David McDonald

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Northwest Horticultural Society

Autumn 19 9 5

Fz’wej £7* Espaliers for the Northwest

Very early spring-blooming Clematis armandii softens and frames a gateway.

NHS P/ont So/e: September 29-30. Details on page 7

by Pat Roome

Vines have many landscape uses. For example, clematis on a trellis creates a screen. Honeysuckle attached to fences makes them look hospitable, and a curtain of English ivy immensely improves the appearance of a sheer concrete retaining wall. Although deciduous, a Parthenocissus species, such as Boston ivy, can also blanket a concrete wall. Its leaves turn brilliant red in autumn and and during winter its stems create an attractive tracery. (When used to clothe walls or banks, vines can be selected and installed to either climb up or drape down.) Vines transform a dull fence into a narrow hedge, camouflage a shed, cover an ugly stump.

Especially in small areas, such as entry courtyards, vines are advantageous for simultaneously providing color, fragrance, and privacy. Moreover, they can be grown in containers on a balcony or patio, or in a narrow space next to a post. A pergola or arbor covered with climbing rose or wisteria infuses its setting with romantic associations.

Trees remain the preferred habitat for many vines. Try a Clematis montana rubens on the bare trunk of a Douglas fir, wrapping it with nylon netting to give it a foothold. Most vines will not damage trees except for some loss of sunlight to branches. However, vines such as wisteria and kiwi can get very heavy and require sturdy, durable support. And be aware that English ivy climbing a tree can sometimes behave like a sail in high winds and make its host vulnerable to blowdown.

Wisteria, akebia, Polygonum aubertii, and many others are so fast¬ growing that they may well cover that

continued on page 2

Scott Welker

Garden Notes

Northwest Horticultural Society

unsightly shed in one season, so make sure you have enough space and your support can stand the weight. (A wisteria in California is reputed to cover one acre.)

In these uncertain times, a vine barrier, such as thorny roses or blackberry, under a first floor window can provide some sense of security. You will remember that Prince Charming had to cut through many yards of thorny vines before he could

wake Sleeping Beauty from her one-hundred year nap.

For color, probably the most attractive flowers are found on clematis, akebia, and roses. Thunbergia alata , an annual with solitary creamy white or yellow-orange flowers, is a good choice for hanging baskets. Cobaea scandens, known as cup and saucer vine, with leaves changing from green-cream to violet then purple, and Eccremocarpus scaber, with flowers

ranging from scarlet to orange, are inexB sive, fast-growing perennials (usually used as annuals in the Northwest) at their peak mid-season. In general, vines are more adaptable to a wider range of climate zones than most other plants. When placed in colder climates, vines that are normally rampant in their native tropical or semi- tropical environments become very accept¬ ably tamed.

Cultivation and Training

In their native settings, vines scramble through brush and trees - their roots in the shade of the forest floor, their flowers reaching for the sun. In cultivation, most vines grow and look their best with shrubs planted in front of them to hide bare stems and keep the soil over the roots shaded and cool.

Soil preparation for planting follows good standard practice. Loosen the soil and add amendments of humus, manure, and lime to the planting area. Spreading plants, such as wisteria, require soil prepara¬ tion to a radius of at least five feet. At planting, prune to encourage branchin bushiness. Pinch out the leader and head back side growth by about one-third. Tie to supports as needed. To maintain vines, cut out the oldest stems, head back side branches, and tie stems and branches to supports.

Supporting Methods and Attachment Characteristics

When choosing a vine for your particular design, the method of attachment is probably the single most important charac¬ teristic.

The way vines attach to their supports varies between species. Some common support methods and correspond¬ ing attachment characteristics of various vines follow.

Trellis, Netting, or Strings Petiole-, the long stem of clematis leaves is known as a petiole and it winds itself around a wooden post or string.

Tendrils: grapes and peas have tendrils which wind around wire or a trellis.

Twining, stems of plants such as pole beans and wisteria wind around a trellis or strings.

David McDonald

Garden Notes

Autumn 19 9 5

Selection of Vines & Espaliers for the Northwest

Wisteria in bloom engages the eye with its relaxed grace

Coarse Trellis or Tree

Scandent-. plants such as climbing roses and blackberry climb a structure without a consistent form of attachment. They may have backward facing thorns or their branches may hook through a trellis. It is customary to tie these plants to their ort.

Concrete Walls and Smooth Wood

Adhesive Pads-, plants such as Boston ivy and

Virginia creeper have adhesive pads

that attach to surfaces and are usually not

harmful to their support. Vines that

cling in this way may not attach satisfactorily to

a very smooth or flaking surface.

Tree Bark

Rootlets-, plants such as English ivy invade the support structure with tiny roots that make a firm bond. Rootlets can be damaging to the support.

Excellent Vines for the Northwest

A variety of vines and espaliers are well suited to the Northwest. The following table is designed to help you select from among them, based upon means of propagation, hardiness, modes of attachment, and whether annual, perennial, evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous.

