Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/greenscene2819edpr THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SEPT./OCT. 1999 • $3.00 Rock Garden Wonders • In Search of Faeries Dangerous Seeds? • New: The Potting Shed CONTENTS 4. The Potting Shed 8. The Little Folk Victoria Mowrer Lashley dares us to believe in faeries, who some say have inhabited our gardens since the beginning of time. She also offers a fascinat- ing history of the faerie fad, highlighted by its peak in Victorian England. 1 4. A Layered Look Art Wolk brings us up to speed on the trend of layering bulbs. Learn how to put in the right plants at the right time to cre- ate an incredible spring effect. If bulb planting is on your autumn schedule, this article will inspire your creativity to no end. 20. Bulb Art Bulb expert Becky Heath helps rein- vent our notions of spring-garden design and gives us a wealth of new planting schemes for the fall bulb planter. Dig it. 26. Bio-Tech Comes to the Garden Pamela Vu unveils the secret world of genetically engineered crops and seeds, many of which are coming to a super- market shelf near you. Do you know what you're eating? This revealing piece will help you find out. 30. Rock of Ages New Jersey’s fabled rock garden — Watnong Nursery — is back and better than ever, says Ruby Weinberg. In this story, she tells us how a non-gardening couple took it over when the previous owners passed away and then began wondrous renovations to the famous garden. There are also plenty of useful new tips for beginning and expert rock gardeners alike. 33. PI ant Societies Invite 34. Cl ossified Ads COVER PHOTO A perfect combination of Tulipa saxatilis 'Lilac Wonder' and Muscari armeniacum 'Heavenly Blue.' Photo by Art Wolk Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Pamela Vu Publications Assistant Erin Fournier Art Design Baxendell Graphics Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appell Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. TIIF, PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Classified Ads and Subscription Services Erin Fournier, (215) 988-8769 efournie@pennhort.org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 [closed in December] Web Site www. liber tynet. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 28, No. 1, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organization at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 ship- ping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 1999 GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cleveland Botanical Garden. Ohio Cox Arboretum. Dayton, Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA Staten Island Botanical Garden. Inc, New York The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Pete Prown If there’s anything that conveys the grace and wonder of growing older, it’s the September garden. Some flower gar- dens revel in a youthful flash of spring bulbs, while others hit their prime a month or so later with peonies, roses, and pop- pies galore. The mid-summer garden glows under the spell of lilies, daisies, and coneflowers, before all but the bravest flower gardeners retreat to their vegetable plots for the dread- ed scorch of August. The September garden, however, can be your finest horti- cultural hour; a moment when late-blooming perennials and various annuals you cut back a month earlier return for a final, glorious blast of color. In my case, after months of fee- ble excuses (“Would you believe it? That darn woodchuck ate all my mums!”), shaky disclaimers (“...oh, you should have really visited last week ”), or just shamelessly blaming any and all weathermen, I can look at my September garden and final- ly say, “It’s looking pretty good right now — will you come for a visit?” The stars of my September garden are asters, heleniums, chrysanthemums, sedums, helianthus, boltonias, impatiens, and zinnias. Just when you thought the August heat would decimate the zinnias, they become fully animated in late sum- mer, especially if you keep deadheading them as you go. There are also many, many asters that thrive in this region, but I go with the obvious one, the New England aster, Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke.’ Its blazing, electric-magenta color is virtually unrivaled at this time of year and, at 4 feet in height, it’s a real standout in our zone. We should all grow asters for this very reason. Finally, for toughness and color combined, the large, drought-resistant Helenium genus — lamentably saddled with the common name “sneezeweed” — sports colors from yellow to dark orange-red. I'm fond of ‘Brilliant,’ a deep-orange perennial whose spherical center is covered with bright yel- Letter From the Edit( low anthers. It’s a marvel in the late-summer garden and looks positively extraterrestrial through the lens of a camera. [See photo] . As you thumb through this edition of Green Scene (while sitting in your radiant September garden, one hopes), you can read about a gardening labor-of-love that’s perhaps looming in your future — planting spring bulbs. Between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, thousands of you will grab a trowel or bulb planter and spend many an hour on your knees planting tulips, crocuses, daffodils, muscari, hyacinth, and more spring gems. Yes, as the patina of the September garden begins to fade, it will soon be time to start thinking about spring. This past March, I visited Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, the home and mail-order headquarters for Brent and Becky Heath. In their vast Gloucester, Virginia test gardens, the couple gave us a tour of daffodils by the thousand, all blooming in one immense field by their house. Brent even demonstrated his special bulb-planting technique. With the energy of a 20-year- old, he knelt down and began quick, assembly-line motions, one hand jabbing the earth open with a trowel and the other popping in a bulb or two. He noted that, when working in this fashion with Becky, the twosome can plant several thou- sand bulbs a day. Granted, if I tried to plant that many bulbs with my achy back. I'd probably be in traction by the end of the day, but his agility was still an inspiration. Once the tour was over, I immediately asked Becky about crafting a story for Green Scene and she graciously consent- ed. In this issue, Becky writes about her garden, which is solely devoted to bulb design. One of her goals is to offer an alternative to the notion of "natu- ralizing,” whereby you throw a handful of bulbs on the ground and plant them where they land. Instead, she has devised many new design patterns that will make your spring garden “a wower.” In a related article, Art Wolk touches on the hot topic of “layering” spring bulbs and plants. To his mind, why stick with one boring level of flowers when you can have two sto- ries of floral color, shape, and texture? Using the hints in this article, you can use bulbs to paint the layered spring garden of your dreams. Finally, in this issue, you'll also notice our new "Potting Shed” section, where we’ll offer even more stories, tips, and news, albeit in capsule form. As you well know, when it comes to gardening info, there’s never too much of a good thing. So enjoy the season. Fall is fast coming upon us, yet it s the perfect time to be outside, enjoying your garden’s grand finale and formulating plans for next year. As for me, 1 11 be out strolling amidst the Alma Potschke’ asters, mentally plotting where to put next spring’s bulbs and, more likely, thinking of ways to avoid straining my back while planting them. Yes, the autumn-bulb planter faces a colorful mix of pleasures and obstacles, especially if you're a lumbar-challenged gardener like me. p£t£ prown greenscene@pennhort.org The Grand Finale 3 green scene / September 1999 photos by Joanne Kostecky Kirk R. Brown is the business manager for Joanne Kostecky Garden Design. Ms. Kostecky is the award-winning designer and photograph- er for her landscape company in Allentown, PA. 4 While driving home from work in Allentown, Raymond Foreback passes acres of deciduous forest, cleared fields of corn and wheat, and the vast reaches of urban sprawl. But what Raymond and his wife Carolyn really love is the lifestyle and climate of the Southwest. Not surprisingly, when they recently decided to build a new home, they wanted to combine the xeriscapes of Arizona and New Mexico with eastern Pennsylvania’s Zone 6 climate. With a thorough landscape plan, local plants were cleverly sited throughout the Foreback’s property to evoke this Southwest spirit. The use of cactus climati- cally suited to this area topped a list of other desert-like plants: yucca, ginkgo, scrubby “bushes” created by lavender and coreopsis, low-growing Stachys , and a winter display of dry flowers and assorted grasses. Each year, spring bursts into bloom with hundreds of daffodils, much like a desert after a rainstorm. The front-entry garden was graced with a seating area of wet-laid glazed brick, while pottery that echoed Native American craftsmanship was added to heighten the effect. In the rear garden, a space was designed featuring an evocative totem pole and a two-level entertaining area with an overhead trellis for twining vines. With everything in place, the Forebacks can now walk around their Allentown yard at dusk and imagine themselves in a lovely desert garden near Santa Fe or Tucson. A margarita, anyone? — Kirk R. Brown NT'S GflRDCn nCT WORLD’S OLDEST FLOWER? The Associated Press recently reported that scientists have discovered what they believe to be the world’s oldest flower, dating back 142 million years. The plant was found in a rock formation in the Chinese village of Beipiao, about 250 miles northeast of Beijing. According to their report, “It is a spindly twig with peapod- shaped fruit, and a woody stem.” David Dilcher, a University of Florida biology professor, adds, “It doesn’t have any beautiful or showy flowers, but it is a flowering plant because it has fruits that enclose seeds. It would have been a very differ- ent world if early flowering plants like this one had not been successful. There would have been no apples, no Wheaties in the morning, no corn on the cob, no potatoes, and no rice or other grains.” EXCITING WEB SITE! If you have access to the Internet, love gardens, and live in the Philadelphia/Wilmington region, this is one web site you won’t want to miss: www.libertynet.org/gardens. It is the product of the Gardens Collaborative, an association of 25 gardens in our area. At this site, you can get information and directions to popular spots like Longwood, Historic Bartram’s Garden, and the Morris Arboretum, as well as newer spots like Chanticleer, Awbury Arboretum, Welkinweir, and more. TOP SHRUB WINS AGAIN. In 1998, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society gave the bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora ) its coveted Gold Medal Plant Award, which honors little known and under- used woody plants. Now, fol- lowing suit, tlie Garden Club of America has given this native its 1999 Freeman Medal. photo by Pete Prown Cottage Garden "The essence of a cottage garden, as it has come down to us through the ages, is a bountiful yet regulated infor- mality. It has evolved through common sense, combines need with enjoy- ment, and is entirely unpre- tentious. ” So begin Christopher Lloyd and Richard Bird in their enchanting new book, The Cottage Garden (DK Publishing, $13-95). Like a midsummer cottage garden, this softcover title is over- Glory flowing from beginning to end with rich text and hun- dreds of gorgeous color photographs. Along the way, you'll pick up count- less tips on the proper plants, techniques, garden features, and recipes of the consummate cottage gar- dener. Indeed, if you’ve ever felt burnt-out by all your outdoor labors, this is a book that will make you fall in love with garden- ing all over again. — Pete Prown Garden Tips: September • Make notes on how well your garden performed this season. A dry season could reveal those plants that are drought hardy or drought intolerant. These notes will help in planning garden varieties for the following season. It’s a great idea to have a variety of plants that are hardy in drought, as well as in wet conditions. Draw a diagram of plant locations, so you'll know where to look for bright green shoots in the spring. • If you are thinking of forc- ing bulbs, plant them in containers now for next year’s enjoyment. Set bulb pans out in a cold frame, or heel them in and cover them with leaves. When bulbs begin to emerge above the surface of the pan, they can be brought into the house for forcing. (If refrigerator space is avail- able, store bulb pans in the refrigerator until they start to emerge from the soil and then bring them out to force.) • You can now purchase perennials at bargain prices. Root-bound containers of perennials can be purchased and divided, because garden centers often have sales on summer plants to make room for fall bloomers. For this same reason, fall is also a great time to shop for con- tainers and garden orna- ments. — Eva Monheim • Now is the time to select and plant spring-blooming bulbs, available at area gar- den centers or by catalog. When planting bulbs, large platter-size holes can be dug to place many bulbs in at once for a clustered effect (6-8 inches average depth, depending on size of bulb). Or they can be planted sin- gularly, to give a more scat- tered or sparse appearance. • Thin out spring- and mid- summer-blooming perennials with more than two or three flower clusters. Dividing them now will enable the new clusters to enlarge for next year. This is the time when perennials put their energy into root production for more robust plant growth next season. The shrub is a low-maintenance specimen whose large-white sum- mer flowers are set against a bold leaf texture. Growing to 12-feet high with a 15-foot span, the buckeye prefers partial shade and acid soil. It’s deer resistant, too, making it a highly suitable shrub for mid-Atlantic gardens. RF.ISSUES FOR READERS. Mariner Books has just reissued The Essential Earthman, a land- mark collection of essays by Washington Post gardening editor, Henry Mitchell. The late journal- ist's wit and deep horticultural knowledge pervade each chapter and will provide a wonderful read for the coming months of fall and winter. Also being reissued are Laughter on the Stairs and Sunlight on the Lawn, the second and third install- ments of the Merry Hal! trilogy by famed garden scribe, Beverly Nichols. If you like humor — no, make that sinfully delicious sar- casm— mixed with your horticul- tural literature, then these superb Timber Press books should fit your fancy. Highly recommended. ACADEMIC FARMING. Wilson College, the all-women’s college in Chambersburg, PA, has recently announced a unique program for feeding its students. Using a $30,000 grant from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Wilson intends to grow its own food for students and buy crops from local farmers. The col- lege also plans to raise its own livestock for meat. Wilson and HSUS want to encourage and pre- serve local, sustainable agriculture, and their goal is to eventually pro- vide 30% of the food consumed at the college (currently, they only produce 1%). We wish them the best of luck in their endeavors. The Gardener's Bookshelf Wild Orchids Across North America by Philip E. Keenan ( Timber Press, 321pp , hardcover, $39.95) Level: All levels Pros: Beautiful photographs and helpful diagrams; quick reading Cons: None After reading Philip Keenan’s book, you may never view botany in the same light. The author takes the reader on his travels throughout North America, teaching all the way. He not only discusses each orchid habitat, but also describes the sights and sounds of the woods they grow in. To keep readers on their toes, he talks about his personal experiences, including help- ful information for outdoor survival. Keenan’s encounter with a black bear in Alaska, for example, adds to an exciting dimension of the book and also reminds us that, sometimes, plants worth viewing are not always in the most accessi- ble areas. Visually, Keenan's superb photography is done with a sensitive eye for detail. Perhaps that is why this book is not like those old, dry textbooks that only deal with nomenclature and botanical structures. Indeed, if you are a new orchid enthusiast, this book may get you hooked for life. The author shares his knowledge on botany and zoology in a subtle manner — which is really the way things should be taught — and he succeeds in sharing his entire appreci- ation of the environment. — Eva Monheim Natural Stonescapes by Richard L. Dube, APLD & Frederick C. Campbell (Taunton, 183pp, softcover, $24.95) Level: All levels Pros: A fine “how-to” on adding rocks to the garden Cons: So-so illus- trations > For some of us, a garden just isn't a garden unless it has a dramatic rock fea- ture. Certainly, when you add just the right stone or two, one’s garden is sud- denly tied into the larger landscape in an indelible way (something Japanese “Zen” gardeners have known about for centuries). To that end, Natural Stonescapes seems a solid resource for gardeners and homeowners who want to add rocks to their home landscape. From small groupings to large-scale cliff formations (such as for a waterfall into a pond), this book covers the bases thor- oughly, including useful top- ics as choosing the site, how to lay out aesthetically pleas- ing arrangements, and how to move huge boulders with the proper tools or even a Bobcat loader. The accompanying color photos and pencil drawings are good, but not outstand- ing; then again, this wasn’t meant to be a coffee-table book. It’s a practical “idea book" for the homeowner or garden designer and suc- ceeds in that light. If you want to create a garden that’s out of the ordinary, Natural Stonescapes makes sure your projects don’t leave you between a rock and a hard place. — Pete Prown * Night Gardening by E. L. Swann (Hyperion, 215pp. hardcover, $16.95) Level: All levels Pros: A garden tale that appeals to the intellect and heart Cons: The tale had to come to an end There is fiction you read to pass the time, while lying on the beach or as a distrac- tion from the mundane morning commute. And then there are books like E.L. Swann’s Night Gardening , that stirs your imagination, awakens your senses, and renews your hope in love and humanity, leaving you with lingering thoughts to savor. Swann skillfully weaves a simple tale of 60-something love between Maggie and Tristan. She, a 6l-year-old stroke victim and widow of an alcoholic, is left to pick up the pieces of her frac- tured life. He, a New Hampshire import and top- notch landscaper, is hired by Maggie's affluent neighbors to transform their Cambridge, Massachusetts’ estate into a multi-dollar wonderland. Together, they cultivate their shared passion for horticulture into a new found love for one another. Working only in the night, the two (garden) lovers slowly bring Maggie’s neglected beds to life. Swann describes this with arresting beauty and tender- ness, as well as the Zen-like transcendence that can come with total immersion in hor- ticulture. As the garden is nourished back to health, Maggie too regains her vital- ity and exuberance for life. Although the romantic plot steers away from the maudlin, I’m afraid that men may dismiss it as another tear-jerker. But regardless of gender, this simplistic tale ably conveys the spiritual dimension of gardening, which anyone can appreci- ate. Retreat to your favorite place and find out for your- self. — Pamela Vu | green scene / September I 999 6 Wooden Fences by George Nash ( Taunton , 240pp, softcover, $22.95) Level: All levels Pros: Easy and inspiring, with very readable instruc- tions on construction Cons: Projects require elab- orate planning, labor, and a considerable financial invest- ment “It’s the line we draw to separate 'mine' from ‘not mine,' and ‘this’ from that.’ Whether the message is keep out' or 'do come in '. . . move along' or 'tarry’ a while, ’ a fence, by its very nature, cannot help but be signifi- cant. ” George Nash expertly and eloquently writes about the historical significance and styling of America's most common landscape feature, the wooden fence. Photographer James P. Blair also provides much inspira- tion through his color pho- tos, demonstrating the func- tions, designs, and visual possibilities of wooden fenc- i ing. Later chapters skillfully instruct on every' possible aspect of construction, such as suggesting materials, advising on long-term care, laying fence lines, digging anchor posts, hanging a gate, and putting on finish- ing details. In addition, the book wisely discusses zon- ing laws and offers sage advice for working with neighbors. If you don’t have a wooden fence, after read- ing this book you'll most likely want one and, clearly, this is the perfect guide to have on hand for the job. — Erin Fournier \ AHS Great Plant Guide (I)K Publishing, Inc., 573pp . softcover, $16.95) Level: Intermediate to advanced Pros: Good background information and graphics; handy pocket guide Cons: Several editing errors where information is incom- plete or missing As a horticulturist, I find this book from the American Horticultural Society to be an excellent resource for general backgrounds on over 2,000 plants, all with photographs. Pictures are clear, and the handy guide and key make it easy to fol- low. If you know Latin plant names, this is an excellent plant guide, but definitely not for beginners, although the general information at the beginning of the book is detailed enough for any gar- dener. This section includes: Shopping for Good Plants, Choosing the Right Plants, Choosing a Healthy Plant, Preparing the Soil, and Understanding Plant Names. All of these subjects are important in the decision- making process for your gar- den. This is also a great book to take with you when you are shopping for perennials. Information tags may be on the containers, but this book will give more information than the plant tag has to offer. AHS Great Plant Guide could be made more appeal- ing to a larger audience if there was a cross-reference of common plant names. There are several areas where editing falls short of perfect. There is one page where the text tails off with no continuation and there are several areas that are inconsistent in editing style. The unique feature of this handy guide is the key for plant temperature ranges. The guide shows the extremes that the plants can tolerate. I have never seen this detail in a guidebook before, which makes it more universally appealing. With a few tweaks, this book could be the perfect portable guide. —EM Classic Garden Structures by Jan and Michael Gertley (Taunton, 183pp, softcover, $19.95) Level: All levels Pros: Thorough guide to several garden-construction projects Cons: No designs for arches or pergolas Handy with a hammer and power saw? If so, this book may interest you. Classic Garden Structures guides you through 18 construction pro- jects, including designs for a tomato trellis, strawberry tower, raised bed, cold frame, potting bench, obelisk, and even a complete greenhouse. Each project is laid out with concise, step-by-step prose and plenty of diagrams, sup- ply lists, and measurements. I especially like the first chapter on “Tools and Supplies” that will help beginner-to-interme- diate-level woodworkers get a handle on projects to come. As far as criticisms, it would have been useful if the authors had ratings for each project on its level of difficulty, so beginners wouldn't inadvertently attempt a complicated pro- ject, such as building one's own greenhouse. I also wish they had included plans for an arch and pergola, two rather obvious garden pro- jects. But overall, I was pleased with the approach, information, and clean graphic layout of Classic Garden Structures. You never know: it might bring out the Bob Vila in you. —PP green scene / September 1 999 | “Midsummer Eve,” by E.R. Hughes, c. 1900, watercolor with gouache on paper mounted on board. This painting follows the tradi- tional style of faerie paint- ing, but anticipates the next development in faerie art, the enormously popular “flower painting” era. This, however, created a large body of work deemed trite by the public and it eventu- ally destroyed the genre. <*> i ’life by Victoria Mowrer Lashley emember Peter Pan’s famous appeal: “Do you believe in faeries? Then clap your hands!” W.B. Yeats would have clapped. So would William Blake, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and many other great thinkers and artists of all varieties. Have you ever seen a faerie in your garden or nearby woods? Better still, would you like to? An Enchanted History Tales of the wee folk — elves, sprites, and all the kindred spirits of flower, field and for- est— predate written documents. Even though reports of faerie sightings are few and far between these days, the tales of the J'ae or "faerie tales” have persisted in our own her- itage and remain quite intriguing. I low many stories can you recall with a faerie or goblin in it? Just think for a moment: The Tales of King Arthur, The Troll Under the Bridge, The Lady of the Lake, or Rumpelstiltskin. One notable faerie character, the leprechaun, is essential to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration — a favorite holiday for thousands of people, Irish or not. Faerie appeal, it seems, is no more bound by cultural barriers than it is by physical ones. The realm of faeries and elves is divided into four groups: the earth spirits (elves, gnomes, and trolls); the water spirits (nymphs, undines, and water sprites); the air spirits (sylphs); and the fire spirits (sala- manders). The European faerie seems to have originated in Italy, where they were known as fatae. With the expansion of the Roman empire of 2,000 years ago, the fatae were introduced through storytelling to other countries. In France, fatae was cor- rupted to fee. The Brits anglicized it to fays, which the country folk eventually changed to faerie (now also spelled “fairy” or “faery”). Although most of the information today about faeries reflects a European tradition, the idea of nature spirits dwelling invisibly amongst humans is universal. Native Americans of the Cherokee tribe, for exam- ple, know them as nunnehi, which trans- lates into “moon-eyed people.” 9 green scene / September 1999 “The Chase of the White Mice” by John Anster Fitzgerald, 1864, oil on canvas. A dark, mesmerizing image that reveals the undercurrent of cruelty that exists in many faerie paintings. The dazzling colors and jewel-like detail distract from the thorny weapons wielded by the faeries to goad the mice. Faerie Art “I knoiv a bank whereon the wild thyme blows, Where ox lips and the nod- ding violet grows; Quite over-canopied with tush ivoodbine, With sweet musk roses, and with eglantine: There sleeps Titania, sometime of the night, Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight. And there the snake throws her enamel - I’d skin, Weed wide enough to wrap a faerie in. (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II. Scene 1) The Elizabethan audience for whom this was written for was quite familiar with the faerie realm and would not have doubted that such a world could mirror our own. Interest in faeries has waxed and waned since the Victorian era when obsession with the natural world, including faeries, reached its zenith. Today, however, there is a resurgence that cannot be denied. A visit to a recent exhibit of faerie painting also supports the current revival. Entitled “Victorian Faerie Painting,” this exhibit traveled to several locations worldwide, including the esteemed Frick Collection in New York, where it was a huge success. The world of the faerie, as perceived by Victorian oil painters, was revealed in all its magnificent detail. A more local “faerie exhibition” was held at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 1998 Philadelphia Harvest Show. The theme for the Pressed Flower competition was “Harvest Faeries.” Many delightful entries depict- ed faeries as seen or imagined by their creators. The winners of this class were green scene / September 1 999 10 Susan Schuehler's first-place entry in the "Flower Fairies of the Ftarvest" category, from the 1998 Philadelphia Harvest Show. Houdini and Peter O’Toole as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes adventures. This film brings to life the intriguing story of the Cottingley faerie photographs taken in a Yorkshire garden between 1917 and 1920. Two lit- tle girls, Frances Griffiths and her cousin Elsie Wright, claimed to have seen faeries by 'the beck” (i.e., a stream near their house) in Cottingley, a village near Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. To prove their claim, they borrowed a Midge quarter-plate camera from Elsie’s father and proceeded to photograph the Susan Schuehler, Eugene Burkhart, Marcia Evans, and Hedy Sirico, but unlike the work of the Victorian painters at the Frick, the Harvest Show entries were collaborations with nature, using real flowers, leaves, and plant-derived pigments. Faeries and faerie land have been represented by the film industry since the days of Peter Pan. The recent flurry of film activity in the area includes Tfje Borrotvers, Labyrinth, and, recently, Fairy Tale : A True Story, starring such heavyweights as Harvey Keitel as Harry 11 green scene / September 1 999 Tale of th£ Tulip According to English folklore, tulips were once used as cradles for faerie children. A tale from Devon tells of a woman who grew lots of tulips in her garden because she once went out at night and saw the faerie babes sleeping in them. After she died, the man who moved into her cottage dug up all the tulips because he thought they were useless, and instead planted vegetables and parsley. This so enraged the faeries that every night they would dance on the vegetables, tear their roots out of the ground, and shred the pars- ley leaves. Only on the woman's grave were the tulips still big and beautiful and fragrant. In time, though, the grave was forgotten, the tulips were trampled, and the faeries withdrew far away. Since then, says the legend, tulips have lost their size and splendor. "The recognition of faeries' exis- tence will jolt the material twentieth century out of its heavy ruts in the mud, and will make it admit that there is a glamour and a mystery to life." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle "The Faun and the Fairies" by Daniel Maclise, 1 834, oil on board. This painting's outer bor- ^ der is formed by a double rainbow, which is T "magically significant." Born in Cork, Ireland, 3_ Maclise (1806-1870) was a lifelong friend of Charles Dickens and a member of the Royal 5 Academy. 