials on the sunny slopes surrounding the building. Labels wil'l identify the plants to help those interested in growing these selections in their own gardens. (For in­ formation on visiting the S.U.N.Y. Green­ house, see "Sources" on page 34.) The S.U.N.Y. Teaching Greenhouse is a haven for many diverse plants that would not survive the winter cold and summer Without Wilt-Pruf Wilt-Pruf heat of Binghamton. It is not only a superb When the ground is frozen, plants lose against drought, windburn, air pollu­ hands-on laboratory for studerlts and re­ moisture that can't be replaced. During tion, salt spray damage and transplant searchers, but also a fascinating living mu­ this time, shrubs become shock. Plus it's bio­ easy targets for serious injury degradable seum that is bound to delight anyone cu­ - even death. and organic. rious enough to look inside. 0 Wilt -Pruf® shields plants It's the 11110 -Patricia Barnes-Svarney from winter -kill by providing a perfect rem­ PRUf® protective coating that holds edy for the ANTl ·TRANSPIRANT Patricia Barnes-Svarney is a free-lance write! in moisture. winter. Or any Guards against and photographer living in Endwell, New Wilt -Pruf also protects season. moisture loss year York. P.O. Box4280, Greenwich, CT06830-0280.

American Horticulturist 9 · If B!Jgs Could Read, . The LabelS On Most Pesticides Would Scare Them 1b Death. There's a reason chemical pesticides carry such terrifying warnings. Synthetic chemicals such as diazinon, malathion, and carbaryl can cause skin rashes. Respiratory problems. Vision loss. Even nerve dam~e. Good reasons to consider switching to AttacK Natural Pest Controls. These remarkable products are made from natural ingredients such as pyrethrum, bacteria, and insecticidal soaps. All of which are extremely deadly to insects. But harmless to cats, dogs, and - most importantly- people. That's why Attack labels carry only common-sense precautions. Attack is so safe, you can use it to protect your vegetables right up to the minute you harvest. Something you dare not try with most chemical pesticides. So look for Attack Because _aQ(I:~1'4I the only thing that should be scared of an insectidde is an insect. Attacl{ Natural Pest Controls That Work® For free literature, please call 1-800-368-2244. Or write Reuter Laboratories, 8450 Natural Way, Manassas Park, Virginia 22m mE DESIGN PAGE The White Garden

or yea rs, I thought the idea of an all-white garden was boring at best. F And when some enthusiastic gar­ dener raved about plans for a garden full of nothing but white flowers, I figured he or she had to be a bit mad. With all the wonderful colors and possible combina­ tions of perennials-forget-me-nots a'nd yellow lily-flowered tulips, deep scarlet roses and azure-blue delphiniums-why would anyone plan a garden solely around white flowers? " But you must see the White Garden at Sissinghurst," argued a friend one day when I was being my most adamant. "Then you'll understand." And of course, he was right. I've been to Sissinghurst perhaps a dozen times since then, and each time, the White Garden has provided important lessons on design, plant combinations, placement, textures, and surprisingly enough, color. On a sunny afternoon in spring or sum­ mer, the White Garden's narrow paths are invariably crammed full of people peering at plants, poking around for labels, or scribbling furiously in their garden note­ books. Laid out by Harold Nicolson and planted by Vita Sackville-West as her "grey and white garden," it is far more than a collection of white flowers. Here, the fo­ liage of a variety of artemesias, Salvia ar­ gentea, Stachys byzantina, Macleaya cor­ data, and Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans', all in various shades of gray and green, is just as important as the flowers. Essentially a square surrounded on all sides by walls or hedges, the White Garden is divided by four main paths. These paths intersect in the middle beneath a metal arch covered with Rosa longicuspis, and In the inner portion of the White Garden at Sissinghurst, low hedges of clipped boxwood are are then divided into smaller parterres by used to accent a variety of white-flowered plants. more paths. As the visitor enters the garden from the Tower Lawn, the arrangement is stylized. Individual plants such as Rosa is simple, but the interaction of design ele­ highly informal. Plants are combined in 'Iceberg', underplanted with Pulmonaria ments is reasonably complex, and it took bold groups, which a·re planned for a long 'Sissinghurst White' and Dictamnus albus, several visits before I began to see why this succession of bloom and diversity of form. are planted within tight, low squares of little garden was such a success. On the right are spires of lupine, clumps clipped box hedge. Here, the white flowers As I began to do a bit of research on of violas, arching sprawls of iris, and an are singular characters, isolated and high­ how white works, I discovered that it wasn't almost architectural mass of hostas-in all, lighted by green hedges. The effect is sim­ a color at all, but the reflection of light a beautifully articulated contrast of foliage ple but dramatic, in direct contrast to the rays; the purest white flowers reflect all and plant forms, without a hint of stiffness. informal foliage and flower combinations the light that hits their surface. I also ob­ The inner half of the garden is highly in the first half of the garden. The design served that the degree of reflection is in-

American Horticulturist 11 NOW ... BY MAIL! THE DESIGN PAGE Unusual, Hard­ To-Find Flower Arranging fluenced by the texture of the flowers. For example, in the White Garden I noticed Supplies: that some flowers, such as the iris, were Tool, Techniques, translucent, so the reflective light seemed Tricks of the Trade to sparkle. Earlier in the season, the high I SPECIAL OFFER­ gloss of tulip 'White Triumphator' re­ I MAKES A GREAT flected an entirely different kind of light. I GIFT: Whites were hard, or soft, like the clouds of small white flowers on the six-foot · I A TRULY The Crambe cordifolia. I DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE Few of the flowers I observed were pure FOR YOUR PLANTS-LIQUID I Original white. Many had subtle stripes or dots, or CONCENTRATE, GUARANTEED RESULTS I were washed with lavender, blue, yellow, I JUNGLE JUICE (2·5·4) for fantastic foliage Stem or green. Some that appeared white were growth and super green. I Stripper actually various shades of cream. Often GRANNY'S BLOOMERS (0-6-5) ZERO nitrogen the foliage or surrounding plants influ­ I and special trace for abundant african violet A unique tool for removing I blooms, you won't believe your eyes. thorns and leaves from enced how white flowers were perceived. CACTUS JUICE (1-7-6) For outstanding stems. The shimmering quality of an iris bloom, I for example, was exaggerated by the high specimens and helps promote flowering. 95 including I onI y $9ea postage [, gloss of nearby Hosta foliage. FLOWER CRACKER (1-6-5) For Impatiens, handling I Orchids, Bromeliads, Geraniums, ali flowering At dusk, the garden was undoubtedly at I plants. Catalog ... $1.00 its best, its silver foliage luminescent and I 6oz. bottle makes 12 gals. capful measure. M.C. & VISA ACCEPTED its white flowers glowing with an almost I $3.85 ppd. Any 4·6oz. btls., $11.85 ppd. ethereal light. The scene would certainly Free catalog write The Keth Company be enough to convince most gardeners that PO. Box 645 a white garden is something worth having. . Dept. AHS Clarel Corona del Mar, n Of course, the inevitable question arose: Deerfield, IL 60015 ..L aboratories. Inc California 92625 What did this English garden, however lovely, have to do with gardening here in the United States? How could lessons in design or plant placement be relevant when Build a 10' x 12' a good percentage of the plants used were tender and only suitable where winter tem­ portable greenhouse peratures rarely dip below 20° to 25° F? One approach, of course, would be to stick to those White Garden plant combinations for under $299! that are hardy from USDA Zones 4, 5, and 6. For a different approach, however, I began to wonder how the various effects might be translated as ideas rather than copied verbatim. How could we create the stylized drama of 'Iceberg' roses against a yew hedge without sticking roses in box parterres and waiting a decade or two for ' a yew hedge to mature? What, in our ex­ isting landscapes, could be used to create that marvelous contrast of light and dark, of white flowers floating against a back­ ground of shadows? I wondered, too, how • Attractive, specially-engineered hoop to create a contrast of styles as satisfying Write today for design with 4' wide beds, 2' wide door. more information: as that of the cottagey scramble of per­ • Expandable in 4' lengths (no limit). ennials and the very architectural box-edged • Convenient, sturdy galvanized steel paths of the inner garden. tubing/plywood/greenhouse film construction. I shared these thoughts with a friend as • Flexible enough to follow the contour we walked through his garden one sultry of your land. summer evening. Inspired, perhaps, by the • Usually, no building permit is required. thought of white roses and deep shadows, • Easy assembly/breakdown. he observed that a line of mature hemlocks • Can expand your growing season by up to 4 months! FOX HILL FARM looked very much like the yew hedge in 20 LAWRENCE ST . • ROCKVILLE. CT 06066 the White Garden. But rather than roses,

12 June1987 we im agined broad sweeps of late-bloom­ D~~J:}h~~S ing as tilbes-the I 8-inch 'White Gloria' and 36-inch 'Diamond'--edging th e path Get more ~or y~bw ... that leads to a simple white arbor in a money by actIng" BonUS p\ant clea ring just inside the woods. And in our FREE "Big Nam$~OOO or more) im agi nati on, all was covered with Cle­ P\US ders oi on\Y . matis paniculata in late August. {on or From the terrace, we looked out onto a lawn, then down into an area being es­ Get dazzling color and eviable gorgeous blooms THIS SUMMER, or make your home floral arrangement excitingly beautiful with WILD'S tabli shed as a wildflower meadow fi ll ed guaranteed top quality, magnificent Daylilies. A rare and limited oppor· with bright summer fl owers li ke Asclepias tunity, so select your old favorites and choose from the glamorous new varieties, all at 1/3 off prices shown (min . order $10), plus $3.00 packing and tuberosa, Helianthus angustifolius, gold­ handling charg e. Order NOW! All orders must be received by April 30, 1987. enrod, and late-bl oomi ng nati ve asters. Be­ yo nd this meadow was to be a gazebo. But Cat. Price Cat. Price Cat. Price D ANNIE WELCH EM Re OE D HALLOWELL EM Dar Re D ROYAL GARNET M thinking of the White Garden again, we Blush pink, sunlast...... 2.00 Creamy yellow & rose·pink ...... 2.00 Velvety garnet red, ruffled ..... 2.50 rea li ze d this was our opportunity to create D BIG WIG ML Dar Lemon or D JAY M Re OE D SILVER CIRCUS EM OE F chartreuse with pi nk overlay ..... 2.50 Vibrant rose red, ruffled ...... 3.00 Large yellow; pink inlusion . . 3.00 that contrast of styles and provide a bit of D CANDY APPLE MOor Re OE D JULY GOLD LM Dar Re OE D SMALL WAYS EM Dar 6" rich pink melon ...... 2.50 6" ru ffled gold ...... 3.00 Pale lemon yellow, green heart . . 2.50 evening drama at the same time. D CAPE COD EM Re OE D LEMOINE BECHTOLD M OE D STAGECOACH INN EM OE Ruffled, deep wine red .. . 7.50 6·B" dusty rose ...... 3.00 Light yellow pink ...... 4.00 We could, we decided, defin e the bound­ D CATHEDRAL ML Dar D LILLIAN FRY MOor Re OE D STAKE RACE LM Dar Re Long Ruffled apricot brushed rose .. . 2.50 3" medium yellow, apple blooming pale orang e yellow. . .. 3.00 ari es of the wildflower mea dow, repeating D CHRISTMAS CAROL EM green heart ...... 3.00 D SUMMER SPLENDOR M OE Re Ve lvety red ; green heart ...... 3.00 D LITILE LOVE ML Re Apricot·buff flushed orange . . 2.00 th e shape of the lawn above, and divide it D CONSTITUTION ISLAND EM Dar Re Excellent small melon ...... 2.00 D TIMELESS MOor Re OE in half by a mown path leading to a clas­ Ruffled deep yellow . . 2.50 D LlTILE MUCH EM, 3· 1/2" ruffled B" muted ivory flesh peach ...... 3.00 D CUP RACE M Re yellow, red eye marki ngs ...... 2.50 D TINA RENAE EM sical, rather boxy gazebo. The gazebo could 4- 1/2" salmon pink . . 2.50 D LlTILE TYKE M Dar Bright red, Ruffled peach ...... 2.00 D DATE BOOK EM yellow green throat. . . . . 2.00 D TROPIC TANGERINE EM Re then be surrounded by squared-off areas Medium rose pink . . 3.00 D MAGIC WORD M Very ru ffled sparkling tangerine ... 2.00 D DOLL HOUSE EM OE Lovely creped pale yellow .. 2.50 D WESTWARD VISION EM Dar Re OE of white, bl ue, and yell ow perenni als. To Extremely ru ffled tangerine ...... 5.00 D MATEUS EM Dark velvety, wine red ...... 3.00 D ETERNAL LOVE M Oor OE Ru ffled rose wine...... 5.00 D WILD HEART ML Dar ensure a long season of bloom, we could Light cream inlused pink ...... 3.00 D MYSTERY VALLEY ML Re Velvety red ...... 3.00 D FRANS HALS ML, Bicolor 01 Smooth coral pi nk ...... 3.00 D WILD KEY EM Re begin the season of the fo rma l gazebo yellow & red ...... 2.00 D MY WAYS EM Dar Re OE 4" peach pastel. . . · . 2.00 garden with white peoni es, lupine, and D GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM Velvety ruffled bluish red ...... 12.50 D WIND CHIMES EM M Ev OE F 7· B" pink blend ...... 3.00 D NOB HILL EM Re OE 3" yellow melon pastel ...... 2.50 va ri ous iris, along with the all-important D GIANT FLING EM-M OE Large pale lavender pink ...... 2.00 D WINE TIME EM Ev OE B·1/2" light creamy yellow . . 3.00 D PILOT LIGHT EM·M Re OE Velvety , deep wine red . 4.00 foli age contrasts; the choices for June D GLISTENING BEAUTY M Lavender pink, large lemon heart .. 2.50 D WINNIE THE POOH M Ruffled orchid pink ...... 2.00 D PLUSH EM Adorable 3" pastel yellow . . · . 2.00 and ea rl y July would be too numerous to D GOLDEN CHANCE EM Re OE Ruffled , deep raspberry red .... . 2.50 D WISDOM MOor Re OE Big gold wi1h deep red edges .... 3.00 D PRAIRIE BUTIERFLY MOor Re Bu ff pin k melon .... · . 2.00 mention. D GOLDEN GIFT M Re 6·7" archid pink ...... 2.00 D YOUNG COUNTESS M Re Outstanding brilli ant gold ...... 2.50 D PRECIOUS ONE EM 4-1/2" pale orchid pink . · . 2.00 August was another matter. Except fo r D GREEN CANYONS M Pale cream overlaid pale pink .... 3. 00 Phlox paniculata, it is generally a slow Orchid pink; green heart ...... 3.00 month for perennials, let alone "white" fl owers. But looking through some old ga rdening books, we added a dozen or so EASY TO GROW GUARANTEED SAFE DELIVERY BEAUTIFUL TO SHOW plants to our list of "white" possibilities, Wild 's plants are true to name and guaranteed delivered safe. Wild's ships only large, sturdy, well-cared-for and healthy plants including A conitum napellus 'Album', KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS: ready to take root and produce profuse blooms. Boltonia asteroides, Campanula lactifl ora E-Early; Ev-Evergreen ; EM-Early 'Alba', Malva moschata 'Alba', and Ver­ Mid; M-Midseason ; ML-Mid Late; SEND NOW FOR OUR L-Late; OE-Opens Evenings; 96-PAGE COLOR CATALOG bascum 'Miss Willmott'. Re-Reblooming; F-Fragrant; Dor­ Choose from more than 1300 varieties of J,fI addition to the contrast of formal and Dormant. Iris, Peonies and Daylilies. Catalog shows informal, we had conceived a rather dra­ many in full color and gives timely mati c transition into evening. During the planting tips and instructions. Sent FREE ANY $15.00 $10 with minimum $10 order. .. or send only day, the meadow would be a seasonal pro­ WORTH ...... ONLY $2.00 for catalog (deductible on your first gression of bright colors, and the edge of Any $22,50 worth, $15; any $30 worth, catalog order). the mown path would be naturali zed with $20, etc. Min. order $15 worth for $10. Add $3.00 pkg. & hdlg. NO G.O.D.'S PLEASE fr agrant, white-flowered bedstraws (Gal­ rmlllliillllllliillllillllililllilllllilllillllllllliilllillll!l!lllllllllllllllilmllilllillll!llllllllllliillllllllilllll' ium) . At dusk, when our eyes are less re­ BONUS PLANTS We will send these magnificent GILBERT H. WILD & SON, INC. sponsive to color than to amount of ill u­ Daylilies FI'l~ ~ with orders shown: • AH-687 Joplin St. , Sarcoxie, Mo. 64862-0338 I mination, we would see the bright meadow l1li 0 Please send varieties checked. I enclose I $20.00 Order, WILD KEY II!! $ (113 off total order at prepaid and green lawn as black, while the white­ !!Ill prices shown) plus $3.00 pkg . & hdlg. charge. Send I edged path and the white and blue fl owers $30.00 Order, PRECIOUS ONE III FREE catalog and any EARNED FRE~ PLANT $40.00 Order, WINE TIME I Missouri residents add 5.8% sales tax to order. I arol!l nd the gazebo would seem luminous, $50.00 Order, MATE US 0 ~nclosed is $2 for 96-page Color Catalog only I fl oating beyond a lawn alil d meadow danc­ I (deductible on first catalog order). ing with firefli es. 8 -Margaret Hensel "WE WILL NEVER I NAME I COMPROMISE QUALITY FOR III ST/RF.D .II Margaret Hensel is a writer and landscape PRICE':... ~~W#1 LIiII ______CITY STATE ZIP ___ des igner living in western Massachusetts.