Pat Roome has owned a landscape design and consulting

•ess for sixteen years and is a twenty-one year member aster Gardeners. She gives talks, writes, and periodically instructs at the Center for Urban Horticulture and Lake Washington Technical College and is contributing editor for PlantSource Journal.

Name

Actinidia chinensis Actinidia kolomikta Akebia quinata Akebia trifoliata Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Aristolochia durior Bignonia capreola Camellia sasanqu Campsis radicans Chaenomeles sped Clematis armandii Clematis species Cobaea scandens Codonopsis coi Cytisus battandiei Decumaria sinensis Eccremocarpus scaber Euonymus fortune i X Fatshedera lizei Gelsemium sempervirens Hedera canariensis hybrids

Prop Hardy lender Attach AEDP

DSE

Hedera colchica	CL'		X	R	E
Hedera helix cultivars	CL	X		R	E
Humulus lupulus	SC	X		Tw	P
Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris	SC	X		R	D
Impomea tricolor	s	X		Tw	A
Jasminum nudiflorum	SCL	X		Sc	D
Jasminum officianale /	SCL	X		Sc	D
Lathyrus latifolius	S	X		Te	P
Lathyrus odoratus	s	X		Te	A
Lonicera, European, Japanese, US	SCL	X		Tw	DSE
Mandevilla laxa	SC		X	Tw	D
Mutisia oligodon	SC		X	Sc	E
Parthenocissus species	SCL	X		A	D
Passiflora caerulea	SC		X	Te	E
Periploca graeca	DSi	X		Tw	D
Pileostegia viburnoides	SC		X	R	E
Polygonum aubertii	SDI	X		Tw	P
Rosa climbing sp. & cultivars	CL	X		Sc	D
Schisandra chinensis	SCL		X	Tw	D
Schizophragma hydrangeoides	SL	X		R	D
Thunbergia alata	S		X	Tw	A
Trachelospermum species	SC		X	R	E
Tropaeolum speciosum	SDi	X		Tw	P
Vitis species	CL	X		Te	D
Wisteria species & cultivars	C	X		Tw	D
Abbreviations
Prop: Propagation S: seed C: cutting L: layer Di: division
Hardy/Tender: Estimate of hardiness or tenderness for USDA Zone 7

Attach: Attachment Tw: twining Te: tendril R: rootlets A: adhesive pads Sc: scandent, requires tying Pe: petiole AEDP: A: annual E: evergreen D: deciduous P: perennial, will die to roots in colder climates; SE: semi-evergreen

Pat Roome

Garden Notes

Northwest Horticultural Society

Clematis -Queen of tbeVine$

Known for their spectacular, unusual flowers, ranging from delicate to bold, and their vigorous growth habit, clematis are a glorious addition to the garden and a solid long-term investment. The genus enfolds some two hundred species, mostly deciduous vines, in addition to a multitude of hybrids.

Species clematis are distinguished by small, bell or star¬ shaped flowers (one to three inches across), finely dissected

foliage, grow between six and twenty-five feet, and have flowering seasons between early spring and late summer. A/lost of the hybrids (resulting from cross-breeding) have large, flat open flowers (four to ten flower petals and/or double blossoms) and three to five-inch long, heart-shaped leaves; heights range between six and fifteen feet and flowering seasons from mid¬ spring to late autumn.

Silken clematis seed heads.

Questions commonly arise concerning distinctions between species and hybrids in terms of siting and care:

How often do I replant?

Both hybrids and species will often flourish for a decade, some longer, so every ten years is a good average.

What will cover the ugly/rotting/brand new/too tall fence my neighbor set?

One hybrid every four to five feet, or one species every eight to twelve feet.

How many plants do I need to get a nice effect on a trellis post or gate?

With hybrids, one to two - possibly underplanted with a climber with showy foliage such as evergreen or deciduous honeysuckle. One species clematis will provide the same effect.

Can I let clematis ramble into my tree?

Yes. If planting a hybrid, the soil needs to be moderately moist or watered on a regular basis and the stem sheltered from spring sun and protected against breakage. For a species, moderately moist soil or regular watering during the first year is important and it similarly must be sheltered against breakage.

When will the plant start looking great?

The second year.

What flower colors are available?

White to pink to red to lavender/blue to deep purple decorate hybrids; there is no true yellow in their repertoire. Species sport white to yellow to pink to red to lavender/ blue to deep purple. No true orange, green, or brown flowers are found on either hybrids or species.

Which plants offer fragrance?

Scented clematis are restricted to species, including C. rehderiana, C. montana rubens, C. heracleifolia davidiana, and C. jlammula.

Are clematis poisonous?

No, but they are not recommended for human consumption.

How do I plant clematis?