0 5 sprites they swore they saw. But we § don’t want to give away what happens, 5 so see the film — it’s a charmer for all ^ ages. s Faeries Amidst the Flowers The fact that these films and the Frick exhibit were conceived at this point in time in history and were well received by their modern audiences makes per- fect sense. The Victorians were drawn to the world of the faerie for several rea- sons, not least of which was a feeling of separation from nature brought on by industrialization. Perhaps we too are feeling that same sense of separation from nature at a deep, subconscious level. Perhaps our modern equivalent is the byproduct of another period of rapidly advancing technology, in our | green scene / September 1 999 12 M c~a.se, computers and the Internet. As for horticulture, it is more likely that more gardeners believe in, or even see, faeries than non-gardening folk. If they do not exacdy believe, they have little difficulty imagining the possibility and that is what is important: imagina- tion. Our imaginations are most active during childhood. In many ways, gar- deners are also quite childlike. They are typically held in awe at the glory of gar- dening and its gifts. Indeed, colors, smells, textures, and sounds enrapture them. They are able to imagine impossi- ble gardens as they sit by the January' fire thumbing through stacks of cata- logs, and then proceed to order many more seeds and plants than they possi- bly have time to sow and reap. Put this together with the fact that faeries reside everywhere there are gardens, trees, or woods, and the chances of an adult gar- dener having an encounter with a faerie becomes quite likely. If you are so inclined to attract faeries to your garden, it is important that it be an environment that welcomes all living beings. Put up birdhouses, birdbaths and feeders, and bat houses. Plant flow- ers for hummingbirds, bees, and butter- flies. Fountains, waterfalls, and fish- ponds are favorite places for faeries to dwell — they adore floating on waterlily pads. They' would be most appreciative of a “wild space,” too. It need not be a large space, as they are not very big. Whatever you do to bring life to your garden will bring faeries as well. They will be pleased by your efforts and, if you keep your eyes, ears and mind open, you will be aware of their pres- ence. Now, please, clap your hands! ❖ Victoria Mowrer Lashley is a regular con- tributor to Green Scene. ft few fd£ri£ plants Cowslips: Beloved by the faeries, since they aid in finding faerie gold. Foxglove: Their florets are worn as hats and gloves. Ragwort: The faeries’ horse. Clover: Four-leafed ones can break a faerie spell. Oak: When an oak stump sends up shoots. Oakmen are born. (Oakmen are guardian faeries of the forest who live in oak trees. All the trees and beasts of the woods fall under their protection.) Pansies: A faerie love potion. Primroses: Makes the invisible visible. Bluebells: Fields of bluebells are interwoven with faerie spells. St. John’s Wort: Used by faeries as a healing herb. ri 13 green scene / September 1999 j Without thr^lfing,yau’re pulled towards /it by uhseeh arms that Hold /foo_ _a$; sensuously' as^a/ lover’s embrace. The closer you get, /the tighter the garden'd grasp, V until your senses can barely withstaiuTthe delights of Ori^sApril flower /border. Make no mistake: The garden may be There are no hard-and-fast rules to lay- ered flower gardens. Here, forget-me- nots ( Myosotis sylvatica 'Early Bird Blue') make up the upper layer when combined with grape hyacinths [Muscari armeni- acum 'Heavenly Blue'). all photos by Art Wolk a temptress, b The Early Layered Garden The most sumptuous layered spring flower gardens are produced every7 year at Longwood Gardens. Fortunately, their horticultural artisans have been very7 forthcoming in sharing their techniques, which are described here. Just follow these simple steps to produce your own glorious garden of layered color. If you decide to aim towards a lay- ered garden in mid-April, when early tulips and mid-season daffodils are in bloom, there are two good choices for "ground-floor” color. The very best bulb for the lower level is the grape hyacinth C Muscari sp.). It blooms in clusters of purple or white racemes that begin opening on the lower part of the bloom stem and work their way up. taking a month to complete their performance. This gives you a huge window-of- opportunity to combine them with upper-level flowers. The other bulb used at Longwood for ground-floor color in the early garden is the hyacinth ( Hyacinth us). Although its flowers are not as long-lived as Muscari, it works well because it has such a large cluster of flowers. When planning your layered garden, simplicity should be your byword. Always strive to have a uniform color within each level, otherwise you’ll create nothing but confusion for the eye. In addition. y7ou should have masses (also called “drifts”) of color measuring at least 3 feet by 4 feet for best visual impact. Remember: drifts, not lines, are what's needed in these types of gardens. If your bottom layer is white, as can be produced by Muscari botryoides Album.’ then the top layer can be virtu- ally any color. But if you use purple grape hyacinths ( Muscari armeni- aciun), then give some thought to what color combination is the most pleasing to your eye. I like pink or any7 of the cooler colors with purple muscari. but abhor red or yellow. Ultimately the most important person to please is yourself, not a neighboring garden guru. Just be sure to do a bit of color planning, so things don't end up looking like clothes whipping around in your dryer. That won't seduce anyone, not even garden slugs! Once you’ve obtained your bulbs, planting can begin. This is best accom- plished by laying the bulbs on top of the soil in the exact location where they're to be buried. If you’re planting | green scene / September 1 999 hyacinths for your lower level, then interplant them with tulips or daffodils, spacing the bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart and planting them approximately 6 inches deep. Within each drift, the bulbs are alter- nated approximately 1:1, meaning that within each row, you plant, for exam- ple, a hyacinth, then a tulip, a hyacinth, then a tulip, and so on. At Longwood. I noticed that if they “erred,” it was always on the side of having an excess of ground-floor bulbs, all to a good result. When you get to the second and succeeding rows, be sure to stagger your plantings. Otherwise, each type of bulb will be too linear, destroying the massed effect you desire. If you're planting grape hyacinths for lower-layer color, lay these bulbs on the soil 2 to 3 inches apart. Then place your tulips or daffodils approximately 5 to 6 inches apart, and make space for them by removing the excess grape hyacinths. The Muscari are planted 3 inches deep. The Late Layered Garden If you decide to aim \7our layered gar- den for late April or early7 May, you have a lot more choices of ground-floor plants. You can still use grape hyacinths, catching them at the tail end of their bloom cycle. But there's also a host of biennials that can be used to comple- Harvest Show This Month! Looking for some fall inspiration? Come to the 1999 Philadelphia Harvest Show, a must-visit annual event from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Running from September 17-19 at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park, the Harvest Show is fun both to attend and compete in. This year's theme is “Harvest Luau.” PITS members will receive 1999 Harvest Show booklets through the mail, while non-members can contact us direct- ly for further details. For more information, call (215) 988-8800, fax (215) 988-8810. or email Flossie Narducci at fharducc@peiiiiborl.org. 16 ment the blooms on the “second floor.” The plants used most at Longwood are pansies ( Viola x wittrockiana ), English daisies ( Beilis perennis ), and forget-me- nots ( Myosotis sylvatica). As for sowing your biennials, you have two choices: 1) You can either start them from seed in late July or early August and interplant them with bulbs from late September to early October. 2) You can also sow the seeds later, up until October, and winter the plants in cold frames or unheated greenhouses. In late winter or early spring, the plants that were started late are then transplanted into your flower bed, between the emerging bulb foliage. As it turns out, these types of biennials love the cool conditions in a wintertime cold frame or unheated greenhouse, and they become extremely large plants by March. I start biennial seeds in Pro-Mix BX, which is a typical soil-free mix that has the right combination of water reten- tion, air. and nutrients that are so impor- tant to infant plants. Seeds are sown densely in 6-inch by 8-inch containers and, after germination, they're trans- planted into flats containing 24 “cells” or compartments. Once your biennial seedlings are in separate containers or cells, gradually7 get them acclimated to a full day7 of outdoor sunlight. Planting Bulbs and Biennials If you started your seeds early, by late September you'll have bulbs and plants galore. Now comes the consummation of all your efforts: marrying the two to create your most sensuous spring gar- den ever. What you're after is a tapestry of plants and bulbs. As with the all-bulb layered garden, the two should be com- bined in drifts at least 3 feet by 4 feet. Again, within each drift, the bulbs and plants are alternated 1:1. As described previously, successive rows are stag- gered. The distance between the center of a plant and where the bulb is buried can vary7 from 6 inches to 10 inches, depending on the dimensions of the plant and bulb foliage. Daffodils, with their grass-like foliage, and some tulips, with narrow, upright leaves, can be 17 green scene / September 1999 interplanted with biennials at closer dis- tances. Tulips with wider, more hori- zontal leaves need more space in a lay- ered garden or they'll hide the ground- floor plants. Above all else, make your drifts as large as possible. Remember: the best flower gardens are those with the sim- plest design. To help your biennials make it through the winter without suf- fering damage, apply a 3- to 6-inch layer of a loose mulch, like pine needles. The mulch stabilizes temperatures around the plants and prevents winter wind and sun from drying them out. As the weath- er becomes warmer in late winter, the mulch should gradually be removed. If you’ve started your biennials late (see option #2 above), then transplant- ing into the garden can begin in March. Way back in the fall when you planted your bulbs, you had to space them to allow sufficient room for the biennials to be transplanted from your cold frames. By now most of your biennials will already be in bloom. So once they’re transplanted, your garden will have the look of spring. At this point, it’s just a matter of waiting until the bulbs are in bloom to have the layered garden of your dreams. Other Possibilities With the great variety of bulbs and biennials in the plant kingdom, you aren’t limited to the standard ground- floor and second-story plants. By expanding the “architectural” bound- aries of your layered gardens, innova- tive combinations can be produced. This year, Longwood had a layered border of forget-me-nots coming through a lower layer of grape hyacinths. Although diminutive, this lay- ered garden had all the beauty of its larger cousins. And, while the forget- me-nots and grape hyacinth bedfellows pushed the layered garden to the extremes of the minuscule, the Longwood staff also flexed their creative muscles at the other end of the dimen- sional spectrum by combining daffodils and a smattering of Fritillaria imperi- alis. There, in late April, tall drifts of Narcissus Queen of Bicolors’ were wedded with even taller Fritillaria imperialis Lutea Maxima’, producing the perfect marriage of NBA-sized bulbs. If you’re really ready to push the hor- | green scene / September 1 999 18 Example of /tbbtbbt\ planting /bbbbbbbbbb\ pattern where /tbbtbbtbbtbbt\ the bottom /BBBBBBBBBBBBBB \ layer is /TBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTB \ Muscari /bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbX (grape hyacinth) and the top layer is tulip or daf- fodil. Note the Xtbbtbbtbbtbbtbbtbbtbbtbx / BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB ) /TBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBT / /BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB J /BBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBB ^ rows. T = top-layer bulbs B = bottom-layer grape hyacinths [Distance between bulbs is 2-3 inches, depending on which bulbs or biennials are used.] ticultural envelope, why not take the next step by creating a triple-layered garden? These flower beds, which invariably leave visitors awestruck, can be produced by combining biennials with both medium and tall tulips. In 1995, Longwood produced one of their most breathtaking springtime gardens ever. The flower beds contained a triple layer of color using pansies ( Viola x wit- trockiana ‘Melody Purple and White’), medium-sized white tulips ( Tulipa 'Purissima'), and taller purple tulips (T. ‘Pandion’). It was a horticultural delight that transfixed every visitor. Give It A Try All of these layered gardens are far less difficult to produce than they appear. It's just a matter of making the commitment of time and resources. So this fall, when you’re purchasing bulbs for next year’s spring garden, go ahead and give layered flower gardens a try. With a bit of effort, it'll be the most seductive one you’ve ever pro- duced. Just one bit of advice: Be very careful who you invite to see it or you might be sending the wrong message to your visitor! ❖ Art Wolk writes and lectures on a variety of garden topics and has also just won the Quill & Trowel Award from the Garden Writers Association of America for his March 1 998 Green Scene article, "Planting the Seeds for Future Gardeners." He would like to thank the staff of Longwood Gardens for their assistance with this story, especially Elizabeth Sullivan and Michelle McCann. Bulb Sources • John Scheepers, Inc. 23 Tulip Drive Bantam, CT 06750 (860) 567-0838 • Dutch Gardens P.O. Box 200 Adelphia, NJ 07710-0200 (800) 818-3861 • Van Engelen, Inc. 23 Tulip Drive Bantam, CT 06750 (860) 567-8734 • Brent and Becky’s Bulbs 7463 Heath Trail Gloucester, VA 23061 (877) 661-2852 Seed Sources • Stokes Seeds P.O. Box 548 Buffalo. NY 14240-0548 (800) 2 63-7233 • Park Seed 1 Parkton Ave. Greenwood, SC 29647-0001 (800) 845-3369 • Thompson & Morgan P.O. Box 1308 Jackson, NJ 08527-0308 (800) 274-7333 19 '/ox/ by Becky I loath Photograph r, by Brant I iaath erhaps the best part about owning and running our own bulb company is that my husband and I can spark people’s inter- est in bulbs and help them garden more successfully. At our 10-acre farm/headquarters in eastern Virginia, I was allotted a 14-foot by 236-foot section to plan and plant as a “teach- ing garden,’’ something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It was not specifi- cally designed to be aesthetically pleasing, but instead to generate as many ideas about bulb design as pos- sible. I divided the area into 15 differ- ent, home-sized gardens, each with a different color scheme, planting tech- nique, layout idea, and plant combina- tion. Here are a few of the fresh bulb- planting ideas I discovered along the way, all of which you can use in your own home gardens. Z Bright Ideas fc ■ .-I mo ■ i >V4'r a: a ,1 v a, i ■ ’ \ -■ ** 4 \'\ < \v* >:/tv * -■> ••• - ^ -v ^ . jfZ. >4 r-4 .1 ' - * < ■ ; • , • - . . •' ‘ . ' . V-r ' / - ^ ‘A1 f / /A,. . *^7 \>. . . - ^ A, -r * ' - v i- - - . - • , , " / . < . - -r* f. - . ... r_. "** t green scene / September 1 999 There are various color schemes and themes running throughout my teaching garden. I have one all-white garden; one with only pinks, purples, and whites; one with pink, white, and blue; a couple with all yellow; and others that have no color scheme at all. Most gar- dens are oval-shaped, a couple are like “knot gardens,” and one is rectangular- shaped. Because each garden flows and angles right into the next one, it was a delight to gather our touring visitors around each bed and watch their eyes light up, clearly conjuring up ideas of their own. The bed closest to our house, dubbed Garden #15, was designed to be an all- yellow garden, planted in mass. That means I wanted each bulb to bloom solidly and evenly all over that garden. 1 used a small piece of concrete rein- forcing wire with 6-inch squares as a template to get the even planting that I envisioned. Because I wanted this gar- den to be filled to the brim with flow- ers, I used a large, tubular bulb planter and dug a hole about 9- to 10-inches deep, dropping one bulb each of Tulipa ‘Daydream’, Narcissus 'Flower Carpet’ and Narcissus ‘Stratosphere’ into each hole, right on top of each other. In the holes around the edges of this garden, I put a little soil on top of the three larger bulbs and drop in a Muscari (grape hyacinth) or Chionodoxa (glory of the snow) bulb to add a little blue color and something shorter to give the other “barefooted” bulbs some prover- bial shoes and socks. Narcissus ‘Flower Carpet’ bloomed first, followed by Narcissus ‘Stratosphere’ and then by the tulip Daydream' but their blooms overlapped nicely. It was a mass of yel- low and one of the first areas to bloom on our farm. This expanse of 55-mph color was a real eye-catcher, and it stayed in bloom almost all spring. I planted Garden #1, which is located closest to our office, in a similar fashion using a pink-and-white theme with Tulipa Apricot Beauty’, the daffodils ‘Accent’ and 'Mary Gay Lirette’, and Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' (summer snowflake) with a smattering of Muscari and Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’ for good measure. The softness of the colors in this garden drew lots of “Ooo's and Ah’s” from our visitors. Since the bulbs were planted so close together and right on top of each other, we’ve taken great care to apply some extra daffodil fertilizer and bulb booster in hopes these bulbs will con- tinue to bloom happily for many years to come. One idea that appeals to children of all ages is using plants to spell out words. We’ve seen many letters and words in front of numerous businesses, schools, and cities across the country. I decided to plant a large “H” in Garden #10, but I wanted it to be subtle, wish- ing to see how quickly people would notice it. Again, I used mostly yellow daffodils, but created the “H” with the largest and darkest yellow ( Narcissus ‘Gigantic Star’), planting the area between the legs of the “H” with a smaller and slightly lighter-colored yel- low (N. ‘Pipit’) and used an even short- er and lighter-colored yellow on the outsides (N. ‘Jack Snipe’). Sometimes | green scene / September J 999 22 An overview of Becky's teaching garden in full spring splendor. My family enjoys sitting on the bench at the end of a busy day, relishing not only in the garden's beauty, but also the wonderful combined fragrances. visitors would spot it right away; other times, we’d have to ask if they saw a specific design in that garden. We had a lot of fun with this one and I plan to continue the “H” theme throughout the rest of the year with summer bulbs, perennials, and annuals. Our second son, Duke, helped with my favorite, the Fragrance Garden. It is right in the center of the whole area (Garden #8), and is the only one with a straight path through it and two bench- es right in the middle facing each other. The area is filled with fragrant bulbs of all types in nice big clumps, and we thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the benches at the end of a busy day, rel- ishing not only in the garden’s beauty, but also the wonderful combined fra- grances. All gardens are creations in progress, but that applies particularly to this garden. I will continue to add fra- grant flowers and shrubs for the other seasons, plus we’ll incorporate four small Myrobalan plum trees ( Primus cerasifera Atropurpurea’) for added color, fragrance, and needed shade dur- ing our hot Virginia summer. Brent did a great job with Garden #3, where I wanted large clumps of tulips in What is a Bulb? The term “bulb” is really a catchall for bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes. In reality, they are all quite different in their struc- ture. Corms, such as crocus and gladiolus, are swollen leaf stems that provide one season’s growth before producing new “cormlets.” Rhizomes are horizontally grow- ing stems that creep below ground level, producing roots and aerial stems. Good examples are daylilies, lily of the valley, and bearded iris. Tubers are swollen sections of stem, branch, or root used for storage — think of dahlias or cyclamen. Finally, bulbs are modified buds with fleshy scales or leaf bases, such as tulips, daf- fodils, and lilies. — Erin Fournier green scene / September 1999 24 very even sections. He used long pieces of bamboo to divide the garden into five separate areas. With a different tulip planted in each section, it was an incredibly colorful sight. Each area was divided by a very straight invisible line, making it seem very rigid at first. However, we planted lots of Muscari armeniacum around the edge of this multi-color-schemed, geometric-shaped garden, softening the effect and tying it together. Muscari is one of those bulbs that works in almost every garden and it really did its job in this one. Garden #1 was the biggest surprise of all. Many of our customers like mixtures and normally buy a mixture of daffodils or tulips. Because these mixtures have a tendency to bloom sporadically, they often don't have a lot of focal impact, so 1 decided to plant a mixture to show our visitors what not to do. We got carried away, however, and planted a real hodge podge, with many types of daf- fodils, tulips, hyacinths, fritillarias, cro- cus, and anemones. There was no par- ticular design plan to this garden, but it was filled with an abundance of colors and fragrances, and stayed in bloom for- ever. Amazingly, it turned out to be one of our most popular gardens. 1 was the one who learned a lesson with this gar- den, so the laugh was on me. It was great fun thinking up as many possible combinations as I could for my “teaching garden." It was made more beautiful with the addition of the great benches in the Fragrance Garden and the arbors at each entrance, made espe- cially for me by my father, whom I adore. In all, there are endless plant possibilities for today’s gardeners to experiment with and to help create almost any garden mood. The only real design “wrongs” are when plants are put in unsuitable situations, making them very unhappy and unhealthy. But as long as you love the look and the plants are happy and thriving, then that’s all that matters, right? ❖ Becky and Brent Heath are the proprietors of Brent & Becky's Bulbs, a mail-order busi- ness in eastern Virginia. You can contact them or request a copy of their catalog at: 7463 Heath Trail, Gloucester, VA 23061, toll free (877) 661-2852, fax (804) 693- 9436, www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com BULB BANDITS Plagued by bulb-eating critters in your garden? Well, fear not... here are a few precautions you can take to prevent those wily creatures like squirrels, rabbits, moles, voles, and deer from making lunch out of your latest bulb planting. • First and foremost, use daffodils. Because of their unpleasant taste, critters will not touch them. • Experts on the PHS hotline [215-988-8777, 9:30 am to noon, Monday- Friday] suggest you lay aluminum chickenwire on top of the planted area, using stakes or nails to hold it firmly in place. Make sure you extend the mesh at least 6 inches outside the planted area, as this will prevent especially ambitious rabbits and squirrels from burrowing to the bulbs. The flowers will grow neatly through the holes and you can cover it with a light mulch (1-2 inches). It will also deter deer, since they’re afraid of getting their hooves stuck in the mesh. • You may actually want to try feeding the squirrels during the fall and winter. The theory is that if the local squirrel population is offered easy- to-get treats, they will leave your bulbs alone. At the White House, gardeners put up feeding boxes in an attempt to satiate the furry monsters and it seems to work. They have reduced squirrel damage to bulb beds by 95%. • Home remedies include sowing cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce into the soil (or dipping the bulbs in same before planting), as well as scattering mothball flakes on the ground. A favorite Dutch remedy is to interplant Fritillaria imperialis , which gives off an odor that squirrels and deer find repellent. If you’re plagued by deer and rabbits, planting near the house or lighting areas with motion-detector lights will scare them away. A pet will keep them at bay, too. Cats like to eat moles, squirrels, and mice, while dogs are good for chasing deer and rabbits. • After placing your bulb in its planting hole, backfill with caished gravel and soil. Moles and voles won’t dig in the gravel. Or try a new product called Permatill. You add it to your soil just once, and it will actually improve drainage and lighten the soil while deterring moles and mice. • There are many commercial repellents available. You spray these on foliage or onto the bulb before it’s planted, and the bitter taste is very unappetizing to would-be munchers. Ropel or Mole-Med are two you can ask for; furthermore, they are not poisonous, so they can be used safely around pets and children. They reputedly work well, but time and weather may wear them away, necessitating a second application. Systemic tablets are another type of repellent. The tablets are placed near the bulb and absorbed through the root system giving the foliage, flower, and bulb an unsavory flavor, creating a perfectly awful meal for our little furry friends. Bon appetit, varmints! — Erin Fournier 25 green scene / September 1 999 ii * 1 a i il rairm > | • | A 1 J| J71 L 1 *Tv * \4 1 f* ^ rj f< | HliMI rm 1 Cn la » f hi 1 H|| at all your vegetables, dear," my mother would say at the dinner table. "They're good for you." Now, ■ H as I make my way to the produce aisle of the local supermarket, I can still hear her voice, scolding me to eat my greens. Enticed by the neatly stacked displays of nourishing edibles, I stock up on potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, and soybeans, all with the confidence that I am doing good to I my body. Right? Not necessarily. Unbeknownst to most Americans, many of the vegetables found in our grocery stores and restaurants have undergone a DNA transformation via genetic engineering. This is essentially the science of altering the actual cells of life— DNA— through human intervention. Yet, with so many uncertainties about the human and environmental impact of this so-called "biotechnology”— especially as they relate to horticulture— manufacturers, scientists, farmers, and politicians are hard pressed to provide clear answers. Europe vs. the United States Americans have been slow to react to these advances in genetic engineering, in part because we have only begun to learn of the news. In Europe, however, eight major grocery chains have already banned what they call “Frankenstein foods,” and the public is demanding that labels be placed on all genetically altered foods. One protest group has gone so far as to behead an entire field of genetically engineered sugar beets. Prince Charles, a champion of organic gardening, has also waded into the debate, saying that he would neither eat genetically engineered foods nor serve them to his family or guests, and denounc- ing “the use of technology that takes mankind into the realms that belonged to God.” However, with all due respects to His Royal Highness, humans have been play- ing God for quite some time. In fact, humans have been manipulating natural mutations (such as spelt and corn) for thousands of years. Today’s bioengineers, however, are no longer working with whole organisms (from the outside in), but are dealing with the very stuff of life — the cells and genes of DNA (from the inside out). EnvironmentaL.and Human Impact Now that the word is out. many propo- nents of genetic engineering are having to deal with a backlash of anti-biotechnology sentiment at home and abroad. The Monsanto Company — poised to become one of the largest seed companies in the world — has developed a product line of bioengineered plants, but so far, reaction from the public has been mixed at best. Of all Monsanto’s products, the New Leaf Superior potato has taken the most bruises from critics; still, this spud has its head above the others. Unlike your com- mon potato, New Leaf has the Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis) gene built right into its DNA makeup. Bt is a naturally occurring soil bacterium used by gardeners and organic farmers as a low-toxicity pesticide to con- trol common garden insects without harm- ing beneficial insects. Bioengineered plants now manufacture their own Bt as they grow and, in essence, become their own pesticide producers. But the problem with the new Bt-impregnated plants is that they produce too much Bt (10 to 20 times more than is necessary to control the targeted pests) and for too long a time (an entire growing season). Many fear that constant exposure to the pesticide will lead to Bt- resistant insects and that Bt will ultimately lose its effectiveness as a pest control. And what about insects, wildlife, and humans who eat the plants? Recent studies show that beneficial insects (including green lacewings, ladybugs, and monarch butterflies) who eat pests reared on genet- ically engineered crops have a higher mor- tality rate, delayed development, and more reproductive problems compared with insects w7ho ate pests reared on conven- tionally growm crops. Although these results have not yet been confirmed out- side the laboratory, they serve to remind us of the fragility of an ecological system in the throes of a biological revolution. The Environment In the 1970s, we had the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster; in the 1980s, there was the Exxon Valdez oil spill; and critics say “biological pollution” may become the environmental nightmare of the 21st centu- ry. Unlike chemical pollution, which is reversible, biological pollution cannot be undone. Once pollen from genetically engineered plants is released into the wild and mixed with other plants, there’s no telling what mutants will evolve. Indeed, third- and fourth-generation plants may develop into “superweeds" with totally unexpected traits. When it comes to natur- al selection, tying Mother Nature's hands is a risky affair. Michael Pollan, wrhose article “Playing God in the Garden" appeared recently in the New York Times Magazine, articulated the paradox: “....while biotechnology depends for its power on the ability to move genes freely among species and even phyla, its environmental safety depends on the very oppo- site phenomenon: on the integrity of species in nature and their rejection of for- eign genetic material.” Even creepier % / V V / 1 ' - t* t9 gv ✓ A ♦ is the process of “cross-phy- lum gene splicing.” Genes from not only plants but also animals (to improve frost toler- ance) and even bacteria (to increase dis- ease resistance) can be incorporated into a plant’s DNA to grow the “ideal” crop. This sudden change in a plant’s identity does not allow the surrounding plants and animals time to adapt, causing locally adapted plant vari- eties to die out and endangering biodiversity. “What’s happening," says Shepherd Ogden, founder and president of Cook's Garden Seeds, “is the movement of plant materials from one ecosystem to another, upsetting Mother Nature’s natural process of checks and balances.” ' # 1 > % * % s w 0 M # Can We Eat It? So, is it safe to eat a New Leaf potato? 27 green scene / September 1 999 | & ~ \ VJ 0 •• <- - * , .v * V lv # * 1 m X X s «> > ■ X, • K # * \ Perhaps, but this is a catch- 22. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that foods containing additives shown to “materially alter” the product be labeled. But because Bt is a pesticide, not a food additive, Bt- producing potatoes fall under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation. In researching his article, Pollan discovered that the EPA has never tested Bt potatoes for safety. Their reasoning is that if the original potato is safe to eat, and the Bt pesticide added to it is safe, then the Bt potato must also be safe. Some geneticists say that this is a tenuous argument because so much is still unknown about the subtle changes genetic engineering may cause in a food. It’s obvious that with biotechnolo- gy comes a new paradigm, one that exist- ing food safety laws seem ill-suited to reg- ulate. Even more disturbing, Pollan revealed that since 1992, as part of the Bush admin- istration’s campaign for “regulatory relief,” companies themselves can decide whether or not a new protein is safe and whether they need to show it to the FDA. Companies fearful of losing customers and profits will likely downplay any negative effects to avoid a labeling requirement. “Labeling is the key issue,” the head of Asgrow Seed Company (a Monsanto sub- sidiary) admitted. “If you put a label on genetically engineered food, you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.” When we think of biotechnology, we think of gigantic bugs and steroidal toma- toes attacking our planet. The reality is that Bt-producing corn doesn’t look, smell, or even taste different from non-Bt-producing corn. That’s why consumers want regulato- ry agencies to step in and devise guidelines for the labeling of all genetically engi- neered foods. Polls have shown that 80% to 95% of consumers are in favor of label- ing, and 54% want farmers to adopt more organic production methods. ■ 9 reen scene September 1 999 So, to answer the ques- tion: is it safe to eat? Probably, but until labels , are in place, we have no choice but to leave the safe- ♦ ty of our health in the hands of biotech companies. On The Defense In its defense, Monsanto touts “sustainable development" as the moth- er of its inventions. According to a press release on their web site, “Many of our products are aimed at helping farmers pro- duce improved crops — crops that yield more and better food — while at the same time limiting the resource consumption and environmental strains that accompany traditional agricultural production meth- ods.” In other words, it’s a way to make food production less of a burden on the envi- ronment, and crops with built-in toxins mean less use of chemical insecticides. Skeptics say that by being more “eco-effi- cient,” Monsanto will strengthen its existing markets, open up new ones, squeeze out its competitors, and eventually gain control of the global food supply. Terminator Technology There are new developments, too. On March 3, 1998, the Delta & Pine Land Company (now owned by Monsanto) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a patent on sterile seeds. This bioengineering technique, dubbed the “ter- minator technology,” alters a plant's DNA so that it produces sterile seeds, requiring farmers and gardeners to purchase new seeds every year. It's a way for biotech companies to stop the time-honored (but unprofitable) tradition of harvesting seeds from heirloom plants and vegetables. “I've been growing heirlooms for years, using seeds handed down to me by my grandfather," says noted food historian and author William Woys Weaver. “I fear that the ‘terminator technology’ will endanger this tradi- tion and contribute to the loss of local agriculture and bio- diversity. Third- World farmers will be especially affect- ed. They depend on saved and exchanged seeds as their primary sources. If saving * T , ^ ’ t / "I fear that 'terminator technology' will endanger [the heirloom seed] tradition and contribute to the loss of local agriculture and biodiversity." — William Woys Weaver seeds becomes impossible, it will be very difficult for them to subsist.” Weaver, known for his heirloom collec- tion, drew an interesting parallel: “In the past, biological developments like corn were harnessed for the good of the whole community. Now, the economic benefit is being concentrated in the hands of a small group of companies that can manipulate the marketplace much in the same way the feudal aristocracy manipulated the manor economies of medieval Europe.” Ethics In the U.S., there have long been laws against unauthorized propagation of differ- ent seeds, and plant varieties themselves began to be patented in the 1970s. But it wasn't until the 1980s that patents were granted for plants' genetic components, which brings up the troubling question: how can someone claim a patent on nature? A patent gives the holder control over where, how, and by whom a product can be made — guidelines that seem ill-fit- ted when it comes to nature. How can we regulate ownership over something that is naturally occurring at ran- dom? ■ Furthermore, those vegetarians who ji avoid foods k w with 4. « 0k * t \ • £ 28 any and all animal substances contend that by not labeling genetically engineered products, biotech companies are callously disregarding their beliefs. For example, what if the tomatoes on the market shelf were genetically engineered to include flounder genes added for frost tolerance? Again, the laws of nature are being chal- lenged point blank. Biotech: Another View Like the food industry, horticulture is big business and knowing what customers want can translate into big returns. But it's not all about vegetables. With increasing demands for perfect-looking ornamental plants, horticultural companies are also looking to scientists to provide them with the best genes. At NovaFlora, a Philadelphia-based biotech company, everything is coming up roses. These folks are using biotechnology not only to increase the intensity and vari- eties of rose fragrances, but also to deter pests and fungi. “Our goal is to improve and commercialize high-value ornamental plants,” says President and CEO Mike Dobres. “We’ve turned to biotechnology because the classical way of cross- hybridization is limited in its ability to improve plants. Genetic engineering allows us to incorporate changes not possible through hybridization, including roses resistant to Japanese beetles, aphids, and black spot. Biotechnology targets specific changes, whereas traditional methods are extremely random and rely on selecting novel characteristics from tens of thou- sands of seedlings.” “The specificity of genetic engineering also affords a more efficient and economic alternative — cutting production time from as much as 10 years to two-to-three years — to that of traditional methods. We are also planning to restrict pollen from these new varieties, making it difficult for them to reproduce should they ‘escape’ into the wild.” Dobres points to the positive effects of genetic engineering on horticulture. “In the end, we want to give our customers high- quality ornamental plants, eliminate the indiscriminate use of sprays, and decrease environmental pollution and the exposure of humans to such chemicals so they can enjoy their gardens more.” Where Do We Go From Here? The future of bioengineering is one of uncertainty. For now, our best protection is to have the right to decide whether or not we want to eat a genetically altered food. With this in mind, the Gardener’s Supply Company has launched a media blitz to educate the public on the implications of biotechnology and to encourage them to demand labeling of all genetically engi- neered foods. Melissa Margis, community-affairs rep- resentative of Fresh Fields/Whole Foods Market at 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Philadelphia, asserts, “we are intensely aware of genetically engi- neered products and want our customers to know that this is happening.” Customers entering the store are even offered a brochure on genetic engineer- ing. "Admittedly, without labeling, man- ufacturers and suppliers find it difficult to avoid genetically engineered ingredients in their products. But we feel it is impor- tant to let our customers know that we are committed to healthy foods and believe in sustainable agriculture.” Fresh Fields is also letting legislators know that its customers want labels put on genetically engineered products. In May, the company sent a petition to Congress, supporting the consumer advocacy group called “Mothers of Natural Law.” They are pushing Congress to require USDA and FDA labeling, and would like a five-year halt on the distri- bution of genetically engineered foods. Also, June 9, 1999, was designated as Whole Foods Market’s “National 5% Day,” on which 5% of all store sales were donated to a network for farm workers. Whole Foods Market is continually sur- veying the market to gauge the preva- lence of genetically engineered products, alerting manufacturers of genetically engineered ingredients In the end, everyone agrees it is time for public discourse on this matter, par- ticularly with so many unanswered ques- tions. What if the genetically altered food isn't as safe for humans as we were told? What will happen to other living forms if these altered genes escape into the wild? And what will happen if these runaway genes turn up in your garden? If wre don't ponder these points now, we may end up paying the price for decades, if not forever. Remember, in the world of genetic engineering, there’s no going back. ❖ Pamela Vu is Associate Editor at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This is her first article for Green Scene. Special thanks to Inez Diamond for inspiring this story. To find out more or to voice your concern, contact your Congressional representative, or email Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman at agscc@USDA.gov. Relevant articles and additional information are available at the fol- lowing addresses and websites: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 4700 River Rd., Unit 147 Riverdale, MD 20737 Attn: Dr. Arnold Foudin (301) 734-7601 u >wil >. aph is. i isda gov/bbep/bp U.S. Capitol Switchboard (to find phone numbers of mem- bers of Congress) (202) 225-3121 Food and Drug Administration (HFE-88) 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Consumer Inquiry Information Line: (888) INFO-FDA or (888) 463-6332 Fax: (301) 443-9767 www.fda.gov Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) 110 Osborne St., Suite 202 Winnipeg MB R3L 1Y5 Canada (204) 453-5259 Fax: (204) 925-8034 www.rafi.org Union of Concerned Scientists Two Brattle Square Cambridge, MA 02238 (617) 547-5552 Fax: (617) 864-9405 wwu >. t icsusa . org International Center for Technology Assessment (also the Center for Food Safety) 310 D St„ NF. Washington. DC 20002 (202) 547-9359 Fax: (202) 547-9429 www.icta.oig THE STORY OF ROCK GARDENING AT WATNONG by Ruby Weinberg any people devel- op a passion for gardening in their youth. Others dis- ■ cover it later in adulthood, usually with their move to a first home. However, not every flower blooms in spring, and some gardeners take up the necessary skills in the early autumn of their lives. That describes Helen and Frank Donn of Morris Plains, New Jersey. The Donns were in their mid fifties and newly retired from their jobs when they bought the one-acre property of their deceased neighbors next door. At the time, the couple could scarcely tell the difference between a conifer and a cotoneaster, but nevertheless, they began to create what soon became one of the area’s finest rock gardens. Their neighbors, you see, had been the propri- etors of famed Watnong Nursery. The water garden on the berm. A standout among the conifers is Iris pallida 'Variegata.' LATE BLOOMERS The Original Watnong Watnong is a place legendary in hor- ticultural history. Older members of the Watnong Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS), remember its founders, Hazel and Don Smith, who lived here from I960 through the mid- 1980s. In its heyday, the Smiths operat- ed a nursery that had been crowded with containers and somewhat disheveled, but every plant sold was a gem. They traveled far to locate and sell slow-growing ornamentals to area gar- deners. Don Smith also raised some from seed and rooted cuttings as well as introduced unique mutations such as the well-known Daphne x hurkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie.’ When Hazel and Don Smith died, the Donns were suddenly inspired to trans- form their now-two acres into a real gar- den. At first, it was a self-proclaimed mission to return the Smith’s plant intro- ductions to Watnong, since most of the originals had been dispersed in botani- cal gardens. However, the “legacy” that the Donns first planned soon blossomed into full-blown plant collections of dwarf conifers and stable rock garden perennials. Cultivating Rock Plants Rock-garden plants are often difficult to grow in much of the northeastern United States. Heavy clay soils are but one of the reasons that many Watnong members find hypertufa troughs to be a partial solution. They are containers simulating stone which are created by mixing peat, sand, perlite, and Portland cement around a temporary form. When set, the latter is removed creating a fine habitat for the more "iffy" rock plants. [For more information on hypertufa and rock gardening in troughs, see Dick Van Duzer's article "Rocky Mountain High " in the July, 1999 issue. Also see NARGS 's "Handbook On Troughs, ” 1996; contact the PHS library for copies.] The Donns have constructed several of these troughs, but in sunny areas, they created berms and raised beds for their rock plants. Besides the advantage of preparing soil mixtures for small areas, raised beds bring the diminutive plants closer to eye level. “We started by submerging boulders, then built up a hill by mounding with gritty soil,” Helen explains. It is home to the white-flow- ered Delosperma lineare and pink D cooperi plus a wide assortment of dianthus and many other rock plants. "They are at their prime in late April/early May,” says Helen. On the former Smith property was a bed of large, dry-laid rocks and cement blocks that had been started by the nursery couple. Frank Donn disposed of the concrete, gathered similar rocks from friends' farms, and then began reconstruction. On the top, the Donns left gray-leaved dianthus, plus dwarf forms of boxwood, holly, pine, and cypress. A chink in the wall contains a specimen juniper, Juniperus communis Berkshire.’ This 20-year-old, silvery- blue conifer grows only fractions of an inch per year. Rock Gardening in the Shade Are shade trees, screen plantings, and tall flowering shrubs suitable for a rock garden? They are when they provide a framework. Visitors to the Donns' spe- cial world expect to see “the choice, the small, the slow growing,” which is how Helen describes their goal. Yet, in places, the property' has a canopy of native trees, plus magnificent intro- duced specimens such as the Franklinia alatamaha-, the shrub-like, July-bloom- ing Elliottia racemosa, and Acer shira- sawanum Aureum,' a Japanese maple with yellow foliage. Nor can one ignore that tall, West Coast redwood at the rear of the garden, Sequoiadendron gigan- teum Hazel Smith,' with its gray-blue needles. It is surprisingly hardy in this part of New Jersey. On small properties, however, rock gardeners must be high- ly selective and eliminate all but a few large plants to maintain the proper scale. The many gardeners who believe that 31 green scene / September 1 999 | shade, in places, is a deterrent to rock gardening would profit from the Donns' example. When Frank cleared his prop- erty, many native trees were left, pruned high to lift the canopy, and then planted underneath by Helen with groundcovers such as Himalayan- ancl Japanese-painted ferns. To this, she added 33 other ferns, plus a variety of pulmonarias, tiarellas, astilbe, heucheras, asarums and more. Wildflower enthusiasts will also be pleased to find here uncommon natives such as Uvularia and Jefferson ia. Dwarf conifers are everywhere in Watnong Gardens. Picea abies Echiniformis’, the hedgehog spruce, is a favorite because of its uniquely squat shape and irregular, prickly growth. Other gems include a mature Pinus strobus ‘Ontario’ with blue-green nee- dles, and the cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Drath,’ which is a dense 12-inch gray column with golden highlights. A very slow-growing conifer here is the true Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’ planted by Hazel Smith in 1969. At pre- sent, this Hinoki cypress is only W2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Gardeners who have watched their own conifers become giants might want to try slower growing varieties. After researching their growth rates, it is a good idea to make your purchases at specialty nurseries that pride themselves on proper labeling. Nurserymen some- times swap with the Donns taking seeds or cuttings in return for superb plants that are hard to locate. It is a system that has enriched their collections. At pre- sent, Frank and Helen have over 430 species and hybrids of conifers alone. Helen explains that very dwarf conifers are not entirely maintenance free and that brushing away debris can be time consuming. This careful upkeep pre- vents the tiny, tight needles from becoming diseased. She also allows no weed competition to any of her plants, a job that occupies her throughout the growing season. Final Reflections All too often, rock gardeners who travel to mountainous areas fall in love with high alpines, and then become dis- couraged when they find them to be short-lived in their gardens. However, the Donns have demonstrated all the fine things that enthusiasts can do to successfully maintain a rock garden: build and plant troughs and grow dwarf Hop on Board But that’s not all there is in the garden. In addition to maintaining Watnong, Frank spent the past two winters crafting the “Watnong Choo-Choo.” It is placed at the far end of one of the many beds run- ning longitudinally from the house. This six-car stationary train is child- size and complete with a locomo- tive. Each car top is a trough filled with topsoil plus equal parts of peat or compost, perlite, and last, pea gravel. A tufted blue grass, Festuca glauca, appears like steam emerg- ing from the locomotive’s smoke- stack. A striking feature in the caboose is a tiny Japan- ese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira.’ Other car tops are planted with small dianthus, the double-flow^ered heron’s bill, Erodium x variabile ‘Roseum,’ and a variety of other diminutive plants. The train has now become one of the more popular attractions at an already wonderful garden. conifers, low shrubs, and small, stable perennials. It is surely the wray to go, especially if you are a lowland gar- dener. Several years ago, Panayoti Kelaidis, Curator of Rock Gardens at the Denver Botanical Garden, visited with the Donns. He told them: “In Denver, we have over 100 helpers working on an area this size. It is incredible that you two people have accomplished so much on your own.” For two late-blooming gardeners, this was high praise, indeed ❖ How to Obtain Plants for Your Rock Garden 1 . Grow' them from seed. Members of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) can purchase, at very low cost, 25 packets from their annual seed exchange. From 4,000 to 5,000 different kinds are listed each year. The “Rock Garden Quarterly” of the NARGS describes the germination, uses, and cultural needs of many species. 2. Purchase 2- or 3-inch potted plants from a specialist and grow them for a year or two before setting into your garden. 3- Divide overly large rock plants. Mats are among the easiest. Merely cut away an outer pad with roots and set out the small plants on their own. 4. In late summer, take cuttings from dwarf conifers. Side shoots are usually better. With mini- dwarfs. an inch or two is long enough. Use only one-year-old wood. Stick in a peat rooting medium and place in tightly closed cold frame over winter. The following spring, they should be ready for individual potting. Taking a heel cutting and using a root hormone some- times help speed rooting. 5. Swap with fellow’ enthusiasts. Hopefully, not only will you receive fine plants, but also, your mutual friendship will spring to mind every time you see the plant in your garden. Talk about a “win-win” situation. Ruby Weinberg, a long-time gardener and freelance writer, has followed the events at Watnong since 1962. She has saved sever- al Smith catalogues, the oldest dating back to 1964. To visit Watnong Gardens, call Helen and Frank Donn for an appointment and direc- tions. Their address is: 2379 Watnong Terrace, Morris Plains, NJ 07950, (973) 538-8633. For more information on NARGS, surf the net at www.nargs.org or write P.O. Box 67, Millwood, NY 10546. | green scene / September 1 999 32 LETTERS I am in charge of controlling and removing invasive exotic plants from our preserves here in Pennsylvania, so I was shocked to see Russian olive, hon- eysuckle, and bittersweet listed in the article about beach planting [“Surrounded by Sand” by Gretchen F. Coyle, May/June 1999 issue], I happen to know that Russian olive knows no boundaries and is a real problem on Fire Island, a barrier beach island off the coast of Long Island. As for the other plants, I strongly feel that all responsible gardeners should stay away from these aggressive growers. Nurseries should not sell these plants under any circum- stances, since they are a severe threat to the biodiversity of our natural areas. Please help us in our ongoing struggle to educate the public on this subject. Karen Budd, Invasive Species Specialist The Nature Conservancy Gretchen F. Coyle responds: "I appre- ciate Ms. Budd’s concern over invasive plants. However, for those of us who are lucky enough to live along the New Jersey shore -where developers have decimated greenery of all types, leaving us with ‘gravel lawns'-we feel that it is better to plant native foliage and old-time favorites rather than struggle with newer types of tender plants. Native plants go hand in hand with the theory of “xeriscape, ’’since watering and over-fer- tilizing can he kept to a minimum. Birds coming north and south along the East Coast fly way also crave this type of greenery. Russian olives, honeysuckle, and bittersweet were probably also here on Long Beach Island during the 1600s when the Lenni Lenape Indians camped here. So who is to say whether they are “invasive exotic plants’’ or charming natives ? Furthermore, most lots along the New Jersey coast are 50' by 100', so no one is about to let them get too far out of control. ” CORRECTIONS : We scour our region looking for the best gardeners, horticulturists, and experts to write for us. That’s why Green Scene is the perfect gardening magazine for the area gardener. It’s filled with local information and ingenious ideas you can use in your own backyard, as well as warm, personal stories from real gardeners like you. It’s also the best deal in town! •Thanks to all the Green Scene readers and lepidopterists who spotted the incorrect label- ing of the artistic rendering on the back cover of our May issue. Jason Weintraub, lepidopter- ist for the Academy of Natural Sciences, con- firmed that the charming creature is a butterfly, not a moth, and its correct name is Polyura dehaani sultan. • In the “Esprit de Corps” story [May 19991, the author inadvertently misattrib- uted the quote on page 30. It was actually said by Betsy Barlow Rogers, founder of the Central Park Conservancy in New York. •In the story on “Lemon Herbs” in the May/June issue, reader Faye Brawner noticed a common error identifying Pelargonium radens as a lemon-scented herb. A noted pelargonium expert, she noted that many major reference books and nurseries incorrectly identify this plant. Faye says that P. citronellum has the best lemon scent. fc© Plafit <§©eicfci£'«f Send Us Your Plans for 2000 We will publish information about one major plant sale and one major event for each area plant society based in the Delaware Valley from March 1 , 2000 through December 2000. Send the information to Green Scene, 100 N. 20th St., Phila., PA 19103-1495. Deadline: Oct. 20, 1999. Please use the following format: NAME OF CHAPTER AND SOCIETY: Event#1 — Major Event Event#2 — Plant Sale Name of Event Dates Time Location (full address) Fee, if any Contact person Address Phone number How many other garden magazines can you get for under $1 7 a year? Please Send To: Green Scene, PHS PO. Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 Or call (215) 988-8769 ONLY $16.95 FOR 6 ISSUES OR SAVE 10% OFF THE COVER PRICE WITH A TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION FOR $32.95 YES. Sign me up for 6 issues of Green Scene for $16.95 or 12 issues (two years) for $32.95 □ 1 year □ 2 years NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE CHECK ENCLOSED CARD# SIGNATURE EXP. DATE. I CRAFTS Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 19118 (215)247-3925 EVENTS NEW ZEALAND GARDEN TOUR Friday, January 14 through Saturday, February 5 Explore private gardens, public landscapes and nature preserves led by native New Zealander and Landscape Architect Richard Lyon and Horticulturist Melinda Zoehrer from Delaware Center for Horticulture. For more information contact Melinda at (302) 658-6264 or mzoehrer@dehort.org The Associates of the Scott Arboretum 1999 Plant Sale Fri., Sept. 17, 4-7 pm Members Only (New Members Welcome) Sat. Sept. 18, 9am-2pm General Admission Held rain or shine, this is one of the most prestigious plant sales in the area. Plant experts will be on hand to answer any questions about the wide selection of rare and unusual perennial and woody plants. A large assortment of house plants will also be available. A Garden Arts & Artifacts area will feature useful garden objects and unique garden ornamentation which will also be for sale Dupont Playing Field, Swarthmore College. For additional information call (610) 328-8025. For recorded directions call (610) 328-8001. GARDEN FURNITURE & ORNAMENTS Hill Co. - Outdoor Furniture Specialists An outstanding selection of outdoor furniture with distinctive designs in aluminum, wrought iron, teak, and all-weather wicker. Wind chimes, statuary and fountains galore! 8615 Germantown Ave. Chestnut Hill (215)247-7600 Elizabeth Schumacher’s GARDEN ACCENTS Antique, handcrafted and contemporary gar- den ornaments from around the world in a wonderful showroom and unforgettable gar- den setting. Tiny stone frogs to limited edi- tion bronze sculptures. 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Our award-winning designers and pro- fessional craftsmen, specialists in all phases of landscape construction and planting, collaborate closely with you during each phase of the design/build process. A leader in the successful design and man- agement of large residential landscape pro- jects in the Delaware Valley, Robert Montgomery Landscapes, Inc. assures that your property’s fullest potential is realized. “Blending Horticulture & Architecture To Enhance Your Lifestyle” ROBERT MONTGOMERY LANDSCAPES, INC. 545 East Uwchlan Avenue Chester Springs, PA 19425 (610) 594-1810 Are you seeking to develop an innovative and exciting garden or perhaps searching for a way to maintain an existing garden? •Container Plantings •Perennial Borders •Shrubs and trees •Annuals •Butterfly Gardens •Water Gardens •Native Species •Unusual Plants Fine Garden Creations is a local garden design, installation and maintenance compa- ny with extensive horticultural experience in the Delaware Valley. Our trained and experi- enced professional staff have national and international experience. We are small enough to provide the personal touch and large enough to get the job done. Fine Garden Creations P.O. Box 445 Swarthmore, PA 19081- 0445 Phone: (610) 328-0985 Fax: (610) 328-4850 LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN •Consulting •Plans •Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 green scene September 1 999 34 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215)247-2992 (610)584-1550 (610) 525-3232 AVANT GARDENS Landscape design, maintenance and con- struction Over twenty years of experience Joseph Slane, Landscape Architect Specializing in residential projects For free consultation or free brochure Call (215) 634-6332 or (610) 566-1579 A Garden is for All Seasons Natural Landscapes with an appreciation for Native Plants. Stonework, Lighting Perennial Woodland and Water Gardens DESIGN RENOVATION CONSULTATION ANDREW WELSH & Associates Skippack Village 610-584-5300 BRING HOME CREATIVITY, PRIVACY, AND SPIRITUALITY Warren D. Lewis Quality Landscaping, Gardening & Decorating Garden Consultations/Site Management • Benefits ‘Fundraising •Parties Last Minute Emergencies Nursery By Appointment 16 Years Experience •Center City ‘Suburbs ‘Shore Properties 610-688-7030 610-202-0536(cell) LIGHTING A CONSUMER GUIDE TO LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING is available without charge by contacting LANDSCAPE LIGHTING 800.569.9985 or visit our website www.sitelights.com MAIL ORDER OLD CITY COFFEE offers mail order to your door. You tried us at the 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show, now try us at home! We offer over 50 varietals of coffee, all freshly roasted at our Philadelphia location, plus teas and brewing accessories. Call 1-800-497-1371 to place an order or request our free catalog. UNUSUAL PLANTS HYDRANGEAS over 50 species and culti- vars. Many other rare & unusual trees, shrubs and vines. Sales east of the Rockies only. Catalog $3. Wilkerson Mill Gardens, 9595-G Wilkerson Mill Road, Palmetto, GA 30268. www.wilkersonmill.com MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM THE SOUTH SUPERIOR TO SHREDDED BARK •Less work to apply •More nutritious to plants •Better weed control •Longer lasting •Competitively priced CALL AND LEAVE ADDRESS FOR FREE SAMPLE 610-593-7333 WE SELL WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERIES WOODLANDERS, INC. Choice native and exotic plants to grace your garden, amaze and surprise your gar- dening friends. Over 1000 choices. Mail- Order catalog $2.00. 