American Horticulturist 13 14 June 1987 First Lady of Gardening

BY ELISABETH SHELDON

uch has been sa id and writ­ When Jane was 17, her father died, leav­ he had been educated in Edinburgh, where ten about women who have ing her with li ttl e money. Unfo rtunately, he assiduo usly studied Latin, French, and M di stingui shed th emselves in few occupa ti o ns were open to yo ung Ita li a n, as well as a rithmetic, bo ta ny, th e fi eld of horti culture- Gertrude Jekyll , gentlewomen at that time, and Jane's op­ chemi stry, and agri culture. So bent was he Ell en Willmott, Vita Sackvill e-West, Bea­ ti ons fo r paid employment were limited. on self-improvement th at he established trix Farrand, to name just a few. But o ne She could hire herself out as a govern ess, what became a regul ar practi ce of sitting hears ve ry little about Jane Webb Lo udon. paint mini atures and card racks, or be­ up all ni ght twice a week, studyi ng and During her lifetime, Jane wrote magazine come a wealthy lady's "compani on" (a fa te keeping himself awake by drinking strong articles and, as a journali st, covered the sometimes even more grim th an th at of green tea. Hav ing decided that he wanted first big ho rticultural shows in England. be in g a governess) . She could open a school, to go into la ndscape gardening, he ap­ Bes ides a novel and several coll ecti ons of if she knew enough wealth y people who prenticed himself, as draftsman and assis­ stori es, she wrote 16 excell ent books on would send their children to her. O r she tant, to several nurse rymen in succession. gardening, botany, and natura l hi sto ry. could write, just as th e Bronte sisters did In 1803 John went to Lo ndon to seek These books were ve ry popular in her day some yea rs later. hi s fo rtune as a landscape ga rdener. By the and much admired by William Ro binson, Young and alone, Jane se t out to write time he met Jane Webb 27 yea rs later, he who re-edited and published her Amateur books to augment her sparse income. Her had made a name fo r himse lf in the hor­ Gardener's Calender in 1870. Most of the first little vo lume consisted of o ne o ri gin al ti cultural world. Amo ng his many accom­ materi al in her Gardening for Ladies and sto ry a nd tra nsla ti o ns fro m Ge rma n, plishments, he had already published nu­ Ladies' Companion to the Flower Garden Spani sh, and Itali an ve rses. In 1827, when merous a rticles and at least 12 books, is just as pertinent today as it was in the she was 20, she publi shed her second book, including encycl opedi as o n agri culture, 19th century. The Mummy, a kind of science fi ction novel. gardening, and pl ants. His Hortus Brit­ Jane Webb was bo rn in 1807 in Bir­ In it, a mummy of one of the Egyptian tanicus came out in 1830, the year of his mingham, En gland, into a non-literary, non­ pharaohs, who has been revitali zed by a marri age. (He was di ctating to his secre­ gardening family. Her father, a business­ scientist, stalks th rough England in the year tary as he was being dressed for the wed­ man, provided a governess fo r her and al­ 2126. The book is remarkable fo r its fo re­ ding ceremony.) At the time he and Jane lowed her to read the books in his library. sight. Jane describes a welfare state in which met, he was also editing two magazines, Upon the death of her mother, 12-year­ education is universal and leisure is avail ­ one on gardening and the other on natural old Jane traveled with her father to the able to all. Travel is by air (albeit by means history. Besides his literary and design Continent, where she studied German, of ball oons), and communicati on is han­ work, Jo hn had traveled widely in Europe, French, a nd Italian. When the two re­ dled by letters and telegraphs that fl ash and had run a school at which he taught turned to England to li ve in the country, through the air to special receiving towers. Scottish methods of agri culture. He also Jane took on the task of running the house Houses are air-conditioned, commodities found time to build a duplex on Po rchester for her father. In her spare time, she drove a re mass-produced, a nd the fi elds a re Terrace, in semi -rural Bayswater, near about in her po ny chaise, studied lan­ worked by steam pl ows. Londo n. guages, sketched, and wrote ve rses. The Mummy was so well received that John was extremely producti ve, in spite Jane proceeded to write Stories of a Bride, of tremendous physical handicaps. He suf­ which appeared in 1829. In 1830, Jo hn fered attacks of what was thought to be This portrait of Jane Loudon, whi ch appeared in Lady with Green Fingers: the Claudius Loudon included a glowing re­ rheumatism. The pain in his ri ght arm was Life of Jane Loudon by Bea Howe, was vi ew of her work in his Gardener's Mag­ so intense that he submitted to treatment taken from a miniature in the possession of azine. He wangled a personal introducti on by some bungling masseurs who suc­ Loudon's great granddaughter. The miniatu re to the autho r, was impressed by her, and ceeded, over a peri od of mo nths, in break­ is the only known portrait of Jane Loudon. married her within several months. ing the arm in two pl aces. In 1824, when Portrait courtesy of the Hunt Institute for Botani cal Documentati on, Carnegie-Mell on John Lo udo n was an extremely hand­ it had fail ed to mend, his ri ght arm was University, Pittsburgh, Pennsy lvania. some man. The son of a Scottis h farmer, amputated. His left arm also was affected,

American Horticulturist 15 It is difficult to imagine how Jane managed to work on publications of her own along with those of her husband. Despite her heavy workload, however, her books came thick and fast following her debut as a horticultural writer.

and he could use only two fingers of his his Encyclopedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa and taking on more assignmel'lts. remaining hand. In addition, one of his Architecture, and the pace increased. Jane During these unfortunate times, Jane knees gave him trouble. Even with these wrote, "The labour that attended this work found her horticultural knowledge to be disabilities, however, he forged ahead, never was immense; and for several months he invaluable. In order to help maintain the breaking his pace. and I used to sit up the greater part of property and help her husband over the Life at POFchester Terrace must have been every night, never having more than four years, she had learned much about plants something of a shock to Jane, who was hours' sleep, and drinking strong' coffee to and how to grow them. In the introduction plunged into a world of horticulture and keep ourselves awake." to her book Gardening for Ladies, she notes hard work imm~diately upon arriving in John also continued to travel, taking in the extent of her ignorance in the earlier her new home. The Loudon house, com­ the sights-palatial residences and gar­ years of her marriage: "When I married plete with a domed conservatory, stood on dens, smaller country houses, inns, fac­ Mr. Loudon, it is scarcely possible to imag­ about one-quarter of an acre of land, which tories, public buildings, cemeteries, and ine any person more completely ignorant was filled with nearly 3,000 species of schools-and recording his observations than I was, of every thing relating to plants plants-annuals, bulbs, perenniaIs, vines, in the pages of his magazine. The accounts and gardening; and, as may be easily imag­ trees, and shrubs. There was also a border of his tours included information about ined, I found everyone about me so well of mosses as well as a saltwater tank con­ the trees, wildflowers, agricultural prac­ acquainted with the subject, that I was taining a collection of seaweed. In addi­ tices, and even the condition of the labor­ soon heartily ashamed of my ignorance." tion, on a stone shelf in one of the garden ers' cottages, and provide a wonderful pic­ She had tried to increase her knowledge sheds was a collection of 600 alpines in ture of the English countryside in the 19th by reading gardening books, only to find small pots. During the year of his marriage, century. that they didn't teach what an amateur John planted 58 new trees and shrubs, which John Loudon's greatest work was his needed to know. Learning from her hus­ he planned to keep under control by dras­ Arboretum Brittanicum, a book that lists band had also proved difficult. "We both tically pruning the roots in alternate years. and describes all of the trees in Great Brit­ fOhlnd unanticipated difficulties at every The plants in the garden, conservatory, ain, both native and introduced, in great step," she wrote. "It is so difficult for a and potting sheds required constant care, detail. According to Miles Hadfield in his person, who has been acquainted with a and there was only one part-time gardener History of British Gardening, this book subject all his life, to imagine the state of available to help. Jane's meticulous hus­ alone would have been enough to immor­ ignorance in those who know nothing of band hated untidiness or "tawdriness"; talize John. It was produced in monthly it, that a professional gardener has rarely everything indoors was kept clean and in numbers, with no financial backing except patience to teach anything to an amateur." its proper place, and plants were trimmed, what the author could obtain from sub­ However, after reading, working with staked, labeled, and kept free of weeds. scriptions. He was resolved that all of the plants, and attending botany lectures at The lawn had to be cut with hand shears drawings of the trees should be made from the Horticultural Society, little by little Jane to prevent the thousands of bulbs that in­ nature and that the work should be "per­ had become a horticultural authority in habited it from being damaged. During fect," in spite of the immense labor and her own right. periods of dry weather or other times of expense involved. During the same period, By the time Jane resumed writing books, "crisis," all the women in the house had he also started two new periodicals: The then, she had acquired enough knowledge to pitch in to keep the plants alive, in­ Architectural Magazine an,d The Suburban about plants to write about them. Early in cluding the two servants, Jane's sisters-in­ Gardener. 1840 she started working on Gardening law, and Agnes, the Loudons' only child, In spite of all of John's efforts, the Ar­ for Ladies and had it finished by May. once she was big enough to help. boretum Brittanicum, far from making Whel'l it appeared in that same year, it was Still, the worst of the routine at Porch­ money, left him d~eply in debt. To add to an immediate success and soon found a ester Terrace was not the feverish activity this misfortune, John could no longer walk place in the homes of all of the well-to-do of the daylight hours but the demands of without assistance. Jane began to write women who were interested in creating the night shift. Jane became her husband's books again, while her sisters-in-law took b~autiful gardens on their properties. A writing hand, and ~very evening the two up wood engraving. The women hoped to few ladies' gardening books had already stayed up until midnight working on the be able to earn enough money so that John appeared, but they were neither as helpful next issue of The Gardener's Magazine, or would not have to resume work as a land­ nor as well written as Jane's. Jane, herself on whatever book John had in hand. In scape gardener. Notwithstanding Jane's a relative newcomer in the field, knew ex­ 1832, the year Agnes was born, he began pleas, John struggled on, visiting gardens actly what other amateur gardeners needed

16 June 1987 to know. Furthermore, instead of usi ng the her own along with usual flowery and poetic language of her those of her husband. fellow Victorians, she wrote clearly and Despite her heavy workload, directly. The sun was the sun, not " that however, her books came thick bright luminary"; a spade was a spade, and fast following her debut as a and manure was manure. In her book,Jane horticultural writer. Two more tells her readers not only how to do things appeared in 1841: The Ladies' but why they should be done, from "stir­ Companion to the Flower Garden ring the soil" to grafting and budding, di­ and the second volume of The Ladies' viding, and pruning. (Gardening for La­ Flower Garden seri es. In the latter book, dies is one of the few gardening books to which deals with bulbous plants, she speaks have ever explained why it is best to move of small gladiolas, " the colours of whose plants from a small pot into one that is petals at sunset take a curiously shifting only slightly larger, and why plants should hue like that of shot silk when held up to be given shade after they are transplanted. ) the light." She goes on to suggest that they Her chapter on sowing seeds is of value be placed where the rays of the setting sun for all modern gardeners. Her book also can illuminate them, and points out that provides instructions on how to dress they are "sweeter-smelling by far at dusk." practically for garden work, what kind of John continued to take on one assign­ light-weight tools to use, and how to make ment after another, working like one pos­ the necessary motions efficiently in the sessed. By 1843 his condition had mark­ garden. In one section, she notes that when edly deteriorated. He was working for new a lady has successfully dug a small garden clients, laying out cemeteries and grounds, herself, she "will not only have the satis­ which he had to inspect from a wheelchair. faction of seeing the garden created ... by In a race to beat death, he began working the labour of her own hands, but she will all day and dictating to Jane most of every find her health and spirits wonderfully im­ night. One of his creditors began to harass proved by the exercise, and by the reviving him, threatening him with debtor's prison. smell of the fres~ earth." Jane wrote, " Nothing could be more awful Also published in 1840 was the first vol­ than to watch him during the few weeks ume of Jane Loudon's magnum opus, The that yet remained of his life. His body was Ladies' Flower Garden, a five-volume se­ rapidly wasting away; but his mind re­ ries dealing with annuals, biennials, bulbs, mained in all its vigour, and he scarcely perennials, ro~es, shrubs, and hothouse allowed himself any rest in his eagerness plants. (It is stilll collected today, partly for to complete the works that he had in hand." its very fine color illustrations, which were Finally, one day he died on his fe€t _.IT.~r .... , drawn from nature on zinc.) John himself, while dictating to his wife. a " perfectioflist and ruthless critic of After spending some months re­ others," wrote, "Though the production cuperating, both physically and of a member of our family, we think it but emotionally, Jane slowly began justice to state that this is an elegant work, to work again. However, the and one which will be found no less beau­ garden proved to be a tremen­ tiful than it is uSefUll." He was proud, too, dous burden to her. She felt of his wife's Botany for Ladies, published obliged to keep it up for her hus­ in 1842. John called it the best introduc­ bamd's sake, but couldn't afford tion to botany for women or men that had even a part-time gardener. Even­ ever been written. tually, after heroic efforts, she It is diffiCl!llt to imagine how Jane had to get rid of all but the managed to work on publications of essentials. Continued on page 32

American Horticulturist 17 everal years ago I attended a gar­ BY MARGARET PARKE until the drawings became so inaccurate den club meeting in New Jersey to that they scarcely resembled their classical Shear a talk on botanical prints by models, much less the actual plants. Al­ Oriel Kriz, a dealer in the New York City five fledglings in a nest amid a bouquet of though such illustrations are botanically area. roses; in the background is a storybook inaccurate, many are graphically appeal­ Ms. Kriz was surrounded by sample castle, with smoke curling from a tower.) ing and highly individualistic. prints from her collection, from charming Since then, I have spent many happy hours The new spirit of scientific inquiry that drawings of herbs and flowers in delicate rummaging for prints at garage sales and characterized the early Renaissance changed colors, to striking illustrations of fruits and old print shops, and admiring botanical the course of botanical art. Artists such as vegetables featuring strong architectural art at posh galleries and museum exhibits. Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Durer be­ lines. I was especially intrigued by a mag­ Botanical prints are plant illustrations gan again to look to nature for inspiration, nificent 17th-century engraving of Poma from early printed works-mechanical re­ and worked from living plants or dried amoris fructo luteo, a tomato plant with productions of one kind or another of an speCImens. orange-red fruit from Basilius Besler's artist's original drawings. As "collecti­ The invention of the printing press made Hortus Eystettensis, published in 1613. The bles," they are riding the crest of popu­ it possible for multiple copies of drawings engraving was made about the time the larity today. Sought for their historical or to be widely disseminated for the first time. "love apple," which was thought to be botanical associations, or simply for their The earliest printed botanical pictures ap­ poisonous, was introduced from the New enormous visual appeal, they are valued peared in the mid-1480's, and were pro­ World. According to Ms. Kriz, Besler's en­ as works of art and can be quite costly. duced from woodcuts. (In this technique, gravings are distinguished by their beauty, Botanical illustrations began when cave­ the image is drawn in ink on a smooth size, accurate botanical detail, and dra­ men first drew pictures of plants with sticks block of wood, and the entire surface is matic graphic quality, and are among the or stones, perhaps to describe tasty edibles cut away, except for the drawn lines, which most highly prized of all antique botanical to other members of their tribe. We know are then inked and transferred to paper.) prints collected today. that the ancient Greeks and Romans stud­ Although this crude process limits the ren­ I left the meeting carrying my first bo­ ied plants for their curative powers, and dering of fine details, many of these early tanical print-an enchanting color en­ wrote herbal manuscripts that were ac­ woodcuts are remarkably charming, and graving of a group of roses from Dr. Rob­ companied by drawings. None of these are desirable collector's works because of ert John Thornton's Temple of Flora, manuscripts survived, except for copies of their great age and rarity. perhaps the most famous f10rilegium of the De Materia Medica, written in the first Most old prints were published as part 19th century. (The plate shows a bird and century A.D. The original herbal was writ­ of elaborate books on botany. To offset ten by Dioscorides, a Greek doctor who the heavy expense of producing these il­ Robert John Thornton's Temple of Flora traveled widely and wrote about 500 plants lustrated works, publishers often issued and contained many fine illustrations that are and their healing properties. His work sold sets of plates, sometimes a chapter at now coveted by collectors, including "Tulips" served as the basis for future botanical a time, instead of waiting for the entire by Philip Reinagle. This print is a mezzotint, studies and was the chief source for phar­ work to be completed. a rype of engraving. The illustrations for this maceutical information. There were many worthy illusnated article are courtesy of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie-Mellon For the next 1,000 years, scribes copied herbals printed in the 16th century, but Universiry, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. and re-copied Dioscorides' work by hand none eclipse Otto Brunfels' Herbarum Vi-

