SOCIETY FOUNDED 1941 Primroses AUTUMN 2OO8 VOL. 66 No. American Primrose Society Autumn 2008 OFFICERS Primroses President's Message Let Nelson, President Edlt*r Jane Ciuild Primroses 8 Peer Street 30KO Michelson Road LEE NELSON Binghamtom, NY 13901 Sooki-BC V')X 0.17 Canada (607) 648-5995 uditorfrt americBnprifnrocKsocicty.ot'i The Quarterly ofthe lax 648-8397 Editorial Cnnimiltec American Primrose Society pnmulee@holmail com Maedythe Martin Hello, Judith Sellers Judith Sellers, Vice Presidium Michael Plumh 2297 County Highway 18 Alan Lawrence Wow, what a summer it has been! The weather Volume 66 No 4 Autumn 2008 South New Berlin, NY 13843-3158 ! diTmi.il Dt.ulhncs here in New York has been tropical, hot and rainy, jsellers(«!frontiemet nm Winter issue - October 15 The purpose of this Society is to bring the people Spring issue - January ! 5 and the weeds love it! I was getting concerned Michael Plumb, Secretary Summer issue-April 15 interested in Primula together in an organization to 3604 Jolly Roger Crescent Autumn issue - July 15 about my Primula, as many went totally dormant, increase the general knowledge of and interest in the IViidcr Island, BC VON 2M2 '0American Primrose Society 2008 then this past week temperatures have been much (604)241-0498 collecting, growing, breeding, showing and using in Primroses (ISSN 0162-6671) is published cooler and the plants are coming back with fresh michae!cplumb@yahoo ca by (he Arnei icun F'i imiosc. Primula and the landseape and garden ofthe genus Primula in al! green foliage. I was delighted to see them return its forms and to serve as a clearing house for collecting 'Xutkulu Society. All material printed Jon Kawaguclii, 'Ireasurur in the quarterly except as nuUxl, is and now have hopes for a glorious spring, and the and disseminating information about Primula. 3524 Bowman CoLirt copyright by APS. No part may be Alameda, CA 94502 reproduced without the permission of APS. possibility of digging plants to enter in the show Contents (510) 331-3337 Manuscripts for publication are invited, next spring. [email protected] though there is no payment. Send articles, President's Message 3 preferably in Microsoft Word, directly to Fall and the urge to start some seed the editor. DIRECTORS On that note, don't forget to mark your calendars by Maedythe Martin 5 Photographs arc credited and used only for the first week-end in May and plan to join us at Coals to Newcastle? by Bob Taylor 6 I'hrougli 2011 . Linda Bailey with the permission of the photographer. 1720 Highway 20 hast Photos submitted to the editor are preferred the 2009 National Show to be held at Tower Hill Gardening in the Sub-Arctic by Barbara Blylh 8 in .100 dpi digital format but other images Coleville.WA 99114 Primroses in Winter by Becky Carls 10 can be accepted. Any material used that has Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. (509)684-8936 previously appeared elsewhere is properly Seed Exchange The Basics 12 [email protected] credited and used with the permission of Finding Auriculas by Joe Davison 13 the original publisher and''or creator. The past few weeks have been a busy time for the C'heri Kluck I lortieultural I lerocs of Our Time by Judith Sellers . .25 Membership in the Society includes a 17275 Point Lena Loop Rd society board members. As you will have noticed, Pins & Thrums 28 subscription to Primroses, seed exchange Juneau,AK 99801-8344 privileges, password to the member's only the last Quarterly was slightly smaller than that of Vintage Bits 29 section of the APS web site (including the cheri44@comcast net previous issues; this is just one ofthe cost saving Membership List 31 Pictorial Dictionary) and use ofthe slide library. moves that the board has adopted. We still face Minutes 35 Rodney Barker 49WoodcliffRoad Dues for individual or household the task of further cost reduction; however, it looks Renewal Form 38 Newton Highlands, MA 02461 membership, domestic ;ind Canada are: Officers ofthe Chapters 39 rodney@justice com S25 per calendar year like we will be able to hold the line for at least S70 for three years another year. Quite a feat when you consider that Juliu llaldorson, Membership Overseas rates are: Attention Please! PO. Box 210913 S32 per calendar year the cost of just about everything is going up these Alike Bay, AK 99821 S90 for three years. days. I am happy to report that for now it appears Renewal forms are due by November 15, 2008. [email protected] Membership renewals are due November Please check the membership list, and submit 15 and arc- delinquent January 1. that we will be able to maintain membership dues Submit payment to the treasurer. your renewal form. Late renewals to us means no Marianne I. Kuehel without an increase. However, we still have to find 1815 Blood Brook Road Advertising rates per issue: delivery ofthe Winter Quarterly for you. Fairlee, VT 05045 Black antUfMU; ways to reduce costs and still maintain the quality (802)333-4835 1-ullpagc: $100 Credits Photos ana text reproduced with permission publication that you, our members, have come to roland.k kuchel@va!ley.net Half page: ShO 1/4 page: $.10 expect. Mary Jo Burns 1/Npagc: SI5 Front Cover. Winner of the 2007 APS Photography Contest 4169 Westwood Drive < ,!