Conifer Quarterly Vol. 26 No. 2 Spring 2009 Picea abies ‘Reflexa’ Photo by Dennis Groh The Conifer Quarterly is th e pub lication of the American Conifer Society Contents 7 How I spruced up Georgia by Tom Cox 10 A Fungus Made Us Do It by Bill Van Kosky 17 Brassica hirta by Phil Syphrit 19 Stonehedge, the Garden of Ken and Elena Jordan Text and Photos by Jack Ayers 26 Winter Burn on Conifers by Ellen Kelley 28 Evaluating Landscape Adaptability of Hemlock Species Picea abies 'Lanham's Beehive' ( spp.) in Western North Carolina Photo by Randall C. Smith, Courtesy of Iseli Nursery Tsuga by Anthony V. LeBude and Thomas G. Ranney 32 Collecting Northern Conifers by William Journeay 36 Conifer Destinations by Tom Cox 38 Conifers with Leaves by Maud Henne American Conifer Society Voices 2 President’s Message 4 Editor’s Memo 16 Letter to the Editor 41 ACS 2009 National Meeting 44 2009 Western Region Meeting 46 $7,000 Awarded to Four Southeast Regional Gardens Picea omorika ‘Pimoko’ Photo by Randall C. Smith, Courtesy of Iseli Nursery Vol. 26 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 3 Conifer AS I SEE IT FROM THE PRESIDENT ’S DESK “Everything is connected to everything At the recently concluded Winter way to recruit new members. else. There is one ecosphere for all living Board Meeting, the board focused on The charge to each region, then, is to Quarterly organisms and what affects one, affects membership. Our concern is not as much develop a plan to increase membership in all. ” with members who do not renew their region. PowerPoint presentations Spring 2009 This is the first law of ecology as (although that is always a concern ), but is are available . Community organizations Volume 26, No 2 written by Dr. Barry Commoner in The with the significant drop in the number of are always looking for speakers; mem - The Conifer Quarterly (ISSN 8755-0490) is Closing Circle in 1971. As the effects of new memberships. To illustrate: In 2003, bers need to advertise their availability to published quarterly by the American Conifer the winter of 2008 –09 unfold, I think we we reached the high of 448 new mem - do short presentations. I’m sure that each Society. The Society is a non-profit organization will see in bold relief the truth of this bers; in 2005, there were 328 new mem - region will come up with ideas for events incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is tax exempt under section “law.” The droughts in California and in bers; in 2007, 248; and last year, 197 new where conifers and the ACS can be 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. the South, the rains and snows in the members, the lowest number in the last promoted. Each region is asked to You are invited to join our Society. Please northwest, the sustained temperatures ten years. develop their membership plan. address membership and other inquiries to the American Conifer Society National Office, 175 between –10°F and +10°F with dips at When asked how they learned about This effort will depend on current Charisma Lane, Lewisville, NC 27023-9611. –25° to –30°F, plus the rain, ice, snow , the ACS, 29 percent of new members members responding. Regional officers Membership: US $30 (indiv.), $35 (joint), and winds in many parts of the country indicated they were referred by members, cannot, and should not be expected to , $30 (institutional), $50 (sustaining), $100 (corporate business) and $130 (patron). If you are will be a rigorous test of our plants. friends, or business associates. The next carry out this effort alone. It’s a good way moving, please notify the National Office 4 weeks The health of our plants is connected largest group, 22 percent, indicated they to get involved in your organization and in advance. to the health of the air we breathe as well learned about the Society from the Web to increase your knowledge. All editorial and advertising matters should be sent to: Evelyn Cox, 1621 N. Lake Dr., Canton, as larger eco-systems, and connected to site. This tells us that one-on-one I am always looking for ideas to GA 30115, (770) 663-7576 or email coniferquar - the health of many livelihoods, and so personal contact is the most effective improve our ability as a Society to fulfill [email protected]. forth . our mission. I invite any member to Editor Is there an ACS response to these submit ideas or to volunteer to assist in Evelyn Cox climatic occurrences? I think as we see any ACS program. There are many certain trends developing, our first opportunities, and some of them are Technical Editors Ethan Johnson responsibility, in keeping with our “one-shot” activities. You need not be a Susan Martin mission, is to continue to educate both professional or an expert. As you will R. William Thomas professionals and the public on best see elsewhere in this issue of CQ , several Advisory Committee practices and best choices for specific other opportunities to volunteer are Ellen Kelley, Committee Chair climate conditions. available. Marvin Snyder The Reference Garden program is You are the American Conifer ex officio: Tom Cox ex officio: John Martin one way to demonstrate not only the Society. And it’s up to you to make the physical aspects of a certain plant — ACS the premier plant society in the Copyright © 2009, American Conifer Society. All color, form, size, growth rate, etc. —but United States . rights reserved. No material contained herein may be reproduced in any form without prior written also the effects of environment on the Ellen Kelley permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed plant , particularly regarding hardiness by authors and advertisers are not necessarily and root stock issues. Here, the Collec - This is Miss Lily, my new Office Assistant. those of the Society. tors Conifer of the Year program can also She is an 8-year-old British Shorthair who emigrated from the Mother Country at Note: Hardiness Zone references in the play an important role—both in the the age of 4 months. She keeps a very Conifer Quarterly are USDA classifications unless selection of the plants offered and in the watchful eye on the birdfeeder outside otherwise specified. tracking of the success of the plants in the window of my office, as well as on my the various USDA Zones. work on the computer. 2CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 26 No. 2 Vol. 26 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 3 EDITOR ’S MEMO BY EVELYN COX “April hath put a spirit of youth in special grace in a place overlooking a spread the word to you. Jack and Sharon exciting , too, showing off some great gar - everything.” large pond on our property. Affluently Ayers are life members of the Society dens, including one that was voted the - William Shakespeare green, she dresses up her neighborhood who garden in the Northwest. In this best garden on Puget Sound. See Marc issue, Jack points out an imaginative gar - McCalmon’s article for more informa - utside my window, Asian magnolias, of mostly deciduous conifers and non- den with a large, diverse collection of tion . redbuds, Yoshino cherries, spirea and coniferous plants when winter moves in. conifers near the town of Roseburg, We are fortunate to have, again, winter hazel are bursting forth with Quite small when we planted her, she O Oregon. Owned by Ken and Elena some fabulous photos to grace our covers renewed vitality. This means that soon the grew quickly into a lovely lady, Jordan, the garden is named Stonehedge. from past-president Dennis Groh and spruces, too, will be full of the spirit of establishing herself early as a standout. As often happens, the two couples got from Randall Smith of Iseli Nursery. Last youth, flushing and coning in their own Even the brilliant red swamp hibiscus connected because of the ACS. but not least, Barbie Colvin tells us about unique way of flowering. Of ours, the four blooms in summer cannot outshine her. We hear from two of our frequent the Southeastern Region’s outstanding I most anticipate are Picea brachytyla , Through the seasons she stands up contributors, Maud Henne and ACS Pres - progress in the Conifer Reference Garden Picea orientalis ‘Early Gold’ , Picea proudly among her neighbors and in ident Ellen Kelley , in this issue and also program. Barbie is our Southeastern likiangensis , and Picea abies ‘Pendula’. spring (very soon I hope) she puts on a learn about some important ACS events Region Vice President. My overall favorite conifer in our special show with luscious lime green coming up around the regions. The Enjoy your spring. When the spirit of collection is one of the Picea abies adornment on her tips. Picea Northeastern Region will host the ACS youth strikes, you will probably struggle ‘Pendula ’ cultivars. I have nicknamed is our theme this issue. National Meeting in Hauppauge, New with that age-old question, “Should I mine “Lady of the Lake” because of her Because I think this genus has so much to offer gardeners, it surprised me that we York , on Long Island. Read all about it plant now or wait?” Only the plant were not flooded with stories about these and mark your calendars! The Western knows. terrific plants in your gardens. But the Region’s annual meeting promises to be offer is still open. I know you have some. In the meantime, my better-half , Next Issue: Summer 2009 who speaks plants much better than I do, Our next issue will feature: Juniperus “volunteered” to tell you about some of Hard to beat for covering slopes and with a variety of shapes the spruces that have been successful for us in the south, including the three I have and colors, junipers can be functional as well as ornamentally mentioned.