Prior to planting, establish a support structure if one is not already in place. For both hybrids and species, dig a two-foot hole and integrate fresh, rich garden soil. Add one cup bone meal, one-quarter cup dolomite lime, one-quarter cup slow-release fertilizer and mix well. Set the plant so that its own pot soil sits three inches below the soil level in your flower bed. Refill the hole with fresh rich garden soil. Water well. Immediately tie up stems.

For hybrids particularly, it is important to

provide cool shade for the roots. Plant a small evergreen shrub, such as a conifer, hebe, lavender, Genista lydia, or other alkaline soil-loving or tolerant plant. Consider a suitable ground cover. Use a large, flat rock only if absolutely nothing else is available.

How frequently do I need to fertilize?

A spring feeding of light nitrogen (20-5-5 or such) or a complete liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season will support lush foliage and beautiful flowers.

What Clematis Like

Clematis prefer well-draining soil and do® _ like standing water. Rich, lightly alkaline garden soil is best and it must be kept well- watered during March and April, the period when clematis can grow up to six inches per day! During the rest of the growing season, clematis prefer a moderately moist soil. Their root systems like to be cool in the summer but moderately warm during early spring, an important consideration to factor in when planting clematis in more shaded areas.

In general, avoid planting clematis on a wide, open trellis facing the wind. C. armandii, C. calycina, C.florida bicolor, and C. paniculata in particular require a sheltered location for early blooms or due to their delicacy.

Sun is tolerated by both hybrids and species. Filtered sun is tolerated by the following: ‘Barbara Jackman’, ‘Bee’s Jubilee’, ‘Dawn’, ‘Hagley Hybrid’, ‘John Warren’, ‘Lincoln Star’, ‘Mrs. N. Thompson’, ‘Nelly Moser’ (more sun than shade for better flowering color), ‘Proteus’, ‘ Ville de Lyon’, all C. alpina varieties, all C. macropetala varieties, all C. montana varieties, C. tangutica. For shade tolerance, plant ‘Silver Moon’ (rarely available), ‘Ville de Lyon’, and all C. montana varieties.

Garden Notes

Autumn 19 9 5

by Susanne F. Foster

Stunning single flower blooms of Clematis ‘John Warren’.

One of the most dreaded times in even an avid gardener’s calendar is early spring: the “pruning or no-pruning” time for clematis. Fortunately, there are some rules of thumb to ease the dilemna. Spring flowering clematis only bloom on last year’s wood; prune (cut out sprawl) right after flowering to maintain plant habit (C. alpina, C. montana). Summer and fall bloomers can be pruned in late fall, after blooming, or in early spring when the new growth is less than two feet tall. Every few years take out some old, thick branches to rejuvenate the plant (C. ‘Hagley Hybrid’,

C. ‘Huldine’, C. ‘jackmannii’). The spring and late summer flowering clematis should only be pruned to correct shape and remove dead foliage and leaves (C. ‘Nelly Moser’ and all double flowering ones).

You may want to coordinate blooms with the schedule of color provided by other garden plants. This table is designed to help you do that.

Variable Uses

Clematis can be used as a ground cover that cascades elegantly over terraced rockeries. Try C. tangutica or C. alpina for this effect. Plant it on top of the rockery and disguise the planting area with a lavender bush, astilbe, or even an azalea. It will not necessarily root along the branches, but will extend down about

continued on page 6

Comtesse de Bouchaud’ ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ \J florida bicojpr i ‘Hagley Hybrid’

( = Pink Chiffon) ^^^Henryi' ‘Jackmannii Alba’ ‘Jackmannii! ‘Mme E. Andre’ ‘The President’

Ernest Markham flammulc

‘Ernest Markham’ flammula ‘Gipsy Queen’ jracleifolia davidiana ‘Huldine’ jouiniana ‘Lady Betty Balfour’ ‘Mme Le Coultr#

(= Marie Boisselot) orientalis ‘Perle d’Azur’

‘Richard Pennell’

V: . , ' \» sS \JJ// j

tangutica

texensis & varieties

V*. viticeNju-ft"^

Which Color When

Jan tO March cirrhosa balearica

April

alpina & varieties	X
armandii	X
macropetala and varieties	X
■^'‘DawryX	X
montana & varieties	X/-
‘Miss Bateman’ ‘Vict^^’J'	yx

May,

June

September

‘Barbara Dibley’ ‘Barbara Jackman’ ‘Bee’s Jubilee’ ‘Countess of Lovelace’ ‘Daniel Deronda’ ‘John Warren’ ‘Lasurstern’ ‘Lincolrj Star’ ‘Mrs. Cholmondeley’ ‘Mrs. N. Thompson’ ‘Nelly Moser’ ‘Niobe’ 'Proteus’ ‘Rouge Cardinale’ ‘Ville de Lyon’

‘Vyvyan Pennell’

September

■ ■■ 1 . .