18 June 1987 Calligraphy by Kate Schumann ,,'

American Horticulturist 19 ow does one begin by modern color prints. The a collection of bo­ magazine is still used as a ']-I tanical prints? "Try reference tool in the plant to decide what direction you sciences, and includes fine il­ want your collection to take, lustrations by such artists as and then begin to form it," Walter Hood Fitch, Matilda suggests James White, Cura­ Smith, Otto Stapf, A. Kel­ tor of Art at the Hunt Insti­ lett, B. M. Baggs, Stella tute for Botanical Documen­ Ross-Craig, and Lilian tation in Pittsburgh. Does Snelling. the work of one artist Prints can sometimes be appeal to you? Are YOH wild found at reasonable prices in about roses? Clematis? antique print shops and Leeks? Is tropical flora your bookstores. Such prints offer thing? Evergreens? If you a collector with a limited find that it is difficult to budget all the qualities asso­ narrow the choices down, ciated with great botanical there is no harm in flitting, engravings. "The only thing for example, from a fruit lacking is size," according to print by George Brookshaw New York dealer Oriel Kriz. to a Christmas rose from Prices range from about $25 Elizabeth Blackwell's studies for a recent print to slightly from the Chelsea Physick higher prices for older hand­ Garden. Your perspective colored prints. and tastes usually change Unfortunately, some deal­ with time and exposure, and ers buy rare books and then it's not Hncommon to want take them apart in order to to exchange or sell a quality sell individual plates. Repu­ print you've acquired early ~. "!<~l4-' .J /"' " ~. "". fA. q.l'f~/':':4 table dealers deplore this :- t', 'i" /"'_" on. practice (called "book Knowledge about which. breaking") but concede that prints to buy comes from re- there is little anyone can do search and experience as you go along. century botanical art and illustration. to stop it. As a collector, you will be rewarded for There are many contemporary botanical The chances are good that the current your efforts with continual stimulation illustrators doing fine work that is wor­ popularity of prints will continue un­ and occasional delightful surprises. thy of collecting, and if aesthetics-not abated, so if you should decide to sell Train your eye to recognize the best age or rarity-is your prime considera­ your collection, your initial investment, works by visiting museums and galleries tion, you should investigate this market. at least, can be recovered. However, you that exhibit prints. If you're serious If your appetite is whetted but you should look for rips, repairs, and foxing about collecting, it's also a good idea to feel that owning fine prints is beyond (discolored spots from aging or from get to know the dealers and to become the reach of your pocketbook, you acidic materials used in framing) when familiar with what's available. One way might consider the prints from The Bo­ considering a print, since such imperfec­ to do this would be to visit the Hunt In­ tanical Magazine. This spectacularly suc­ tions could diminish the ultimate resale stitute, which houses a collection of rare cessful periodical was first published by value. books containing botanical plates, an­ William CuFtis in London in 1787 for If you acquire a fine print, make sure tique prints, and original botanical art. the new breed of passionate gardeners, it is properly framed, maintained, and The Hunt Institute also stages interna­ al'ld is still going strong. When it first displayed. "After all," Ms. Kriz says, tional exhibits of botanical prints every appeared, it carried excellent hand-col­ "when you own a fine print, what you five years. The catalogues from these ored engravings. For economic reasons, are holding is a record of human prog­ shows give a good overall picture of these were gradually replaced by hand­ ress, and a responsibility goes along with what's happening in the field of lOth- colored lithographs, and finally in 1948, that privilege."

20 June 1987 vae Eicones (Images of Living Plants), explo rers to study exoti c pl ants, and bo­ to record their favo rite blooms, then had printed in Strasbourg in 1530. The ap­ tani cal institutions and wealthy patrons the drawings bo und in volumes or repro­ pearance of this work marks the true be­ subsidized many new pl ant introducti ons, duced in printed foli os. ginning of botanical illustrati on in Europe. including chocolate, pineapple, coffee, to­ Ea rl y in the 17th ce ntury, anoth er sort Hans Weiditz, an associ ate of Durer, made bacco, and bananas. Tulips were seen by of botani cal publicati on made its debut: th e woodcuts using live pl ants as models. Europeans for the first time, and crown­ th e fl oril egi um, o r picture book of fl ow­ His im ages, described as showing " refres h­ imperi als, ho rse chestnuts, mock oranges, ers. The most famo us, Dr. Robert John ing accuracy and vigor," set a standard hyacinths, and lil acs became popular sub­ th at is unsurpassed. jects for artists. Pl ant breeders produced Leonhard Fuchs seems to have been even new colo rs and double fo rms of nati ve Eu­ more scrupulo us in De Historia Stirpium, ropean pl ants, such as Convallaria, Ane­ published in 1542 in Basel. Fuchs was a mone, Vio la, Primula, Dianthus, and Cen­ doctor whose services during the pl ague taurea. Wealthy fl ower enthusiasts proudl y epidemi c in 1529 earned him widespread displayed these new o rn amentals in spl en­ res pect and affecti on. (The Ameri can ge­ did pl easure gardens. M any hired artists nus Fu chsia, whi ch he never saw, was named after him.) He wrote in his preface: "As far as concerns the pi ctures them­ selves, each of whi ch is positively deline­ ated according to the fea tures and li keness of the li ving pl ants, we have taken pecul ia r care th at they should be most perfect; and we have devoted the greatest dil igence to secure th at every pl ant should be depicted with its own roots, stalks, leaves, fl owers, seeds and fruits. Furthermo re, we have purposely and deliberately avoided the ob­ literati on of the natural form of the plants by shadows, and other less necessary things, by which the delineators sometimes try to win artistic glory: and we have not all owed the craftsmen so to indulge their whims as to cause the drawing not to correspond accurately to the truth." The wo rk of Fuchs' contemporary, Pier­ andrea M attioli (1501-77), was not nearl y as reliable. M attioli's famous Commen­ tarii in Sex Libras Pedacii Dioscoridis (1544) was illustrated with 562 woodcuts, which showed more use of shading than did the works of Fuchs a nd Brunfels. Moreover, in one of his letters, M attioli says that an artist whom he had employed lost the specimens to be illustrated, so the plants were drawn from memo ry! During the 16th century, the voyages of discovery brought an infl ux of strange plants to Europe from all over the world. Bota­ nists and illustrators often accompanied

LEFT: Striking illustrations were produced for strictly botanical works, as well as for many books on garden·ing. This bouquet, contain ing poppies, bloodroot, Meconopsis, and Argemone, is a hand-colored, chalk-style lithograph from Jane Loudon's The Ladies' Flower-Garden of Ornamental Perennials, published in London in 1849. RI GHT: "Amaryllis formosissima," a stipple engrav ing by Pierre-Joseph Redoute, from his Les Liliacees, published in Paris between 1802 and 1816.

American Horticulturist 21 call/I!- arbor{cM!l t~1jlon majore-. c4.1iIL. 9-').5J'<"./;. ". . 1 . ...."fe,./,. t;. b.

leJcont~ flor~ nvi.n.or~ . (/IIill fin"";)' j )£cb. It. ~ a ..t ./40.,. rk:/;I..,., b.b. f't"r;a1r.,kun ."u.",(.~t«iUI/f(ji:t~IIL/ c. d. ,F•• r olkt./ e~r.t:dlu~ I'~./t~'d/'/w' ~¥(;Iu.r, iI'fI. aJrdlla! ~~fnla.. ~Itlnhuw i',r6'r; ~tfld~(./ ~; t. 911;"~('{/Il . !'~ _ p~"'nltt", . Ie .i. !. !. J/; u,tlU~ ,·a/~.t'l. a'J,u tla./ m. /"t'zb .i"i.,/".v-a6'''l­ "lute! ".alru·ok~ u:, fltWa. o. , u~·aru"" .,,/ F.""'~~/t. ,(aI~.e r ..u:o lldduII'L/. 1. l d~"l. /'("1':. p.!,~uutzrlkr d#!'lltlll/, r A'/IL;':UUt rll..)VIUld"a.;, ~ : ~ " O/U:utIIUII .1"'• .r. 'Yh~.r L'llll.L!3?"U"fe. t"dr~O, t. t . oPtV'la jo~otl.NdaCa.. Jt;/ufo m:a1l-~1i.r--.J ¥..l.O. <...7>lL.lllCa; nu:rpu·t:" /lor~~' pi-Nt Uu'''J'' 'L, -it . .u' . I,<,,.tu;~k" dt·ilet.°'t. ~ . <. 'fJu ltLea ,,,Uta flo",./' .uz.,p.I-< dN/~-:;!P ~ n u zpnL_ lIIuura.1c. . Thornton's Temple of Flora, features rope in new plants paved the way for the gun in 1737. His Plantae Selectae was flowers against backgrounds that were publication, in 1753, of the most re­ fashioned for the carriage trade, and the thought to be suitable to the origin of the nowned botanical publication of the 18th first letter of the title of each print was plants. In fact, the settings are more ro­ century, Carolus Linnaeus's Species Plan­ printed in gold leaf (now a way of verifying mantic than representative of the plants' tarum. The binomial system of classifying authenticity). native habitats. plants and animals introduced by Linnaeus Another artist known for his "artistic Other notable works in this genre in­ was readily adopted, and publishers quickly vision, botanical accuracy and sheer quan­ clude those by the French artist Nicolas re-iss ued earlier works to reflect the new tity of output" was Pierre joseph Redoute, Robert (1614-85). Not only did Robert names. As a result, many illustrations had whose exquisite flower paintings for Les create beautiful floral illustrations, he also two versions of the same title. (A lmost 200 Roses (1817-24), Les Liliacees (1802-16), made major contributions to books on plant years later, Otto Stapf helped put an end and two splendid volumes on the flowers histories. These books constitute a valu­ to the confusion with hi s index Londi­ of Malmaison, are legendary. (The original able record of plants that were in culti­ nensis, first published in 1929. This ref­ 468 watercolors for Les Liliacees were sold vation in the artist's day. erence, available at botanical libraries, lists at an auction in New York last year for a At approximately the same time the f1or­ sources for most plant illustrations pub­ record $5.5 million.) Redoute came from ilegium appeared on the scene, a rtists be­ li shed after Linnaeus's book appeared. ) a long line of Belgian painters and arrived gan to use two new techniques: engrav ing The "Golden Age" of plant illustration in France at the age of 23 to pursue his and etching. These methods aided scien­ lasted from about 1700 through the third art. No doubt royal patronage, especially tific study because features of plants could or fourth decade of the 19th century. Among that of the Empress josephine, helped him be delineated more accurately than was the important figures of this era were the to become the most popular flower painter possible with woodcuts. (in engraving, Bauer brothers, Ferdinand and Franz. Au­ in the history of botanical art. He was also grooved lines are incised in a metal plate briet, Turpin, Pancrace Bessa, and William fortunate to have a brilliant team of stipple using a hand-pushed tool called a burin. Baxter were also giants in th e botanical engravers a nd printers to translate his In etching, a needle is used to scratch lines art world. drawings into prints. through a wax-like ground covering a plate, One of the best-known botanical artists The death of both Redoute and ' 1 urp1l1 which is then subjected to an acid bath ; of the "Golden Age" was German-born in 1840 marks the end of the great age the acid "bites" into the plate along the George Dionysius Ehret, who worked in of botanical illustration. Works of con­ lines where the metal has been exposed. England. Ehret provided as many as 500 siderable value to botany continued to be In both processes, ink is rubbed into the illustrations for J. W. Weinman's eight­ produced into the 20th century, but the recessed lines and then transferred to paper volume Phytanthoza Icon agraphia (Il­ state of the art in general was stifled by under pressure.) Etchings and engravings lustrated Record of Flowering Plants), be- Victorian sentimentality, as well as novel can be refined by using closely spaced, color-printing processes and the advent of hatched lines, or dots (stipple), for shading photography. and tonal gradations. A few years before the two great bo­ By 1800, printing in color had been tanical artists died, a new process, lithog­ widely adopted, and finishing washes of raphy, had begun to make its mark on color were done by hand. Color increased botanical art. (Lithography, based on the the aesthetic appeal of prints, which now antipathy between oil and water, allows had much of the character of the original an image to be drawn with a greasy crayon watercolor paintings that were copied. J. on a stone plate, and then wetted and inked.) W. Weinman's Phytanthoza Iconographia Using this method, large editions of illus­ (1737-45) was among the first botanical trations could be reproduced faster, easier, works to include color printing. (Wein­ and cheaper than ever before. Fine gra­ man's prints of aloes in decorative pots dations of tone could be achieved, and the often turn up at exhibits and print sales.) prints were usually hand-colored. As printing techniques became more so­ From about 1830 onward, most botani­ phisticated, they were used in combination cal works-especially monographs (illus­ with each other. By the end of the 18th trated works devoted to a single group of century, many artists combined several plants, often a family or genus)-were different techniques to create individual printed as lithographs. (The prints of james prints. Bateman's orchids in Orchidaceae of The widespread interest throughout Eu- Mexico and Guatemala (1837-43) are examples of magnificent lithographs.) Today, botanical illustrations are usually LEFT: This hand-colored etching of Punica is reproduced using anyone of a number of from Chrisroph Jacob Trew's Plantae selectae, published in Nuremberg between photomechanical processes that are now 1750 and 1773. RIGHT: Mespilus available. 6 odoratissima, commonly called sweet-scenred hawthorn, depicted in a hand-colored Ma~garet Parke, a resident of Bedford, New engraving by J. Curris, from Curtis's York, is an avid gardener, writer, and Botanical Magazine, 1822. amateur collector of botanical prints.