1 128 Colleton Ave., Aiken SC 29801 POPES’ GARDENS 1146 Old White Horse Pike, Waterford, NJ 08089 •PERENNIALS-Over 300 varieties •100 varieties ANNUALS (609)767-3343 Only 20 miles from Phila. TURNING YARDS INTO GARDENS www.popesgarden. com HOW TO ACHIEVE A GOLD MEDAL GARDEN Start with high performance plants from Mostardi’s Nursery. We feature an extensive selection of award winners from the PHS Gold Medal Award program, in addition to our inventory of exceptional quality plants & garden accessories, including: •Foliage & Flowering Houseplants •An in depth selection of Perennials, Annuals & Roses •Trees, Shrubs, Aquatics & Grasses •Garden Accents & Planting Supplies MOSTARDI’S NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610) 356-8035 Visit our website: www.mostardi.com We are open year round RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 10 miles west of Pottstown, on Rte 422 at Pineland Rd., Birdsboro, Pa. HOSTA Over 100 Varieties, Call for List. Michael’s Country Nursery, 160 Tuckerton Rd., Medford, NJ (609) 983-6512 PUBLICATIONS THE JOURNAL OF JAPANESE GARDENING 6 issues/year, $35 Published by ROTH Tei-en PO. Box 159, Dept. H-3, Orefield, PA 18069 RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Lochwood Ln. West Chester, PA 1 9380 (61 0) 436-9796 E-mail: GrannyPol@aol.com Back Issues & Articles of Green Scene Available Send your favorite issue or article to a fellow gardener or file it away for a future project. •Back issues available for $3.00 + 2.00 shipping (if available) •Photocopies $ 1.00 a page + 2.00 shipping/faxing Send all requests to: PHS - Attn. Green Scene, 100N. 20th Street, 5th floor, Phila., PA 19103-1495. In a rush? Call (215) 988-8769 or fax (215) 988-8810 35 REAL ESTATE Gardeners Delight Distinctive 1920’s manor house tucked away on 3+ private acres. Gardens and terraces joined by flagstone paths make this a romantic “getaway.” The house offers 3+ bedroom suites, four fireplaces plus a four car garage with one bedroom apartment. A truly unique property! $595,000. CALDWELL BANKER, EICHLER & MOFFLY Realtors (215) 248-4050 www.wyntop.com RESTAURANTS GRACIE'S 21 ST CENTURY CAFE Fresh, Natural Gourmet Dining with just a hint of decadence Dinners Wed. - Sat. MANATAWNY ROAD, PINE FORGE, PA 19548 Directions, reservations, & an unforgettable evening: (610) 323-4004 RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Call for Free Estimate Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 BUILDING RESTORATION Complete service in all phases of restoration Old homes, barns, spring houses Cedar and tin roofs Stucco removal/stone repointing Interior painting, refinishing of floors MARK BESTERMAN (610) 582-9785 TREE SERVICE BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care •Pruning, Trimming, and Removals •Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control •Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 WATER GARDENING Quality Koi Company. Inc. 322 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102-1015 (215) 988-9723 Located just 1/2 block off Vine Street with free parking behind the store, there’s no excuse not to visit!! Beautiful koi and gold- fish plus everything you need for your pond. Installations and home consultations avail- able. Visit our web site at www. Qualitykoi. com. Call for our free catalog! green scene / September 1999 "The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke" by Richard Dadd, 1855-64, oil on canvas, Tate Gallery, London. This is a prime example of Victorian fairy painting, a genre popular in the mid-1 9th century Britain. The artist wrote a long poem describing the subject of this work, which involves a variety of fairy figures viewing the Fairy Feller's prowess at splitting a hazelnut. Our vantage point is behind tall grass, evoking a feeling that this is a forbidden scene. Recognized as one of Dadd's two fairy masterpieces, which are also referred to as his "mad paintings," since he was confined to an asylum when he painted them. From the collection of the Tate Gallery, London. kt' 4 THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY NOV./DEC. 1999 • $3.00 ESTABLISHED 1828. «TS 1910 82 N-° YEAR. THE AMERICAN GARDEN CONTENTS 4. The Potting Shed 6. Bulb-Forcing Project Here, we are introduced to the fasci- nating world of the “bulb-garden pot.” Using this method, a gardener will be able to create a lush springtime display in a container, featuring a full succession of colorful bulbs that last about a month. Better yet, it blooms during the full fury of winter. Interested? THE AMERICAN GARDEN 10. An Englishman in an American Garden Meet Chris Woods, director of Chanticleer, which is one of Philadelphia’s most enchanting gardens. In this colorful interview, the conversation ranges from the differences between British and American design to the need for a more global approach to plant selection. 14. Know Your Watershed America may be covered in concrete, lawn, asphalt, and gardens, but underneath them all are watersheds — the natural systems that carry water through the earth. Many of them, however, are in danger, threatened by development and pollution. Do you know your watershed? This article promises to give you a good start. 18. C olonial Revival It was over 220 years ago that a series of pivotal events gave birth to our country. One of the most climactic occurred in Bucks County, when General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River to invade Trenton, NJ giv- ing our fledgling nation its first major military victory. But these were not the only heroes — the hilly landscape along the river also played its crucial part in the bat- tle. Now, let’s revisit our colonial past and learn how gardening and history inter- mingle in this verdant corner of the region. 23. In Praise of the Resourceful One notable virtue of our nation’s gardeners is that they are so resourceful. When the chips are down, these green-thumbers can solve a problem with a combina- tion of common sense, handy raw materials, and a deep desire to get the job done. In this piece, we celebrate several resourceful individuals who help make up the rich quilt of American gardening. Their achievements are inspiring. 27. The Ch ristmas Wreath Learn how to make a holiday wreath in this fun and colorful “how to” article, even if you have never done one before. 30. Gold Medal Plant Winners 1 lere they are: the recipients of the 2000 Gold Medal Plant Awards given out by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Each one of them is a tough, beautiful woody plant that deserves a place in your backyard. 34. Classified Ads Cover: A 1910 Buist catalog cover, from the archives of The PHS McLean Library, Philadelphia. GRSSW Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Pamela Vu Publications Assistant Paula Holland Art Design Baxendells’ Graphic Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appell Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. THE PENNSYLVANIA IIORTICULTL RAL S0C1ET) 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Classified Ads and Subscription Services Paula Holland, (215) 988-8769 pholland@pennhort. org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777. Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 [closed in December] Web Site www. libertynet. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 28. No. 2, is published bi-monthly (January, March. May, July. September. November) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organization at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 ship- ping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th St.. Philadelphia, PA 19103. © Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 1999 GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cleveland Botanical Garden, Ohio Cox Arboretum, Dayton, Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown. NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory. Inc.. Pittsburgh, PA Staten Island Botanical Garden. Inc. New York The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Pete Prown The question “What is an American garden?” pops up in garden conversation with some regularity, but to my knowl- edge, has never been answered satisfactorily. Consider the fact that most of us know what an "English garden” looks like and we know what a "Japanese Zen garden” is... but what does an “American garden” look like? With this in mind, we’ve devoted a portion of this Green Scene to exploring this mystery. The real editorial impetus behind this issue stems mostly from frustration. Think about all the times you’ve heard someone say they’re going to put an English garden in front of their house. Now isn't that a silly idea... an English garden in the American 'burbs? Do English folks say to their neigh- bors, “Cheerio, Cecil — I’m going to put a jolly nice American garden in front of my cottage”? I doubt it. So, part of the ques- tion "What is an American garden” is really "Why are Americans so obsessed with English gardens?” Not that there’s anything wrong with the many lovely gardens on the other side of the Atlantic, but maybe it's time we step back and cel- ebrate our own gardening style for a change. Part of this horticultural low self esteem is that we don’t, nor will we ever, have Britain’s fabulously moist climate, which makes its flowers bloom like crazy and their gardeners feel perhaps a little overly bold and confident. On the other hand, our culture has one great asset that few nations can rival — diversity. The ethnic fusion of American society can at times create dazzling combinations of creative thought and action. When this melting-pot concept taps into the gardening universe, we inevitably stumble upon wonderful new plants, combinations, and designs. If you think about it, the American garden isn't about patriotism — it’s about eclecticism. Look at the current tropical-plant craze. Where the orna- mental garden of a decade ago featured the standard array of annuals and perennials, many of today’s American gardens now mix bright coleus with giant elephant ears (Alocasia sp. or Colocasia sp.), or variegated, acid-green canna foliage with sizzling zinnia and dahlia blossoms. This year, my small sub- urban garden has taken on a strange mix of styles, though I admit, quite unintentionally so. There is the typical combina- tion of perennials and annuals, but also large stones and shrubs stemming from a fondness for the Asian style, and sky- scraping ravenna grass ( Saccharum ravennae syn. Hrianthus ) that gives a nod to the native-plant movement. There are even hot-blooded caladiums and purple castor beans to add a shot of the tropics. This may seem a crazy mish-mash of style and shape, but somehow it works and further suggests a typical American solution to many things: just throw it all in the pot and stir. As a result, there is an endless variety of American gardens. One is the underappreciated "mailbox garden." If you look around this country, many people have decorated their mail- boxes with a ground-level planting of flowers. This may seem odd, considering that the mailbox is a purely functional, even dull yard accessory, yet millions of Americans choose to fes- toon this postal shrine with everything from impatiens and begonias to daylilies, clematis, and more. I consider this one of America’s most endearing garden eccentricities. Another of my favorite styles of American gardens are those I see around farmhouses in the Northeast, notably in northern Vermont where I visit each summer. Farming families often make terrific gardeners, able to create eye-popping vistas of phlox, cleome, and marigolds, along with Minivan-sized egg- plant, squash, and other vegetables of ungodly dimension. Their success, I suspect, has something to do with an endless (and enviable) supply of cow and horse manure, but these farmer/gardeners also have their own special sense of style and order. They perfectly intertwine beauty with functionality and that proves its own reward. This brings us back to the issue of Green Scene you're hold- ing in your hands. In the following pages, we’ll visit the site of George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware to defeat the Hessians in Trenton, an area full of robust history and interesting colonial gardens. We’ll look at some of the hard issues surrounding our local parks and public spaces, and how we can best preserve them for the future. Add to that an intriguing tale on the famed resourcefulness of the American gardener, as well as an interview with Chris Woods, director of one of Philadelphia’s finest gardens, Chanticleer, who pokes several astute holes in the English vs. American garden debate. What we hope you gain from this issue is not a definition of the term “American garden," but a new set of parameters to help you probe this idea to greater depths. Then go take a look at your own garden — is it an eclectic American place or does it owe its allegiance to horticultural empires of the Old World? Either way is perfectly fine, of course, but if you desire to celebrate the American style, then employ a little cultural diversity in your planning. How? Just find some plants or ornaments you like, throw them in the pot... and stir. pgt£ prown greenscene@pennhoi1.org Our American Style 3 green scene / november 1 999 | Savage Art “Carnivorous plants exist where other plants struggle, whether it’s from poor soil, too much water, or whatever. They’ve changed that struggle into an evolutionary asset. And where other plants have appear- ances, the carnivorous plants have tangible, even fierce personalities. That’s what I try to capture in paint.” So says R. Scott Bennett, a noted land- scape painter whose life-long hobby of col- lecting, drawing, and painting carnivorous plants has blossomed into a series of realis- tic prints of these exotic, floriferous flesh- lovers. “I started doing botanicals of butterworts, pitcher plants, sundews and Venus flytraps because no one was doing them with any sense of inspiration. Originally, they were done solely by botanists and scientists, many of whom viewed the task as a work requirement. I’m more concerned about the formal aesthetics of form, color, and shape, as well as the ways these elements can be combined to make a painting. It's a source of professional pride to me that the finished work holds up with the best work that has already been done.” Since 1979, Bennett’s botanical watercol- ors and drawings have been seen in a num- ber of periodicals such as American Horticulturist , Green Scene, HortScience, and The Carnivorous Plant Newsletter. Recently, carnivorous-plant expert Peter D’Amato asked Bennett to illus- trate several chapters of his popular book on growing carnivores at home, The Savage Garden. Not long after that, Scott began offering prints of these fearsome horticultural creatures to the public. “My goal is to paint convincing render- ings and lay them out in a way that shows characteristics one would only know with an intimate knowledge of the plant. There is such a sense of wonder and mystery about carnivorous plants — in the wild, they are so different from other plants that they appear almost alien. Still, the main reason I paint them is simply because they are beautiful.” — Steve Maurer Prints can be purchased from the artist at (3 1 5) 446-9944, or rspainter@aol.com A 'Knock Out' Rose for 2000 A completely “maintenance-free” rose? According to insider buzz, the new shrub rose, Knock Out’ from Star Roses, may be a genuine contender for that title. Bred from eight different roses (including Carefree Beauty,’ Applejack,’ and Eddie’s Crimson’) and already the winner of an All-America Rose Selection Award, Knock Out’ is reput- ed to be extraordinarily disease, insect, and drought resistant. In fact, Japanese beetles find the taste of its foliage or blooms quite unsavory. As for deadheading, don’t trouble yourself — just leave spent blossoms on to form lovely rosehips in the fall. BACK IN BEES-NUS. Eighty- year-old Ed Weiss and his younger partner Howland Biackiston have created a new Internet store just for bee- keeping hobbyists, wutw.bee- conimerce.com. The site | green scene novem ber I 999 4 continued In addition to its tough demeanor, it's also a real beauty, with florescent cherry-color blossoms that are 3- to 3-1/2 inches in diameter. At home in Zones 4-9, it has clusters of 3 to 15 flowers that give off a light tea- rose fragrance on the small, bushy plant. Its leaves are a dark, leathery green with a tinge of blue and, come fall, the foliage turns eggplant-purple. 'Knock Out' will be available to the public at many garden centers in the spring of 2000. Garden Tips: November •You can plant bulbs until the soil freezes. Daffodils, however, are best planted in September or early October because they require a longer period for root develop- ment. •Late autumn is the best time to put the roses to bed. To prevent disease and fun- gus from overwintering, clean your rose beds by removing dead leaves and other debris and spray the bushes with dormant oil to kill bacteria. You can also protect the crown of the rose from winter weather. Cover it with at least 1 foot of tree leaves or straw, or mound with soil or mulch (do not use rose leaves, as they may harbor disease). You can also use rose cones that are available commercially. The climbers or long canes can be tied down to avoid wind damage, or wrapped in burlap with a layer of straw for insulation. •Cold frames and other season extenders should be protected from damage by ice and snow or high winds. Once their jobs are done, these items should be repaired if necessary and put away, if possible. •Drain your garden ponds and fountains, making certain to turn off and drain all outside connections to prevent freezing and thawing damage to the pipes and lines. If your pond has fish and is deep enough (about 3 feet), you can leave it filled, as long as there is still a pump or bubbler providing the fish with oxygen. You can also buy floating de-icers that work all winter. •November is also the perfect time to spruce up those fallow window boxes and containers by planting conifers and hardy foliage. At the PHS headquarters on 20th and Arch in Philadelphia, staff horticulturist Nancy O'Donnell uses the following plants to create a great winter effect: Car ex morrowii Old Gold' (Japanese sedge) Cornus stolonifera (red-twig dogwood) Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine) Ilex verticil lata 'Afterglow’ (winterberry) Ilex ‘Sparkleberry’ (winterberry) Euonymous fortunei Emerald 'n' Gold' Ilex crenata Helleri’ (holly) Jiiniperas horizontalis Bar Harbor’ (creeping juniper) Salix ‘Flame’ (w'illow) 5 offers a comprehensive collec- tion of bee-related products and advice for those interested in pollinating their gardens or har- vesting their own honey (a sin- gle beehive can produce over 100 pounds of honey a year). The company can even ship 11,000 live bees to your door. Now that’s sure to create a buzz! PERK UP YOUR ROSES. If your cut roses or tulips start to droop in the vase, don’t throw them out. Just put them in a sink or bathtub filled with lukewarm water for a few hours. During that time, they’ll absorb water and sink to the bottom. Once this happens, take them out and they’ll look fresh again. SUPER FERTILIZER & PEST CONTROL? We know about organic compost from food scraps and yard waste, but what about compost from the ocean? A company called Coast of Maine is now marketing a fertil- izer made from salmon. Their Fermented Salmon Organic Fertilizer includes numerous minerals and fatty acids which reputedly help with germina- tion, greening and budding, increased foliage, and stress recovery after transplanting. Flower enthusiasts also claim it does wonders as a spray, deterr- ing wildlife with its aroma and curing leaf ills like powdery mildew, black spot, aphids, and white flies. Ask your local nurs- ery for more info or call the company directly at (800) 345- 9315. Let’s Hear From You! What do you think of this issue of Green Scene ? And which stories did you like. ..and which ones didn’t tickle your fancy? Lend us your compliments, critiques, or complaints, all of which will help us create a better magazine for you. Send your thoughts to us at the following address: Green Scene Magazine, P.O. Box 7780-1839. Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642. You can also email us at: greenscene @pennhort. org A bulb-garden pot at its peak. After approximately 3 weeks indoors, Muscari, hyacinths, Crocus, and daffodils bloom together. ^ iy! >\ i I 1 Bf! M J * i s Create the Feeling /A i — A of Spring with a \V/ ( ( “Bulb-Garden Pot” V7 u vA u by Art Wolk There’s a hot new trend in bulb forcing called a “bulb-garden pot." This creative concept allows gardeners to plant many different types of bulbs in the same container. These pots are planted in the fall, chilled for 10-12 weeks, and then forced to bloom indoors. The flower display starts with Crocus, Iris reticulata , or some other early bulbs and is followed by the later-blooming bulbs, thus simulating the bloom sequence of their outdoor brethren. My experience with this type of bulb planting started about three years ago, garden clubs started asking me to include information about bulb-garden pots in my lectures. I resisted as long as 1 could, giv- ing one lame excuse after another. Finally, one club made me an “offer I couldn't refuse,” but insisted that I do an entire workshop on bulb-garden pots. Caught between a rock garden and a hard place, I had reached that life-altering moment when it was more painful to stay the same than to change. So, I finally gave in and planted my first bulb-garden pot. You don't have to be a genius to figure out what happened next: I ended up lov- ing it. Within a few days of bringing my first bulb-garden pot indoors, the Crocus bloomed, followed a few days later by Iris reticulata. Ten days later, early daffodils flowered, and a week after that, the tulips bloomed. Instead of the mess I had imag- ined, the foliage from the early bulbs gen- tly and gracefully spilled over the side of the clay pot, immensely adding to the beauty of the whole miniature landscape. In a word, I became hooked, and I think you will too. Producing a bulb garden in a pot is truly a simple endeav- or. Just follow these directions and you'll have your own colorful bulb gar- den indoors, just when winter is doing its worst outdoors. The Best Bulbs to Plant To have a bulb-garden pot that stays in bloom for a full month, you'll need a wide variety of bulbs, including those that bloom early, mid-season, and late. The early bulbs are those that bloom outdoors from February through mid- March in USDA Zone 6. There’s a tremendous variety of these diminutive bulbs (also called the “minor” bulbs), but I generally use Crocus and Iris retic- ulata. These bulbs begin blooming within 3-7 days of bringing them indoors and last about 7 days, at which time the mid-season bulbs are begin- ning to show color. The mid-season bulbs I use include hyacinths, most daffodils ( Narcissus ), and grape hyacinths ( Muscari armeni- acum). These bulbs generally bloom outdoors from mid-March to mid-April. In your bulb-garden pot, they’ll start blooming after about 16 days and will last for about a week or more. My late season bulbs are usually tulips. These generally bloom outdoors from April 15th to May 10th, and bloom indoors after about 23 days of forcing and main- tain their bloom 7-10 days. Planting Your Bulb-Garden Pot To put on a truly wonderful display indoors, you'll need a 12 to 14-inch pot, preferably one made of clay. I always use clay pots because they wick away excess water and keep air content high in the planting medium, thus reducing the chance of fungal disease. If you have your heart set on using a plastic Top: After 1 0 weeks of cold treatment, your bulb-garden pot can be rinsed and brought indoors Bottom: After 28 days of blooming, the tulips ( Tulipa 'Apricot Beauty') are at their peak and the daffodils are still in bloom. Notice how the Crocus foliage gracefully spills over the side of the pot. november 1 999 | 7 green scene I Cover with potting mix, but making sure that you can still see the tops of the underlying bulbs. Then, plant the second layer of Muscari, Iris, and Crocus. Plant a layer of tulips, hyacinths, Muscari (grape hyacinth), Iris reticulata, and Crocus. Continue filling with Crocus. After 1 0 weeks of cold treatment, the pot is cleaned and brought in- Cover with a dome of planting medium doors. Within a few days. Iris reticu- Fill out the rest of this layer with bulbs. and firm with the palm of your hand. lata 'Violet Beauty' begins blooming, container, which admittedly is lighter to lug around, just be careful not to over- water. Since most spring-blooming bulbs do best in a medium that has both moisture and high air content. I use a porous soil mix, such as Pro-Mix BX. It’s made up of 60% sphagnum peat moss, 20% per- lite, 20% vermiculite, and a variety of nutrients. (It is available at Agway and many garden centers.) After soaking your clay container in water for at least an hour, cover the drainage hole with a piece of broken clay pot. Next, fill the pot with planting medium to w'ithin 4 to 6 inches of the top. Before planting the bulbs, take a look at the catalog from which you ordered your bulbs. The ultimate height of each variety is usually given in inches. With this information, you can arrange your bulb-garden pot the way a portrait photographer arranges a group picture, with the tallest “subjects” in the back and the shortest in the front. Consequently, the minor bulbs would go in the front, the bulbs that yield medium-sized plants go in the middle, and the bulbs producing the tallest plants are placed in the back. Don’t be afraid to pack the bulbs cheek-to-jowl. Remember: The more bulbs you plant now. the more flowers you’ll have later. In fact. Crocus. Iris, Muscari, and daffodils can be double- layered for a really glorious display. (Very few tulips can tolerate being double layered and double-layered hyacinths rarely bloom uniformly.) Double-layering works like this: For daffodils, only fill the pot half-way with potting medium and plant a layer of daf- fodils. Next, cover with soil, but so that you can still see the tops of the bulbs. Finally, plant another layer of daffodils 8 - between the tops of the underlying bulbs. Double-layering Crocus , Iris, or Muscari works the same way, except that you begin higher up, with the bottom layer about 4 inches from the top, and the upper layer about 2 inches higher. After planting your bulbs, cover with a dome of soil, and firm the plant- ing mix with the palm of your hand. This is done to prevent the bulbs from pushing their way out of the pot as they vigorously send down roots. Cold Treatment Most spring-blooming bulbs have to go through a cold period (between 40-50°F) for 8-10 weeks before they can be forced indoors. These tempera- tures are necessary for root formation and flower-stem extension. One of the best places to give your bulbs the temperatures they need is as simple as a hole in the ground. It may sound unsophisticated, but it works. Pick a site where water doesn’t collect and dig down about 15-18 inches. Place your bulb-garden pot in the bottom; then, after placing a tall stick next to the pot, fill the hole with soil. To be certain that water drains away from the spot, create a crown of soil over the area. The stick should protaide about 3 feet above the soil level. Next, pile about 2 feet of leaves over the soil to keep it from freezing hard in the winter. Producing a Spring Season in a Pot After 10 weeks of cold treatment, you can begin your indoor spring season. Even if there's a foot of snow outside, the stick you put next to your bulb-gar- den pot can still be seen. After remov- ing the leaf mulch, carefully dig from the side of the hole toward your pot to prevent damaging the bulbs. When you get close, just use your fingers. After removing the pot from the ground, clean off the excess soil. I actu- ally connect my hose in mid-winter and wash the pot down. Be sure to remove Now you can get ready for an early dose of spring! Given enough light, warmth, and mois- ture, your potted bulbs will start blooming within a week. Pick a sunny window where the tem- perature is 55-68°F. Be sure to choose a spot where temperatures stay below 70°F, even when it's sunny; otherwise the flowers may not emerge. As I’ve described above, the minor bulbs will begin blooming in 3- 7 days and last for about a week. Just when these flowers begin dying, your hyacinths, early daffodils, and grape hyacinths should start to show color. And, by the time the mid-season flowers fade, your tulips should begin to bloom. By the time the show ends, it'll be at least one month since you brought your bulb-garden pot indoors. One last bit of advice: When you’re finished forcing your potted bulbs, you can save them for outdoor bloom. (Forcing weakens the bulbs, so they shouldn't be forced two years in a row.) Snip off the dead blooms, put the pot back in the sun, and continue watering. When the foliage turns yellow, carefully remove the bulbs from the pot and plant them in your garden. Embracing Change In retrospect, I'm quite thankful that I was compelled to force bulbs in this new way. You purists can stick to planting one type of bulb in a pot. while the rest of us welcome this new technique and enjoy watching a month-long spring season unfold indoors. Give it a try! ❖ Although he considers himself "old fash- ioned" by nature, Art Wolk has changed enough to embrace potted-bulb gardening. Still, he claims to feel naked if he doesn't wear a tie to work, takes pictures with an old Nikon camera, and hasn't changed his hairstyle in 35 years. Art regularly writes and lectures about a variety of gardening topics. enough soil from the top so that you have sufficient space to water the pot indoors. SOURCES: Brent and Becky's Bulbs 7463 Heath Trail Gloucester, VA 23061 Phone: 877-661-2852 (877-No.l BULB) Dutch Gardens P.O. Box 200 Adelphia, NJ 07710-0200 Phone: 800-8 1 8-3861 John Scheepers, Inc. 23 Tulip Drive Bantam, CT 06750 Phone: 860-567-0838 Van Engelen, Inc. 23 Tulip Drive Bantam, CT 06750 Phone: 860-567-8734 9 green scene november 1 999 | sg-.vxf^T ••-’.fly'' by Fran Sorin There are gardens and then there are gardens. One of the Philadelphia region’s best is Chanticleer, a “pleasure garden” developed by Adolph Rosengarten on seven acres in Wayne in 1912 and later, substantially expanded by his son. Chanticleer is a strong- ly romantic place, intended to evoke a deep emotional response, rather than a dry aca- demic one— it is for that reason that none of the plants are labeled. At the helm of it all is Chris Woods, the garden's outspoken director and head designer. A native of England but now a U.S. citizen, Woods started his career at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, and has worked in three other major gardens in the U.K. We met up with Woods recently to get his insights on the differences between American and English garden design, as well as on the reasons why we garden. What is American garden design? I have no idea. Haven't got a clue. Okay then, let’s go back to when you first CAME TO THE UNITED STATES. DlD YOU TRAVEL AROUND AT ALL? Yes, 1 came here in 1977 and traveled around the country for eight months. In 1983. I moved here per- manently and after a transitional period came to Chanticleer. What struck me about American public gardens when I came here 16 years ago was that there weren’t any plants in them. I couldn't figure out where the plants were. They were more like “landscapes,” with lots of lawn. When you say there were no PLANTS IN THESE GARDENS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN— NO PERENNIALS? Right. The only garden that really interested me, because it had a pas- sionate side as opposed to an intel- lectual one, was Wave Hill in New' York. Its director, Marco Polo Stufano, was the only American whom I met in the early years w'ho understood the English obsession with plants. Can you describe this “obsession” a little MORE? I think what was missing in the States wras an artist’s view of the garden and that’s often still the case today. In England, other than an arboretum’s maple or pine collection, the gardens are designed to elicit an emotional response. And I think the rea- son that English gardens are so different and, in some ways, so much better for plantsmen is that they are not created from an academic perspective. Other than the old botanic gardens in the universities, most of the gardens that we talk about as “good English gardens” have nothing to do with the educational system in England. In this country, on the other hand, it appears that many botanical gardens at uni- versities or college campuses are being managed by academicians. I’ve always assumed that everyone who WORKS IN GARDENS IN ENGLAND HAS A HORTI- CULTURAL DEGREE. No, not at all. Are the gardeners in England TREATED MORE AS ARTISTS? I don't know what's going on in England today, but when I wras there, I worked for a man who wras the head gardener at Cliveden by the name of Phil Cotten, who was also responsible for at least two other gardens in the area. He was w'orking for the National Trust, but even though he wras an administra- tor with a huge garden and lots of staff and meetings to go to, he also w'orked on the grounds, as wrell as being a really good tree