September . -

tO pani

October > , ( = maximowic

‘Mme Baron Veillard’ paniculata ( = maximowicziana)

Louise Si

Drawing of Clematis montana by Seattle botanical illustrator.

mith,

X = single flowers, XX = double flowers

Garden Notes

Northwest Horticultural Society

... during March and April. . . clematis can grow up to six inches per day!

three or four feet. You may also want to try C. montana rubens or C. spooneri. These two tolerate some shade while still providing an exciting flower display. C. vitalba is a species which can be used to cover flatter ground and is seen sometimes alongside roads, crawling through one to two-foot grass. Because this species is a rampant grower, be careful with it in small gardens.

Another unusual effect results when clematis hybrids are intermixed with aging junipers. Place the roots outside the junipers and at an angle. Use large- flowering hybrids because they like their roots shaded and also because their rather sparse foliage and stem work grows delicately into the neighboring plants. Species clematis cannot be recommended for this kind of mix because their branches can choke and overrun other plantings within a couple of years.

A beautiful bonus comes with some species clematis: the fluffy seed heads during fall and winter, ending in early spring when pruned off. Others, such as C. alpina, C. macropetala, and some of the large flower¬ ing hybrids (‘Barbara Dibley’, ‘Dawn’,

‘Miss Bateman’, ‘Nelly Moser’, ‘The President’) display seeds all summer and fall until rains destroy them. C. orientalis, C. tangutica, and C. vitalba hold their seed heads the longest.. .when winter sun shimmers through the bare trees... .

Susanne F. Foster has worked with clematis as a hobbyist and professional for over fifteen years.

She formerly operated Tissue & Liners, Inc., a wholesale nursery specializing in climbers, located in Woodinville, Washington. She also teaches horticulture at local community college.

Vines to View Locally

Washington Park Arboretum

by Jan Pirzio-Biroli

When Brian Mulligan became director of the Arboretum in the 1940’s, he acquired for the collections a large number of rare vines, which to this day constitute an extremely valuable genetic resource. Many roses were planted along the Broadmoor fence and allowed to scramble into nearby trees. Climbing vines (including Actinidia species and Akebia relatives) were established at the base of native conifers throughout the Arboretum.

For example, in the Winter Garden a superbly handsome specimen of Hydrangea anomola ssp. petiolaris has risen more than thirty feet against the trunk of a Douglas fir. The same species grows in the Camellia Section near its close relative, Schizophragma hydrangeoides. Adjacent to the Visitors Center parking lot such famous old roses as ‘Alistair Stella Gray’ and Rosa brunonii ‘La Mortola’ have been pruned so that, temporarily at least, they resemble sprawling, heavy-flowering shrubs. Propagules of the original plant of Rosa mulliganii have been established in the north end of the Brian Mulligan Sorbus Collection <and are thriving.

Other vines of interest include a magnificient specimen of Wisteria floribunda trained on the trellis in the northeast corner of the Japanese Garden. On the lattices surrounding the Visitors Center, recent cultivars of W. maximowicziana, W. venusta, and clematis are being established.

Jan Pirzio-Biroli has been closely affiliated with the Washington Park Arboretum for thirty-five years. She from the Center for Urban Horticulture in 1991 .

Center for Urban Horticulture

by Gael Varsi

The Washington Park Arboretum plant collection at CUH provides the opportunity to view a wide assortment of vines that can be used in the home landscape.

Clematis maximowicziana, bearing large clusters of hawthorne-scented white flowers in the fall, is intertwined on the trellis outside the entrance to Merrill Hall with Actinidia kolomikta, noteworthy for tri-colored variegated leaves of green splashed with white and rose at the tip.

Celastrus hypoleucus, with leaves strikingly glaucous on the underside, has persis¬ tent, yellow-lined green capsules that split open to reveal red seeds. Clematis flammula, blooming August through October, is covered with loose panicles of small, sweetly- scented white flowers, followed by silky seedheads. Both vines grow on the east side of Merrill Hall.

Vitus cognitae, considered by many to be the most spectacular of all vines because of its crimson and scarlet fall color, is found on the trellis outside Douglas Research Conservatory and also the east side of Isaacson Hall. Campsis radicans has brilliant orange and scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers produced on terminal clusters in August and September and is found on the south side of Isaacson Hall.

Gael Varsi is a graduate of the Master's program in Forest Resources/Urban Horticulture, University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture, and was a 1 993 Elisabeth Carey Miller Scholar. She operateswrsi Gardening Services on Vashon Island and is restoring the Mukai Garden, a historic Japanese-American garden.

Garden Notes

Autumn 19 9 5

Celebrate Autumn- NHS Plant Sale

Friday, September 29th from 1 0 am to 6 pm & Saturday, the 30th from 10 am to 3 pm

Center for Urban Horticulture 350 1 N.E. 4 1 st Street, Seattle, Washington

Members Only Preview: 9-10 am each day

Perenniald, Treed e3 Shrubd , FLerbd, Fernd , Bond a i, Groundcoverd, Native Plantd, Rhododendrond, e3 Much More

Garden Sculpture from the Nortlnvedt Sculp to rd Addociation

Fedtive Mudic

Mad ter Gardenerd and Growerd Providing Expert Advice

Lectured on “The Bedt Plantd for Small Gardens

(schedule to be mailed to members)

The Miller Library Open Both Dayd to Add id t Shopperd

Uded Bookd Aldo on Sale

Thid dale id for you!