American Horticulturist 23

BY STANLEY M. HARMON

t has been said that familiarity breeds for culture where summers are often wet.) contempt. Evidently, this is the reason This problem can be avoided by planting I Americans were slow to add such Liatris in raised beds containing well­ common native plants as black-eyed Su­ drained soil, or by planting at the crown sans, goldenrod, and spiderwort-which of widely spaced rows that allow watering thrive all around us without effort on our from the furrow without wetting the base part-to their perennial or wildflower gar­ of the plants. dens. Ironically, many of the cultivated va­ While photographing Liatris in public rieties of the native plants that we grow gardens in the Washington, D.C., area, I today were hybridized in Europe and then have been gratified to learn that my own exported back into this country before they appreciation of these plants is shared by became popular here. Liatris, one of the others, many of whom I suspect are un­ most attractive of all plants native to North familiar with Liatris in the wild. These America, also falls into this category. In showy plants are indeed eye-catching, and fact, many Americans who are familiar with fully deserve the common name blazing­ Liatris were introduced to the plant through star. Gay-feather, another familiar name the cut flower trade, because L. spicata is often applied to these striking plants, also grown in Europe on a large scale and im­ refers to the showy, feather-like flower ported into the United States as cut flow­ LEFT: In a garden or meadow, Liatris are spikes. ers. Many of the popular garden cultivars magnets for showy pollinators such as this About 40 species of Liatris are found in tiger swallowtail butterfly. RIGHT: A clump of this species also were developed abroad. scattered locations throughout the United of Liatris spicata growing at the U.S. Members of the genus Liatris are all erect Botanical Garden in Washington, D. C. States and Canada. (Eight species are found perennial herbs that belong to the sun­ in West Virginia alone.) Liatris species have flower family, Compositae. Most species wild. As the plant develops, it becomes three somewhat overlapping natural ranges. have closely spaced, alternate, grass-like increasingly more attractive. Blooms ap­ Some species, such as L. novae-angliae leaves, and all have a simple or few­ pear unexpectedly in abandoned fields or (commonly called New England blazing­ branched stem. The flower heads are borne along roadsides, to the surprise and delight star, and sometimes listed as L. borealis), along a spike or raceme. Although some of the unsuspecting wildflower lover. are found mostly in the Northeast and in white-flowered cultivars have been devel­ All Liatris species are hardy and ex­ other northern states east of the Missis­ oped for the garden, Liatris most often tremely drought-tolerant. Most prefer well­ sippi River. Others, such as L. micro­ bear showy, rose-purple flowers. These drained soil and do best in an open, sunny cephala and L. squarrosa, are primarily striking blossoms appear over a three- or location. Generally, species grow from found in the southern states. L. /igu/istylis four-week period, from midsummer to early corms or have shallow, bulbous rootstocks and L. punctata are western species that fall, depending upon the species and the that help the plant resist drought. Al­ are usually found in states west of the Mis­ geographical location. Surprisingly, the though a few species thrive in wet mead­ sissippi River. A few species of Liatris have flower heads at the tpp of the stem open ows, over-watering during the flowering very restricted ranges and have been in­ first, followed by the heads located further period can be fatal for most Liatris, since cluded on the federal list of endangered down from the tip. (This characteristic the flower stalk and basal leaves are very species. These include L. helleri, an in­ makes Liatris an excellent cut flower, be­ susceptible to fungus attack. (One excep­ habitant of acid soils and granite ledges in cause the top of the spike can be removed tion is L. graminifo/ia, a slender, highly the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Car­ as the older flowers fade.) variable species that occurs throughout olina; and L. ohlingerae and L. provin­ The basal foliage of all but a few species much of the Atlantic coastal plain. It tol~ cia/is, which have very restricted ranges in of Liatris is grass-like dl!lring the early stages erates frequent watering during the flow­ Florida. of growth and is easily overlooked in the ering stage and is thus a good candidate According to The New York Botanical

American Horticulturist 25 Garden's Wildflowers ofthe United States, lands from Indiana to SOlJth Dakota and although the genus Liatris is easy to rec­ south to Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, it ognize, "the species have been-and may reaches a height of five feet. The species be-badly confused. The reason for this is is drought-resistant, but it is best grown their propensity for crossing in nature, with in moist, well-drained soil. Although listcultivar called from the shade of a nearby tree. states east of the Mississippi River. RIGHT: 'White Spire' and a very popular dwarf Growing these beauties in our gardens There are a number of white-flowered cultivar called 'Kobold'. allows us to appreciate them (and the many cultivars of Liatris that are popular garden My personal favorite, L. scariosa, oc­ interesting and attractive pollinators lured subjects. Pictured is Liatris scarosa 'Snow White', growing at the Chicago Botanic curs in dry fields afld on shale barrens of to their showy flowers) without undue dis­ Garden. the Appalachian Mountains, from south­ comfort during hot summers. Gardeners ern Pennsylvania to Georgia and South can find rootstocks and seeds of several Carolina. It is hardy to Zone 4, and bears species of Liatris-most notably L. spi­ large, hemisphcompost, and leave them in a sunny lo­ colioroot blazing-star, thrives in poor soil cation. A medium temperature of approx­ and is an ideal candidate for untended plots. imately 700 F hastens germination, which Found in dry, open woodlands from Del­ should take two onhree weeks. Thin the aware to South Dakota afld south to Flor­ seedliflgs (which look like tufts of grass ida and Texas, it is hardy to Zone 4. and are very slow-growing) as needed, and Liatris pycnostachya, commonly called allow them to remain in the flat undis­ Kansas gay-feather, is a popular garden turbed until they are well rooted. Trans­ plant. Native to moist prairies and wood- plant to pots, if necessary, when the plants

26 June 1987 To propagate by division, lift the plants in very early spring, before the first leaf buds break, and divide with a sharp knife or pruning shears.

have outgrown their fl at. (The roots are quite fragi le; transplant with care.) Seed­ lin gs of a few species can be transpl anted to the ga rden in earl y summer, but most wi ll probably be too small to transpl ant before fa ll and will not bloom until the fo ll owing summer. Some sources indicate that germi natio n is improved if Liatris seed is ni cked before sowing and then subjected to a th ree- mo nth peri od o f cold stratifi­ ca ti on (400 F). To propagate by di vision, lift the pl ants in ve ry ea rl y spring, before the first leaf buds break, and di vide with a sharp knife o r pruning shears. Re-pl ant the di vided cl umps and water thoroughl y. Several species of Liatris have been fo und to contain potentiall y useful medicinal substances rangin g fro m anti-tumor agents to a substance that promotes healing o f peptic ulcers. O ne such species is L. squar­ rosa, coli croot bl azin g-star. Like o ther Liatris species, it is a virtual magnet for pollinators. This lovely pl ant occurs abun­ dantly to the west and south o f Washing­ ton, D.C., on the Civi l War battlefields o f Bull Run, where it blooms on the anni­ ve rsary dates of the battles. During the spring of 1986, a group of volunteers from the Virginia Wildflower Preserv ation So­ ciety rescued more than 40 o f these pl ants fro m constructi o n sites near M anassas, Virginia, and transferred them to the Wild­ fl ower Meadow at the American Horti­ cultural Society's Ri ve r Farm headquarters near Mount Vernon. The fact that most of them survived the driest spring and sum­ mer on record is a testament to the drought resistance o f this species. Hardiness and genetic diversity, not to mention many other fine attributes, make Liatris ideal fo r cultivation. Not onl y do the many species deli ght and charm us with their beauty, they seem to be a balm for our bodies as well as for our souls. Indeed, our ho rticultural fri ends in Europe have served us well by bringing to our attention these striking nati ves o f our shores. ft

Stanley M. Harmon, a microbi ologist for the Food and Drug Administration in Was hington, D.C., has been an admirer of Liatris for many years. In addition to growin g these showy pl ants in his own garden, he has been helping establish Liatris pl antings in the Wildflower M eadow at Ri ver Farm.

American Horticulturist 27 In the heart of the South lies a grand city estate that remains the "Great Showplace of New Orleans."

TEXT BY DORIS M. STONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROGER W. STONE

28 June 1987 FAR LEFT: The main fountain at Longue Vue's Spanis h Court provid es a spectacul ar view of the south facade o f the house. ABO VE LEFT: The Whim H ouse, the gues t house at Longue Vue, sports a charming pati o ga rden fea turing yellow fl owers. ABOVE RIGHT: A contemporary fountain des igned by Lin Emery is one of six fountains found in small courryards along the edges of the lawn leading to the house. This area is known as the Spani sh Garden. LEFT: A tree­ lined avenue o f li ve oaks leads fr om the Entrance Court to the house.

orty-three blocks from the French The Stern family first built a house on successfully designed the Sarah P. Duke Quarter in New Orleans lies a the property in 1923, but by 1936 they Gardens in Durham, North Carolina. F magnificent garden reminiscent of had outgrown it and decided to replace it Essentially, the estate as designed by the lavish country estate gardens of Eng­ with a larger building. Completed in 1942, Shipman consisted of a large main garden, land. Known for its picturesque gardens, the Neo-Palladian mansion we see today which served as the south vista to the house; unique fountains, meticulously mown was large enough for lavish indoor-out­ a walled kitchen garden containing vege­ lawns, and pristine displays of carefully door social events and was better inte­ tables and herbs; and a wildflower garden manicured plants, Longue Vue is a formal, grated with the gardens than was the for­ featuring some of Louisiana's native plants. eight-acre city estate garden that was once mer house. Interconnecting these was a series of small the home of Edith and Edgar Stern. Horticulture was a special interest of garden " rooms" and patios, hidden away Mr. Stern was a wealthy businessman Mrs. Stern. For many years she was a behind shrubbery. The main axis of Ship­ from a prominent New Orleans family ; member of the Garden Study Club of New man's south garden ended in an Italian Mrs. Stern, from Chicago, was the heiress Orleans and frequently served as chairman tempietto and a reflecting pool. to the Sears, Roebuck fortune. The Sterns of its various committees. When the new Since the design of the new residence were both noted philanthropists and active house was built, she was determined to incorporated many local historic details, patrons of the arts. Among Mrs. Stern's have the gardens extend the living quarters Mrs. Stern eventually decided to remodel many accomplishments was the co-found­ outdoors. For a long time, she had also parts of the gardens to emphasize Loui­ ing (with other parents) of two private wanted to display some of the more in­ siana's Spanish heritage. In 1966, William schools-one, among the South's finest teresting wildflowers of her adopted state. Platt, who had been the architect for the nursery schools, and the other, Louisiana's To this end, she employed the landscape mansion and had learned much about first college preparatory country day school. architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, who had landscape design from Ellen Shipman, ac-

American Horticulturist 29 companied Mrs. Stern to the Iberian Pen­ 1. Entrance Court with insula to see the Spanish gardens firsthand. oak avenue leading to Inspired by the Generalife Gardens of the house. 2. Nursery Area. 3. Wild Garden. Alhambra in Granada, on their return they 4. Walled Garden. set about transforming the main garden at 5. Canal Garden, Longue Vue into what is now known as inspi red by gardens in the Spanish Garden. Portugal. 6. Goldfish Today, Longue Vue's most distinctive Pool. 7. Spanish ~. Garden. feature is its Spanish-Moorish water gar­ 00 8. Yellow Garden. den. From the former reflecting pool, 10 9. Portico Garden. pairs of tall water jets-visible from the 10. Pan Garden, house-now spout upwards in graceful arcs. featuring a statue of Pan atop an Itali an Behind is a round pool, which was deco­ Renaissance fountain. rated at the time of my visit with Easter 11. The Playhouse, a lilies and geraniums in pots, in the style of display area. 12. The the Alhambra. The tempietto has been re­ Shop, formerly a placed by a curved Spanish loggia, which garage, now a gift shop. is laterally extended by two brick walls. This area, known as the Spanish Court, has permanent plantings of leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), Cleyera japonica, roses-'Peace' roses grown as standards ervation and propagation of Louisiana na­ and lilies-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus afri­ and 'Summer Snow' floribunda roses-as tive plants. Caroline Dorman, author and canus) against its south-facing walls. The well as 'Pink Perfection' camellias. A min­ illustrator of Flowers Native to the Deep more cold-tolerant sweet olive (Osman­ iature parterre completes this small Dutch­ South, was a member of this group. In thus fragrans) and false holly (Osmanthus English garden. Bisecting it is a central walk, 1940 Dorman helped Mrs. Stern design heterophyllus) are in raised beds against which originates from the house, whose this small wildflower garden, using as many the east and west walls. Decorative tender focal point is the distant Spanish Court. native plants as possible. The most cher­ and seasonal perennials in containers in­ This splendid vista was intended to be seen ished of all Louisiana's wildflowers, the clude calamondin (x Citrofortunella mi­ to best advantage from the upper-floor swamp irises-Iris fulva, I. giganticaeru­ tis), ixoras (Ixora spp.), various bulbs, ge­ drawing room, the room used by the Sterns lea, and I. brevicaulis-were prominently raniums, and chrysanthemums. Behind the when entertaining their most distinguished displayed along the central walk of the walls of the Spanish Court are magnolias, guests. Beyond the walls of the entire south Wildflower Garden. Now the area is too southern pines, and oleanders. garden are tall magnolias, pines, and crape shady for them, so the collection has been The Spanish-Moorish motif continues myrtles, which effectively isolate the estate moved to the Cutting Garden. M any other as the visitor approaches the house. Flank­ from its urban surroundings. native flowers flourish in the shade of mag­ ing the lawn on both the east and west A charming little patio with a single­ nolias, southern pines, cypresses, native sides are small fountains, three on either color theme---one of the first of the genre­ hollies, dogwoods, and red and live oaks. side. Each is of a different design-some is located west of the Portico Garden and Shrubs here include the star or purple anise contemporary and some antique-and set adjacent to the Whim House, the small (Illicium f!oridanum ), red buckeye (Aes­ in its own tiny "court," defined by low guest house close to the mansion. Mexican culus pavia), oak leaf hydrangea (Hydran­ boxwood hedges. One fountain is the work marble forms an elegant floor for the cast­ gea quercifolia), sweet shrub (Calycanthus of Lin Emery, who was commissioned by iron furniture, and the centerpiece is a small f! oridus), and several species of wild azal­ Mrs. Stern to create a "kinetic water sculp­ fountain of contemporary design. All of eas, including Rhododendron austrinum, ture." The "courts" are paved in black and the plants here have either yellow flowers commonly called Florida flame azalea. Near beige Mexican pebbles, embedded on edge, or yellow variegated foliage; hence its name, the entrance is a small pool, and close by and arranged in designs copied from Bar­ the Yellow Garden. A banksia rose (Rosa is a pigeonnier-a duplicate of the one that celona streets. Tubbed plants provide flo­ banksiae) climbs over the French door of once stood at Uncle Sam Plantation near ral decoration. the Whim House. One column of the log­ Convent, Louisiana, and was eventually From the house, the dynamic play of gia is usually covered with butterfly vine demolished to make way for a flood con­ sunlight on the jets of the Spanish Court (Stigmaphyllon sp.) and another with Car­ trol levee. delights and fascinates the eye. Close at olina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervi­ East of the Wildflower Garden is the hand, the music and the soothing, cooJ.ing rens). (One year, apricot bougainvillea was Walled Garden. This enclosure o nce fea­ effects of the water predominate. The sen­ used as a substitute.) In summer, the blooms tured vegetables and herbs. However, the suous properties of moving water, an im­ of allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) con­ area was eventually converted to a formal portant element in the classic Persian or tinue the yellow theme. In the marginal garden featuring flowers and shrubs, such Arabian garden set in a desert environ­ beds, yellow lantana, gold-dust aucuba as roses and azaleas. Surrounding the cen­ ment, blend in nicely at Longue Vue, where (Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'), and Gal­ tral fountain, constructed from an old sugar the spring season is warm and the summers phimia (formerly Thryallis) are predomi­ kettle, are summer-blooming Japanese iris are hot. nant. In season, tubs of yellow tulips and and displays of seasonal annuals such as Close to the mansion, the Spanish Gar­ daffodils are brought out from the nursery. pansies, petunias, begonias, lantana, and den gives way to a formal boxwood gar­ Further a way from the house is the Evolvulus. den, called the Portico Garden. Low hedges Wildflower Garden. For many years Edith Beyond the Walled Garden is the elon­ of Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Stern belonged to a group of southern gated Canal Garden. The long, narrow pool, var. japonica) outline beds containing women devoted to gardening and the pres- edged with brick and decorated with large

30 June 1987 plants grown in tubs, features a fountain a perfect cathedral-like archway. Imme­ and get a feel for the people who once lived at each end. Although its design was in­ diately in front of the entrance to the house there. The house has been left the way it spired by gardens in Portugal, it is remi­ is a small shady courtyard planted with was in the 1940's and '50's, the heyday of niscent of the Alhambra and looks Moor­ sweet olives and magnolias. An imposing family life at Longue Vue. Mrs. Stern felt ish. This charming and exotic garden serves Victorian "Three Graces" fountain, made that it should serve as a museum to reflect as a fitting vestibule to the Spanish Court, in New York around 1840 and discovered a way of life that has almost completely which lies immediately to the north and is by Mr. Stern in an antique shop near his disappeared from the American scene. Upon entered through louvered doors. office, serves as the focal point. her death in 1980, Longue Vue was trans­ In the days when Longue Vue was oc­ Today, garden tours begin in the En­ ferred to a private foundation of the Stern cupied by the Stern family, the visitor's trance Court, which is surrounded by cit­ family. Today, the well-endowed Longue first glimpse of the house was from the rus, azaleas, holly fern, and loquat trees. Vue Foundation, aided by a group of en­ Entrance Court just off Bamboo Road. The tour also provides a look at the Nurs­ thusiastic volunteers, is responsible for the Visitors can still admire the tree-lined av­ ery and Cutting garden (which is a pro­ administration of the house and gardens. enue of live oaks leading from the entrance duction rather than a display area) that Thanks to the dedication and interest of to the front door of the house along the supplies cut flowers for the house, as well Edith Stern and of all those who have west facade. The branches of the oaks have as annuals, perennials, and flowering and worked so hard to maintain the estate, been pruned and trained by cables to form foliage plants for use throughout the gar­ garden lovers can still enjoy the horticul­ den. This area also contains azaleas and tural splendor of days gone by. 0 The Portico Garden features roses surrounded orchids as well as a small herb garden. by clipped boxwood hedges. It provides a Visitors can gain a better appreciation Doris M. Stone is a garden writer living in spectacular view of the Spanish Garden. for the gardens if they first tour the house New York City.