surgeon. So, Phil would do his administrative work after the main workday. The people involved in gardens when I was being trained in horticulture were first and foremost gar- deners, because administration was not considered the primary goal. SO HOW DOES THIS MENTALITY AFFECT Chanticleer? What people want when they come into the garden is to see something beautiful. And then they want to know what it is and where they can get it. I don’t provide that information at Chanticleer for very conscious reasons. This is a garden that concentrates on the aesthetics, not on the information. In fact, hardly any public garden can tell you where to get a plant, so the consumer gets the short end of the stick. In England, however, it’s much more integrated and, as you said, a cultural thing. You can walk down the street in some village in Who-Knows-Where, England and hear two old ladies walk- ing in front of you talking about helle- bores. Or else some guy getting off his motorcycle dressed in leather and ask- ing where the penstemon nursery is. I think that’s because there’s not much else to do in England. The climate in England is conducive to gardening. It’s amazing how many people garden there. When one talks about “outdoor entertainment” in England, they’re talking about gardening. I MEAN, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GO TO THE BEACH OR THE SWIMMING POOL IN THAT CLIMATE. You can walk the mountains and all of that, but it’s still not like hiking the Rockies. It’s not as grand. So the every- day experience in England is much smaller than it is in the United States. This is for obvious reasons, geographi- cally, but the English are also used to a lower threshold of entertainment. I’m not sure we’re used to that in America. When we go on vacation, we fly 1,500 miles and go to Disneyland. That’s not a small experience. It’s a big one. That’s very true. But on the OTHER HAND, ISN’T THERE A LACK OF FOCUS ON AESTHETICS IN THIS COUN- TRY? Well, my goal is to raise our aesthetic expectation by making Chanticleer the most beautiful garden around. And what I’m doing is taking an already beautiful property and fine-tuning it. It’s a bit like painting by numbers... essentially, the numbers are already in place and what I’m doing is sort of coloring it in. I want our visitors to be so excited, and so inspired by the beauty of this place that they leave saying, ' I’ve got to improve my garden!” Years ago, I went to hear [noted UK gardener/author] Beth Chatto give a lecture at Swarthmore College and, when it was over, I left shaking with excitement. The next morning, I dug up half my lawn. What was it about Beth Chatto THAT SO INSPIRED YOU? She talked about the passion of gar- dening. And I think gardeners in America actually get bogged down in the details whether it’s this euphorbia or that geranium or whatever. All you need to do is dig up your lawn and put in a ton of plants... work out the details later. In that light, the ideal visitor to Chanticleer is someone who walks around, gets really inspired, and com- pletely falls in love with the beauty of horticulture and plants. You can fall in love with the combinations of colors, the air, and the beauty of the place. There’s also the fact that it’s a sanctuary and that nobody is going to jam horti- culture down their throats. We don’t interpret anything. What’s to interpret? It’s a garden. And so you come away inspired to improve your life. And how do you begin to affect your life? You begin to behave differently, work out- doors more, and adjust the small things, because you often can’t adjust the big things. So you’re saying that IT’s the LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT. Right. And I think Chanticleer actually has more to do with human beings than plants. It’s a bridge between artificiality and the natural world. But let’s be clear — this is not nature. We spend a lot of money on this place, whereas if it were nature, it would be a lot different. Our goal in shaping this garden has more to | green scene / november 1 999 2 Photo courtesy of Chanticleer photo by Pete Prown do with people and to have them live better. I think that’s what it’s all about. But back to American and English garden design— is there REALLY THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE? Well, England is a tiny country with- out a lot of cultural diversity. America is a huge country. We have pretty much every climate from tundra to tropics, as well as an ethnically diverse population with diverse expectations. A lot of the gardens we are used to in this area, of course, are fundamentally upper mid- dle-class English in origin. But what is wonderful about our country is its diver- sity. 1 think we should stop looking towards England as our model and look towards other countries. Why not go to Spain and Morocco and Costa Rica and 20,000 other countries for our influ- ences? You’ve spent a lot of time travel- ing AROUND THE WORLD. HOW HAS THAT INFLUENCED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON GARDENING? I travel as a hobby and it’s really important for me to bring new influ- ences home to the garden. Frankly, there are a lot of plants I don’t think we’d be growing at Chanticleer right now if I hadn’t been to Costa Rica. That’s why we have three of a particu- lar plant here, because we saw it down near the Panama border. You know, the plant world is international. So, why shouldn’t the professional people be international instead of just traveling to Europe and Japan? ^ ^ All you need to do is dig up your lawn and put in a ton of plants. ..work out the details later. But do you think that is occur- ring in American gardening and, IF SO, WHERE? During the past decade, I think it's begun to happen in people’s backyards. I don't think public gardens are particu- larly effective in doing this. It always strikes me how ineffective they are. 1 mean, 56 million people go to public gardens in America, which is a lot of vis- itors, but I don’t think their impact is as dramatic as certain individuals in the garden universe. To be honest, 1 think that Martha Stewart has had a huge influence. She has alerted a huge num- ber of people in the United States to the fact that decorating outside is accept- able. Another one is Peter Raven, who is director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. He has connected the world of science, art, horticulture, and land man- agement into one thing. I regard him as the spokesman for botanical gardens and plant-science issues. These two people are seminal in the world of gar- dening right now. If you could change one thing ABOUT THE AMERICAN GARDENING PUBLIC, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Gardeners need to relax. This is fun and there aren't any rules. In garden books, they say you can't put this color together or use these two plants togeth- er. My advice is: Read less, do more. You have to get out there, bend over, sweat, and get your hands dirty. It’s unimpor- tant what you're doing in the garden... just do it. By doing this, you'll learn more and also begin to expect more from gardens. Are you at peace in the garden? No. For me, it's wrork and it’s dynam- ic...there’s a lot of creative tension. No, it’s not peaceful, not at all, which I think is common for many professional gar- deners. It’s a demanding, backbreaking job. That’s why gardeners get so surly if you interrupt them. Gardening is like sleepwalking... if you snap them out of it, they resent it. But more importantly, gardening is an expression of the joy of living. And if one visitor picks that up from coming to Chanticleer, then I've been a success. ❖ Fran Sorin is a gardener and designer who works and lives in Bryn Mawr, PA. She is also a garden expert on the Weekend Today show. She can be reached at fransorin 1 @aol.com. Chanticleer is located at 786 Church Road, Wayne, PA (610) 687-4163, and it is open from April 1 through October 3 1 , 10am to 5pm, Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free for PHS members. green scene november 1 999 | hue watering our gar- dens and lawns dur- ing the past summer’s drought, our main focus was to keep the plants alive in the blazing heat. But after water-use restrictions were put in place throughout the Delaware Valley, our thoughts also turned to the water sys- tems beyond the end of the hose. Some of us looked no further than the nearest well or reservoir, but these are just the man-made “taps” into larger natural systems of water storage and recharge. This is a watershed. *< J STK. 5* by Adam Levine All of us live in one watershed or another, defined by the creek, stream, or river into which stormwater from our property drains. Even an urban rowhouse dweller far from any above-ground waterway lives in a water- shed; chances are the nearest creek runs underneath the street in a sewer pipe. A watershed for a small trib- utary creek can cover just a few acres, whereas the Delaware River watershed, encompassing hundreds of smaller watersheds, covers more than 12,000 square miles. The State of Our Watersheds Healthy watersheds replenish and purify our water supply and provide a home for many kinds of plants and animals. Unfortunately, most of the watersheds in the Delaware Valley have been badly compromised over the years. Rapid and poorly planned development, the increasing acreage of water-resistant lawns and pavement, pollution from various sources, and many other human activities all have taken their cumulative toll on water quality and quantity, as well as wildlife diversity. “In the last century we have disrupted — more than probably any other natural system — the patterns of wrater to which plant and animal communities have adapted over millennia,” writes Leslie Jones Sauer in 77je Once and Future Forest. “A discontinuous patch- work of deteriorating pipes, ditches, channels, impoundments, and wells has replaced and significant- ly dismantled the natural infrastructure of streams, wet- lands and aquifers, which have been filled, drained, diverted, channeled, pumped, and dammed.” The good news is that just as human activities have degraded our watersheds, a different set of activities can help us restore them. Since most watersheds include a number of municipalities, regional planning that goes beyond a piecemeal approach is a caicial part of this recovery' process. Instead of an ill-conceived patchwork of town-by-town plans, broadening the planning process to include a survey of water resources before going ahead with development will help protect critical areas such as wetlands and flood plains, allocate water resources according to various needs, and limit development to a level that the watershed can reason- ably sustain. On a smaller scale, individuals can also play a caicial role in watershed preservation. “Even if there is no stream in sight, your land is a piece of a watershed's puzzle,” states a brochure on watershed stewardship published by the Chester County (PA) Water Resources Authority. We can get involved in the local planning process, and help local watershed groups with their stream clean-up and restoration projects. Most impor- tant, we can learn more about our own little pieces of the “puzzle,” and how what we do in our gardens can have effects far beyond our property' lines, for better or worse. Watershed Basics In an undisturbed watershed, the groundwater level and stream How — while fluctuating according to the green scene / november 1 999 ! A watershed, like any park area, can sometimes be loved to death. Here, you can see erosion along the banks of the Wissahickon Creek near Valley Green, where trampling has killed off all the vegetation. i ^ season and amount of rainfall — main- tain themselves within a normal range. Because the stream bank and channel change over time, they create the familiar meandering pattern that flowing water establishes even in the tiniest rivulets. The flood plain and wetlands along the stream corridor absorb the occasional high waters and support a variety of wildlife unique to such an area. Few watersheds today are undis- turbed; in general, the higher the popu- lation density, the greater the distur- bance. Many areas, built up beyond the capacity of their water resources, pump more water out of underground storage reservoirs, or aquifers , than is flowing into them. In some places groundwater levels are so low that, instead of feeding streams as they normally do, they now suck water out of them. During dry spells in the summer, the flow of water in many streams, including the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, consists mostly of the discharge from upstream sewage treatment plants. Large areas of a watershed, including flood plains and wetlands, may also now be covered by surfaces through which water cannot penetrate: paved streets and parking lots, house and building roofs, and, surprisingly, lawns. A slightly sloping area of mown grass will deflect almost as much stormwater as pavement. Where 80% of the water in an undisturbed watershed infiltrates into the groundwater, in many developed areas the same amount runs off on the surface, thereby decreasing the refill of groundwater supplies. This means that more stormwater now reaches streams more quickly, and in greater quantity. More runoff makes a stream more prone to flash flooding even in relatively minor storms. Filling and building on flood plains and wetlands, as well as creating embankments to channel the stream and keep it from spilling out over its banks, only serve to increase flooding downstream of these “improve- ments.” Higher storm flows can have many effects. They erode stream banks more quickly and deeply, disturbing native plant populations and creating openings for invasive exotic plants, such as Japanese knotweed. Erosion increases the amount of sediment in the stream, which can muddy and eventually elimi- nate gravelly areas in which a number of desirable fish, such as brook trout, like to feed and breed. In steep stream valleys, what would naturally be shal- low tributaries can become deeply gouged gullies, further increasing sedi- ment levels in streams and opening up more area for invasive plants. Non-Point Pollution Twenty or more years ago, most stream pollution came from pipes — from factories and sewage treatment plants emitting foul effluent directly into waterways. But as those “point" pollu- tion sources have been forced to meet stricter Federal guidelines, the majority of stream pollution, in both developed and agricultural watersheds, now comes from widely dispersed, difficult to con- trol “non-point" sources. During heavy rains, stormwater scours the streets and landscape and carries many non-point pollutants directly into streams, including gasoline, motor oil, lawn chemicals, and dog waste. In rural areas, runoff from farm- lands can contain high levels of live- stock manure, fertilizer and pesticides. Water percolating through the ground is purified somewhat, since micro-organ- isms in the soil break down various pol- lutants. But since most stormwater runs off the surface, it doesn't get a chance to benefit from this natural, biological process. Non-point pollution is one of the most serious challenges to the health of our streams today, and is the one area where the cumulative effect of individ- ual actions can be significant. Every time we put something on or in our land — lawn fertilizer, pesticides, motor oil dumped behind the garage or down the storm sewer — we are contributing to non-point pollution. Many storm sewers empty directly into the nearest stream, yet people still use these streetside inlets to dump motor oil, paint, solvents, and other hazardous materials. Even when dumped “behind the garage," these substances can still make their way into groundwater supplies. Pouring them down the drain isn't the solution, either. In areas with combined sewer systems, the pipes carry both sewage and stormwater to a sewage treatment plant during dry weather. But during heavy rains, when the volume of flow is too much for the treatment plant to handle, excess stormwater along with diluted sewage is discharged directly into waterways. Most counties have “Household Hazardous Waste” collec- tion days; contact your local Health Department for information about the next day in your area. Lawns “Reducing the extent of lawn is one of the easiest and most effective ways of addressing stormwater management while increasing the area of potential wildlife habitat,” writes Leslie Jones Sauer. “Letting some of our lawn area SOURCES A ■; Left: A huge gully on a hillside beneath the Walnut Lane bridge, leading into Wissahickon Creek, created by stormwater runoff from streets and a golf course / above. After a basin was built on top of ■' l. the hill to detain the stormwater, this one- ?// acre area was restored and replanted with -V over 800 native trees and shrubs. Work gwas done in 1997 by the Fairmount Park Commission's Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program, tfei Below: The same hillside, now healthily Sr replanted with trees and shrubs. grow up into meadow allows water to percolate into the ground instead of running off. It also means that you'll be using less fertilizer and pesticides, which can wash off a lawn during heavy rains.” Here are some other lawn tips to help save our watersheds. If you are fortu- nate enough to live by a stream or pond, don't mow right up to the edge of the water. Leave an unmowed buffer, the wider the better, and preferably planted with trees and shrubs, which encourage even more infiltration than meadow grasses. Another way to decrease runoff is to redirect down- spouts away from paved areas and onto lawns or wooded areas. Rain barrels can also be used to store water, for use on the garden between rainstorms. The Big Picture The main point is that each of us needs to get to know our local water- shed. Janet Bowers, executive director of the Chester County Water Resources Authority, encourages people to learn about their watershed and pay a visit to the nearest accessible stream. "Walk in it, wade in it, canoe, take pictures, or go fishing,” Bowers says. “It’s important that we touch the water and play in it.” “You might not want to drink it,” Bowers cautions with a smile. “But we need to stay connected to streams and understand their vitality and impor- tance. If we lose that connection and become apathetic, that’s when decisions are made that will take it away from us.” ❖ Adam Levine lives by Vernon Run, a tribu- tary to Ridley Creek, in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania. Besides the sources cited, the author would like to thank Ann Smith and Mark McGuigan of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Nancy Goldenberg of the Natural Lands Restoration & Environmental Education Program, Blaine Bonham of PHS, and Nancy Crickman of the Department of Environmental Protection for providing background information invaluable in the preparation of this article. The following organizations pro- vide general information about watersheds in the Delaware Valley. They can provide maps and con- tacts for your local watershed organization. Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program. Memorial Hall, RO. Box 21601, Philadelphia, PA 19131; (215) 685-0274. Department of Environmental Protection, Lee Park, Suite 6010, 155 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428; Attn: Nancy Crickman; (610) 832-6100. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an active watershed office for Southeastern Pennsylvania, and a good website, which includes local resources and contacts for various watershed associations: www.dep. state. pa . us/dep/deputate/ ivatermgt/WC/subjects/nonpoint.htm The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also has useful watershed information on its website: www.epa.gov. Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 117 S. 17th Street, Suite 2300, Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 563-0250 , www.libertynet.org/ pecpbila. PEC and its associated GreenSpace Alliance are very active in watershed management issues and open-space planning for Southeastern Pennsylvania. Chester County Water Resources Authority, PO. Box 2747, West Chester, PA 19380; (6IO) 344-5401; www. chesco.org/water.btml . They recently put out a brochure for home- owners, “Watershed Stewardship. It’s Up to You!,” outlining various ways to become a responsible watershed steward. watershed the following two books are able. Both are available McLean Library at PHS: Future Forest: A Guide to 1 Restoration Strategies by Leslie Jo Sauer and The Granite Garden: Urban Nature and Human Design by Anne Whiston Spirn. 17 ^:£BflOlfciiS69Ppe;’'LL ^5'” :’'S!r ’ A view of the Delaware River from Bowman's Hill. In the lower right is the Thompson-Neely House, once headquarters for General Lord Stirling who commanded colonial troops against British crossings. At Washington’s Crossing, the Landscape Above: Sometimes called "Bouncing Bet" or "Lady by the Garden Gate", soapwort (Saponaria officinalis ) get their name because they contain saponin in their sap that lathers when mixed with water for washing. Left: Detail from the oil painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emmanuel Leutze. (courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art) 3ecomes A Part of Our National Heritage by Bridget Salantri If these hills could talk, oh, the stories they would tell. Indeed, the picturesque landscape of Bucks County could tell many great tales. The hills and fields are wrought by millions of years of evo- lution, along with the numerous rivers and streams that made it attractive for early settlement. While the area is known more for its role in the Revolutionary War, the physical quali- ties of the landscape also played its part in the chapter of history told at Washington Crossing Historic Park. In retrospect, these hills played a more pivotal part in our nation’s birth than most people think. In addition to being an enclosure for flowers or vegetables, a garden can be defined as a public recreational area or park and, so within this definition, Washington Crossing Historic Park is considered a garden. The land now enclosed by the Park originally served as a historic backdrop to America’s quest for independence. It was here where General George Washington encamped in December of 1776, and crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Day with his army of colonial soldiers. The resulting military victory at Trenton was America’s first as a new nation. Although the Park is dedicated to re- telling this epic event, the entire story extends beyond the 500 acres of the Park and reaches into the nearby village of Taylorsville and the local countryside. In fact, the encampment sites and head- quarters once occupied by Washington and his gathering forces are still stand- ing. The rural landscape features many landmarks such as period buildings, streams, and roads. A journey through the area transports you to another, seemingly simpler, time. More signifi- cantly, the diabase-rock hills provided essential cover to the gathering patriots who were preparing to attack the Hessians (German mercenaries who were fighting for the British) in Trenton, New Jersey. One can surmise that George Washington’s early training as a land surveyor taught him to use the landscape as a strategic tool and he therefore picked this area of Bucks County for the dramatic crossing. Plants play a major role in interpreting landscapes and gardens too. In the Park, sycamore trees and river birches naturally line the riverside, while heir- loom plants grow in gardens that refer- ence different periods of garden inter- pretation. Near the Embarkation Point where Washington crossed the Delaware River with 2,500 men. modern formal gardens draw the public’s atten- 19 green scene november 1999 | All photo: Colonial Plants AND THEIR USES Lungwort (Pulmonciria officinalis)-. A hardy perennial used for treating coughs and lung complaints. Box (Buxus sempervirens). A hardy shrub used as a pain killer and to dispel parasitic worms. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana): Native to eastern Europe, this perennial has served as food for over 3,000 years. At one time, the raw root was also used to care for boils, bronchitis, and coughs, as well as a stimulant. Large doses can be harmful, however. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)-. From the Middle East, this herbaceous perennial produces a tea which has a calming effect. It was used to relieve tiredness and headaches. Virginia skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)-. Native to North America, this hardy plant was used as a bitter tonic and remedy for hysteria, neuralgia, and rabies. Chives (Allium schoenoprasutn): Originally from Europe, this herbaceous perennial’s fresh leaves were used to flavor foods. The leaves are mildly antiseptic and were once said to prevent apple scabs in apples. Madonna lily (Liliunt candidum). This hardy perennial’s bulb contains mucilage and is slightly astrin- gent. It was used externally on ulcers, corns, inflammations, and minor burns. Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflala ): Native to North America, this hard annual was used to treat asthma and as an expectorant. — Bridget Salantri Top: A good example of the rectilinear "bones" of a colonial garden, here seen at the Thompson-Neely House. Bottom: A verdant colonial-revival garden grows in front of the early 19th-century Hibbs House in the village of Taylorsville, PA. Still popular today, Concord grapes were used for wine, preserves, and juices. tion and highlight what happened here with statues and a flag. The Embarkation Point brings visitors to the edge of the Delaware River where Patriots filed into boats to make their way across the icy December waters. Five miles north of the crossing point, the Thompson-Neely House served as the River I feadquarters for General Lord Stirling and Lt. James Monroe. Here, the colonial revival-style landscape features a kitchen and herb garden fill- ed with common colonial plants. It includes soapwort ( Saponaria ), burdock ( Arctium lappa), lady's mantle ( Alchemilla mollis), lungwort (Pul- monaria officinalis), and lily-of-the-val- ley ( Convallaria majalis). The work to revive the garden has been done with help from the Herb Society of America, Delaware Valley Chapter, who also donated many of the plants. lip the road from the Thompson- Neely House is Bowman's Hill, which features small meadows and many woodland plants. Although the steep slopes and rocky terrain made farming impossible in 1776, the timber was cut regularly in this naturalized area. Portrait of an Army By the winter of 1776, General Washington and his ragged army had expe- rienced only defeat and despair. The War for Independence was going badly, with failure after failure. In the preceding months, Washington’s campaign in New York had ended in a loss at the Battle of Long Island as the British troops outmaneuvered the Continental Army. A sense of defeat had settled around Washington as he was forced to retreat across New Jersey to Pennsylvania on December 7th and 8th. As the harsh Pennsylvania winter set in, the morale of the American troops was at an all-time low. The soldiers were forced to deal with a lack of food and warm clothing, while Washington watched his army shrink due to deser- tions and expiring enlistments. Now, more than ever, a victory was desper- ately needed. Washington devised a courageous plan to take the offensive and cross the Delaware River on Christmas night, and attack the Hessian garrison at Trenton, Newr Jersey, nine miles to the south. The original plan called for three divisions to cross the river under the cover of darkness. The boats used for the crossing were gathered earlier in the month in compliance with General Washington’s orders, primarily as a defensive measure. Various types of boats had been collected, most notable the large, heavy Durham boats used to carry pig iron down the Delaware. Fully expecting to be supported by two divisions south of Trenton, Washington assembled his own troops near McConkey’s Ferry in preparation for the crossing. By 6pm, 2,400 men had begun crossing the ice-choked river. The operation was slow and difficult due to the condition of the river. There was an abrupt change in the weather forcing the men to fight their way through sleet and a blinding snowstorm. These obstacles proved to be too much for the support divisions led by Generals Cadwalader and Ewing, who did not cross at southerly points along the Delaware. Against all odds, Washington and his men successfully completed the cross- ing and marched nine miles south, and attacked Trenton on the morning of December 26, achieving a resounding victory over the Hessians. By moving ahead with his bold and daring plan, General Washington re-ignited the cause of freedom and gave new life to the American Revolution. — exempt from "A Historic Landscape Tom: " Washington Crossing Historic Park 21 green scene november 1 999 | American by Gayle 8. Samuels Henry David Thoreau kept a jour- nal for much of his life, including his celebrated time at Walden Pond. In the fall of 1855, about a year after he had completed Walden , Thoreau’s journal entry describes him walking around his hometown of Concord, Massachusetts and coming across a mature chestnut, its nuts ripe for picking. Thoreau does not mention whether the tree grew in a garden, a field, or by the side of a road. It was the actual tree that interested him, not its setting. He was not principal- ly a gardener or an improver of nature, but rather someone who generally preferred his flora wild and uncultivated, as he would later explain in his essay on apples, enti- tled "Wild Apples.” This was, after all, the man who wrote those now- famous words: “....in Wildness is the preservation of the World." But back to the chestnut. Thoreau sees the nut-laden tree and throws a large stone against the trunk to knock some nuts to the ground. And almost, it seems as soon as the stone is tossed, he regrets what he has done. The tree, he reflects, shades and feeds us and he has injured it. It has provided in the way that parents do and deserves better treatment. He concludes: “Old trees are our parents, and our parents’ parents, perchance.” Old trees come before us — in some cases, such as California’s nearly 5000-year-old bristlecone pines, much farther back than even our grandparents — and create the world we inherit. Every old tree tells a story about the past. Some, like parents, record pieces of our per- sonal or family history. Others, through the science of den- drochronology (which reads the unique record of tree rings to reveal past weather patterns and events) chronicle our collective past. Trees provide the architecture of the nat- ural world. They mark the seasons, fill our world with beauty, create the wood that shelters us, provide the fruits and nuts that feed us, and, along with other plants, supply the oxygen that makes complex life on earth possible. At the same time that they release oxygen, they remove the harmful carbon dioxide from the atmos- phere. They do it so successfully that the Forest Service suggests planting 50 seedlings at the birth of an infant to remove the atmospheric carbon that this child will produce in his or her lifetime. Older trees, though, do it better. The bigger the tree, the more atmospheric carbon it removes and stores. Old trees also ornament our gar- dens and populate our forests. With age, they, like Thoreau’s chestnut, develop into the unique markers of the places we call "home.” They are models of strength, endurance, and unending generosity. And, as if all of this were not enough, they give us something to look up to. But per- haps most remarkably in this long list of admirable attributes, they do it all without being asked — just like mom. Gayle B. Samuels is the author of a forthcoming book on historic American trees entitled Enduring Roots: Encounters with Trees, History, and the American Landscape, which is being published in December by Rutgers University Press. Timbering allowed many wildflowers, including wild orchids, to grow here. The 400-foot elevation also provided General Washington's patriots with a 20- mile lookout. Again, Washington worked with the landscape to give his troops the greatest strategic advantage possible. Today, a modern-era stone tower, built in the 1930s, adds another 120 feet to the height and provides visi- tors with panoramic views of the sur- rounding countryside. Back in Taylorsville village, many buildings dating back to the early 1800s are used to interpret a craftsman's vil- lage in post-colonial times. The land- scape around the houses is simple, and a small herb garden in front of the Hibbs House identifies another formal planting of period herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Here, orris (Iris germanica var. florentina ) and perennial flax (Linum spp.) begin the show of flowers in May. Sage ( Salvia officinalis ), thyme (Thymus sp.), and lavender ( Lavandula ) thrive in the well-drained river soils. The summer finds hollyhocks ( Althaea officinalis), poppies (Papaver somniferum ), black-eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia ), and purple coneflowers (Echinacea angustifolia) in abundance. Certainly, there is much horticulture lovers can appreciate in this area. While the efforts of Washington and his men were heroic, the events of 1776 are inextricably tied to the surrounding countryside, where parts of the 1776 rural landscape, roadways, and original headquarters houses still exist. All cur- rent owners of these structures are keenly aware of the significant part their properties played in our nation’s histo- ry, and their landscapes have been sen- sitively handled with this in mind. Two hundred and twenty-three years after the crossing, this entire area remains a fine place to learn about history and discover both the joys of colonial gar- dens and the importance of the area's geography to the birth of our nation. ❖ Bridget Salantri is the historic horticulturist for Washington Crossing Historic Park. The park is located between 1-95 and the town of New Hope on 1112 River Road in Washington Crossing, PA, (215) 493-4076, www.spiritof76.com/wchp. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sundays, noon-5pm. There will also be landscape tours on May 6, 2000 from 10am-4pm, during the Spring Festival. | green scene / november 1 999 22 Embracing the American Spirit of Self-Sufficiency Gardening isn’t just about digging, planting, and connecting with the earth. It’s also about being resourceful and making the most of what tools and materials you have lying around. And if you look across the American landscape, who is more resourceful than the people who actually work the soil, notably gardeners and farm- ers. They remind us of the courageous pioneers who settled our nation and used every available resource to grow food for survival. In the Delaware Valley, there are hundreds of gardeners who share these qualities and, in this article, you’ll meet four of them. Each of these individuals exemplify the very best traits of the resourceful American gardener and now share their secrets with you. Into Krombolz standing at the threshold to her wondrous yard k T mm - •' Into Krombolz When we design our gardens and plant the perfect assortment of perenni- als, annuals, and shrubs, we often look for the final structure we’ll need to com- plete the space in our mind’s eye, be it a sturdy trellis, compatible garden bench, or graceful arbor. To find this special piece, many of us pull out the Yellow Pages and begin calling those garden supply stores that boast a multi- tude of such structures in stone, wood, clay, copper or plastic. But what if the garden supply shops didn't exist? Who would we turn to? lnta Krombolz decided to do it her- self. A West Chester, Pennsylvania gar- dener, Inta’s resourceful ingenuity, eye for design, and skillful hands stopped her long ago from relying on stores for her structures. When landscapers cleared trees from her property a few years back, she decided to weave together leftover tulip poplar, wild cher- ry, and oak twigs to build a wattle fence. "Making these pieces brings human value to the garden,” stresses lnta. "Because the structures are attain- able from nature, they don't overwhelm us like stone or factory-made objects. In fact, people who visit my garden say they feel a renewed sense of calm.” Even if you don't have an overabun- dance of trees on your property, you | green scene / november 1 999 can always discover fallen twigs in other places — along a tree-lined street after a storm, in trash piles at local nurseries — that will supply you with the perfect materials for your own garden struc- tures. Birch, sweetgum, beech, oak, cedar, dogwood, and a myriad of other trees or shrubs are all delightful choices. Most people rely on willow' for arbors and trellises when bending is required. Their flexible twigs help create the warped, sculpted style we have become accustomed to seeing in most twig fur- niture. From a simple trellis or wattle fence, to the more complicated garden gate or herb drying rack, discover how you can transform a typical garden into a fairy- tale haven with not much more than tree branches, twine, and imagination. Adds lnta, “I think these natural struc- tures complete gardens. All things hand- made have a unique warmth; perhaps it’s the beckoning quality of wood, or the aura of old age. My wattle fences have their own earthy flavor.” Mary Seton-Corboy & Tom Seruduk “To some, we may look like a pastoral scene in the midst of the city,” remarks Mary Seton-Corboy, co-founder of Greensgrow, a new “urban agriculture” farm in North Philadelphia. "That’s 24 The Resourceful Gardener lnta strolls past a decorative garden sculpture made of old metal parts. because we have no heavy equipment, no fumes, and no diesel noises. Our farm is just us and some homemade hardware.” Indeed, Mary's once-vacant acre of land stands apart from the dusty con- crete streets and tall buildings in this section of Philadelphia. The sound of continually trickling water within calms the mind, while the abundant green and red leaves of lettuce soften the view. But this is no pastoral scene. Indeed, without ’90s technology Mary and co- founder Tom Semduk would not be here to run their hydroponics farm. I Hydroponics is a gardening system wherein plants are grown in nutrient- water solutions rather than in soil.] “We grow seven kinds of lettuce, two kinds of mustard greens and. with a grant from the EPA this year, we are also experimenting with herbs and toma- toes,” declares a proud Tom. “To ensure a continuous supply of mature lettuces to harvest, we plant in succession zones. We harvest 360 to 450 pounds of mature lettuce a week, bag it, chill it, and pack it for 24-hour delivery to our customers. The following week, the next zone of lettuce is ready for har- vest." Although only in their second sea- son, the former New Jersey commercial growers are packing their gourmet let- tuces into mixed greens bags and selling to several well-known Philadelphia restaurants including the White Dog Cafe, London Grill, and the Philadelphia Art Alliance’s Opus 251. Mary and Torn have created an effi- cient and clever system in a very short time. In winter 1997, Mary learned that the Benjamin Franklin Technology Center lends money to small business ventures in technology. With a loan for start-up secured, they contacted PHS’s Mike Groman — manager of Philadelphia Green’s community greening efforts — about their idea to build a small agricul- ture business on a Philadelphia lot. Mike put them in touch with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation who found and gave them a site. In spring of 1998, they got to work. Already impressed with results of hydroponics after experiments in New Jersey, Mary and Tom realized it would be the best growing method for this venture as well. When they learned their new farming spot was a former EPA clean-up site, their decision to employ hydroponics was finalized. Adds Mary, “If we had found reasonable soil, we might have more soil crops and less hydroponics, but we’re glad it turned out this way.” Creating a hydroponics farm with lim- ited resources was no small task and, without Mary and Tom’s ambition and simple methods for constructing the model, it might have been a disaster. “It was crucial to utilize whatever resources we could find, because we wanted to make our small agricultural business a closed, simple system. That way, if someone else wants to recreate the model, he or she can. Remember, we don’t have a background in engineer- ing, electrical work, or even business,” emphasized Tom. “We had to think of cheap, easy ways to replicate the tradi- tional hydroponics model.” Rather than ordering expensive state- of-the-art materials, Mary and Tom used their imaginations to find alternatives. Vinyl rain gutters, found at any builder’s supply facility, are used as the primary water and nutrient carriers. Lining the interior of the gutter, a styrofoam-sup- port material houses the plants’ roots system. The gutters also serve as the water reclamation device. Simple ply- wood boxes, lined with plastic, become 500 gallon reservoirs, which serve as the facility’s pump station and nutrient mix- Top: A full view of Mary and Tom's hydroponic farm and fresh lettuce crop. Right: Tall fencing deters vandalism. Below: Farm grown or handmade, every- thing on the Salad Garden's shelves were made by its owners, Sheila and Lewis McDuffie. The Resourceful Gardener ing center. In the beginning, the two like-minded souls even built their own "refrigerator” to store lettuce in. They did it by removing an air conditioner’s thermostat and installing the whole unit into an insulated plywood box. With no thermostat to regulate temperatures, they were able to keep the air very cold. Only in their second year did they receive funds to buy an actual walk-in refrigerator. To top off their resourceful methods, Mary and Tom figured out that by tossing lettuce into a washing machine set on the rinse and spin cycle, they could quickly clean and dry’ bulk lettuce before weighing, bagging, and storing in the fridge. "We are where we hoped to be when we started in 1998,” says Mary7. “Now we are putting out feelers for more land to expand operations. This is really7 only the beginning.” Sheila McDuffie Bright red, blue, and black sports cars from New York, Indiana, and California whiz around a curving country road before screeching to a halt outside a small, well-worn barn in the farmlands of Upper Black Eddy, PA. Couples stream into a small room, scanning neat- ly laid-out produce, baked goods, hand- made soaps, candles, wreaths, canned goods, oils, and more. “It’s not always this busy,” insists Sheila McDuffie, a for- mer New York stained glass artist turned craft artist, gardener, and market owner. It's hard to believe her as another car bounces onto the driveway, eager faces peering through the windshield. In 1997 Sheila McDuffie, husband Lewis (beekeeper and fine woodwork- er), and two young daughters, Kendra and Tegan, moved onto the small farm that now contains The Salad Garden Farm Market. The family stocks their market with herbs, soaps, oils, potpour- ri. candles, herbal cosmetics, mustards, vinegars, salad dressing, canned vegeta- bles, baked goods, wool, and hand- made wicker baskets and straw brooms. What makes this market so unusual, however, is that everything they sell, they grow or make in their small farm. Only when their own produce supply runs short, do they buy in fruits and vegetables from a local farmer. “Living on a farm and learning to be self suffi- cient has always been our dream,” says Sheila. "Making age-old crafts to sell here has helped us reach that goal and we didn't have to invest a lot of money.” The family cleaned out the small barn next to their house and designed a gar- den. Sheila bought a cash register at a yard sale. Lewis built all the market’s wooden stands, and a neighbor gave them an old refrigerator. They bought a milking goat, sheep, chickens, and bee- keeping supplies. (Lewis now has seven honey-producing hives.) With those “items' " in place, they went to work, grow- ing, harvesting, milking, gathering wool and honey, and making crafts. Then, they ■ 9 reen scene november 1 999 26 Mary and her kids after another day's hard work. opened their doors to the public. “At first, we advertised strictly by word-of-mouth, mostly among Bucks County residents and even some New Yorkers came to our market,” she notes But after Nouveau: A Showcase for Creative Living in the Delaware Valley published a cover story7 about the Salad Garden in July 1999, tourists arrived in droves from all over the East Coast to visit the self-sustainable market. Perhaps what draws tourists to this special place is that the McDuffie’s ded- ication to creating a micro-enterprise of such high, organic quality is apparent in all of their stock. Exclaims Sheila, "All items — not just produce — come from the farm.” Indeed their commitment to self-sufficiency, reflected in the crafts, vinegars, canned goods, produce, and baked goods they sell, lies at the heart of the market’s success. By creating their own stock from scratch, they avoid expensive costs associated with buying in from outside industries. With a few key initial purchases, they have created a stunning array of marketable products. Continues Sheila, “I look outward from our regular farm products, too. I just took a series of classes on cheesemak- ing. Now I can bring that knowledge back to the farm.” From her seat at the wooden check- out counter, Sheila takes in the mouth- watering items filling her shelves. “Running this market has become a way7 of life for us. This is my hobby and my business. I’m just not interested in going out to buy chemical dyes for wool from my own sheep when I can grow zinnias myself to make natural colors. My ful- fillment comes from these creative chal- lenges. Maybe my roots as a stained glass artist make me resourceful,” laughs Sheila. “1 love knowing that everything begins and ends in my own backyard at the farm.” ♦> The Salad Garden Farm Market, 527 Center Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA 1 8972, (610) 847-2853. Shop Hours: Friday-Sunday, 1 0:00am-6:00pm. Open year-round. Greensgrow, Cumberland & Almonds Streets, Philadelphia, PA, (215) 427-2702 An expert shows us how to make one at home by Sally McCabe Making a wreath is one of the most enjoyable activities of the pre-Christmas period. It combines horticulture, an artistic eye, and hopefully some sort of community activity, especially if you throw a wreath-making party with friends and neighbors. Here, we’ll go step-by-step through the process, so you can conjure up a special holiday wreath for your home. 1 Before you can start your wreath, assemble the proper tools: sharp hand pruners, a glue gun (a low-temperature model works fine), a spool of 22-26 gauge florist's wire, 4-inch wire picks, ribbon, and a vari- ety of frames (metal, wicker, Virginia creeper, or grapevine). Keep in mind that a flat frame will give you a flat wreath, whereas a thicker frame gives the wreath more dimension, but uses more materials. The frame needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the greens; otherwise, you might end up with an oval wreath. As for safety, remember that the glue gun gets hot enough to burn you, but a low-temperature model doesn't get so hot that it can set the greens smoking. Also, the pruners should have a locking mechanism; you should lock it every time you set them down — remember, they're sharp. Make sure they have bright handles so you don't lose them in the greens. Finally, keep a box of band-aids around. 27 green scene november 1 999 | photos by Kevin Nash/KSN Images j[ j I I I 2 Get some delightful "frou- frous" to decorate your wreath. They can be either store- bought or natural. Among the nat- ural items you can use are pine cones, dried peppers, nuts, seed- heads (here, we used poppies and thistles), and dried flowers. If they don't come with stems, wire them to picks or glue them to sticks and then insert them into the finished greens. 3 You can use many different kinds of greens. For this pro- ject we're using yew, bayberry, Leyland cypress, golden arborvi- tae, 'Blue Girl' holly, boxwood, and 'Silver King' artemesia. When buying greens, Douglas fir and white pine are the best buy and hold their needles for a long time. Balsam fir loses its needles quickly, but has the best smell of all the greens. Begin by cutting your greens into hand-sized lengths (roughly 6 inches). Assemble handfuls of greens, usually about five pieces. If you're a beginner, stick with one type of green for the entire wreath and then decorate with other greens. This will give your wreath a more consistent thick- ness all the way around. As you develop a feel for wreathmaking, you can start varying the types of greens in each bunch and bal- ance out the size of each leaf type — the key is to make each bunch of greens close to the same size. Make 10 bunches before you start wiring (extremely unco- ordinated people should tie their bundles separately with florist's wire or a twist tie). 4 Now, to begin the actual construction, attach the end of the wire spool to a joint on the frame tightly. Take the first bundle and lay it down horizontal to the frame (not sticking straight out). I like to look at the frame as a clock and start the first bundle at 6 o'clock. Wrap wire around the bundle three times. 3 Lay each consecutive bundle an inch or so past the previ- ous one and wire each bundle along the way (using our clock metaphor, the first bundle sits at easier to jam it into the last space on the frame. Then I wire it in loosely, flip the wreath over to the back, and tie the end of the wire off to the frame. Never cut the wire with your pruners. Always use wire cutters; otherwise, you'll ruin the pruners. Now, turn the wreath back to the front and examine it for holes and inconsistencies. Fill these in with slightly longer branches so you can work them into one of the other bundles. If you've done everything right, you should be able to toss your wreath in the air like a pizza without pieces flying off. Beginners, don't try this at home. 8 Time to decorate! Cut a 6- inch loop of florist's wire, bend it like a hairpin, and wrap the loop around the base of pine cone and twist. Now it's time to attach it. 9 Add your decorative greens and frou-frous according to taste. (Sally adds wryly, "Taste is everything.") I 1 Don't overload the I V / wreath with decoration or else the lovely greens that you worked so hard to attach will be buried under frills. 11 to you. Attach the bow of your choice. ..or don't. It's up * ) The finished project and I its happy creator. Note the hot-pepper earrings! ^ This simple technique of I * ./assembling and wiring bundles works for any live or dried material. Once you know the system, you can make wreaths out of anything. This one is made from eucalyptus, statice, and dried miniature roses. ❖ 6:00, the next at 5:30, the next at 5:00, and so on). When you're done, you should only see greens, not any of the frame. 5 When three-quarters done, notice how each bundle cov- ers the mechanics (wire, stems, frame) of the previous one. 7 As we finish off attaching the greens, I like to separately wire the last bundle because it's Sally McCabe is outreach coordinator at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and a long-time contributor to Green Scene. by Richard L. Bitner Quercus alba prefers acid soils and full sun. The pioneers looked for the white oak as an indication of the best places to build their homes, since it was known that its roots go deep and enjoy rich soil. White oak is not accepting of flooding or ozone, but is resistant to salt. It is also not tolerant of compaction or grade change. For this reason, native trees gradually decline and die when people encroach, and build roads and White Oak (Quercus alba) Zones 3-9 Gold Medal committee member and garden designer William H. Frederick, Jr. , calls Quercus alba “the aristocrat of the oaks” and, of the many types of oaks, it is surely one of the most hand- some. The tree grows naturally from Maine to Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas. At maturity it has a short, sturdy trunk and an upright-rounded habit with wide-spreading branches. In the first 10 to 12 years of growth it will reach 12-15 feet; then it grows slowly to 50-80 feet with a canopy spread of 100 feet. These outspreading limbs are not dangerous, however. The wood is very hard and strong, and it is rare for a white oak limb to come down in an ice or wind storm. The fall color varies from brown to a rich red to wine color and lasts for a long period of time. The PHS Gold Medal Plants for 2000 houses among white-oak timber. The production of white oaks in the nursery trade is difficult, largely because of its deep taproot. Because of this, Quercus alba should be transplanted balled and burlapped as a small tree. Nurseryman Tom Dilatush admits that white oaks tend to cost the homeowner more per foot in height because of their slow growth, but considers it a much better species than the more commonly available and cheaper pin oak and red oak. White oaks begin to produce acorns at about 20 years and will produce pro- lific crops every 4 to 10 years thereafter. Some observers attribute the abundance of wildlife in country gardens this year to the huge acorn crop of the previous year. The oak’s acorn — which is botani- cally a nut — has a very high food value and is relished by songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, and hoofed browsers. White oak acorns are the choice food of blue jays, ruffed grouse, brown thrashers and wild turkeys. Quercus alba is wind pollinat- ed and its acorns will sprout and begin to germinate as soon as they fall into the appropriate medium. Although some pests have been listed for the white oak, it remains a durable, long-lived tree. As it is both strong and beautiful, there are more uses for white oak wood than any other timber in the world. It’s used to make ships, floors, Left: Quercus alba. Right: Acer buergerianum. Inset: A commemorative plaque signifying the age of this venerable oak. paneling, and furniture because of its beautiful grain. The finest whiskeys and wines are also matured in white-oak barrels. Indeed, many historic deeds took place near white oaks, and they survive as witnesses to these events. Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) Zones 5-9 Those gardeners looking for a choice medium-sized tree might consider Acer buergerianum. This lovely maple is a native of China, transplants readily (balled and burlapped in early spring), and grows slowly to 20-30 feet with an equal-sized spread. While it has a ten- dency toward multiple and low branch- ing, the tree can be trained to a single stem. Its three-lobed leaves are often rich bronze to purple when they emerge in the spring and become a glossy dark green. The foliage turns yellow, orange, and red in late October or early November, coloring later than many maples. Its parallel-winged seedpods mature in the fall, turn light brown, and drop. The trident maple may produce weedy seedlings, but they are never pesky like the Norway maple’s. It is a low-maintenance tree, as well, and grass grows readily under its light shade. The trident maple has no disease or insect problems, although it may suffer breakage in severe ice and snow storms, according to Joe Gray of Hines Nursery, who adds that he has grown it in an open field to salable nursery size with- out sun scorch. However, it should be planted in good soil, and the soil should be kept reasonably moist around the roots during the few years after trans- planting. After that, trident maple should be able to take care of itself except during periods of unusually dry weather when an occasional thorough watering may be needed. With maturity the trunks become gray-brown-orange and develop an exfoliating, platy, scaly character. This pretty bark adds winter interest for our gardens. In all, Acer buergerianum is a very handsome, small patio or lawn tree and should be used more extensively. It is also a good species for bonsai. Parrotia (Parrotia persica) Zones 4-8 Parrotia is a tree that is often hard to identify. It is a member of the Hamamelidaceae family and has foliage similar to its cousins, witch hazel and Fothergilla. It is a small, single-or multi- stemmed tree or multi-stemmed shrub with an oval-rounded head of upright, green scene november 1 999 | 31 Left: Parrotia persica. Right: Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'. ascending branches. It will grow 10 feet over six to eight years to a height of 20- 40 feet and a spread of 15-30 feet. In a century it will grow to 60 x 60 feet. Parrotia can be slow to establish, but grows faster with adequate watering and well-drained, loamy, and slightly acid soil. It will tolerate chalky soils and favors full sun, but will grow in light shade. The parrotia’s leaves are reddish pur- ple when unfolding in the spring and change to a shiny emerald green color during summer. In late fall the leaves turn a dramatic yellow to pumpkin- orange to scarlet. The color from mid- November into early December is about the latest to make its appearance among deciduous trees. Most people miss the flowers that appear before the leaves in February to April. They are crimson- maroon stamens about 1/2-inch long. Phil Normandy — Plant Collections Manager at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland — considers parrotia one of the unsung plants for stress tol- erance, because it withstands drought, heat, wind, and cold: "It never misses a beat even when planted in traffic islands and even did well in the heat of 1999.” He adds, I think of parrotia as the hor- ticultural equivalent of a fine wine — it’s a bit green and ordinary7 at first, but gets so much better with age. The mature tree has incredible trunk musculature, fabulous patches of cream bark exposed by peeling, and an upright vase-shaped crowded crown that imposes the feeling of solidity. Another plant for the long haul.” Parrotias should be expertly dug with a large root ball, since poorly dug ones may suffer transplant shock. This native of Iran is propagated from cuttings taken in early summer and treated with rooting promoter and then rooted under mist. Cuttings should be left in medium through one winter and potted during next season's new7 growth. Parrotia per- sica is a perfect choice for a specimen tree in small gardens or a tough street tree in restricted spaces, plus it has the added characteristic of its marvelous exfoliating bark. Red Chokeberrv (Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima') Zones 4-9 Aronia is a favorite shrub of Jeff Lynch, the nursery manager and plant propagator at Longwood Gardens. “‘Brilliantissima’ is a "do-er’,” he says. "It provides interest in the garden during just about every season.” This plant is native from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Minnesota. It's at its best in the fall when its leaves turn brilliant scarlet and in the winter w7hen its branches are covered with glossy red fruit. In the spring, it has delicate white to pinkish flowers and in the summer dark, glossy green foliage. Aronia will grow7 5-10 feet tall with a 3-5 foot spread. It is multi-stemmed and distinctly upright. It suckers and forms a colony over time. It has a finely fibrous root system and transplants well. It will tolerate both w7et and dry soils and is adapted to many soil types, even poor soil. Although the best fruit production occurs in full sun, it will grow7 in half shade. Its natural habitat is in boggy places and low pinelands; it grow7s along creek banks and moist rocky ledges. Thus it is very tolerant of flood- ing and is resistant to salt. Despite being part of the rose family, it suffers no seri- ous disease or insect damage. The bright red fruits (pomes) cover the plant from September through November and well into January. The common name is “chokeberry” because of the astringent taste. The birds don't touch it until late winter when it is a preferred food of ruffed grouse, bobw7hites, brown thrash- ers, cedar waxwings, and eastern mead- owlarks. Red chokeberry is especially effective when it is planted en masse. It does tend to get leggy as it matures because the foliage is lost from the lower part of the plant, providing opportunities for interplanting. It probably should not be placed at the edge of a flow7er or veg- etable garden as its root sprouts may slowly creep into the territory of neigh- boring plants. Notwithstanding, Aronia arbutifolia Brilliantissima’ is a selection of native shrub that is reliable and toler- ant of wet conditions and provides a long-lasting display of abundant red fruit. Meyer Lilac (Syringa meyeri 'Palibin') Zones 3-7 Everyone loves lilacs. And there is no denying the common lilac ( Syringa vul- garis) has large, fragrant flowers whose intense fragrance is wonderful in bou- quets during the two weeks the shrub is Howe ring. What no one likes about the common lilac is that the plant has to be pruned and sprayed and fussed over to make it presentable enough to plant in a prominent location in the yard. Since it looks so sad from the mildew affect- | green scene / novem ber 1 999 32 photo by Kichard L. bitner Left: Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'. Right: Weigela florida 'Alexandra' Wine and Roses™. photo by Tim Wood ing its leaves during most of the grow- ing season, it usually ends up being replanted in an out-of-the-way place where it won t be looked at too closely. Gold Medal selection Syringa meyeri does not manifest these problems. It is a small (4 to 8 feet high by 4 feet wide), dense, and mounded shrub with excel- lent clean branch structure. It has a uni- formed, pristine outline in summer and winter. It has a medium fine texture in leaf because of its small, dark green leaves that never suffer from mildew. There is no fall color change. This native of northern China will start to flower when it’s about one foot high. Its violet-purple, fragrant flowers are densely packed in 4 inches long and 2- 1/2 inch wide panicles in May before the leaves are fully developed, and stay in bloom for more than two weeks. The flowers cover the entire plant and are spectacular. It will display its neat, rounded habit in the garden for years with little or no maintenance. Bill Frederick cuts his mass planting back to the ground every four years after flowering. He likes Syringa meyeri because "it blooms exactly with Wisteria floribunda and the flowers are a good blending color for anywhere in the garden.” Syringa meyeri is a lilac that is fra- grant and low-maintenance, and one that should be grown by more garden- ers. It can be used in a large lilac "island” on the lawn, as a lilac border beside the railing at the edge of a deck, or in the shrub border with an ever- green background. Plant it in an open, sunny location in good soil and enjoy the nostalgia. Weigela ( Weigela florida 'Alexandra7 Wine and Roses™) Zones 4-8 Weigela is another old-fashioned shrub that evokes images of "...grand- mother’s front yard and a white picket fence draped with honeysuckle,” according to Kim Tripp, director of the Botanic Garden of Smith College. This favorite of many generations was imported in the Victorian era from the plant explorations of the 1800s to Japan. Because of its pretty flowers and relia- bility, it is still found on large old prop- erties. It has lost favor with today’s gar- deners because of its informal habit and relaxed outline and a texture that is unattractive in winter. But Weigela is pest- and disease-free and very' tolerant of pollution and urban conditions, caus- ing many new cultivars to be introduced in recent years. None equals the Gold Medal Weigela Wine and Roses. It is a compact shrub 4-5 feet high and wide with dark bur- gundy-purple leaves all season and hot rose-pink flowers in May and June on last year’s branches. Like its relatives, it will grow in almost any location but prefers moist, well-drained soils. It will grow in part shade, but the richest bur- gundy color develops in full sun. The plant is easily propagated from cuttings, and hummingbirds adore the flowers. ❖ Richard L. Bitner is a physician, a teaching assistant at Longwood Gardens, and an instructor at the school of the Barnes Arboretum. He gardens in Lancaster County. Gold Medal Plant Award Program How To Enter! If you know about a great woody plant that's beautiful, disease and pest resistant, and is hardy in our Zone 5-7 region, it might be a contender for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal Plant Awards. To enter a plant for consideration, call (215) 988-8800 or fax us at (215) 988-8810. and we'll send you an entry form. The deadline for submission is November 15th. Each plant must fulfill the following qualifications: 1 ) Three landscape-sized plants must be accessible to the evaluating committee. 