Fall - for Many Reasons - the Best Planting Season

Spring’s built-in enthusiasm, inspired by nature’s bursting out in all its glory after wintertime dor¬ mancy, is replaced in the fall with a calmer, more purposeful approach to gardening. Late summer is a time for reappraisal of the landscape, weary after its riotous seasonal party. This is the prime educa¬ tional period in the garden. Where are the gaps? What was unsatisfactory? What new possibilities are there to consider?

tJJow is the best time for examining the garden.

And now is the best time for planting, dividing, and thoughtfully rearranging.

Evaluate structural planting while the memory of the neighbor’s barbecues are still vivid. Planting will not block the smoke, but can screen the view. Think about planting perennials that bloom late summer into fall and are less impulsive buys than those earlier bright blooms. A garden that is interesting and still fresh and colorful in September and October reflects horticul¬ tural artistry.

Putting in plants this time of year is easiest on the gardener. Cooler temperatures and rains alleviate the gardener’s watering burdens. Milder, wetter condi¬

tions allow plants to root out, and shorter days signal dormancy whereby the plant’s energy is diverted to its roots.

And next spring one enjoys the payoff.. .plants that are well-established as they emerge in leaf and flower.

All proceeds fund support of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library, student scholarships, and horticultural grants.

Be first to see the plants! Be a plant sale volunteer. Call Janet Warford at (206) 454-6265.

Garden Notes

Northwest Horticultural Society

Climbers

by Valerie Easton

Library Resource ^

Books on vines are being published nearly as fast as wisteria spreads to cover any available support. As the care and management of vines can be daunting, and with the wide selection of both annual and perennial vines available, it helps tremendously to have sufficient information to make wise choices.

Wisterias: A Comprehensive Guide Peter Valder

Portland: Timber Press, 1995

Ever since I stood under a pergola covering a large square at Duke University one rainy April afternoon and breathed in the all- pervasive scent of the giant wisteria that dripped from it, I have thought this the very finest of vines. Allen Lacy calls it “beautiful and wicked” and includes it in his chapter on thugs. This new book from Timber Press shows a great many forms and colors of wisteria in all seasons, with detailed information on care and pruning. Readers will turn first to the chapter on recommended cultivars, growing techniques, etc.

Creative Planting with Climbers Jane Taylor

London: Ward Lock, 1991

“Climbers are the opportunists of the plant world” says Taylor, and gives ideas to make the most of their natural tendencies to scramble, climb, and spread. She includes a wide variety of vines, including annuals, with thorough discussion of what situation is needed for them to thrive. Most useful are the chapters on how to incorporate vines into the garden, as groundcovers, growing up trees and shrubs for support, or spreading along walls and fences.

Manual of Climbers & Wall Plants J.K. Burras and Mark Griffiths Portland: Timber Press, 1994

A new and encyclopedic coverage of vines based on The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening, this is the first resource to use when checking current nomenclature, or to find out about an unusual variety of vine. For instance, five varieties of climbing Aconitum are listed, the plant most gardeners know only as the upright blue-spired Monk’s Hood. Inspiring or easy to use it is not, with only a few line drawings and a great number of abbreviations, but it is the most thorough and current reference book on climbing plants.

Gardening with Groundcovers & Vines Allen Lacy

New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993

Pick this book up to research one bit of information, and you won’t put it down until you’ve read it cover to cover. Allen Lacy is literate, opinionated, and knowledgeable, only discussing plants he knows well, or quoting other experts when necessary. He discusses fewer types of vines, but talks about each in depth and personally and you feel like you must have grown them yourself by the time you’ve finished reading.

Clematis as Companion Plants Barry Fretwell

London: Cassell Publishers, Ltd., 1994

Of the many books on clematis (more are listed below), this may be the most useful showing the amazing diversity of types and their possibilities in the garden. Fretwell shares many stunning combinations and gives sufficient information to inspire the gardener to create others of his or her own devising. The traditional pairing of rose and clematis is thoroughly explored in photos and charts, along with less common duos, as in hot pink Clematis ‘Scartho Gem’ weaving up a wall through variegated ivy, and delicate Clematis macropetala ‘Snowbird’ tumbling along the ground with gentian- blue lithodora.

Other titles:

Clematis: The Queen of Climbers Jim Fisk

Cassell, London, 1989

Clematis

Christopher Lloyd Capability’s, Deer Park, Wl, 1989

The National Trust: Wall Plants & Climbers Ursula Buchan Trafalgar Square Publishing North Pomfret, VT, 1992

The American Mixed Border:

Gardens for All Seasons Ann Lovejoy

Macmillan, New York, 1990

Making the Most of Clematis Raymond J. Evison Floraprint, Nottingham, 1991

(left to right)

Valerie Easton, library manager; Martha Ferguson, library technician; Laura Lipton, library manager. Valerie and Laura have been with the Miller Library since its beginning in 1 985 and Martha for seven years.