American Horticulturist 31 JANE LOUDON

Continued from page 1 7 weekly magazine launched by Punch-The more fortunate in her marriage than most Jane continued to work actively with Ladies' Companion: At Home and Abroad. women of her time, because she and her publications. She saw her husband's last Once again the house served as head­ husband had been companions. Further­ book through the press, and finished a book quarters for a publication, and Jane was more, Jane had the good fortune to marry of her own, The Lady's Country Com­ immersed in the work she loved. She was one of the few men around who believed panion: or How to Enjoy a Country Life responsible for the entire layout, and con­ in encouraging women to develop all of Rationally. Several years later, she wrote tributed many general articles herself. She their intellectual and artistic capacities. He British Wild Flowers. The Amateur Gar­ served as garden columnist, drama critic, had not only encouraged her to branch out dener's Calender appeared in 1847. (Wil­ and book reviewer, and attended opera on her own, but he had also taken great liam Robinson so admired the book that and theater performances, concerts, and pride in her accomplishments. he later re-edited it.) In 1848 Jane finished flower shows. However, even though the Perhaps looking back, she had no desire the last volume of The Ladies' Flower Gar­ journal was well received, her editorship to take on such an arduous role again. But den series. The volume, which deals with was terminated after less than a year. It undoubtedly, she knew that she had helped ornamental greenhouse plants, appeared was a terrible blow. She rented the house a great man and that she herself had con­ when the passion for greenhouses and plant again and headed for Europe with Agnes, tributed much to the hortioultural world. exploration in England was at its peak. financially and emotionally drained. She was the authority on gardening for Jane spent the remainder of her life liv­ When Jane was only 50, she became women all over Britain and America, and ing off a small government pension, sup­ seriously ill. One day she sat alone by the would be a source of inspiration for women plemented by earnings from her books and fire and burned all her personal papers. gardeners to come. As Geoffrey Taylor said, subsequent editions of her husband's work For this reason, much of what we know she died "throwing the trowel" to Ger­ (which she re-edited and re-issued). When about Jane Loudon's life comes from her trude Jekyll, who was, in that year, fur­ money was scarce, she and her daughter daughter Agnes's diary. Not long after­ bishing her first garden at age eleven. 0 Agnes would rent the house and go to the wards, Jane died quietly. Elisabeth Sheldon manages a small perennial Continent, where the cost of living was One can only guess how Jane Loudon nursery in Lansing, New York. A former cheaper. viewed her life as she lay on her sofa in painter and teacher, she currently writes and For awhile Jane was editor of a new her last days. In many ways, she had been lectures on horticultural topics.

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32 June 1987 Pronunciation Guide

Illicium f/oridanu111 ill-ISS-ee-um flor-ih -DAN-um Iris brevicaulis EYE-riss brev-ih-CA W- liss I. fulva i. FUL-va h I. giganticaeru/ea i. gy-ga n-tih -see-RULE-ee-a h Ixora icks-OR-ah Liatris aspera li e-AT- ri ss ASS-per-a h L. borealis I. bore-ee-AL-iss Aconitum napel/us L. gra111 in ifolia I. grah-mi n-ih-FOE-Iee-ah ak-oh-NY-tum nah-PELL-us L. helleri I. H ELL-er-eye Aescu/u s pavia ESS-k ue- Iu s PA Y-vee-a h L. ligulistylis I. lig-you-lih-STY- li s Agapanthus african us L. microcephala I. my-crow-SEF-a h-Iah ag-ah-PAN-thuss af-rih-KAN-us L. novae-angliae I. NOV-ee ANG- Iee Agave horrida L. ohlingerae I. oh-lin-JER-ee ah-GAV-ee HORE-id-ah L. provincialis I. pro-vi n-see-A L-iss A I/amanda cathartica L. punctata I. punk-TAH-tah all-ah-MAND-ah cath-ARE-tih-ka h L. pycnostachya I. pic-no-ST A K-ya h Anemone ah-NEM-oh-nee L. sca riosa I. sca re-ee-O H-sa h Asclepias tuberosa L. spicata I. spee-CAT-ah ass-KLEE-pee-us roo-bur-OH-sah L. squarrosa I. sq uare-ROW-sa h Aucuba japonica Lithops L1TH-ops aw-KOO-bah jah-PON-ih-kah Lycopodium Iy-coe- POE-dee-um Boltonia asteroides Macleaya cordata bowl-TONE-ee-ah ass-ter-oh-EYE-deez MACK- lee-yah co re- DA Y-tah Brachychiton Malva moschata MAL- va h moe-SHAH-tah brah-kee-K IE-ron Mammillaria mam-ill-AIR-ee-ah Buxus microphyl/a va r. japonica Nymphaea NIM-fee-ah BUCK-sus my-crow-FlLL-ah Osmanthus fragrans jah-PON-ih-kah oz-MAN-thuss FRA Y-grenz Calycanthus f/ oridus O. heterophyllus o. het-er-oh-FILL-us kal-ih-CAN-thuss FLOOR-ih-dus Pachypodium succulentum Campanula lactif/ora pack-ee-POE-dee-um suck-you-LEN-tum ka m-PAN-yew- lah lack-tih-FLOR-a h Phlox paniculata Centaurea sen-TAW -ree-ah FLOCKS pan- ick-yew-LA Y-tah x Citrofortunella mitis Plumbago auriculata plume-BA Y-go sit-row-for-rune-E L-ah MY-tis aw-rick-you-LA Y-tah D Please send me a Free Catalog. Clematis paniculata Primula PRIM-ew-Iah D Please send me Mammoth Dar­ KLEM-ah-tiss/klem-AT-iss Pulmonaria pul-mon-AIR-ee-a h win Hybrids/IOO. p,an-ick-yew-LA Y-tah Rhododendron austrinum D Payment enclosed $ ___ Cleyera japonica CLA Y-er-ah row-doe-DEN-dron au-STRY-num D Charge to: jah-PON-ih-kah Rosa banksiae ROW-sah BANK-see-ee Convallaria con-vah-LAIR-ee-ah R. longicuspis r. lon-j ee-CUS-pis D MasterCard D Visa Exp. Date ______Cram be cordifolia Salvia argentea CRAM-be core-dih-FOE-Iee-ah SAL-vee-ah are-JEN-tee-ah Act. No. ______Name ______Dianthus die-AN-thuss Sequoia dendron giganteum Dictamnus albus di ck-TAM-nus AL-bus see-quoy-ah-DEN-dron jy-GAN-tee-um Address ______Fuchsia FEW-shah Stachys byzantina City ______Galium GAL-ee-um STACK-iss biz-a n-TEE-nah State ______Zip ___ Galphimia ga l-FlM-ee-ah Stigmaphyllon stig-mah-FILL-on Gelsemium sempervirens Thryallis thry-A L-li ss jel-SEM-ee-um sem-per-VIE-renz Utricularia uh -tri ck-you-LAIR-ee-ah Hosta sieboldiana Verbascum ver-BASS-kum HOSS-tah see-bold-ee-A Y-n ah Viola vie-OH-Iah/vee-OH-Iah Still brook Farm Hydrangea quercifolia Xanthosoma za n-thoe-SOW-mah Maple Street, 307-5, Litchfield, CT 06759 hi gh-DRAN-gee-ah quer-sih-FOE-Iee-ah Zamia ZA Y-me-ah

American Horticulturist 33 SAGAPRESS CLASSICS for gardeners and landscape architects Beatrix Farrand's Sources American Landscapes by Diana Balmori, Diane Kostial McGuire and Eleanor McPeck Telling new poitra it of a great American S.U.N.Y. GREENHOUSE Carroll Gardens, Dept. AH, Box 310, 444 talent, our first " landscape gardener." East Main Street, Westminster, MD After studying in Europe and at the Self-guided tours of the S.U.N.Y. Green­ Boston Arboretum, she was the sole house may be taken weekdays from 11 :00 21157, catalogue $2.00. woman among the founders of the a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged Lamb Nurseries, Dept. AH, E. 101 Sharp American Society of Landscape Archi­ to call or write before visiting the facility. Ave., Spokane, WA 99202, catalogue tects in 1899. This book won the Socie­ For more information, write Teaching $1.00. ty's Award of Merit in 1986. Her living Tideland Gardens, Inc., Dept. AH, P.O. memorial is Dumbarton Oaks in Wash­ Greenhouse, State University of New York, ington, DC. Photos, plans and her own Binghamton, New York 13901, or phone Box 549, Chestertown, MD 21620, cat­ writings illuminate her genius. the facility at (607) 777-2502. alogue free. 215 pp Paper, 15 color plates Van Bourgondien Brothers, Dept. AH, P.O. AHS Member Price $25.60 Box A, 245 Farmingdale Road, Route JANE LOUDON Daylilies by Arlow B. Stout 109, Babylon, NY 11702, catalogue free. Reprint of a masterpiece by an Ameri­ Although Jane Loudon's books are no Andre Viette Farm & Nursery, Dept. AH, can botanist, updated by Graham longer in print, her publications-and her Route 1,Box 16, Fishersville,VA 22939, Stuart Thomas and Darrel Apps. husband's-are available at many botan­ catalogue $1.50. Species, early hybrids, cultural and ical libraries and at public libraries. They hybridizing notes, newly discovered Wayside Gardens Company, Dept. AH, color plates, photos -- the daylily are also occasionally available from anti­ Hodges, SC 19695, catalogue $1.00. reference, unique in its scope. quarian book dealers, especially those spe­ We-Du Nurseries, Dept. AH, Route 5, Box 145 pp Hardcover, 12 color plates cializing in gardening books. For a list of 724, Marion, NC 28752, catalogue 50¢. AHS Member Price $27.55 garden book dealers, along with a copy of The English Flower Garden an article reviewing their catalogues, send LONGUE VUE by William Robinson $1.00 to cover postage and handling to The Longue Vue House and Gardens are A masterwork reprinted, called the Gardener's Information Service, Garden open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tues­ most important and influential in the Book Dealers List, American Horticultural day through Friday; 1 :00 p.m. to 5 :00 p.m. language. Crusty and opinionated, Society, P.O. Box 0105, Mount Vernon, Robinson prescribed perennials and on Saturday and Sunday. The house and VA 22121. natural effects, writing vigorously from gardens are closed on Mondays and all experience. His dictionary of hardy plants is invaluable. Plant nomencla­ LIATRIS major holidays. Admission is $5 .00 for ture is updated by Graham Stuart adults, and $3.00 for students and chil­ Thomas. Foreword by Henry Mitchell; Liatris are available from the following dren. For more information, write or call introduction by Deborah Nevins. mail-order companies. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bam­ Original fine steel engravings. Seeds boo Road, New Orleans, LA 70124, (504) 720 pp Hardcover W. Atlee Burpee Co., Dept. AH, 300 Park 488-5488. AHS Member Price $33.25 Ave., Warminster, PA 18974, catalogue The Formal Garden in England free. By Reginald Blomfield The Country Garden, Dept. AH, Route 2, BOTANICAL PRINTS Reprint of the classic handbook on for­ mal design. His theme: the garden Box 455A, Crivitz, WI 54114, catalogue Botanical prints are available from antique should logically extend the house, $2.00. print dealers, used book stores, and gal­ reflecting its geometry and its style. J.W. Jung Seed Co., Dept. AH, Box P-119, leries. They are also available from a va­ Garden history, knots, parterres, uses Randolph, WI 53956, catalogue free. riety of mail-order sources, including Flor­ of grass, pleaching, hedges, mazes, Maver Nursery, Dept. AH, Route 2, Box ilegium, which specializes in botanical art. with plans and illustrations, steel engraved, first published in 1892. 265 B, Asheville, NC 28805, catalogue To obtain a catalogue, send $3.00 to Oriel 252 pp Hardcover free. Eaton Kriz, Florilegium, Box 157, Snedens ASH Member Price $23.75 George W. Park Seed Company, Inc., Dept. Landing, Palisades, NY 10964, (914) 359- The Peony by Alice Harding AH, P.O. Box 31, Greenwood, SC 29647, 2926. A delightful and authoritative book, catalogue free. this overdue reprint covers history of Pinetree Garden Seeds, Dept. AH, New Books the genus, mythology, seed setting, Gloucester, ME 04260, catalogue free. There are many superb books that discuss preparation of soil and a shrewd ap­ Thompson & Morgan, Dept. AH, P.O. botanical prints from all angles-history, praisal of varieties still grown and loved today by discerning gardeners. Box 1308-AM, Jackson, NJ 08527, cat­ science, art, biography-which enable the 253 pp Hardcover, 15 color plates alogue $2.00. novice to sally forth with knowledge, cour­ AHS Member Price $25.65 Plants age, and enthusiasm. Some explain the Please add $1. 75 per book for postage and handling. Busse Gardens, Dept. AH, 635 East 7th various methods of printing used to re­ Allow six weeks for delivery. Mail to: Robin Williams, produce illustrations and give basic guide­ AHS, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. Street, Route 2, Box 13, Cokato, MN 55321, catalogue $1.00. lines for judging print quality, authentic-

34 June 1987 ity, and appropriate framing. Look for the following titles at your lo­ cal library or a used book dealer. Blunt, Wilfird, & Stearn, W.T. The Art of Botanical Illustration. Collins, London, 1950. Buchanan, Handasyde. Nature Into Art. Smith Publications, Mayflower Books, New York, 1979. Calmann, G~rta. Ehret, Flower Painter The largest Extraordinary. New York Graphic So­ U.S. grower of Oriental ciety, Boston, 1977. and Asiatic Dance, S. Peter. The Art of Natural His­ hybrids, ' tory. Overlook Press, Woodstock, New InVItes you to "\'~$ York, 1980. curl-up with an exceptionally Dunthorne, Gordon. Flower and Fruit Ideel permanent evergreen ground cover plants. Thrive In beautiful Fall 19871 moat lolla. In aun or shade. Grows to an even halght of B Prints of the 18th and 19th Centuries. Spring 1988 color catalog. .", s q ~~~~·:i:I;~t .! l~f~.~ : ·fW:..-~~":.g~: ~~I-~~~':.~I~~"o -SI ~5.00 . Prompt .hlpm.nt.. Fln ••t Quality Stock. Da Capo Press, New York, 1970. Beauty begins in the bulb. .~~:~~~ ~~ Gu.rant •• d to IIv. or w.'11 r.placalr •• upto t y.ar. Fold.r Ivins, W.M . How Prints Look. Beacon Buy quality! ~ I /J // ~\i!k(,11. ~~ on r.qua.t. (N .Y. r •• ld.nt. pl••••• dd .al •• tax.) Press, Inc., Boston, 1958. e a.tt; 4~ ,"~~~::.~*~ PEEKSKILL NURSERIES , b Oak, N.Y. 10588 Rix, Martyn. The Art of the Plant World, ...... Please send your stunning new catalog. I enclose $2, The Great Botanical Illustrators and deductible on my first ca talog order. Their Work. Overlook Press, Wood­ Name ______These beautiful, ~ , scissors are stock, New York, 1980. St.lRFD ______made to last a liletime. In production l :..;,;::::;==_..... I#~lo;:-r ::ov:.:;e;..;r 300 years. For delicate Periodicals City _____ State __ Zip __ '" flower worK , send to: "15=====;;;;~.~~~~- ~or heavy pruning Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, GNSI Very Sharp, A hardworking beauty. OREGON BULB FARMS Newsletter, P.O. Box 652, Ben Franklin 14071 N. E. Arndt Rd-H • Aurora, OR 97002 Send $6 .00 ea. Mt Rushmore Supply ...... Box 233 Brooklyn NY 11222-0233 Station, Washington, DC 20044. Print Collectors' Newsletter, PCN, Inc., 16 East 82nd St., New York, NY 10021. Libraries The following two libraries have especially fine collections of botanical works. Hunt Institute for Botanical Documenta­ The American Horticultural Society is sponsoring an exciting program ofhorti­ tion, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pitts­ cultural explorations for the 1987 season. Plan to join fellow AHS members on burgh, PA 15213. one or more of these interesting and educational garden-related tours. Use the The National Agricultural Library, Tech­ coupon below to request more information. nical Information Systems, U.S. De­ partment of Agriculture, Science and Kenya and East Africa (October 14- private estates and gardens. Educational Administration, Beltsville, 31). With its fertile green highlands, This will be a most unusual trip MD 20705. vast open plains, thick forests and semi­ encompassing a scope and variety rarely arid deserts, Kenya offers an incredible found in other itineraries for Kenya! BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS spectrum of botanic wonders. During Leader: Therese Sapieha, expert on our tour of this land of contrast we will wildlife and horticulture, Cost (exclusive The Boerner Botanical Gardens are open spend a brief time in Nairobi, and then of air fare): 83,975.00, daily, mid-April through mid-November, we'll be off on a horticultural safari, from 8:00 a.m. to suns-et. From April journeying north to the Aberdare through mid-November, the gift shop and National Park, a lush verdant region YES! Please send me more garden house are open daily from 8:00 typical of an equatorial forest ecosystem. information on the tours I have a.m. until one-half hour before sunset; from We will cross the equator en route to 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. mid-November checked below. Samburu Game Reserve, a semi-arid o Kenya and East Africa through March. The gift shop and garden landscape, and continue on to the multi· house are closed weekends in January and vegetational zones of Mt. Kenya, Here Name ______February. we will stop at the luxurious Mt. Kenya Adm~s ______For information about tours call The Safari Club , An exciting adventure Friends of the Boerner Botanical Gardens follows with three full days of game City _____ Stat.e __ Zip --- at (414) 529-1870. For general informa­ viewing in the Masai Mara, Kenya's tion, write or call Boerner Botanical Gar­ finest game reserve. We will conclude dens, 5879 South 92nd Street, Hales Cor­ MAIL TO: Elizabeth Smith, American Horticultural our safari in Lake Naivasha after touring Society, PO Box 0105 , Mount Vernon, VA 22121. ners, WI 53130, (414) 425-1131.

