WIWAM THOMPSON 1823-1903 This man created gardening history in 1855 ... by compiling the first of the now world famous Thompson and Morgan Seed Catalogs. With an unbroken annual publication it now lists over discoveries. More recently T&M sponsored the search 4000 varieties of flower and vegetable seeds, a and discovery of the "Blue Amaryllis" and have saved contribution to gardening acknowledged by the 1977 many varieties from extinction. They have also joined "Guinness Book of World Records", by offering more in the campaign by "Kew Gardens" to protect and save seed varieties than any other company in the world, many endangered plants. since when, many hundreds of new varieties have been added. Seeing is believing! and we invite you to send for the It is truly a remarkable gardening reference, not only of 1985 edition now, as unfortunately supplies are the old favorites but of unusual and exotic varieties that limited . You won't be disappointed, for example . .. have taken T&M years to collect. The search for new you get 220 pages (6" x 9") containing an and exciting subjects carries on the policy laid down by alphabetical list of over 4000 varieties, fully described William Thompson, himself a world authority and with nearly 1000 beautifully illustrated in full color. The recipient of the "Gold Award" of The Royal when, where and how of growing related to states and Horticultural SOciety, a fact known by Charles Darwin a "Green Fingers" guide to advise the degree of who regularly sent William seeds of his many experience needed to achieve perfect results. Acclaimed by gardeners throughout the world, order your copy by calling (201) 3632225 anytime, or use this coupon. It's still FREE! 1984 Customers will be mailed their new copy automatically! Thompson and Morgan Inc., Dept AD50 , PO Box 1308, Jackson, New Jersey, 08527 Please send my FREE copy to: nlD. Name .. Address THE SEEDS MEN EST. 1855 City . .... ... .. Suppliers of seeds to the Royal Families of virtually State . .. ... .. ... .... .. ... Zip . ... .. ... .. .. I .. _-­ L _.... -'" every country in Europe . ---------------~ VOLUME 63 NUMBER 12 Cantents Q&A: Charles Huckins, Executive Director 3 Strange Relatives: The Ginseng Family by Jane Steffey 4 Book Reviews by Gilbert S. Da ni els 10 Pronunciation Guide 12 Desert Natives: Adaptations to Drought by Richa rd M. Adams, II 14 One Day in the Mountains Text and Photography by Dr. John L. C reech 20 Wave Hill by Peter Loewer 24 Miniature C yclamen by All en Lacy 30 Sources 32 Classifieds 34 1984 Index 38 The Indoor Gardener: The Flowering House Plant Family by George A. Elbert 40 The Design Page: Garden Seats by Margaret Hensel 44 On the Cover: Desert plants have a variety of ways of adapting to the harsh habitats where they are found. This beaver-tail cactus, Opuntia basilaris, photographed in Nevada at Valley of Fire State Park, is an ex­ cellent example of a speoies that must conserve water in order to survive Overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades of th e harsh drought and high temperatures of its native environment. To New Jersey-and just minutes from midtown lea rn more about how plants conserve water, and what makes a good Manhattan-is a garden ~hat is beautiful at any time drought-tolerant plant for a desert garden, turn to Rich Adams' article, of year. Join Peter Loewer for a tour of Wave Hill on "Desert Natives: Adaptations to Drought," on page 14. Photograph by page 24. Pat O'Hara. EDITO R, PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR, Barbara W. 1Olli s. ART DIRECTOR, Rebecca K. McClimans. ASSOCIAT E EDITOR, Lynn M. Lynch. EDITO RI AL ASS ISTAN T , Jane Steffey. HO RTI CULTURAL CO NSULTANT, BOOK EDITO R, Gilbert S. Daniels. PRONUNCIATI ON GUID E AGVISOR, Eve rett Conklin. ASSISTANTS TO T HE EDITOR, Louise Baughn, Cin dy Weakland. BUS IN ESS MANAGER , May Lin Roscoe. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR, Connie Clark. COLO R SEPARATIONS, John Simmons, Chroma-G raphics In c. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES, C. Lynn Coy Associates, Inc., 55 Forest Street, Stamford, CT 06902, (203) 327·4626. Repl acement iss ues of AM ERI CAN HO RTICULTURIST are availa ble at a COst of $2.50 per copy. The opinions expressed in the articles that appear in AM ERICAN HO RTI CULTURIST are those of the authors and are net necessarily those of the Society. They are presented as co ntributions to contemporary thought. Manuscripts, art work and photographs sent for possible publica ti on will be returned tiE ch ey are accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST , ISSN 0096·4417, is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boul evard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703 ) 768-5700, and is iss ued monthly. Membership in the Society in cl udes a subscription to AM ERI CAN HORTICULTURIST. Membership dues stan at $20.00 a year, $12.00 of which is designared fo r AMERICAN HO RTICULTURI ST. Copyri ghr © 1984 by the American Horticultural Society. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mail ing offi ces. Postmas ter: Please send Fo rm 3579 to AM ERI CAN HO RTI CULTURIST, Mount Vernon, Vitginia 22121. American Horticulturist Photograph by Alvin StaffanlCounesy Ohio Department of Natural Resources any of America's most treasured wildflowers-including the beautiful lakeside daisy, Hymenoxys acaulis var. glabra (above)-are threatened with extinction. In fact, experts estimate that one-tenth of the species and varieties native to the United States are in jeopardy. Over 50 taxa have already disappeared. Help save our endangered wildflowers by purchasing the American Horticultural Society's 1985 Endangered Wildflowers Calendar. Funds raised from sales will be used to support conservation projects. To order your calendar, turn to page 9. Q&A Charles Hucki~ Executive Directar Q. What comes to mind as the most {{Response to the Calendar ticultural know-how from, say, the trop­ exciting project the Society has initiated in ical parts of this country to their own lo­ yo ur first year as Executive Director? and to the Wildflower cales. For example, with the Spring A. I'd say the Endangered Wildflowers Symposium in Miami, there was much to Calendar is the most tangible new project. Rediscovery Project has been learn about the care of what non-Florid­ Response to the Calendar and to the Wild­ ians know as indoor plants. We're trying flower Rediscovery Project has been over­ overwhelming, and I'm happy to hit topics on the cutting edge of hor­ whelming, and I'm happy to see the Society to see the Society make this ticulture in our meeting programs and bring make this big step forward into plant con­ our members in touch with the experts on servation efforts. And since we're con­ big step forward into plant these topics. The Spring Symposium in Los cerned about getting the Society'S message Angeles will focus on the use of drought­ out to those who are not familiar with it, conservation efforts. JJ resistant plants, among other important the publicity these programs have gener­ subjects, and I think that's an important ated is gratifying. At last count, several ity. How does that tie in to the long-term item to have on the Society's national thousand non-members had written to us growth you're referring to? agenda, given the increasing concern for information about the Endangered A. The Society has been providing com­ everywhere about the availability and Wildflower Project. Not only are we fur­ puter services to other horticultural organ­ quality of our water resources. thering the cause of plant conservation, we izations for some years, keeping member­ Q. We don't really have space to cover are familiarizing more people with other ship and plant records for them. To my all of the Society's activities in this inter­ Society aims and projects. knowledge, the service is unique, and has view. I'd like to conclude by asking you Q. The Society's membership has grown helped plant societies and botanical gar­ where you see the Society going in the near quite a bit in the last several years. What dens with their administrative and scien­ future. kinds of changes can members expect to tific needs. Now that we are able to up­ A. For all of our good efforts to serve see in membership programs? grade our computer capabilities, we can the general needs and interests of horti­ A. We're continuing to promote mem­ serve more organizations, and provide them culturists throughout the country (and, in­ bership aggressively, and I'm always look­ with better, more responsive service. Our deed, we are well represented by our mem­ ing for members in good standing to help improved computer resources will also be bers in aliSO states and territories), I believe us do more of that. One of the greatest essential to the long-term success of our that we could help make everyone better changes we've made in terms of member­ Gardener's Information Service. It's criti­ informed about the great value and variety ship is the revamping of our membership cal that we keep constantly updated infor­ of horticultural resources, particularly categories. In recent months, we've created mation on horticultural resources and events places of horticultural information and new membership categories with addi­ throughout the country, and the computer learning, and sources of horticultural goods tional benefits for membership levels above is the only way to do this efficiently. and services, that exist throughout this vast the basic dues rates. This should give mem­ Q. Now that you've had the opportunity and varied land of ours.