Garden Notes

Autumn 19 9 5

First Elisabeth C. Miller Memorial Lecture

Monday October 16, 7:30pm, NHS Hall CUH

On Monday, October 16th, Dr.Ghillean Prance, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, will present “Plant Diversity and Conservation from Brazil to Kew Gardens”, the first of the Elisabeth C. Miller Memorial Lectures.

This lecture elebrates the Miller Horticultural Library’s Tenth Anniversary and is sponsored by the Library and the Miller Charitable

Trust. It will be Prance’s first Northwest speaking engagement.

Dr. Prance spent twenty-five years at the New York Botanical Garden before becoming Director of the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. He has led numerous botanical research and exploration expeditions to the Amazon and Brazil and will share his expertise on plant conservation in his talk. There will be a reception following the lecture in NHS Hall.

If you are interested in attending the lecture, please call the library at 543-04 1 5 after September 1 0th to reserve a place. Seating is limited.

Libraiyj Celebrated Tenth Anniverdary

by Laura Lip ton

This year the Elisabeth C. Miller Library is celebrating it tenth anniversary. Conceived in 1983, it became a reality when Pendleton Miller gave $488,000 for its construction as part of the brand-new Center for Urban Horticulture and endowed a paid position for one librarian. The library was to be named after his wife, Betty, one of the founders of NHS.

The Library opened in June 1985 with two half-time librarians: Valerie Easton and Laura Lipton. There were 2,000 books and thirty subscriptions to be sorted cataloged; shelving to be ered; volunteers to be trained; a computer system to install; and policies and procedures to be drafted. We opened our doors to the public the first week we arrived because everyone was so excited to at long-last have a horticultural library in Seattle.

By 1987 we had become the largest horticultural library in the Pacific Northwest serving the general gardening public. The collection had more that doubled to 4,000 books and one hundred subscriptions, thanks in part to the wide-ranging support of plant societies, garden clubs, the Univer¬ sity of Washington, and many generous individuals. Shelves were bulging, and we were without space for storage or growth.

One day in 1987 Betty Miller came to visit and saw boxes of donations stacked on the floor. “This looks messy,” she remarked. Summoning my courage (as was sometimes required with Betty), I seized the moment and declared that we had outgrown our space and needed room for storage, processing, and expansion. “In that case, we

tall build an addition,” she replied matter-of-factly, and a second jfler gift soon arrived.

Construction was completed in 1990, and staff and volun¬ teers spent several weeks moving and rearranging all the books, furniture, and shelves. Following a grand dedication and ribbon

cutting ceremony, the Library forged ahead, expanding its hours and services to the public. Programs, tours, booklists, displays, public speaking, and publishing were added to the librarians’ repertoire.

The Library attracted national attention with a feature article in Sunset magazine (October 1990) and its designation as host for an international conference of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries that same year. 1990 collections included over 6,000 bound volumes, 200 subscriptions, 500 old and rare books, 800 clipping files,

and 1,000 nursery catalogs. Reference questions were up to 6,000 a year.

Expansion of the Library collec¬ tions and services continued with the support of the Millers, NHS, the Arbore¬ tum Foundation, and the many contribu¬ tions from individual gardeners and garden clubs. In 1991, with a gift from NHS, the Library started a lending collection and also added evening hours. Additional gifts in 1992, 1993, and 1994 from NHS made it possible to continue these services as well as others.

In 1994 Library staff answered 10,000 reference questions. By 1995 our books collections had surpassed 7,000 and there were 250 subscriptions. Our reference collection, extended hours, and telephone services were increasingly popular, not only with students and the general public, but also with professional programs throughout the Pacific Northwest such as Edmonds Community College, South Seattle Community College, the American Conifer Society, and the Yakima Area Arboretum. We were receiving reference calls from all over the United States.

It has been a remarkable ten years of growth for the Miller Library. None of it would be possible without continuing community support. As the Library looks ahead to the next ten years, we face the challenge of raising funds for a stable operating budget, as well as expanding hours and services. Seattle is indeed fortunate to have such a resource, thanks to the vision and hard work of so many.

Laura Lipton is a library manager at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library, CUH.

View of Elisabeth C. Miller Library from CUH courtyard.

Garden Notes

Northwest Horticultural Society

Upcoming Events

OCTOBER

_ SEPTEMBER

September 16

10 a.m. - noon

RHODODENDRON SPECIES FOUNDATION CLASS Propagation Basics: Layering and Hard to Grow Seeds Richie Steffen, Nursery Manager/Propagator Second in a series of propagation classes for beginners.