American Horticulturist 35 .--- , CIassifieds I I AFRICAN VIOLETS Philadelphia, PA 19111, (215) 722-6286-cat­ I alog $1.25. Greenhouse I We ship starter plants: Standards, Miniatures, orSunroom? Semi-mini's, Trailers, Species; Leaf Cuttings and BOOKS I Supplies. SeFId $1.00 for 1987 descriptive cat­ DRIED BOUQUETS SO REAL THEY LOOK Make the right choice with Janco. I alog ($2.00 overseas). ZACA VISTA NURS­ FRESH! Show-and-Tell books: Step-By-Step I ERY, Dept. AHS, 1190 Alamo Pintado Road, BOOK OF DRIED BOUQUETS, over 285 Pho­ We're the only manufacturer to offer I Solvang, CA 93463. tos: Williamsburg, Modern, Country, Victo­ a complete range of greenhouses and ALSTROEMERIA rian, Gifts. ($9.95 ppd.). Step-By-Step BOOK 50larooms to match every lifestyle. I LlGTU HYBRIDS. Mixed pinks, creams, corals OF PRESERVED FLOWERS, pmfessional se­ climate and budget. I crets for preserving 100 flowers, includes Mi­ 50 before you make your decision. I and peach. Long-lived, tuberous-rooted per­ ennials hardy to 0°. Shipped early September in crowave, ($3.95 ppd.) BOTH BOOKS $12.90 send $2.00 and receive our informa- ppd. FREE NEWSLETTER, send stamp. RO­ tive 48-page color catalog featuring I 2" pots for GUARANTEED safe delivery and transplanting. Bloom foll ewing summer. 6 p>otsl BERTA MOFFITT, PO Box 3597, Wilmington, over 100 greenho~uses. I DE 19807. 50larooms and $18 postpaid. Order now, receive FREE color OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS: Bought and Sold: I accessories. I catalog. B&D LILIES, Dept. AH, 330 "P" Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (206) 385-1738. Horticulture, Botany, Landscaping, Herb010gy. &. GLASS STRUCTURES I I Mail to: Building in the sun si nce 1948. I Catalog alone, $1.00 (refundable). Large Catalogue $1.00. POMONA BOOKS, Rockto~ Ontario, Canada LOR 1XO. I Janco Greenhouses, Dept. AM 6, 9390 Davis Ave .. AROID SOCIETY Laurel. MD 20707. (301) 498·5700 I CACTUS/BROMELIAD/EPIPHYLLUM books. I I've enclosed $2.00 to cover first-<:Iass postage and Interested in Anthuriums, Didfenbachias, Phil­ We offer 246 different. We're the world's largest I handling of my 48·page color catalog. I odendrons, etc? Join the International Aroid So­ mailorder firm. Send for FREE 14-page catalog: Name ------I ciety: Monthly Newsletter, Quarterly Journals. I Address ______RAINBOW GARDENS BOOKSHOP, Box 721- Dues $15, annually. Write: INTERNA­ AH67, La Habra, CA 90633-0721. I City State___ Zip - - - I TIONAL AROID SOCIETY, PO Box 43-1853, Phone ( ) • ----______a Miami, FL 33143. The INDOOR CITRUS & RARE FRUIT SO­ L CIETY has published a 32 page book list "Gar­ THE AVANT GARDENER den Books Around the World." It includes more DIFFERENT, EXCITING, GREAT FUN TO than 100 book reviews, out-of-print and rare READ-for the gardener who wants to get more books, and books discounted to members. Easy SUPPORT FROM out of gardening! Subscribe to THE AVANT to read. To receive your copy, send $2.00 to SCOTLAND GARDENER, the most useful, most quoted of the IC&RFS Book Department, 176 Coronado For over 50 years, the all gardening publications. Every month this Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. Scottish War Blinded have unique news service brings you the newest and Out of Print and scarce gardening and botanical made a galvanized wire, most practical on-going information-new books. Catalogs issued regularly. Please write garden plant support that is,~frJ;~~~M plants, products, techniques, with sources, plus to WHEELBARROW BOOKS, 22, Brangwyn used in home and public feature articles, special issues. 18th year. Awarded Ave., Brighton, Suss ~ BN1 ~ England. gardens all over Britain -­ Garden Club of America and Massachusetts 1985 Edition EXOTICA 4, with 16,300 photos, even sold at the famous Horticultural Society Medals for outstanding Wisley Garden Centre. 405 in color, 2,600 pages in 2 volumes, with Place this support over your contributions to horticulture. Curious? Sample Addenda of 1,000 Updates, by Dr. A. B. Graf, plants early-on to allow copy $1. Serious? $10 full year (reg. $15). THE $187. TROPICA 3, revised 1986, 7,000 color them to grow up thru the AVANT GARDENER, Box 489M, New York, photos, now 1,156 pages, $125. Exotic Plant five separated sections of NY 10028. Manual, 5th Ed., 4,200 photos, $37.50. Exotic the ring. The ring is sUIilPort­ ed by a set of 3 legs. Order_,.. . . AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS House Plants, 1,200 photos, $8.95. Circulars FOR GARDENERS WHO CARE: Hardy azal­ gladly sent. ROEHRS, Box 125, E. Rutherford, f~;-~~~~(j ~i~::)s !:~!~:IY. (Jl:£ldfi0uif~U eas and rhododendrons. Northern grown and NJ 07073. acclimated. Big sizes! Big selection! Personal ser­ BOTANICAL CRAFTS RINGS: SET OF 3 LEGS: vice! Two Year Catalog Subscription: $2.00 12" Ring .... $1.95 18" High ... $1.85 (deductible). CARLSON'S GARDENS, Box 305- BOTANICAL WREATH AND ARRANGE­ IS" Ring ... $2.40 24" High ... $2.50 AHA687, South Salem, NY 10590. MENT SUPPLIES. Potpourri, herbs, spices, es­ 18" Ring ... $2.85 36" High ... $4.15 sential oils, craft books. 400 item catalogue $1 22" Ring ... $3.40 BANANA PLANTS AND MORE (refundable). Quantity discounts. TOM TI=IUMB 35 varieties, Plus Bonsai, Bougainvilleas, Bro­ WORKSHOPS-AH, Chincoteague, VA 23336- Shipping 0332. rwa[tcMck£ Charge: meliads, Cacti, Citrus. Also Bamboo, Hibiscus, $2.00 Papayas, Etc. Catalog $1.00. Garden World, BOXWOOD Box667A Dept. 32, 2503 Garfield, Laredo, TX 78043. Hudson, NY 12534 WANTED: Plants or cuttings of rare or unusual FREE GARDEN TALK FREE BONSAI varieties and cultivars of boxwood. Identifica­ tion should be authenticated if possible. Write A CATALOG OF FINE PRODUCTS Bonsai "frees, Supplies. Catalog $2.50 (deduct­ ible). We ship> anywhere. Gifts. M /C. VISA. with information to D. Taylor, 105 S. Princet0n FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GARDENERS Avenue, Wenonah, NJ 08090. Famous English Garden Tools, Cape Cod BONSAI CREATIONS, 2700 N. 29th Ave., Weeders, Swiss Pruners, Maine's Magic Weed­ #204 AH, Hollywood, FL 33020. (305) 962- BULB CATALOG-FREE ers, Snail/Slug Traps, Danish Tools, English 6960. Thatched Birdhouses, and much, much more. More than 400 flowerbulb varieties (including MATSU-MOMIJI NURSERY-offering the autumn blooming crocuses and colchicums) make WALT NICKE BOX 667A, HUDSON, NY 12534 finest in Bonsai, Maples, Pines. PO Box 11414, our 1987 Flowerbulb Catalog and Planting Guide

36 June 1987 a valuable reference for every fl owerbulb en­ "CATALOG OF UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS" tables. Save water, reduce disease, increase yields, thusiast. Write fo r your free copy: McCLURE Discover the largest selection of weird and un­ durabl e. FREE information, MISER IRRIGA­ & Z IMMERMAN, Quality Flowerbulb Bro­ usual succul ents-picture book catalog of suc­ TION, Box 94616 AH, Lincoln, NE 68509- kers, 1422 W. Thorndale, Dept. AH, Chi cago, cul ent crests, variegates, li vin g stones, and odd­ 4616. IL 60660. balls. Se nd $1.00 today. "CATALOG OF EXOTIC PLANTS CACTI & SUCCULENTS UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS," Dept. A-6, 553 HIBISCUS-JASMINES-RARE EXOTICS! ORCHID CACTUS SPECIAL: 6 different young Buena Cree k Road, San Marcos, CA 92069. 1,000 li stings, conscientious service. New 1987 pl ants, 1987 pl ant/bookshop ca talogs, shipped Winter- Hardy Cactus to - 20°. Many va ri eti es. mail-order catalog $2.00 (refundable). ST ALL­ air delivered ($23 .95 va lue) ONLY: $12.95. OR: Send stamp for price li st. INTERMOUNTAIN INGS NURSERY-910 Encinitas Blvd., Encin­ Giant 1987 Plant/Bookshop Catalogs-38 pages CACTUS, 2344 South Redwood Road, Sa lt Lake itas, CA 92024. City, UT 84119. of Orchid Cactus, Hoyas, Holiday Cactus, Rat­ FREE 24-HOUR HORTICULTURAL tails, Sansevierias, 100 + color photos, + 225 ANSWERS Cactus Books. Only $1.00. RAINBOW GAR­ CARNIVOROUS PLANTS DENS, Box 721-AH67, La Habra, CA 90633- Carni vo rous, woodland terrarium pl ants and The 24-Hour Horticultural Answer Man an­ 0721. supplies. Book, The World of Carnivorous Plants, swers all horticultural questions free. 1-800-841- $8.95 postpaid. Catalog FREE. PETER PAULS 1105. In Ca li fornia: (415) 362-0660. Or write: LARGEST SELECTION of rare succul ents in NURSERIES, Ca nandaigua, NY 14424. H.A.M., 260 Bay, Suite 207, Sa n Francisco, CA the east, including Euphorbias, Pachypodiums, 94133. and many caudiciforms. Send $2.00 for our il­ DAYLILIES FUCHSIA lu strated 1987 mail o rder catalog w hi ch in­ DA YLI LI ES GALORE! Bea utiful named hy ­ Bea utiful Fuchsia pl ants by mail. 125 va ri eties. cludes a wealth of cultural information. All or­ brids. Quantity discounts. Send now fo r FREE Shipped in 3" pots. Catalog $1.00 (refundable). ders totall y guaranteed! Visitors welcome by informati ve catalog. LE E BRISTOL NURS­ G & G GA RDENS, 6711 Tustin Rd., Salinas, appointment. HIGHLAND SUCCULENTS, ERY, Box SA, Gaylordsvi ll e, CT 06755 . Eureka Star Route, Box 133 AH, Gallipolis, OH CA 93907. 45631,614-256-1428. DA YLILIES FOR THE COLLECTOR. M any colors tetraploids, diploids, miniatures. Spuria, GARDEN ORNAMENTS Abbey Garden for the rare, exoti c, unusual. Loui siana IRISES. Catalog $1.00. CORDON Bronze, Lead, and Stone including Topiary. 400 World's largest selection under one roo f. Cau­ BLEU FARMS, Box 2033, Sa n Marcos, CA page catalog avail able $8.00. Hard bound li­ diciforms, Euphorbias, Haworthias, Lithops, 92069. brary edition over 2,000 illustrations showing Mesembs, Cacti and much more. Catalog: $2.00 bird baths, benches, bronzes including tabl ets, (refundable). ABBEY GARDEN, Box 1205 A, DRIP IRRJGATION cisterns, compasses, cupids, curbing, dolphins, Carpinteria, CA 93013. DRIP IRRI GATION-idea l fo r fl owers, vege- eagles, elephants, finials, frogs, foxes, fruit bas-

American Gardens of the teenth centu ry. Readers interested in the restoration of period gardens will find the New from Eighteenth Century detailed appendix particularl y useful. " For Use or for Delight" Cloth $35, AHS member price $28 Paper $14.95, AHS member price $11.95 Massachusetts "American Gardens oj the Eighteenth Century continues the history of gardening in America with chapters on 18th-century Ameri can vegetables and fruits, George Three books Washington'S Mount Vernon estate, natu­ by Ann Leighton ralists and botanists that explo red this country during the 18th century, and the development of plant catalogues and li sts. New in paperback " Both books are copiously illustrated with bl ack- and-white engravings, line drawings Early American Gardens and garden pl ans. Indexes and extensive " For M eate or Medicine" bibliographies are also provided." "Anyone with an interest in the history of -American Horticulturist American gardens will be pleased to know Paper $ 14.95, AHS member price $11.95 Available from that these two fine books are now available American Horticultural Society in paperback. Early American Gardens New in cloth and paperback Book Service Coordinator focuses on the use of plaAts in 17th-century P.O. Box 0105 New England. The author has unea,rthed American Gardens of the Mount Vernon, VA 22121 fa scinating information on the history of Pl ease add $1. 75 per book for postage and plant use in the New W orld, as well as gar­ Nineteenth Century handling. All ow six weeks for delivery. " For Comfort and Affluence" den design, nomenclature, the day-to-day Published by use of plants in the home, and the use of In fascinating detail, this third and fin al University of Massachusetts Press plants in mediciAe and cooking.... volume carries the sto ry of American gar­ Box 429 Paper $14.95, AHS member price $11.95 dening up through the end of the nine- Amherst, MA 01004