2) Plants must be hardy from New York Cits’ to Washington, D C. 3) A program of propagation must be under way Gold Medal Plant Awards Committee Steve Hutton, Chair Richard Hesselein Darrel Apps Richard L. Bitner Tim Dilatush William H. Frederick, Jr. Sheil Gmeiner Joseph Gray William Heyser Richard Lighty Paul Meyer Philip Normandy Claire Sawyers Barry Yinger Charles Zafonte Judith D. Zuk Ex officio Jane G. Pepper, President. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Staff Manager Kathleen A. Mills For source information on winning plants and a portrait sheet, write: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Attn: Gold Medal Plant Awards, P.O. Box 7780-1839, Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 Many Gold Medal Award winning plants can be seen in the glorious gardens at Chanticleer, a pleasure garden in Wayne, PA. Call (610) 687-4163 for information on Chanticleer. For downloadable info and photographs of the Gold Medal Award plants, visit our website at www.libertynet.org/phs. CRAFTS www.LIVINGWREATH.com a new garden art from the original developer. Buy or make lovely, lasting wreaths, for indoors or out- doors any day of the year, and zone. Distinctive personal and corporate gifts. Award winning book, The Living Wreath, ($19. 95 +$3.00 s/h), easy ready-to-plant wreath bases, exclusive frames, succulent cuttings. Price list S.A.S.E, Teddy Colbert’s Garden, P.O. Box 9, Somis, CA 93066 (800) TEDDY81 Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 1 91 1 8 (21 5) 247-3925 EVENTS (2) Calamondin Orange Trees (X Citrofortunella Mitis) beautiful, huge, fruit bearing, 25 yr. old potted specimens, terra-cotta like pots, perfect conservatory, solarium or natorium. $350 for 7’ $550 for 9’; $850 for both. Pottstown, PA (610) 469-3265 GARDEN FURNITURE & ORNAMENTS Hill Co. - Outdoor Furniture Specialists An outstanding selection of outdoor furniture with distinctive designs in aluminum, wrought iron, teak, and all-weather wicker. Wind chimes, statuary and fountains galore! 8615 Germantown Ave. Chestnut Hill (215) 247-7600 Elizabeth Schumacher’s GARDEN ACCENTS Antique, handcrafted and contemporary garden ornaments from around the world in a wonderful showroom and unforgettable garden setting. Tiny stone frogs to limited edition bronze sculptures Ask about visits with your garden club Call 610-825-5525 for directions 4 Union Hill Road, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 GARDEN SHOPS FOR THE COLLECTOR’S GARDEN A unique selection of unusual perennials and ornamental grasses including pink lily of the valley, tree peony, geranium, hardy orchid, jack in the pulpit, hosta all bareroot-our specialty CHESAPEAKE PLANT TRADERS www.bareroot.com (410) 329-6226 MEADOWBROOK FARM For The Best Things In Gardening. Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, blooming native and woody plants. You are sure to find something special. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Tours for horticultural groups offered April- October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Michael Bowell’s Flora Design Gallery is now CREATE A SCENE GALLERY Treasures for the Home & Garden Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Unique Gifts, ORCHIDS Seasonal Annuals, Perennials and Container Gardens 10% Discount To All PHS Members with Membership Card Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30 Sunday: 1 1 :00 - 4:00 Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton •Just East of Kimberton Inn •Discover our Gallery •Delight in our Whimsy and Design Let Us Help You Create a Scene Uva ursi Christmas Open House Nov. 20-28 Triple Oaks Nursery and Herb Garden 2359 Delsea Drive, PO Box 385 Franklinville, NJ 08322 609-694-4272 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Take Walt Whitman or Ben Franklin Bridge to Route 42 South. Take Route 55 South until Exit 43, left off ramp, right on Delsea Drive (Route 47 South). GARDEN STRUCTURES HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. Upper Gwynedd, Pa. HELP WANTED Saint Gabriel’s Hall, a residential facility for adjudicated youth located in Audubon, Pa., seeks a team-oriented per- son to assist the Farm Manager of the Mitchell Program. This program is an innovative program aimed at socializing our youth through the study of horticul- ture, animal care and agriculture. The ideal candidate will have at least two years experience working in farm, green- house and/or animal husbandry environ- ments, as well as a strong interest in working with young people. Hours are negotiable. Compensation is available. Excellent opportunity for intern. Qualified individuals may contact James Hammerman at (610) 666-7970 ext. 215. GREENHOUSES GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 INTERIOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN Are you seeking to develop an innovative and exciting garden or perhaps searching for a way to maintain an existing garden? • Container Plantings • Perennial Borders • Shrubs and Trees • Annuals • Butterfly Gardens • Water Gardens • Native Species • Unusual Plants Fine Garden Creations is a local garden design, installation and maintenance company with extensive horticultural experience in the Delaware Valley. Our trained and experienced professional staff have national and international experience. We are small enough to provide the personal touch and large enough to get the job done. Fine Garden Creations P.O. Box 445 Swarthmore, PA 19081- 0445 Phone: 610 328-0985 Fax: 610 328-4850 LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215)247-2992 (610)584-1550 (610)525-3232 green scene novem ber 1 999 34 AVANT GARDENS Landscape design, maintenance and construction Over twenty years of experience Joseph Slane, Landscape Architect Specializing in residential projects For free consultation or free brochure Call (215) 634-6332 or (610) 566-1579 BRING HOME CREATIVITY, PRIVACY, AND SPIRITUALITY Warren D. Lewis Quality Landscaping, Gardening & Decorating Garden Consultations/Site Management • Benefits • Fundraising • Parties Last Minute Emergencies Nursery By Appointment 16 Years Experience • Center City • Suburbs • Shore Properties 610-688-7030 610-202-0536(cell) LIGHTING A CONSUMER GUIDE TO LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING is available without charge by contacting LANDSCAPE LIGHTING 800.569.9985 or visit our website www.sitelights.com MAIL ORDER SKETCH YOUR GARDEN with “The Garden Ruler.” A great gift and valuable planning tool. Money back guarantee. $5.95+$1.50 S&H to: The Garden Ruler, 1010 Weller Avenue, Havertown, PA 19083 OLD CITY COFFEE offers mail order to your door. You tried us at the 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show, now try us at home! We offer over 50 varietals of coffee, all freshly roasted at our Philadelphia location, plus teas and brewing accessories. Call 1-800-497-1371 to place an order or request our free catalog. UNUSUAL PLANTS HYDRANGEAS over 50 species and culti- vars. Many other rare & unusual trees, shrubs and vines. Sales east of the Rockies only. Catalog $3. Wilkerson Mill Gardens, 9595-G Wilkerson Mill Road, Palmetto, GA 30268. www.wilkersonmill.com MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM THE SOUTH SUPERIOR TO SHREDDED BARK • Less work to apply • More nutritious to plants • Better weed control • Longer lasting • Competitively priced CALL AND LEAVE ADDRESS FOR FREE SAMPLE 610-593-7333 WE SELL WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERIES (2) Calamondin Orange Trees (X Citrofortunella Mitis) beautiful, huge, fruit bearing, 25 yr. old potted specimens, terra- cotta like pots, perfect conservatory, solarium or natorium. $350 for 7’ $550 for 9’; $850 for both. Pottstown, PA (610) 469- 3265 WOODLANDERS, INC. Choice native and exotic plants to grace your garden, amaze and surprise your gardening friends. Over 1000 choices. Mail-Order catalog $2.00. 1128 Colleton Ave., Aiken, SC 29801 HOW TO ACHIEVE A GOLD MEDAL GARDEN Start with high performance plants from Mostardi’s Nursery. We feature an extensive selection of award winners from the PHS Gold Medal Award program, in addition to our inventory of exceptional quality plants & garden accessories, including: • Foliage & Flowering Houseplants • An in-depth selection of Perennials, Annuals & Roses • Trees, Shrubs, Aquatics & Grasses • Garden Accents & Planting Supplies MOSTARDI’S NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610) 356-8035 Visit our website: www.mostardi.com We are open year round RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS •Specimen plants ‘Pond plants ‘Bonsai •Orchids ‘Hardy cacti ‘Tropicals •Sculptured trees and shrubs ‘Perennials •Unique Flower and Gift Shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 10 miles west of Pottstown, on Rte 422 at Pineland Rd., Birdsboro, Pa. YELLOW CLIVIAS Call 610-939-1598 PUBLICATIONS THE JOURNAL OF JAPANESE GARDENING 6 issues/year, $35 Published by ROTH Tei-en PO. Box 159, Dept. H-3, Orefield, PA 18069 RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Loch wood Ln. West Chester, PA 1 9380 (610) 436-9796 E-mail: GrannyPol@aol.com RESTAURANTS GRACIE’S 21 ST CENTURY CAFE Fresh, Natural Gourmet Dining with just a hint of decadence Dinners Wed. - Sat. MANATAWNY ROAD, PINE FORGE, PA 19548 Directions, reservations, & an unforgettable evening: (610) 323-4004 RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Call for Free Estimate Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 BUILDING RESTORATION Complete service in all phases of restoration Old homes, barns, spring houses Cedar and tin roofs Stucco removal/stone repointing Interior painting, refinishing of floors MARK BESTERMAN (610) 582-9785 TREE SERVICE BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care • Pruning, Trimming, and Removals • Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control • Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 WATER GARDENING Quality Koi Company, Inc. 322 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102-1015 (215) 988-9723 Located just 1/2 block off Vine Street with free parking behind the store, there’s no excuse not to visit!! Beautiful koi and goldfish plus everything you need for your pond. Installations and home consultations available. Visit our web site at www.Qualitykoi.com. Call for our free catalog. Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: November, January, March, May, July, September. Minimum rate $34. Charges based on $8.50 per line. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYLVANIA HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY and sent to Paula Holland, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. 35 green scene / november 1999 The mighty white oak, Quercus alba, a winner of the 2000 Gold Medal Plant Awards from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. For more informa- tion on this and other great woody plants, turn to page 30. aM m X 000 THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY JAN./FEB. 2000 • $5.00 B-v^y a :* . '..urN I s ; ’** #*o _< > • * Rooms With a View: BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN M Scotts Gardens are a metaphor for life itself. For all you give, the more you grow - and the more those around you grow. Plant seeds, nurture them, and share their beauty with others. Give Back to Grow. To your garden. To yourself. To your community. As part of our Give Back to Grow program, The Scotts Company is proud to support Phildelphia Green. The Scotts Company, founded in The Franklin Park Conservatory in Marysville, Ohio in 1868, produces and Columbus, The FFA, The National Garden markets products for lawn and garden care in Washington, D.C., and other community throughout the world. Our brands include gardening activities across the country, Scotts® Turf Builder® Miracle-Gro® Miracid® including Plant a Row for the Hungry. More Ortho® Roundup®*, Hyponex® and Osmocote® information on The Scotts Company is Scotts’ “Give Back to Grow” initiative supports available at www.scottscompany.com. tad^ Osmocote Ortho % HYPONeX 'Roundup is a Registered Trademark of Monsanto Company Scotts’ Family Of Brands 3aMR Bloats Gold Medal winning Tulips at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show rniladdjphia Flower Show U.S.A. 5th- 1. 2th March 2000 Keukenhof Lisse,- Holland 23rd March-21 st May Chelsea Fliower Show- London. England . 2|rd-26thl&' 2000 ’ w w w. bl oir! s bu lbs. coi ii ■ - -Wf: ■ -W, ^C1 M ■i .AgryJpfe' -,r-‘ >* • ;• V; h •'#y,vjl ; v* • •yy- . • v / » Vt'ill • :• LF'V4:|( w; .* . * .• it- j. ' ■ , c /.wy*be. III! d Announcing A New Greenhouse and Horticultural Program ■v? * Cathedral Village President, Bill Owens, recently announced the development of an extensive Horticultural Program. The focal point will be a large greenhouse and headhouse, currently under construction. The newly appointed Director of the Program is Horticulturist, Margaret (Peggy) Schofield. As Director, Peggy will also be responsible for the gardens and landscape design of the entire Cathedral Village campus. Bill feels very strongly that “the key to the success of the new greenhouse is to have a strong Program directed by a person with knowledge, experience and a caring attitude,” and he believes that Peggy possesses all of those attributes. She will be w assisted by Mrs. E. Perot Walker who is the Cathedral Village resident liaison for the - Program. This new Program will add another unique dimension to our community which is nationally recognized as an innovative and progressive leader in retirement living. Whether you are an experienced horticulturist or a novice gardener, call our residential Admissions Office to learn more about the new Program and the many other cultural advantages that Cathedral Village has to offer. Call or visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends and preferred for weekdays. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 215-487-1300 -Website: www.cathedralvillage.com t=i Equal Housing Opportunity Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Community Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System CONTENTS 6. The Potting Shed 10. The Medieval Garden By Pamela D. Jacobsen What did gardens look like nearly 1 ,000 years ago? Step baek through the centuries and take a fascinating look at medieval gardening. Also, learn how to build your own garden from the Middle Ages. 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 Mon. Sat. 8-6 Sun. 9-6 www.styers.com 18. A Gardener's Wisdom By Fran Sarin Meet Jock Christie, head gardener of a vast private estate in Chester County, PA. Here, the perennial expert gives us some sim- ple, but timeless tips to help make our flower beds produce more vibrant blooms and combinations of color. 24. New Flowers for 2000 By Dorothy Noble See a sampling of next year’s exciting plant introductions. 30. Windows on the World By Claire Sawyers Get an “insider’s look" on how to design beds and landscape features that take advantage of special window views from your home. There are fresh angles of beau- ty from within that are just waiting for your creative touch. 36. Cl ossified Ads Cover: Winter scene shot by Harry Kalish Digital imaging by Scott Hoisington The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. 3 green scene / january 2000 \ I 4 i * I C 1 ww.parkseed . com J. Franklin Styer, 914 Baltimore Pike, Concordville, PA, (610) 459-2400, u 'u ’w. styers. com Waterloo Gardens, 136 Lancaster Avenue, Devon, PA, (2 1 5) 293-0800 with a sharp pencil or knife When the seeds germinate, remove the plastic wrap com- pletely, so the seedlings can get proper airflow. Lack of air, along with excessive water, can also promote fungus. EARTHY WINE. Attention, oenophiles: Author and famed French winemaker Nicolas Jolt has just published Wine front Sky to Earth (Acres U.S.A.. l68pp, $24), a softcover book describing his technique of “bio dynamic” grape growing Biodynamics is an all-organk method of farming that not onlt avoids chemicals and fungicides but also looks at other natural tin- tors, such as lunar and solar ! o 4 i. «| I ( I ( I I I 1 t f i f ( < ( | green scene / january 2000 6 continued photo by Pete Prown Dots, Dashes, Stripes 'n' Splashes Confessions of a Variegated Plant Lover by Stephanie Cohen Very early in my horticultural career, I began to get the “varie- gated bug.” This minor obsession was not very mainstream 25 years ago, except for the Hosta fanatics and they’ve always been addicted. Whenever I bought a variegated plant, I would hide it surrepti- tiously in a box or bag, almost as though I had purchased an X- rated video in a plain brown wrapper. It felt positively sinful. It didn’t matter what plant it was or what kind of variegation: a dot here, a splotch there, or just a different edge — nothing escaped my variegated glance. Catalogs of strange and unusual plants began arriving in late win- ter and I gleefully began to leaf through each one of them. Local garden centers at this point only sold Hosta and very few other variegated delights. Slowly but surely, variegated became mainstream. As it did, I literally “came out of the potting shed" and admitted my sublime addic- tion. It was now a race to see how many new additions I could cram into the garden. I began to expand my plant palette — annuals, vines, and shrubs now moved into my garden. Even varie- gated trees began to whisper sweet nothings into my ear: “Buy Me!,” they cooed. Mundane plants such as variegated lily-of-the-valley, sorrel, comfrey, and sage began to appear and multi- ply. Even weeds such as hawkweed held my fascination. I began the next phase by jumping wholeheartedly into the purple-and-chartreuse mania. People have even complained that the shear volume of these combinations not only hurt their eyes, but gave them a migraine headache. Trading began to be a new game, too. Many of the plants II lusted for were being produced on the West Coast, yet I lived in the East. Needless to say, the shipping became prohibitive — sometimes higher than the cost of the plants. Did I care? Nope. I even began to take extra jobs to feed my habit, as the influx of new variegated plants was growing exponentially. Pulmonaria , Tiarella , Heuchera , x Heucherella , Tricyrtis , Salvia and Geranium arrived in my garden with no end in sight. Herbs by the scores joined in the push and shove for their own space. Origanum , Lavandula , Canna , Thymus... what was next? Soon Hydrangea , Hypericum , Cercis , Comas, Weigela , Buddleja , and Daphne had me drooling. I was utterly shameless — I loved each and ever}' new shrub and small tree. A 20-foot, variegated Pinus wallichiana became my big birthday present. I As a New Year’s resolution this past January, I promised I would slow down or give up my mag- nificent obsession. But during the winter doldrums, catalogs started to arrive and I began to sali- vate. Soon, in the wee hours of the morning, I would still be reading and checking plants. As my eyelids got heavy and I finally nodded off to sleep, visions of plants — not sugarplums — danced in my head. I envisioned those wonderful dots, dashes, stripes, and splashes. New colors abound- ed, and the Technicolor tints and hues were marvelous in my dreams. As you can imagine, resolutions were made to be broken. I might try again next year, but this obsession has no known cure. Maybe there’s a 12-step program for variegated junkies, but I may be too far gone for help. Indeed, I did once covet a variegated pokeweed. Stephanie Cohen is a well-known horticultural teacher and lecturer who specializes in perennials. She is also Mid-Atlantic representative to the Perennial Plant Association (www.perennialplant.orgj. cycles, astronomy, and microscopic life forms in the soil. So far, it’s working — Joly’s Coulee de Serrant vineyard in the Savennieres district is considered one of the Loire Valley’s finest examples of Chenin blanc white wine. WINTER PROTECTION. For those worried about protecting your shrubs and roses during the rough winter season, there’s the Bush Jacket. Unlike some conven- tional covers, the Bush Jacket is a woven fabric that lets your plant get air and water. It is also covered in an attractive leaf pattern, so you don’t have to look at ugly cones or burlap all winter. Use it for your roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, and ever- greens. For more info, call (800) 207- 3768, www.bushjacket. com. FLOWER POWER. The Espoma Company has released a new garden fertilizer called Flower-Tone. Rich in natural organics, Flower-Tone sports lower nitrogen levels and a higher degree of phosphorous and potassium (3-5-7) to promote abundant, long-lasting blooms. It also has a lower salt level, which is intended to reduce the chance of burning tender young annuals. ( www.espoma.com ) Let’s Hear From You! What do you think of this issue of Green Scene ? And which stories did you like. ..and which ones didn't tickle your fancy? Lend us your compliments, critiques, or complaints, all of which will help us create a better magazine for you. Send your thoughts to us at the following address: Green Scene Magazine, P.O. Box 7780-1839, Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642. You can also email us at: greenscene@pennhort. org A Walk through Toronto's Cabbagetown The name “Toronto” usually brings to mind frigid Canadian snowstorms and winters that last for ten months (“followed by two months of lousy skating,” as the local joke goes). But if you visit dur- ing the fair months of summer, you'll be treated to dozens of charming gardens. In addition to the Bach-inspired Music Garden on Lake Ontario and nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, Toronto's down- town is also home to many well- maintained parks and dazzling street plantings. One of the finer gems open to the public is the Allan Gardens Conservatory, located near the residential district known as Cabbagetown (so named for the 19th-century Irish immigrants who planted their vegetables in the front yard). This diminutive, Victorian conservatory is brimming with thousands of verdant tropi- cal plants, all pristinely maintained. Better yet, it’s free to one and all. If you have comfortable shoes, take a 1 5-minute walk through Cabbagetown and admire its old brick townhouses and colorful private gardens. On the other end of this community is another free attraction, Riverdale Farms, which is a petting zoo and gar- den that both kids and adults will enjoy. Even if farm animals aren't your thing, the lush plantings of annuals and perennials sure- ly will be. And across the street is the Necropolis, a scenic old cemetery featuring a small, but exquisite neo-Gothic chapel. Finally, there are trails along the nearby Don River for hiking and more nature-watching. So who says Toronto is all about snow, ice, and sleet? With its mild summers and large population of transplanted Britons, one shouldn’t be surprised to discover the city's abundant garden spots. — Pete Prawn Flower Show Sneak Preview! “Gardens for the New Millennium,” the theme for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show, will bedazzle visitors with waves of futuristic beauty. The Show will evoke a new era where it is possible to live and work in a city, and still be connected to the sylvan beauty of our natural planet. As part of the Central Feature, 25 years of Philadelphia Green — the acclaimed urban-greening program of PHS — will be celebrated in a floral habitat of designed beauty and inte- grated function. Built with technological and horticultural prin- ciples that are in place today, a vintage Philadelphia will be transformed into a blooming continuum 100 years in the future with ingenious combinations of gardens, community, science and culture. Classic urban townhouses — each presenting a different and unique approach to 22nd-century living — will face a retail cen- ter in this “green” community of the future. One home will pre- sent a sculpture garden and fountain, while fruit trees and a wine vat sit enticingly next door. Down the street are backyard ponds, an exercise center, and a garden of exotic and organic vegetables. The entire community is further enhanced with windmills and solar panels that generate electricity, a high- speed rail line whooshing overhead, and a “cloning” store. The 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show w ill take place March 5- 1 2 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (12th &Arch Streets) in Philadelphia. For more information about The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Flower Show, visit at www.philaflowersbow.com or call (215) 988-8800. — Steve Maurer | green scene / january 2000 8 Photo by Pete Prown ASK A GARDENER by Hotline Staff I was hoping to prevail upon your noted green thumb. We have a tropi- cal plant called a Spathiphyllum that has been doing beautifully. But ever since the heat went on in our house, it has really been drooping. Do you know of any ways to protect tropical plants like this through the winter? Margaret C., via the Internet Spathiphyllum prefers daytime tem- peratures between 80-85°F and night temperatures between 62-65°F. It’s a good plant for indoor use as it will sur- vive in low-light conditions or diffused sunlight. It prefers even moisture, but should not be constantly wet. Once your heat is switched on, this plant will bene- fit from being placed on a pebble tray with some water in the bottom, but do not put the base of the pot directly in water. This will help maintain a good humidity level. Between March and September, it benefits from weekly fertil- izing with low-concentration fertilizer. I noticed artificial boulders in some exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show last year. Where can I buy some? Anonymous, via the Internet Some rocks that had flowers planted in them were probably what are called “feather rocks’’ or “lava rocks" (made from volcanic pumice). You can usually find them at larger garden centers. Evidently, not all of these are weather- proof. You might want to check with J. Franklin Styer Nurseries in Concordville, PA, (610) 459-2400. Some of the rocks in theWaldor Orchid exhibit were made of papier- mache (or burlap-mache) and/or fiberglass, usually covering chicken- wire frames. They reuse them for several years. You can also get a catalog of plastic rocks (cast from molds made from real rocks). They are available from Rotocast, (800) 327- 5062. Some have caps that can be removed so that you can put pots in them. Finally, some of the rocks used in the Central Feature sets (for example, in the water-garden grotto) were carved or molded from styrofoam. How do I care for a banana tree? I bought it a year ago and now it’s about three-feet high. Thanks for the help. Anonymous, via the Internet Banana trees require consistently moist soil that also has good drainage. During the cold-weather months, you should place the potted plant in a very humid environment with a fairly even, warm temperature (65-75°F). From spring to summer, water regularly and apply a bal- anced liquid fertilizer. If you plan to bring your potted banana tree outdoors this summer, put it in a sheltered spot, so the leaves won’t get shredded by wind. Do you have a question for our garden experts? If so, contact PHS's Horticultural Hotline in the McLean Library, which is open Monday-Friday, 9: 30-noon. Phone (215) 988-8777; fax (215) 988-8783; email: askagardener@pennhort.org We scour our region looking for the best gardeners, horticulturists, and experts to write for us. That’s why Green Scene is the perfect gardening magazine for the area gardener. It’s filled with local information and ingenious ideas you can use in your own backyard, as well as warm, personal stories from real gardeners like you. It’s also the best deal in town! How many other garden magazines can you get for under $1 7 a year? Please Send Payment To: Green Scene, PHS P.0. Box 7780.1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 / ONLY $16.95 FOR 6 ISSUES OR SAVE 10% OFF THE COVER PRICE WITH A TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION FOR $32.95 YES. Sign me up for 6 issues of Green Scene for $1 6.95 or 1 2 issues (two years) for $32.95 O 1 year □ 2 years □ Gift NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE ZIP CHECK ENCLOSED 2Z • CARD# EXP. DATE SIGNATURE & Story and Photographs by Pamela D. Jacobsen As the sun rises in the morn- a ing sky, the garden comes alive. Beds of purple-flower- ing lavender coax honeybees away from musky, sweet scented apothecary roses. Cheerful mass- es of clove pinks succeed in seducing fuzzy bottomed bumblebees toward their pungent aroma, and clusters of yellow tansy flowers hang low under the weight of a monarch butterfly sipping nectar. Kneeling beside a raised garden bed is a woman pulling weeds. Her name is Meadhbh Eo’Ghann, and she alone tends this medieval herb garden. For a brief moment she pauses, certain she will hear the gentle words of Brother Cadfael calling to ! her from the abbey. But the peacefulness of j this place is interrupted by the hum of jet J engines passing overhead in a cloudless blue n sky. Broken is the spell of another time and place. . 