$8 members, $10 non-members Preregistration required by 9/8 (206) 838-4646

September 30

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

RHODODENDRON SPECIES FOUNDATION FALL FESTIVAL & PLANT SALE

October I - 2

Sunday 1 1 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. - noon ARBORETUM FOUNDATION FALL BULB & PLANT SALE A wide variety of unusual plants and bulbs.

Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle

(206) 325-4510

October 3

7:30 p.m. (coffee at 7)

NHS LECTURE

October 18

6:30 - 9 p.m.

CUH CLASS For the Birds

Keith Geller, Landscape Architect and Instructor

Planned in honor of the current Seattle Art Museum display of illustrations from John Audobon’ Birds of America, this course teaches ways to attract birds to your landscape.

$15

September 23

10 a.m. - noon

ARBORETUM FOCUS WALK Ornamental Fruits Tracy Omar, Arboretum Registrar

Discover the many shapes, sizes, and colors of fruits in the Arboretum collections.

$5 payable at the door Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle

(206) 543-8800

September 29 - 30

Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Members Only Preview 9-10 a.m. NHS ANNUAL PLANT SALE Superb quality and often rare plants are a tradition of this sale and range from groundcovers to trees perfect for Northwest gardens, available at the very best time in the year for planting when conditions are optimal. Also, garden sculpture, lectures, activities, advice from experts, open library.

Center for Urban Horticulture 3501 N.E. 41st Street, Seattle (206) 527-1794

Trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and rhododendron species and hybrids.

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

2525 S. 336th Street,

Federal Way (206) 661-9377

Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens David Slawson

Author, noted expert on Japanese gardens (formerly apprenticed with a Japanese garden-maker) offers many ideas well-suited for Northwest garden applications. $7 members, $10 non-members NHS Hall, CUH (206) 527-1794

October 14

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

CUH SYMPOSIUM Perennials Symposium Features Edith Eddleman from North Carolina, Wolf Nicholls from Vancouver, and the Northwest’s Ann Lovejoy.

$45, includes lunch

October 14

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

CASCADE CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY Odd Plants Show & Sale Hardy & tropical cacti, gesneriads, orchids, etc.

Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum (206) 644-2817

Preregistration: (206) 685-8033

October 24

7:30 p.m. (coffee at 7)

NHS LECTURE New Introductions from N^Jci Dr. John Fairey Sc Carl Schoenfeld

Owners, Yucca Doo Nursery, Texas

Expand your knowledge of beautiful plants from south of the border that can thrive happily in our Northwest gardens as well. $7 members, $10 non-members NHS Hall, CUH (206) 527-1794

October 27

7:30 p.m. (coffee at 7)

NHS LECTURE New Asian Plants James Compton Learn from a British plant expert and horticultural explorer about fascinating plants originating in Asia that are adaptable to Northwest landscapes.

$7 members, $10 non-mera^^s NHS Hall, CUH (206) 527-1794

Garden Notes

Autumn 19 9 5

sfrom the Board

Dick Brown has capably steered the course for NHS the past two years. His term of office completed in May, Dick retires with many accomplishments to his credit, including the organization’s steadfast commitment to support the Elisabeth C. Miller Library’s educational programs. A talented computer guru, he brought NHS into the computer age by developing and refining systems for the office. Dick possesses a wealth of horticultural knowledge and strong administrative skills, qualities that enhanced his contributions. In addition to his prominent public role, he gave many hours of service behind the scenes. Dick’s dedicated leadership will long be appreciated.

Two other “retirees”, Judy Williams and Iris Wagner, deserve distinct plaudits for major contributions as NHS officers. Judy served as treasurer for over four years. Her treasurer’s reports reveal all the work entailed in this pivotal job. Judy established systems that will be inherited with appreciation by future treasurers. She donated hundreds of hours of service, performed by herself and her company’s staff, notable among whom is Sarah Ramage. Iris recently served as vice president and assumed leadership of major events, including the gala celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of NHS in 1 992. Among Iris’ long-lasting gifts are her vibrant energy and ability to capably oversee the entirety of a project-all the while attending to important details.

The following members have also completed their terms on the board and are recognized for their generous, steadfast support and talented contributions: Mayde Anderson, Shirley Gorman, Prue Hammett, Barbara Lindberg, Michael Lynn, Emily Moore, and Grace Smith. Each of these individuals has assumed major responsibility for key activities. Their participation is highly valued.

NHS enthusiastically welcomes Doug Bayley as its new president. Doug brings wonderful talents and a strong commitment to his new role. We look forward to the next two years with him at the helm.

Other officers are: Vice Presidents - Peggy Campbell, Eve Mauger, Sue Clark; Recording Secretary - ■ne Titus; Corresponding Secretary - Vernette Cunningham; Treasurer - Susan McGregor; Past President - Dick Brown.

A warm welcome also to the ten newly-elected Board members: Janice Compton, Juley Hoffmeister, Diane Laird, Susan McGregor, Sue Moss, Phyllis Pierce, Susan Pollock, Linda Ransley, Janet Warford, and Daniel Zatz.