American Horticulturist 37 CLASSIFIEDS

kets, gates and gate posts, Japanese lanterns, Chives. Five, your choice, $10.00 ppd. OWEN Wholesale Prices! Fast Service! Pots, flats, la­ lead figures, lions and lion masks, mermaids, FARMS, Rte. 3, Curve-Nankipoo Rd., Ripley, bels, fertilizer, tools, plant stands. FPI-H, 2242 planters, St. Francis, weathervanes. KENNETH TN 38063. Palmer, Schaumburg, IL 60173. LYNCH & SONS, 78 Danbury Road, Wilton, HIBISCUS-FLOWERS AS BIG AS DINNER IRIS . CT 06897. PLATES SIBERIAN AND SPURIA IRIS. These easy to GARDENING GLOVES 8" to 10" flowers-perennial plants will bloom grow Iris form graceful and beautiful clumps GOATSKIN GLOVES. Tough, lightweight this year-hardy to -20°.3' to 5' plants. Red, ideally suited to the perennial border. Excellent goatskin stretches and becomes form-fitting, pink and white flowers. Healthy plants in 2W' as cut flowers! Free descriptive price list avail­ giving wearer ultimate in fit, grip, dexterity. pots, with instructions. REBEL NURSER Y, Box able upon request. CHEHALEM GARDENS, Natural lanolin in leather keeps hands soft. Sizes 998, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. (305) 798-8951. P.O. Box 693-AH, Newberg, OR 97132. 7-10 or send outline of hand. $8.50 postpaid. $3 ea., plus $1 p&h; 2 for $5.50, plus $1.50 JASMINES PUTNAM'S, Box 295C, Wilton, NH 03086. p&h; 4 for $10, plus $2.00 p&h. Rooted camellia cuttings. 3 assorted, 10 for GRAPE VINES HORTLINE $8.00.4 assorted Jasmines $7.50. EDNA GRAPE PLANTS 40 SEEDLESS, DESSERT, Back in print: Hartline, the "when to-how to" WELSH, Route 3, Box 1700, Madison, FL AMERICAN and GRAFTED EUROPEAN horticulture newsletter! $15.00/yr. for 12 32340. WINE varieties. WINE MAKING SUPPLIES, monthly issues. USDA zones 4, 5,6 and 7. Make KOI BOOKS. New 1987 catalog FREE. SQUARE checks payable to: TOM'S WORD HORTI­ ROOT NURSERY, 4764 Deuel Rd., Dept. CULTURE CONSULTING, PO Box 5238, Finest Quality Japanese Koi, 3" to 28", $15.00 AM-7, Canandaigua, NY 14424. "THE GRAPE Charleston, WV 25361. to $1,000.00 each. Philadelphia area. Call: PEOPLE." Weekdays: (215) 563-3336; EveningslWeek­ HOUSE PLANTS ends: (215) 667-7340. GREENHOUSE ACCESSORIES ORCHIDS, GESNERIADS, BEGONIAS, CACTI COMPLETE MIST PROPAGATION SYS­ & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome. 1986-87 MADONNA LILIES TEMS. Get phenomenal propagation results, catalog $1.75. LAURAY OF SALISBURY, Rt. MADONNA LILIES (Lilium Candidum). Most indoors-outdoors. Completely automated. FREE 41 (Undermountain Rd.), Salisbury, CT 06068 beloved of all lilies. Dazzling pure white flowers. BROCHURE. AQUAMONITOR, Dept. 4, Box (203) 435-2263. Enchanting fragrance. June-flowering. Shipped 327, Huntington, NY 11743. JASMINES! BEGONIAS! Exotics from the far only during August dormancy. Cultural Instruc­ corners of the world! Logee's 1986-88 profusely tions. SPECIAL: 3 bulbs/$7.95 postpaid. Order GREENHOUSE GROWING illustrated mail-order catalog features 2,000 rare now, receive free color catalog of garden-tested, GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES : fans, Heaters, indoor plants for your windowsill or green­ hybrid and species lilies. Catalog alone, $1 (re­ Shading, Misting, Watering, Propagation, Tools, house. Catalog-$3.00. LOGEE'S GREEN­ fundable). B&D LILIES, Dept AH, 330 "P" Pots. Catalog $2.00. CHARLEY'S GREEN­ HOUSES, Dept. AH, 55 North Street, Daniel­ Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (206) 385- HOUSE, 156J -B Memorial Highway, Mt. Ver­ son, CT 06239. 1'/38. non, WA 98273. LOW-LIGHT INDOOR EXOTICS. Dwarf Lady OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS HEATHS & HEATHERS Palms, Grape Ivy, Sago Palms, Ming Aralias. Fine Seeds for Old-Fashioned Perennials. Fra- HARDY HEATHERS FOR ALL-YEAR GAR­ Catalog $1. RHAPIS GARDENS, POD-287-AM, grant flowers ... cottage garden flowers . . . DEN COLOR! Send SASE for descriptive mail­ Gregory, TX 78359. cutting flowers ... period garden restoration order list. Fast Service! HEATHER GROW­ INDOOR-OUTDOOR GARDENING source ... catalog $1.00. SELECT SEEDS, AH, ERS, Box 850, Elma, WA 98541. SUPPLIES 81 Stickney Hill Road, Union, CT 06076. HERBAL GIFTS "FREE CATALOG" . .. "LOWEST PRICES" PEONIES "Gourmet's Artist" Herbal Gifts: posters, book ... "TOP QUALITY" . .. Plastic pots, hanging Including rare hybrids. Also DA YLILIES, JAP­ marks for men'J planning, hand woodburned baskets, etc . ... 2 Stamps ... Postage ... PLANT ANESE IRIS, HOSTA. Catalog $1.00, refund­ items. Brochure $1.00. PO Box 514 AH, Staten COLLECTIBLES, 103E Kenview, Buffalo, NY able with first order. CAPRICE FARM NURS­ Island, NY 10310. 14217. ERY, 15425 SW Pleasant Hill, Sherwood, OR HERBS INDOOR-OUTDOOR GROWING 97140. (503) 625-7241. Spearmint. Peppermint. Orange, Apple, Pine­ SUPPLIES PERENNIALS apple Mints; Oregano; Thyme; Marjoram; FREE GROWING SUPPLIES CATALOG. PEONIES, TREE PEONIES AND DAFFODILS Grown in Michigan's North Country. Your as­ surance of Quality, hardiness and vigor. Send $1.00 for our color catalog. REATH'S NURS­ ERY, 100 Central Blvd., Vulcan, MI 49892 . Horticultural Holiday Seeds, 4276 Durham Circle, Stone Catalogue Mountain, Georgia 30083 offers seedling Hos­ tas, Lilies, Iris (Bearded and Siberian), Daylilies, $2.00 and variegated liriope in any combination at .. ~~LESofSu $37.50/50 ppd. We offer a good selection of sturdy plants. Send n.,.\J (301) 363-1371 t".(p $1.00 for Plant List (refundable). CAMELOT NORTH, R2, Piquot LakesJ MN 56472. -'V THINK SPRING IN SPRING J' Large Selection of P

38 June 1987 logue $2.00. Lecture slides: 30 different sets fo r ROCK GARDEN PLANTS sa le or r e n~ . $1.00 fo r lecture listings onl y. · Ra re Alpines, Wi ldfl owers, Dwarf Conifers, PLANTS- CHOICE AND AFFORDABLE Gro undcovers, Col0rful Rock Pl ants, Ha rdy ·Ex tensive Selecti on: * American Natives * Rh ododendro n, Books. Catalog $1. RI CE Outstanding Ornamentals * Un common Con­ CREEK GARDENS, 1315 66th Ave. NE, Min­ Ifers * Perennials * Potential Bonsa i * Har­ neapolis, MN 55432. (6 12) 574-11 97. dies t Eu ca lyptus Wil dlife Plants Afford able * * ROSES containeri zed starter-pl ants. Informative ca ta­ - log-$2. 00. FORESTFARM, 990 Teth erah, HARD TO FIND ROS ES, old and new va ri eties Williams, O R 97544. including the HT Maid of Honour. List on re­ · quest. HORTI CO, INC., R.R. # 1, Waterdown, PLANTS-SCARCE AND UNUSUAL · Ontari o LOR 2HO 41 61689-698 4. Distinctive pl ants for your garden and land­ - SEEDS scape. Sca rce, unusual and lI1 any old favorites. Well established in 4" pots, ready fo r you to HUDSON'S WO RLD-FAM O US CATALOG, grow on. FR EE catalog. APPALACHIAN GAR­ sin ce 1911 , offering thousands of unusual seeds DENS, Box 82, Waynesboro, PA 17268. (717) from every continent. Fragrant Jasmines, ele­ .762-4312. ga nt Angel 's Trumpets, Baobab, Teosinte. Him­ alaya n, Afri ca n, Australian wi ldfl owers. Ra re PLUMERJAS! GINGERS! HIBISCUS ! culinary and medi cin al herbs. Am eri ca n heir­ BOURGAINVlLLEAS! loom, Europea n, O ri ental and traditional Mex­ ·ALSO DA YLlLlES , TROPICA L BULBS, Ican Indi an vegetabl es. Hundreds of exclusives. BOOKS. A COLLECTOR'S DREAM CATA­ Informati on-packed ca talog $1.00. J. L. HUD­ LOG OF EASY-TO-G ROW EXOTI C SON, Seedsman, Box 1058-AT, Redwood City, PLANTS-$ 1. 00. HANDBOO K O F I'LU­ CA 94064. MERIA CUL TURE-$4.95. RELIABLE SER v­ ·THE WORLD 'S LARGEST and most famous ICE, GROWIN G IN STRUCTIONS, SPE­ seed ca talog. Over 225 pages, 4,000 va rieti es, CIALTY FERTILI Z£RS . SP ECIAL O FFE R: 1,000 color pictures. A major book of reference. For greene r, healthier, more Plumeri a cuttings, fi ve different colors (o ur se­ The Encycl opedia of how and what to grow vigorous houseplants, Oxygen Plus lection) $25 .00 (postpaid , USA). PLUMERIA from seed. Vegetabl es, ported plants, exoti cs, PEOPLE, PO Box 820014, Houston, TX 77282- perenni als, alpines, rockery, latest and best an­ is the best-performing plant food you 0014. nuals, trees, shrubs, bulbs from seed; includes can buy. University tests prove it. PRESSED FLOWERS rare items unobta: nable elsewhere. Write fo r Mixed with water, Oxygen Plus free copy, a ll owing three weeks, or enclose $2 PRESSED FLOWER supplies, kits, in structi on releases critically-needed oxygen at fo r first-cl ass mail: THO MPSO N & MOR­ bookl ets. Free color brochure. BJG ASSOCI­ GAN, INC., Dept. AH C, PO Box 1308, Jack­ the root level to protect against the ATES, Dept. AH, Box 463, Edgmont, PA 19028. son, NJ 08527. #1 causes of houseplant failure­ RARE PLANTS SHADE PLANTS compacted soil and overwatering . RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANTS-otherwise Hosta seedlin gs for economi cal ground cover­ Oxygen Plus delivers essential nutri­ commerciall y unavail able- fo r botanic collec­ $37 .50150 ppd. Large r quantities di scounted. tions, landscaping, home, office-130 Bamboo, ents everytime you water-even if HOLIDA Y SEEDS, 4276 Durham Circle, Stone including giant, medium-sized, dwarf, green and Mountain, GA 30083. (404) 294-6594. you overwater. variegated, 90 cycads, 180 palms. 1,000 plant Oxygen Plus. There's simply arid gardening books. Three seasonal catalogs TETRAPLOID DA YLILIES nothing better for your plants. Let $5. ENDANGERED SPECIES, PO Box 1830, Over 450 hybrids; exotic new Tetraploid In­ Tustin, CA 92681-1830. troductions. Catalog $1.00, deductible with or­ us prove it. der for plants. SEA WRIGHT GARDENS, 134 RARE TROPICALS Indian Hi ll, Carlisle, MA 01 741 (617) 369-21 72. AROIDS, BROMELIADS, CYCADS , FERNS Visitors welcome! (especiall y Platyceri ums) , PALMS. Safe Deliv­ ery Guaranteed. List-stamp. JERRY HORNE, UNUSUAL PLANTS 10195 S.W. 70 Street, M iami, FL 33173. RARE SUCCULENTS, EUPHORBIAS, CAU­ DICIFORMS, SANSEVIERIAS, LOW LIGHT 1 Buy on e 8 oz. bottle for the regular price 1 RHODODENDRONS PLANTS, OTHER EXOTICS. Catalog and pe­ of $2.99 and we'll send the second RHODODENDRONS for landscape, wood­ riodic newsletters $1.50 deductible from first I bottle FREE! 1 land and rock gardens. Free descriptive listing. order. SINGERS', 178 06 Plummer St., AH , CARDINAL NURSERY, Rt. 1, Box 316M, State Northridge, CA 91325. 1 Send order with a check or money order 1 Road, NC 28676. (919) 874-2027. to Plant Research Laboratories, P.O. Box VIDEOTAPES 1 3976, Laguna Hills, California 92654. For 1 RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS INCREASE YOUR GARDENING KNOWL­ 1 additional orders, please call 1 (800) 1 SPECIALIZING IN THE UNUSUAL. Dwarf EDGE. T hirty outstanding gardening video­ 221-2589 (OUTSIDE CALIF. ), (714) Rhododendrons, Evergreen & Deciduous Aza­ tapes. Priced $13.95 Up. Free Catalog 1-800- 1 1 leas, Dwarf Conifers, Companion Plants. Cat­ 721-0153 (INSIDE CALlF.), or instruct 331-6304. California Call Coll ect (415) 558- us on your personal stationery. 1 alog $1.00, refundable. THE CUMMINS GAR­ 868 8. The Original Gardeners Video Catalog, 1 DEN, 22 Robertsville Rd., Marl boro, NJ 07746. PO Box 410777, Dept. 8-A, San Francisco, CA 1 1 (201) 536-2591. 94141. Name RHODODENDRONS AND AZALEAS- Se­ 1 1 lect from 1,000 va rieties with many new excit­ WILDFLOWERS Address ing introductions. Also Laurel, Andromeda, Southeastern Wil dflowers for the garden and 1 1 Holl y, Conifers, Rare Plants and Trees. Mail­ naturalizing. All top quality nu rsery propagater 1 City State _ Zip __ 1 order catalog $2.00. ROSLYN NURSERY, Dept. plants . Catalog $1.00 Refundable. N ICHE © 1987. Plant Research Laboratories AH, Box 69, Roslyn, NY 11576. (516) 643- GARDENS, Dept. A. , Rte. 1, Box 290, Chapel 1 1 ______HOR_ 9347. Hill , NC 27514. 1

American Horticulturist 39 Book Reviews

Taylor's Guide to Vegetables & Herbs. Taylor's Guide to Shrubs. Taylor's Guide to Houseplants. Taylor's Guide to Ground Covers, Vines & Grasses. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, Massachusetts. 1987. 460 pages; softcover, 14.95. AHS member price, $J3.45. Gardeners will welcome the publication of the next four volumes of the Taylor's Guide series (see American Horticulturist Octo­ ber 1986 for a review of the first four volumes in the series). Like the first vol­ umes, these books contain beautiful photographs of hundreds of species and cultivars of plants. Brief cultural notes ac­ company each photograph, and the photo­ graphs are linked to text descriptions in the baok of the book that contain more extensive information on each plant. The text in three of the books-Ground Cov­ ers, Vines & Grasses; Shrubs; and House­ plants--contains descriptions of each ge­ nus, brief "how-to-grow" notes, and descriptions of two or three commonly grown species. Vegetables & Herbs in­ cludes descriptions, cultural information, and harvesting directions. Taylor's Guide to Vegetables & Herbs will help gardeners produce bountiful harvests of Unfortunately, Houseplants fails to pro­ succulent tomatoes. It provides information on nearly 200 other vegetables and herbs - both vide the reader with a true picture of the common and unusual. vast array of plants available to the indoor gardener. Also, the plants are divided into sign. Despite their limitations, they contain The first half of the book is divided into groups that are not very helpful, such as a great deal of useful information, and chapters on the various types of carnivo­ "Small Foliage Plants," "Bromeliads and would make good additions to any garden rous plants, including pitcher plants, sun­ Flowers," "Lacy Leaves," "Showy Foliage library. dews, butterworts, and bladderworts. Each Plants," and "Succulents and Others." chapter is then divided into sections on the The Vegetables & Herbs volume con­ Carnivorous Plants of the World. individual genera in the group. The au­ tains the excellent, color-coded plant charts James and Patricia Pietropaolo. Timber Press, thors have included detailed information featured in the first four volumes, but the Portland, Oregon. 1986 206 pages; hardcover, on each genus, including history, natural other three books contain only black-and­ habitat, plant description, insect trapping $27.95. AHS member price, $24. 75. white versions. Although these black-and­ mechanism, prey digestion, and descrip­ white charts still contain the same useful This is a book no carnivorous plant en­ tions of individual species. The cultural information on size, bloom, soil require­ thusiast can afford to be without. James information for each genus includes spe­ ments, and use, they are not as easy to use and Patricia Pietropaolo are the proprie­ cific tecommendations for planting media, as the color-coded versions. (Also, in two tors of Peter Pauls Nursery in Canan­ temperatures, dormancy, water, humidity, of the volumes these charts appear in the daigua, New York, and have a wealth of light, pests, and feeding. Propagation in­ back of the book. It would have been help­ experience with carnivorous plants. For 25 formation includes directions for both sex­ ful if all the volumes in the series were years they have grown and propagated these ual and asexual reproduction. organized in exactly the same manner.) unusual gems of the botanical world at The second section of the book contains All four of these new Taylor's Guides their nursery, and their precise and de­ lengthy discussions of cultural practices for contain information on pests and dis­ tailed cultural instructions and propaga­ carnivorous plants as well as propagation eases, a list of sources, and essays on get­ tion information are the highlights of this and hybridization instructions. Source lists, ting started, basic botany, and garden de- fact-filled book. a bibliography and an index complete the

