A Publication of the American Horticultural Society Volume 71, Number 7 • July 1992 $1.50 News Edition ,Rolling Stones o, we haven't turned into a rock and roll magazine, nor are we going to write about moss gardens. But we are Ngoing to report back from some recent and rare forays out of our offices. The month of April saw two very different, major gardening events: the 46th Annual Williamsburg Garden Symposium, cosponsored by the American Horticultural Society and Colonial Williamsburg; and the opening ceremonies for AmeriFiora '92, the first international gardening exhibition to be held in the United States. This was the first Williamsburg symposium for American Horticulturist Editor Kathleen Fisher, but she was in the minority. Some attendees come back each year to learn about gardening, to meet the famous speakers, and to reunite with old friends. Everyon€ we talked to, however, agreed that this may have been the best ever. Rosemary Verey was gracious, Jim Wilson was just as congenial as he seems The pomp and circumstance of opening October, and to think about attending on "The Victory Garden," and Rosalind day, attended by President and Mrs. next spring's Williamsburg Garden Creasy had everyone chuckling in Bush, was leavened by the antics of mime Symposium. And in this issue you'll find recognition as she described gardening groups. The historic conservatory had the program for another big event, our with children. Other speakers, who been expanded. Over 20 countries had own Annual Meeting in October.• represented the "Great Gardeners" of the erected horticulturally related displays. theme, were every bit as inspiring. Since it was barely spring at the time, the For Assistant Editor Mary Beth event promises to get better and better. Wiesner, the visit to AmeriFlora '92 was a There's plenty of time to attend trip home, but home was never like this. AmeriFiora '92, which lasts through In This Issue Plant Council Forms 9 Above: The Taliaferro­ Members' Forum. 10 Cole garden is one of scores in Colonial Saving Seed 11 Williamsburg that Regional Notes 12 attempt to reflect Gardeners' Q&A 14 designs of two centuries ago. Left: Sleeping Award Wmning Plants 15 Beauty'S castle is just AHS Bulletin Board 16 one of the Disney World Gardeners' Bookshelf 18 topiaries sure to delight visitors to AmeriFlora Gardeners' Dateline 20 '92. Franklin Park Classifieds . 22 Conservatory is in the Research News. 24 background. Annual Meeting Program Enclosed! American Horticultural Society The American H orticultural Society seeks to promote and recognize excellence in horticulture across America. OFFICERS 1991-1992 Mr. George C. Ball Jr., West Chicago, IL President Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes, Mount Vernon, VA First Vice President Mr. Richard C. Angino, Harrisburg, PA Second Vice President Mr. Elvin McDonald, Houston, TX a: Secretary w I ~ Mr. Gerald T. Halpin, Alexandria, VA u. Treasurer iii w BOARD OF DIRECTORS ~ Mrs. Suzanne Bales, Bronxville, NY M. Dr. William E. Barrick, Pine Mountain, GA Kent Brinkley, landscape architect for Colonial Williamsburg, explains an old Dr. Sherran Blair, Columbus, OH method for sheltering transplanted boxwoods until they become established. In the Mrs. Mary Katherine Blount, tour group was author and keynote speaker Rosemary Verey, far left. Montgomery, AL Mrs. Sarah Boasberg, Washington, DC Dr. Henry Marc Cathey, Washington, DC Mrs. Beverley White Dunn, A Little Time With Rosemary Birmingham, AL Dr. John Alex Floyd Jr., Birmingham, AL Mrs. Julia Hobart, Troy, OH uring an afternoon tour of passion for Texas bluebonnets, Verey Mr. David M. Lilly, St. Paul, MN Colonial Williamsburg related. "If any of you have any seeds I do Mr. Lawrence V. Power, New York, NY gardens, our group was lucky hope you'll let me know." Dr. Julia Rappaport, Santa Ana, CA enough to cross the path of A literally feverish passion for gardening Mrs. Flavia Redelmeier, DRosemary Verey, who joined us and by an 18th-century royal may well have Richmond Hill, ON, Canada Mrs. Jane N. Scarff, New Carlisle, OH proceeded to display a depth and breadth changed the course of history, Verey Mrs. Josephine Shanks, Houston, TX of knowledge about our country's history observed. Prince Frederick of Wales, an Mrs. Billie Trump, Alexandria, VA that would humble the average American. avid horticulturist and the driving force be­ Mr. Andre Viette, Fishersville, VA We're used to the British humbling us hind the establishment of Kew, died from Ms. Katy Moss Warner, with their horticultural knowledge. But a pnewnonia he contracted after garden­ Lake Buena Vista, FL Verey, whose many books include The ing in the rain. "If he had lived," she said, ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR American Man's Garden and The "we would never have had George m." Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes American Woman's Garden, emphasized Verey's first avocation was horses, in her keynote address at the Williams­ rather than plants. After many years as an burg Garden Symposium that gardens on enthusiastic equestrian, she said, "One AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST EDITOR: Kathleen Fisher her side of the Atlantic would be "much day in 1960 I was galloping through a ASSISTANT EDITOR: Mary Beth Wiesner the poorer" without American plants and meadow when I suddenly decided, 'I've EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Steve Davolt American designers. done enough of this,'" and exchanged her MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Of course, they influenced us first. bridle for a trowel. Darlene Oliver Gardening books such as Gerard's This makes gardening sound like work, ADVERTISING: American Horticultural Herbal! and Paradisi in Sole no doubt however, which is not how Verey feels Society Advertising Department, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031. Phone came over with some of the first colonists, about it. During a panel discussion, key (703) 2044636. Verey said, and the British impact on speakers were asked what gardening Address aU editorial correspondence to: The Editor, early gardens can still be seen in restored chores they would face when they American Horticulturist, American Hortictiltural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA gardens such as Bacon's Castle in Virginia. returned home. Rosalind Creasy said she 22308·1300. AMERICAN HORTICUL11JRlST, ISSN But soon plant collectors such as John had planted too many peppers; Jim Wilson 0096-4417, is published by the American Horticultural and William Tradescant and John said he would be tending a wildflower Society, 7931 East Boulevard Dd ve, Alexandria, VA 22308·1300, (703) 768-5700, and is issued six times a Bartram began to export American meadow of 50 to 60 species. "Gardening year as a magazine and six times a year as a News Edi­ plants, particularly trees, many of which should not a be a chore," responded tion. The American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to excellence in horticulture. are still favored in Verey's country more Verey. "It should be a pleasure." Botanical nomenclature in AMERICAN H ORTICUL­ than in their own. When panelists were asked for pest con­ TIJRIST is based on HORTUS THIRD. National mem­ bership dues are $45; two years are $80. Foreign dues "I think at least half of my border is trol tips, Verey described her mole control are $60. $12 of dues are designated for AMERICAN American plants," Verey told me later, bowl. "You must capture one live mole, HORTICULTIIRIST. Copyright © 1992 by the "particularly fall-bloomers, such as which you put at the bottom of a large American Horticultural Society. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and at additional mailing Helianthus and asters." bowl. All night long it will cry piteously. offices. Pasonaster: Please send Form 3579 to Prince Charles, who wrote an introduc­ This will atrract the attention of all the AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, 7931 East Boulevatd Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. tion to her most recent book, A Country other moles. In the morning you will find Woman's Year, and frequently calls her for the bowl full of all of those who came to advice, has recently developed a feverish his rescue." - Kathleen Fisher, Editor 2 • American Horticulturist • July 19 92 Helping Kids 'Catch' Gardening uring a question-and-answer invited them to pick anything. "They're session on the last day of this like piranhas. They have no barriers year's Williamsburg sym­ against greed." Fortunately, because her posium, an audience member garden serves as her photography studio Dasked a panel of its featured speakers for and is torn up every six months so that advice on dogs in gardens. she can experiment with a new landscape, "Isolate them," was Rosalind Creasy's this presents no problems. The word goes succinct reply. out and the children descend. She recalled "That's your only advice?" the the year she planted masses of flowers in questioner asked despairingly. what she called her "Giverny garden." "Yes." One child, Cheryl, was especially thrilled Ten years ago, Creasy might have to hear the words, "take anything you offered similar advice in relation to want." Cheryl called the subsequent col­ children. "Not all children belong in lecting frenzy her "fantasy flower fling." gardens," she still says today. But for the "This is something I was never able to past eight or nine years Creasy has do as a child, so I get a lot of vicarious welcomed neighbor children into her enjoyment from it," Creasy said. garden-photographing them, playing The children have since brought their with them, working with them, teaching parents into the act. When Creasy them, and learning from them. harvested her 100-square-foot wheat field, Creasy herself was not a born gardener. a heart surgeon, three PhOs, and a master's­ "I started gardening at the age of five degree social worker showed up to perform when my father gave me some extra "the tennis shoe twist" to separate the tomatoes.