President’s Message

It is in awe of my predecessor’s contributions that I step into these shoes. With their outstanding legacy, we are moving boldly forward, responding to the significant desire for horticultural education in the Northwest.

Working with other horticultural organizations, NHS must increase its presence in the community. We need both the continuing encouragement of past supporters as well as the active involvement of all our membership.

I want each member to be well-acquainted with the array of opportunities for participation within NHS and to discover new areas for involvement. Among membership benefits are lectures, garden tours, and plant sales.

Plan to join one of our committees, among which are Library, Garden Notes Quarterly, and Plant Sale, and share your interest and enthusiasm with others. Just call Heidi, Office Manager, at (206) 527-1794 for further information.

Gardening is a wonderful passion, the better for sharing.

Doug Bayley

Congratulations Scholars

Each spring, NHS invites applica¬ tions for its Elisabeth Carey Miller Scholarship. Selection from among this year’s nine very qualified applicants was not easy. NHS thanks each student for the interest and effort shown.

At its Annual Meeting in May, Katherine Glew, Catherine Houck, and David Mandel were recognized as the 1995 Elisabeth Carey Miller Scholars.

Katherine Glew has an impres¬ sive history of studying lichens particularly in the alpine areas of Washington and has been described as a leading lichenologist in the Pacific Northwest. Catherine Houck focuses her studies on the conservation and restoration of ecosystems, including wetlands and prairies, and is a promising contributor to urban horticul¬ ture. David Mandel approaches his study of horticulture from the perspective of landscape architecture, and is credited with emphasizing horticultural excellence in landscape design.

Secuoningj

by Ted Mars ton

Annual Vines

Generally annual vines deliver a major show of color over a longer period of time than perennial or woody vines.. .that’s reason number one for planting them. But many have such great growth rates for screening with different foliage colors and textures, all in the space of a few months, that they have seasonal value in most home landscapes.

Cup and Saucer Vine, or Cathedral Bells ( Cobaea scandens). A quick growing vine (to twenty-five feet if conditions are good). Greenish purple to violet corollas. There’s also a white form. Plant one inch deep when soil is warm.

Hyacinth Bean ( Dolichos lab-lab). Grows ten to fifteen feet in a single season. Graceful cluster of purple or white flowers with broad, dark green leaves are followed by large purplish seed pods. Needs a wire or some other support.

Hops ( Humulus japonicus). ‘Aureus’, the golden-leaved form, comes true from seed and is much prized, especially combined with dark foliage plants. Twining stems grow to thirty feet.

Moonflower ( Ipomoea alba). Night-blooming scented relatives of the morning glory. White flowers are five to six inches in diameter. Start seeds in March. Notch seeds or soak overnight. Grows to twenty feet in a few months. Grown on a screen or trellis.

Morning Glory (Ipomoea nil). The species which provides many of the different morning glory flower colors: ‘Early Call’, ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, and others of red, pink, sky blue, lavender, chocolate, violet, deep blue.

Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit). Fernlike foliage and many red, pink, or sometimes white flowers.

Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor). The species which provides ‘Heavenly Blue’ with loads of forget-me-not blue flowers. Vines grow up to twenty feet in a season.

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus). The Northwest has the perfect climate for sweet peas. Many colors and great fragrance. Start in individual peat pots indoors or sow early outdoors. Soak seed overnight to aid germination. Keep flowers picked to maintain bloom. Provide wire fencing, a string trellis attached to a wall or twiggy branches set into the soil at planting.

Scarlet Runner Beans ( Phaseolus coccineus). Tall climber useful for screening eyesores. Grow on mesh, string, or teepees. Bright scarlet flowers of typical pea shape. In Europe prized as much for eating as for ornament. Look for named varieties in mail order catalogs. Sow seeds in place one-half inch deep when soil is warm.

Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata). Flowers of yellow, gold, and orange with dark centers. Needs a trellis or support of some kind. ‘Susie Mixed’ is most common. T.fragans is a white-flowered species with somewhat larger blossoms and commonly known as ‘Angel Wings’.

Canary Creeper ( Tropaeolum peregrinum). Deeply-lobed leaves and light yellow flowers. Grows eight to ten feet. Flame Flower ( Tropaeolum speciosum) has brilliant vermillion red flowers. Grows from fleshy, perennial roots.

Ted Marston is a Northwest horticultural writer and a regular contributor to magazines.

Northwest Horticultural Society

University of Washington Box 354115

Seattle, Washington 98195-4115 (206) 527-1794

JEAN WITT 16516 25TH NE SEATTLE Wft 96 155

Garden No tea

Quartery Staff

Design and Layout

Studio Ozubko

Editor

Jan Palmer

Book Review Editor

Valerie Easton

Committee

Ted Marston, Chair Trudy Baldwin Doug Bay ley Peggy Campbell Janice Compton Diane Laird Sue Moss Lynn Sonneman

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