40 June 1987 text. Carnivorous Plants of the World is practical "how-to" look at the individual Private Gardens of England. elements that make up a Chinese-style gar­ illustrated throughout with bl ack-and-white Penelope Hobhouse. Photographs by Hugh Palmer drawings and also contains 16 pages of den. The book begins with a discussio n of Ha~ony Books (Crown Publishers), New York, color plates. the ori gins of th e cl assica l Chinese garden, New York 1986. 223 pages; hardcover, 540.00. AHS fo ll owed by a discussion of the similarities member price, 530. 00. The American Garden Guidebook: A and differences between the Japanese and Traveler's Guide to Extraordinary Chinese styles. (The earliest Chinese gar­ This is yet another sumptuous book cele­ Beauty Along the Beaten Path. dens date back 2,000 yea rs, although most brating outstanding private gardens in of the gardens that remain today in th e England. As with all books of this sort, it Everitt L Miller and D~ Jay s. Cohen. M. Evans and care of Chinese cultural authorities date is lav ishl y illustrated with breathtaking color Company New York, New York 1987 244 pages; to the Ming and Qing dynasti es. ) photographs of outstanding plant com­ so/tcover, 58.95. AHS member price, S7.85. The chapter entitled " Pl anning and binations, lovely perennial bo rders, strik­ This handy travel guide is just the thing Practice" examines th e major design ele­ in g vistas, and interes ting architectural de­ for any gardener planning to vacation in ments that must be considered when plan­ tails. Also included are a great many black­ the eastern half of the United States or ning a Chinese garden, including form and and-white photographs th at serve to give Canada's eastern provinces this summer. compositi on, vistas and "borrowed" land­ the reader a more complete "feel" for the Written by AHS President Eve ritt L. Miller scape, and bl ending nature with art. "Gar­ garden. and amateur garden enthusiast J ay S. den Features and Materials" is an idea­ Penelope Hobhouse's thoughtful text Cohen, The American Garden Guidebook filled chapter that includes discussions o n provides the reader with mo re than just contains information about 339 gardens th e use of water, mountains, hills, rockery, another pretty picture book, however. The in 28 states and fo ur Canadian provinces. architecture, and pl ants. The book con­ text on each garden contains information The entries are arranged by state, and cludes with an annotated plant li st th at on the hi story and development of each of each section begins with entries for one or in cludes botanical names, common names, the 33 gardens featured. Since a ll but a few two outstanding gardens (which the au­ and Chinese names of plants th at would of the gardens are still private (th e re­ thors have termed " don't miss" gardens) be appropri ate for use in Europe and North mainder are preserved by the British Na­ in the state. The remainder of the gardens America. ti onal Trust), Hobhouse has placed an em­ are organized in alphabetical order ac­ David Engel is an American landscape phasis on how each garden celebrates the cording to the city in which they occur. architect and a recogni zed authority on personality and tastes of its owner. Hob­ The authors also have provided handy maps Oriental gardening. A graduate of the Uni­ house provides a " tour" of each garden, locating the gardens in each state, to aid versity of Michigan and Columbia Uni­ and di scusses how th e current owners have the traveler in making plans. Each entry versity, Dav id Engel also studied land­ developed th e design and pl antings. Oc­ includes a description of the garden, as scape gardening in Japan fo r several years. casional cultural notes are also included. well as information on special collections, He is the author of Japanese Gardens for Penelope Hobhouse is the author of Co lor location, hours, fees , tours, restaurants, Today and A Japanese Touch for Your in Your Garden and The National Trust: shops, special activities, and accessibility Garden. A Book of Gardening. for the handicapped. The entries for " don't Whether you want to visit Chinese gar­ -Barbara W. Ellis miss" gardens include special tips on spec­ dens, create one of your own, or merely tacular displays to plan to visit, or special incorporate a few Chinese elements into Barbara W. Elli s is Publications Director for services provided by the gardens. your existing garden, this is an excell ent th e American Horticultural Society, and The book concludes with lists of gardens book to select for guidance. Editor of American Horticulturist. with attractions for children, gardens with no entry fees, gardens with facilities for r------i weddings and other events, and gardens that are particularly attractive in the winter. Book Order Form Creating a Chinese Garden. Please send me the following books at the special AHS member prices. David H Engel Timber Press, Portland, Oregon TAYLOR'S GUIDES ...... each $13.45 I would like to order books. Pl ease add $1.75 per book for postage and Houseplants HOUGH 05340 1986. 159 pages; hardwver, 538.95. AHS member o handling. Vi rginia residents, also add 4Vz% sales price, 534.12. o Ground Covers, Vines tax. Please all ow six weeks for delivery. & Grasses HOUG H 05350 Enclosed is my check for $, ______The Chinese garden is a fa'scinating com­ o Vegetables & Herbs HOUG H 05360 Shrubs HOUGH 05370 bination of philosophy, hortimlture, bot­ o Ship to: ______any, art, architecture, and history. It is a o The American Garden complex art form that influenced the de­ Guidebook ...... $7.85 Street: ______EVANS 05410 velopment of Japanese gardens centuries o Carnivorous Plants of the ago, and has recently had an increasing World ...... $24.75 City: ______influence on Western gardens. ISBS 05380 o Creating a Chinese Garden ...... $34.12 Sta te: ______Zip: ______Creating a Chinese Garden combines ISBS 05390 discussions of the history and development o Private Gardens of England ...... $30.00 MAll TO: Robin Williams, AHS, P.O. Box 0105, of the traditional Chinese garden with a L ______CROWN 05400 Mount Vernon, VA 22121. ~

American Horticulturist 41 PUBLIC GARDENS Practical but spectacular

isconsin-famous for its cheese, beer, and rolling hills-con­ Wjures up visions of practical, hard-working midwestern farmers intent on turning virgin prairie into productive cropland. It does not, for all its other vir­ tues, bring to mind pictures of lavish public gardens full of color and fragrance. That image belongs to the East and South, where the aristocracy had the leisure time to make gardening an American art form. Wisconsin, then, is not the place to see gardens. Or, at least that's what some peo­ ple might think-until they see Boerner Botanical Gardens. Part of the Milwaukee County Park sys­ tem, Boerner is a botanical showplace that rivals its more famous eastern and south­ ern counterparts. Yet Boerner is in keeping with Wisconsin's earthy essence, for throughout the gardens is the same no­ nonsense practicality that characterizes the entire dairy state. It is a resource for gar­ deners looking for landscaping ideas, in­ formation on plants suited to northern cli­ mates, or living examples of cultivars that they might otherwise only see in cata­ logues. Located in 660-acre Whitnall Park, the gardens are also a relaxing place where urban dwellers can escape the city. Boerner's emphasis on the practical is no accident. In the 1920's, Alfred L. Boer­ den, complete with natural stone walls and heart. A person of that nature can under­ ner and Charles B. Whitnall envisioned a delicate waterfall flowing into quiet pools, stand the problems the average person has public gardens and a surrounding arbor­ was constructed shortly before World War with growing plants." etum that would be educational as well II stalled the gardens' progress. Other col­ Radler, too, is an old-time gardener. De­ as beautiful. Whitnall, a park commis­ lections were added, one by one, in the spite his all-encompassing responsibilities sioner, decided to locate the gardens and three decades after the war-the herb gar­ as director, he observes minute details in arboretum on an old farm southwest of den, the daylily collection, the perennial the evolving garden, from the quirks of Milwaukee. In this way, he hoped to pre­ garden, the juniper collection, the All­ the sprinkling system to an uneven spot un­ serve the sense of openness that was miss­ America Selections trial gardens, and others. der new sod. And, like all true gardeners, ing in the city's tiny parks. During the Boerner now boasts over 30 collections he knows when to worry, when to accept following decade, Boerner, the county and ornamental gardens, all of which have the whims of fate, and when to humbly ad­ landscape architect, designed the gardens been designed to provide an attractive "liv­ mit he has erred. He recalls the time some­ with the intent of combining aesthetics with ing catalogue" of plants. one on a tour of the street tree collection, usefulness. Boerner's current director, William which is planted in islands in the parking The first collection, established in the Radler, continues the tradition of keeping lot, asked why it included trees not adapted 1930's, was the flowering crab apple col­ the gardens practical. "The nice thing about to street use. " I fumbled with an answer lection, now one of the country's largest. the gardens," he explains, "is that the av­ and lost a little sleep over that one," he The lilac collection followed, and has since erage person can come here and make use says wryly. " Now we call it the shade tree been combined with a planting of tulips of them." He credits his staff of six for collection. " to provide a bright and fragrant spring preserving that philosophy: "The garden­ According to Radler, Boerner's rose col­ display. A shady rock and wildflower gar- ers here are really old-time gardeners at lection is the best in the area. The roses

42 June 1987 Now there are over 120 practical gardening items in our FREE GARDEN

Classic Garden Arches & Arbors You can eas il y assemble a wide variet y of structures wi th th ese strong English arches. Climbing roses, grapes, wisteria and clematis can grow on Gateways, Bowers, Tunnels or Lean-tos (aga inst buildings). Sturdy steel tubing is weatherproofed with matte green bamboo-text ured pl as ti c. Explore the possibi lities. Chamber's English Planters The Hay racks, HanginBaskets gand or PlanterWall s"~~~~i~ are generou sly proportioned - and deep enough so they do not dry out quickl y. Each piece is made from we lded steel then thick ly dipped in black plastic for protection luxuriate in the sun on the gardens' west­ and superb appearance. ern border, where visitors can also enjoy a vista of native Wisconsin woodlands. As Gro-Thru an official display garden for All-America Plant Rose Selections winners, this colorful col­ Supports lection contains approximately 350 cul­ Hold perennials or tivars. In addition to the commonly grown annuals invisi bly, hybrid tea roses, it includes grandifloras, without tying or staking. These floribundas, polyanthas, miniatures, hy­ English support s brid perpetuals, and shrub roses. The gar­ hold not only the den also holds a ballot box, where visitors whole plant, but each individual stem as it grows through the 3" are invited to cast a vote for their favorite square mesh. Soon the natural green frame rose in each category. The top 10 are printed is concealed by foliage and the .plant is held in the annual "List of Outstanding Bed­ firmly for the season. Different sizes of heads can fit different lengths of legs to ding Roses," along with Boerner's rec­ suit various plants. Galvanized under the ommended cultivars. green coating to last many years. LEFT: A shady corner of the Annual Garden The list of recommended roses is evi­ Call or write for OUR FREE CATAWG at Boerner Botanical Gardens. TOP: The rock dence that Radler, like Boerner and Whit­ garden displays a wide variety of alpines and nail, believes strongly in education: "We Kinsman Company other rock garden subjects. ABOVE: Each River Road, Dept. 711 spring, the spectacular peony collection bursts try to show not just what people are buy­ Point Pleasant, PA 18950 into bloom. ing, but what they should be interested in," (215) 297-5613

American Horticulturist 43 FIRST &ONLY PUBLIC GARDENS Greenhouse/Screenhouse Year-Round Combination! h€! explains, An avid amateur rose hybrid­ such as "Floral Ar~s Through the Centu­ izer, he strives to breed roses that can with­ ries," "Working Wonders with Weeds and UNI~~~RGV_SAV'NG Rtt''' stand both the brutally cold winters and Wildflowers," and "Basic Home Land­ muggy, disease-promoting summers typi­ scaping." Periodic plant sales provide gar­ 50ft-PO INSULATED cal of Wisconsin, Stirred by his love for deners with the opportunity to discover WINTER SUN SPACE CONVERTS roses, he has wFi~ten a pamphlet on shrub cultivars they may not find r€!adily at com­ TO A SUMMER SCREEN ROOM! roses, based on Boerner's collection, mercial retail€!rs. Boern€!r's peony collection is also splen­ In keeping with the gardeNS' educational did. Snaked along a grassy path near the g0als, Radler has re-written a series of entrance to the gardens, it contains over pamphlets developed by John Voight, a 170 cultivars, both new introductions and previous director, including "Growing Tu­ old classics. The range of colors and their lips," "Growing Tuberous B€!gonias," combinations is breathtaking-double "Growing Iris," and "Growing Shrubs." whites, sal mOilS and corals with apricot These pamphlets give trial garden New York, NY 10163 bloom at the same time. He evaluates the the first year, they looked like misfits," he collection each year, selecting reliable and recalls. "But after evaluating these 'misfits' rain-tolerant GUltivars to include in the for a few years, I realized that the inter­ gardens' publication, Growing Peonies. mediate bearded were blooming at a time Eventually, he hopes to train volunteers to when little else was. They bloomed with collect more extensive data. the crab apples, right after the tulips, and In the late summer, the trial garden is before the tall bearded, when we badly the most brilliant area of the park. There, needed something in flower." AIl-AmeFica Selections entries are evalu­ Radl€!r faces a problem common to many ated for their performance. Visitors can educators-getting his ideas accepted. "I wander thr0ugh row after dazzling row of wish people would re-assess their values petunias, roses, dahlias, marigolds, and and not always go for the biggest and the other common and exotic annuals and per­ brightest, but plan for a full season of in­ ennials. A key to the numbered identifi­ terest. Since people buy th€! bigger, flashier cation tags in each plot helps visitors sort things, the intermediates have taken a back ______z- ______through the maze of cultivars. s€!at in popularity." He continu€s, "It's a Choose green garden-gate or mufti-colored vegetable If the trial garden is the brightest in late shame. For the intermediate iris, I'm prob­ (or any shirt or tote 100% cotton crew-neek shirt S,M.L.XL $9.95 summer, then the herb garden is the most ably the only big spokesman I know of." sky blue, pale peach. cloud white 50/50 pOly-cotton crew neck S,M,L,XL $9.95 fragrant. A combination of both formal The intermediate bearded iris is just one sky blue, lemon yellow, cloud while and informal planting arrangements, the of many plants that have made it from the 50/50 women'S scoop-neck S,M,L,XL $IL95 lilac, champagne. lemon yellow garden invites visitors to gently rub the tip trial gardens into a permanent colleGtion 50/50 poly-cotton crew neck sweatshirt S,M,L,XL $17.95 sky blue. cloud white of a leaf, then enjoy its aroma. Detailed at Boerner. The introduction of new plants Tole llag - 15 x 12 x 4 in nalural $11.95 signs give information ON the history and and the regular updating of the collections Qly Style Size Color Design uses of the herbs. Special sections are re­ allow visitors to evaluate the new plants served for plants used to dye fabrics and or simply to enjoy the changing displays.

Add $1.50 per shirtl$2.00 per sweatshirt or tote ICA res. add 6% for medicinal herbs. In this way, Radler and his "old-time gar­ tax). send check/Money OrderNISA or MASTERCARD to, In addition to the gardens, Boerner of­ deners" still carry on Boerner and Whit­ Print Name..e ______fers educational programs and events. The nail's dream of creating a botanical show­

Addresi5..s ______Plant Doctor Clinic, offered twice each place that emphasizes education as well as week, brings in plant experts from beauty. 8 -Erin Monica Hynes City/StalelZip, ______throughout southeast€!rn Wisconsin to an­ card #·---______Expires' ___ swer gardeners' questions. During the year, Erin Monica Hynes, a native midwesterner, is • THERE'S ALWAYS THE GARDEN • Boerner preS€!flts workshops and classes, a writer currently living in Louisiana. 32 W. Anapamu #267-AH. Santa Barbara. CA 93101 MARLATE _6000

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