/», in the category of 'Primulas grown in my garden', Becky Carls' Anchorage, AK 99515 Half page: SI5ft Our dedicated board members and hard working photo of a P denticulata with skunk cabbage. (907)248-2827 Full page: $300 Back Cover Third Annual APS Photo Contest. Get your entries Back Cover: 1450 editor have done an exceptional job of keeping our burns2@gci net in by December 31, 2008 to win a prize spot on the cover of the Contact the treasurer for details. costs down while producing a quality publication. Quarterly. American Primrose Society Autumn 2008 Now I challenge you, our members, to Fall and the urge to start some seed join in the effort. Would j oil join us? Many of you have been growing Every year in the autumn as the season This issue also includes some Primula for years, over which time The newly formed changes to cooler days and frosty information on Becky Carl's innovative you have gained a store of experience Website Committee and the nights, the primula grower starts solution on how to protect your plants looking for seed lists, trying to appease in winter, for those of you with in all aspects of growing this existing Editorial Committee the desire to grow something new and seriously cold winter weather. And a fascinating and diverse genus. Others would like to add members to sometimes struggle with decisions that interesting from seed. The APS Seed new auricula grower in England, Joe provide opinions and advice to experienced growers take for granted. Exchange list is one of the best places Davidson, tells us about how he got these committees, If you have One important issue for growers that to find primula seed. hooked and how he grows his plants produces a variety of different ideas a few hours every few months to - many from seed. Answers to primula is the division of primulas. It would spare, please join one of these To provide some background culture problems are always interesting be interesting to follow up and expand committees. The society would information about some of the people - send the editor a note on the things on the question posed on page 14 benefit from your help. who provide seed sometimes available you do in your garden so others can of our summer quarterly, so I would And the duties are not hard in the exchange, here is an article learn about them. like to ask you to drop me an email -just your thoughts! by Judith Sellers on two European or a short note with your answers to collectors who gather seed in the wild. Maedythe Martin A story by Bob Taylor in England, Chair, Editorial Committee some or all of the following questions: The Website Committee will about seed he grew from long-time have periodic meeting on-line on APS member Jay Lunn tells us how Which species do you find the chat site on the APS website. the plants from some American P. x need dividing the most in order Here is your chance to voice your 'Juliana1 seed ended up on the English to preserve them? opinion on what you would like show benches. Bryan Davies, who to see on the website or on other grows so many wonderful primroses When and how do you divide events or activities that could and auriculas from seed, and provided your Primula? take place there. Please contact over half of the National Show plants in Victoria this year, has developed How often do you divide them? the website committee chair at some new P. marginata plants. Photos ALPINE AND PRIMULA (See the summer quarterly, [email protected]. of some of his new seedlings are SPECIES & HYBRIDS pages 14-15, for one idea) presented for your visual delight. The Editorial Committee meets Grown in ilif Nortfwascrn U.S. I don't need a long article; a short about twice a year to figure out The APS seed exchange list is now We ship mature fltiitrs in their pots. paragraph, or two, will be fine - just the contents of the four quarterly posted on the website towards the end Visit our Web site at: your thoughts. issues. Ideas welcome! The of the year. Remember to look there www.eveniiaynursery.coni committee would also be very glad and get your order in early.