1 A black lattice arbor covered in hops serves as the portal to the medieval herb garden. The female infloresences of hops (Humulus lupulus ) are a primary ingredient in the brewing of b'feers and ales, balanc- ing the sweetness of malted grain with a slightly bitter taste. Today, hops has found a renewed popularity thanks to "microw- brew" beers. green scene jonuary 2000 | A First Millennium Garden Top: Like a modern vegetable plot, this garden began as a series of raised beds, arranged in a clean, geometric manner. Bottom:The garden in its first year of bloom. Right: A view of the matured garden, now full of thriv- ing, historically accurate plants. Seven years ago, I discovered the works of Ellis Peters, author of the Cadfael Chronicles. The protagonist in this fictional mystery series is a 12th- century Welsh monk named Brother Cadfael, whose job is to tend his abbey’s herb garden. After reading these books, I was consumed with the idea of creating my own medieval herb garden, circa 1000 to 1200 A. D. While doing initial research, I came across (and later joined) the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a non- profit international organization whose members study and recreate life in medieval times. Within that group, I became the persona, Meadhbh Eo’Ghann (a Scots-Gaelic name pro- nounced May-eve O-van ), a Scottish herbalist living in Dublin, Ireland. My medieval garden is now five years old, and I look upon it as Meadhbh ’s tribute to Brother Cadfael. By looking through the eyes of these two imaginary characters, I have learned a new way of gardening and gained a new understanding of ages past. green scene / January 2000 12 From Dream to Reality My 567-square foot garden (27 by 21 feet) resides in an area where an old, above-ground swimming pool used to be. When the structure was removed, more than 12 inches of pure sand remained, which turned out to be for- tuitous as many medieval gardens relied on thick sand walkways — no doubt because it deterred weed growth. Facing south, this site also receives the maximum amount of sun- light, an important requirement for most herbs. Designing the layout proved far sim- pler than 1 had anticipated. Reading commentaries by numerous medieval- garden scholars, I learned that rectan- gular beds — “with the thrilling regu- larity of a chessboard,” as garden schol- ar Linda E. Voigts described it — were well suited for my barren, sandy soil. Consequently, 14 wooden raised beds of various heights were built to outline the garden perimeter. Since a focal point was common practice, I placed a gargoyle statue in the center and sur- rounded it with four smaller beds. And because one of my goals was to include as many medieval plant species as possible, 1 opted for a turf seat rather than a regular bench. This feature, popular from late 12th centu- ry on, is similar to a raised bed (about 16 inches in height) that is planted with herbs or grass on which you can sit. My most vexing problem was how to enclose the site. Monastic gardens were almost always walled in and placed close to the main building for protection and easy access. I solved my dilemma by using an existing arborvitae hedge growing along the eastern and southern sides; creating a lattice backing along our north facing deck; and building an arbor entrance to the west, bordered on both sides by a four-foot tall lattice fence. In medieval times, the fence would have been of wattle, made by interweaving young saplings. Since this is a time- consuming project, I have postponed its creation. In keeping with traditional medieval practice, I filled the raised beds with soil, compost, and composted manure, all level with the top. After the First Take the load off your back! No hand pumping! No heavy lifting! SprayMate offers point-and- shoot spraying for your fruit, vegetables, roses and lawn! Easy to use. ..built to last! ONE-YEAR NO RISK TRIAL! For free details, call toll-free 1 -800-366-6268 or mail coupon today! We Make Gardening Easier® mus Mantis 1028 Street Road. Dept. P9229 Southampton, PA 18966 Please send information on the Mantis SprayMate and the NO-RISK HOME TRIAL! Name Address City State SprayMate: It's how smart gardeners fight insects and plant diseases without aches and pains! 13 8 Above: The garden's "turf seat," which is covered in low-growing thyme and surrounded by Rosa gallica and the silver-leafed sea kale. Below: A closeup of the eglantine or sweetbriar rose ( Rosa eglanteria), which has cupped, single flowers of rose-pink in summe and, in fall, round red hips that were made into healing teas. Like many old roses, Rosa eglanteria syn. R. rubiginosa was also favore for its fragrant petals, which were used to create rose water, oils for altar lamps, syrups, and cosmetics. A First Millennium Garden :anuory 2000 green scene year, normal soil compaction resulted in a three-inch drop. In hindsight, I’d recommend filling raised beds in autumn; this gives the soil time to set- tle and allows additional filling (prior to planting) in the spring. The Delight of Herbs Over the past five years, many peo- ple have toured my herb garden and invariably they ask how I knew which herbs to plant. Generally, I used reli- able medieval garden texts, and pur- chased plants of the closest modern- day equivalent. The idea of any plant species from medieval times remain- ing genetically unaltered is hard to imagine, especially with hybridization by growers. Still, after researching various medieval herbals, I found quite a varia- tion in plants deemed appropriate for these gardens. I finally settled on the garden plan of the 9th-century Benedictine abbey of St. Gall (Switzerland), in conjunction with herb selections referenced from Medieval Gardens , a book written by renowned medieval-garden historian John Harvey. This book indexes herbs by common and scientific names, and provides time periods of when they were most widely grown. My goal was to include as many herb species as possible, but I feared this “cramming ’’would make the result less than authentic. When I came across a statement, written by garden scholar Linda E. Voigts, I rejoiced: “The assumption that medieval gardeners used sparse plantings is evidently a modem misunderstanding of the con- ventions of medieval painting.” All my garden beds now “authentically” bur- geon with plants, and this compact- ness helps cut down on weed growth. Monastic gardens were created for maximum usefulness. The distinction we make between fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs would have been foreign to that time period, so I incor- porated species from all of these cate- gories. Plants were arranged according to conventional gardening wisdom, with tall herbs like eglantine rose, valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ), and marshmallow placed along back bor- ders to avoid casting long shadows. After years of searching, 1 was finally able to plant a “medlar apple” tree ( Mespilus germanica ), a common fruit in medieval days. Finally, grapes — for that all important “medicinal” wine — were added to the deepest raised beds abutting the lattice deck- ing. In summer, their dense leaves make a delightful green wall and dark purple fruits hang down in clusters in autumn. Many herbs we still consider medic- inal were also used in the medieval period, and those in my garden include sage, rue, tansy, sorrel, worm- wood, various mints, lavender, german- der, santolina, fennel, pennyroyal, thyme, dill, chervil, and potted rose- mary. Others with exceptionally attrac- tive flowers, such as eglantine and apothecary roses, the Madonna lily ,Iris germanica , sweet peas, and calendula, were added for medicinal value and to “uplift the spirits.” I rotate yearly crops of leeks, highly regarded by medieval folk as food and medicine, with onion and garlic. Two rather unusual European coastal plants used as food — samphire ( Crithmum maritimum ) and sea kale ( Crambe maritima ) — were planted to honor Meadhbh’s coastal “birth- place,” the Isle of Skye (Scotland). The turf seat, to my dismay, is beautiful to behold, yet difficult to sit on due to a preponderance of visiting bees. For the past two years, four low-growing species of Thymus have produced a dense, soft cascade over the seat and down the front. Our lady's bedstraw, pennyroyal, recumbent mints, and English daisies have also been planted in previous years, with similar bee- attracting results. It appears that only grass should be planted if the seat is going to be used. The Day’s Toll Maintaining a medieval herb garden is greatly simplified using raised beds. Watering, done long ago with hollow gourds or buckets, is now accom- plished efficiently by inserting a hose into the soil near the center of each bed and allowing water to gently trick- le down to water each plant (using a soaker hose will accomplish the same thing). As for weeding, it is greatly less- ened when beds are thickly planted. Outside of the use of straw, I could find no mention of mulching in any of the sources studied, so I rely on a 8 Meadowbrook Farms Choose from an ever-expandinq variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus and succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden- related gifts fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horti- cultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants. Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 Statement of Ownership Management and Circulation (Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369. Title 39, United States Code) 1 . Date of Filing: September 29, 1999 2Title of Publication The Green Scene 3. Frequency of issue: bimonthly 4-5. Location of Known Office of Publication and Headquarters: 100 N. 20th Street. 5th floor. Philadelphia, Pa 19103-1495. 6. Names and Addresses of Publisher and Editor: Publisher - The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pa 19103-1495 Editor: Pete Prown, 100 N. 20th Street 5th floor. Philadelphia. Pa 19103-1495 7 Owner The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Philadelphia. Pa. 19103- 8 Known bondholders, mortgages and other securin’ holders holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None. 9 Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No Copies Each Issue Preceding 1 2 Months Single Issue During Nearest to Filing Date A. Total No. Copies Printed (net press run) 16,634 14.600 B Paid Circulation; Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales Mail subscription 80 14,024 80 13.717 C. Total Paid Circulation 14,104 13.797 D Free Distribution by mail, carrier or Other means, samples, complimentary And other free copies 87 8“” E Free Distribution outside the mail (carriers or other means) 991 500 F Total Distribution (sum of D And E) 1,078 587 G. Total Distribution (sum of C and F) 15,182 14.384 H. Copies not distributed Office use, left over, unaccounted, Spoiled after printing 258 250 Return from news agents 0 0 1 . Total (sum of G, H 1 and H2) Percent Paid and or Requested 15,440 14.634 I certify' that the statements made by me above arc correct and complete Pete Prown. Editor A First Millennium Garden spring topping of compost from my own bins. As was the common practice in medieval times, only natural (organic) gardening techniques are used in my garden. I have had little difficulty main- taining healthy plants, using a diverse collection of plant specimens and pro- viding a rich, healthy soil. Meadhbh, mak- ing her home in coastal Dublin, would have had easy access to seaweed, a fer- tilizer known since ancient times. With this in mind, I apply sea kelp extract sev- eral times each summer. The benefits of this have been increased vitality7 and drought-resistance. The Season’s Harvest Monks celebrated the first feast of har- vest on August 6, bringing in grapes to be blessed. Harvesting continued throughout the summer and into late autumn. Like medieval gardeners, I har- vest my herbs. Rosemary, sage, chervil, rose hips, thyme, and hyssop are dried for cooking, while leeks, onions and gar- lic are kept in cold storage. Lavender, cal- endula, and St.John’s wort ( Hypericum ) become simples — medicines made from one or two herbs — or salves. Lavender stalks are also bundled and stored for fragrance. As the garden dies back, debris is removed and composted. In my sheltered site (Zone 5), it isn’t uncommon for me to have lavender still in bloom until late October. By the killing frost or an early snowfall, the once-rock hard medlar apples are finally soft enough to be picked and eaten, yielding an applesauce-like consistency with a hint of spiciness. The encroaching evening air, heavy with the fragrance of autumn, signals the end of another work day. For a fleeting moment, as Meadhbh heads out the gar- den entrance, she pauses, listening for Cadfael, whose voice is but a whisper of gentle breeze: "The colors of late autumn are the colors of the sunset: the farewell of the year and the farewell of the day.”’ Fondly, Meadhbh looks back at the garden she has created. And to all who strive to raise up their own medieval gar- dens, she bids thee well. ❖ Pamela D. Jacobsen is a garden writer living in New England. This is her first article for Green Scene. green scene / january 2000 •V ♦!- Arborvitae Hedge -I- *1- t £ . CLASS 277 ENTRY l draba longisiliqua I FE MORRIS RADEN .A 4\iU k£r ^.garden i|Hj§ggS«gg! A gorgeous Draba longisiliqua grown by Lee Roden. After starting it from seed, he wait- ed nine years until it was ready for the Flower Show. Like a Rock. Lee Raden has been exhibiting at the Philadelphia Flower Show since 1966 — that’s 33 shows — during which he has swept the rock garden, primula, and species bulb classes, stunning judges, exhibitors, and visitors alike with his exquisite gems such as Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Tenuifolius’ and Primula x loiseleurii Lismore Yellow'. Lee is a plant lover, dare I say a fanatic, who maintains his enthusiasm because he finds that “there's always something new, like the rare South African plants now available through seed exchanges.” Lee loves the remarkable little alpines and rock- crevice plants that he grows from seed. It’s a long-term commitment because germination often requires two to three years followed by another five years of growing on to flowering size. He notes, “Forcing species material is an art form. You must look at them every day and ask yourself, Are they too wet, too dry? ” In the game of tricking plants to bloom out of season, a coldframe is standard equipment. Like other exhibitors, Lee uses coldframes and the deeper bulb frames (approximate- ly 4-1/2 feet) for both pro- tecting seedlings and chilling pots of hardy bulbs, shrubs, and perennials. Providing proper conditions in which the mountain species thrive is Lee’s greatest challenge, especially keeping the alpines cool — a Herculean task dur- ing our hot, humid Philadelphia sum- mers. Lee mitigates the extreme heat and cold in his 8-foot by 22-foot “lean-to” alpine house, which is equipped with evaporative cooling fans and protected by 62% shade cloth from April 1 to October 30. Lee also recommends grow- ing alpine plants and species bulbs undisturbed in their pots for at least one year. The 4-inch and 6-inch pots of trea- sures that Lee exhibits are eventually dressed for the Show. He sleeves plastic pots in plain, clean terra cotta ones and adds a top dressing of crushed rock for a simple, elegant look. After nurturing Draba longisiliqua for nine years from seed, Lee entered it in several rock garden classes and won both the prestigious Doretta Klaber Award as well as the PHS Ribbon in 1999- But then Lee Raden always pulls off the most amazing alpine gem exhibits and is frequently awarded the blue for his efforts. Lee advises prospective exhibitors “to join a plant society or garden club, attend its educational meetings, meet others who share your enthusiasm for specific plants, get involved with seed exchanges, and start growing your favorite plants.” Committed to sharing seed, bulbs, and plants with other growers, his adage “share it or lose it” translates into a true gardener’s spirit of generosity. Doing It Her Own Way. A self-pro- claimed gambler, Peggy Bowditch fol- lows “the seat-of-your-pants approach" to cultivating and exhibiting plants. Peggy joined the Wissahickon Garden Club in 1968 and was initiated into her 24-year love affair with the Philadelphia Flower Show by her late mentor Susie Walker. Like Lee Raden, Peggy is a specialty' grower noted for exhibiting the rare and difficult species such as the heavenly 18 green scene march 2000 This Laurentia minuta — here, in the process of being groomed — won Peggy Bowditch an Outstanding Blue ribbon in 1999 for "rock garden plant in bloom." Meconopsis grandis, the Himalayan blue poppy. Peggy is the only exhibitor ever to enter this singular beauty successfully at the Philadelphia Flower Show, where it always takes a blue. With no green- house, how does she do it? Peggy con- siders her methods “unorthodox.” Meconopsis species survive because the pots make the trip to her summer home in Maine where the cool night tempera- tures provide a more hospitable environ- ment and gives the sensitive blue pop- pies a fighting chance. Peggy always keeps an eye out for a novelty plant that she can enter in the Show such as the little gem Laurentia minuta with which she won an out- standing blue for “rock garden plant in bloom” in 1999- Typically, she finds unusual plants on trips. She also orders species from specialty growers, such as Siskyou Rare Plant Nursery in Oregon. By Halloween, her four coldframes are jammed with pots of hardy bulbs and perennials, which Peggy then chills for at least two months. In January, she begins hauling them indoors where they will be coaxed into “spring” growth. Timing is always tricky for perennials and shrubs, compounded by the fact that light is at a premium in the winter months. Without the benefit of greenhouse growing con- ditions, Peggy’s greatest challenge is get- ting enough light to her plants. Her unconventional, low-tech methods require “a juggling act,” whereby Peggy schleps plants all winter, carrying pots back and forth from the cool (50°F) plant room onto sunny windowsills in search of the best light. She also keeps plants under growing lights for 16 to 24 hours a day. Like other exhibitors Peggy also acquires great ideas by studying other entries and exhibits in the Flower Show. She also cautions “if you've got some- thing different, wait until it looks won- derful.” Once a plant has been shown, it becomes public domain. Indeed, imita- tion can be rewarding. “From Ray Rogers, I stole the idea of forcing Deutzia crenata var. nakaiana Nikko,’ a landscape groundcover which forces beautifully for the Show.’ Nikko’ secured her a blue ribbon. And while visiting the Chelsea Flower Show in England, she got the idea for forcing daphnes. To some exhibitors only a first counts, but Peggy | green scene / march 2000 19 Wooden Village TEAK #1 Teak Gardens Patio Furniture Warehouse 50-60% Off Major Catalogs! Many Unique Styles! (877) USA-TEAK (877 872-8325 (610) 394-6727 www.teakgarden.com Bowditch is no prima donna about her awards. Her motto: “a ribbon is a ribbon.” A Class Act. Unique among the exhibitors I interviewed, Alice Farley enters both horticulture and artistic classes. “I don’t think of the artistic classes as flower arrang- ing, but as designing a sculpture. Horticulture and artistic entries pro- vide different satisfac- tions.” Alice is a natural at both and took the Grand Sweepstakes Trophy for the greatest number of points in all Competitive Classes in 1999. A land- scape architect, she has been exhibiting at the Show for 18 years. “The first time I entered, four or five plants took blue ribbons and my interest was peaked. It was dumb luck.” Alice exhibits primari- ly because she wants to share her unusual plants. Like Peggy Bowditch, Alice works hard to win blue ribbons without the benefit of a greenhouse. One year she won a first for a windowsill of Mediterranean plants. “I had to get up every hour- and-a-half all night long to spray the plants. Without having a green- house I came close to mimicking it. It’s like car- ing for an infant.” She acknowledges that although everyone’s growing conditions are quite different, “we all produce Flower Show-quality plants.” A wall of south-facing windows provides excellent light and she also adds supplemental lighting for a total of 18 to 24 hours. Alice uses spotlights to bring plants into bloom or to get a flush of new growth in January and February. In terms of the basics, she advises novices to “make sure the plant blooms at the right time, pinch early unless the plant is within inches of the lights, and carefully look for insects — bugs are a no- m “The people who “ exhibit at the Flower o Show are generous, 9- encouraging, and 3- knowledgeable. Spend time talking to them. Check out the ex- hibits, take notes, and observe the consistent winner’s habits. And don’t forget about transportation. If you are entering more than five plants, you’ll need help. My mother helps me.” Some of the “cool and difficult” plants that Alice has exhibit- ed include Ochna serrulata, the Mickey Mouse plant, which she grows as a loose topiary. “It usually draws attention be- cause it always has Mickey Mouse ears on it.” Like most garden- ers, Alice admits, “I killed quite a few plants before I figured out what I could grow.” Her philosophy about exhibiting: “It is intuitive and, when you’re successful, it’s like breathing.” Ray’s Weeds. A trendsetter, Ray Rogers is noted for exhibiting uncommon woodland plants. Although he is probably responsible for the existence of the Arisaema (Jack-in- the-pulpit) class, he is quick to name his influence. “I was inspired by John Swan who entered an Arisaema in the novice class one year and it took a blue. It was breathtaking. Arisaemas are one of my great successes in the Show.” Ray has been exhibiting for 10 years and attributes his inspiration to Janet Welsh and Sylvia Lin. [For more on Sylvia Lin, see “In The Spotlight” in the February issue of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Neivs — editor] “I was a passer for 10 years before I ever entered. One of the plants Sylvia exhibit- ed that really got me thinking about pre- A peek inside Bowditch's overflowing refrigerator of bulbs, just before the Flower Show. no at the Show.” Like other exhibitors, Alice appreci- ates details important in aesthetic pre- sentation. “The plant should look fresh and be presented in a complementary pot. It is the whole package that sticks out as superior.” She is particularly keen on the right top dressing — for example, she used black river stone to set off her Juncus “because that plant grows in water and the shiny river stone gives the appearance of a wet surface.” Alice also recommends paying atten- tion to how people display their plants. green scene 20 march 2000 sentation was Begonia petasitifolia . It was like a piece of sculpture. I also have endless admiration for what the estates ean do. That Wisteria floribunda Alba’ entered by Dodo Hamilton last year was stunning.” Ray has no compunction about exhibiting plants that local horticulturist Charles Cresson refers to as “Ray’s weeds,” such as the noxious, Jack-in-the- pulpit-looking Pinellia ternata. An Arisaema relative, Ray rescued it from a nursery dump and exhibited it in bloom with an Arisaema in the Double Your Pleasure Class (different genera within the same plant family). The pair won a blue. His inspiration for entering weeds: “One year Susie Walker brought in a dan- delion in a round bonsai pot. Perfectly formed, one flower; beautifully present- ed and grown. Distinctive.” Distinctiveness also applies to Ray’s entries. Ray is determined to catch the attention of the judges, often with strik- ing foliage. He has a knack for recogniz- ing good Show material. "When 1 see an unusual plant like Syneilesis palmata, I picture it in a pot. With an umbrella leaf that looks like a mayapple, it can’t lose. I put three crowns in a bulb pan and give it 6-7 weeks of cold. It looked like a for- est of umbrellas, but it was also dumb luck.” Ray does have access to green- houses that provide temperature-con- trolled growing conditions and lots of light. A master at grooming, Ray recom- mends “lavishing endless care on the details. Grooming is the least glamorous, but the most important aspect of exhibit- ing. Anything that interferes, get rid of it: faded flowers, dead leaves, dirt, clashing pot.” Year-round grooming is essential for some plants such as Pelargonium abrotanifolium for which Ray won the Edith Wilder Scott Award in 1998. “! had We scour our region looking for the best gardeners, horticulturists, and experts to write for us. That’s why Green Scene is the perfect gardening magazine for the area gardener. It’s filled with local information and ingenious ideas you can use in your own backyard, as well as warm, personal stories from real gardeners like you. It’s also the best deal in town! How many other garden magazines can you get for under $1 7 a year? Please Send Payment To: | Green Scene, PHS ^ ^ PO. Box 7780-1839 S Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 / . . v ONLY $16.95 FOR 6 ISSUES OR SAVE 10% OFF THE COVER PRICE WITH A TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION FOR $32.95 YES. Sign me up for 6 issues of Green Scene for $1 6.95 or 1 2 issues (two years) for $32.95 □ 1 year □ 2 years □ Gift NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE ZIP CHECK ENCLOSED S $5 CARD# EXP. DATE SIGNATURE • Growers of Premier Garden Plants including Annuals, Perennials, Proven Winners & Garden Dahlias. • Propogators of Zonal Geraniums. • New Guinea Impatien Hanging Baskets • Ivy Geranium Hanging Baskets • Combination Garden Baskets Charles S Heal Jr. & Eric Heal visit us on the web @ www.cshealmarket.com 1607 Salem Rd. Burlington twp. NJ (609)386-9422 Fax: (609)386-9635 OPEN DAILY! Mon-Fri. 9-5:30, Sat. & Sun. 9-5 Spring Is For Planting and Planning Garden Design construction maintenance call for a free consultation or brochure 21 5-634-6332 610-566- 1 579 Licensed and Insured Top: Alice Farley's dizzying Juncus effusus 'Spiralis' (corkscrew rush). Bottom: Lee Raden's perfect primrose, Primula x loiseleurii 'Lismore Yellow.' been grooming that plant forever. Over the course of five years, I probably took 5,000 leaves off of that plant. I think that the judges recognized that.” Ray’s last word on grooming: “Always look again.” Final Tips. While the experts acknowledged that exhibiting is a game played by the rules laid out in the Show schedule — “our Bible," in Lee Raden words — they enliven the contest with individual flare, honed skills and a delight in the challenge. Ray Rogers adds, “The Flower Show is the cream of what good growers can do. It’s great to be a part of that. You just don’t get that fever anywhere else. The amazing thing is that there are thousands of people who look at every plant in the Competitive Classes.” For these expert players, the Philadelphia Flower Show represents the major leagues where the top contenders compete for the highest honors, chal- lenge past glories, and come back to play next season. Peggy Bowditch sums up the general feeling expressed by these experts: “I’m proud to be an exhibitor at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Knowing that you have a plant in the best Flower Show in the world is simply a thrill.”* Judith C. McKeon is freelance writer, the author of The Encyclopedia of Roses, Gardening With Roses and a contributor to The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. A consul- tant with her own business, the Garden Advisor, she lives and gardens in Philadelphia. Contact Judy at: ripka@surfree.com. 22 green scene / march 2000 Meadowbrook Farms Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus and succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden- related gifts fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horti- cultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants. Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 We offer the finest pre-engineered pavilions and garden structures, prefabricated and shipped throughout the United States and internationally. Call for a complete catalog. Dalton Pavilions, Inc. Designers of the finest Gazebos & Garden Structures 20 Commerce Dr. , Telford, PA 18969 Tel 215-721-1492 Fax 721-1501 Visit our gallery. . . 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Gold, Director of Admissions, at 215-643-2200. | green scene / march 2000 23 Top: An etching of Masonic Hall, where the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's first flower show was held in 1 829. Bottom: A close-up of that Christmas favorite, the poinset- tia, which debuted at the 1 829 Show. YESTERDAY’S A Quick Trip Into Philadelphia’s Flower Show Fiistory Story and Photography by Wilbur Zimmerman While peering into the future at the beginning of a new mil- lennium, we cannot help but be aware of our history. James Boyd, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society from 1918 to 1929, said in the preface to the book PHS History 1827-1927, “A people who care nothing for the record of their past achievements are not likely to achieve much worth recording for the future.” In light of our current achievements— the ever-popular Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Green, our acclaimed McLean Library, and Green Scene magazine— a brief look through the pages of history reaffirms PHS’ role in bringing greater recognition to horticulture and the support of community endeavors. It is because of this 171 -year tradition that we now look back upon the early years of the glorious Philadelphia Flower Show with both pride and fondness. green ^Lscene / march 2000 25 Left: Robert Buist's successful seed-catalog business helped spread the popularity of the poinsettia during the 1 830s and he is also credit- ed with the introduction of the plant to Right: Zaccheus Collins, president of PHS at the time of its initial flower show. YESTERDAY’S those engaged in plant commerce.) Although it wasn’t until 1835 that women were made members, as history clearly bears out, they would become very prominent exhibitors at the Show. The plants shown at the first Flower Show included Aster muscosa , which “...diffused a musky scent as powerful as that imparted by any animal from Tonquin or Thibet ”; Magnolia macro- phylla “with its flowers four feet in cir- cumference”; peonies described as “Paeonias from China, rare and of delightful fragrance”; and “Testudinaria elephantipes, or Hottentot bread, sup- posed to be upwards of 100 years old.” (This latter plant — actually a woody climbing perennial from South Africa — is now known as Dioscorea elephantipes and is also commonly called “Elephant’s foot”) Other plants and trees presented were pelargoniums, carnations, lilies, double- white pomegranate, “The Coffee Tree of Arabia,” and sago palm. Clearly, the Philadelphia gardeners of that era were highly sophisticated and had access to an interesting array of specimens. The Poinsettia. One of the very ear- liest contributions of the Society has actually never received its proper due. The ubiquitous symbol of the Christmas holiday season, the poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima ) was exhibited for the first time at the Philadelphia Flower Show in June 1829. In the min- utes, it was written, “The new Euphorbia, with bright scarlet hracteas, or floral leaves, [was] presented to the Bartram Collection by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister to Mexico." Bartram’s nursery in Philadelphia was then under the care of Robert Carr — a PHS member and exhibitor of the plant at the first Show — who was married to John Bartram’s granddaughter, Ann. In the Curtis’s Botanical Magazine of 1836 (Volume 10), it was noted that Mr. Poinsett had the plant shipped to him in Charleston, NC, and some were later sold to Robert Buist, owner of a noted seed- catalog business in Philadelphia and a very active member of PHS. It was Buist who introduced the plant to the trade and “his sale of the double form [of poin- settia] is said to have been the first trans- action of the kind accomplished by ocean telegraph.” A native of Scotland, Buist originally trained at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. In 1834, he sent the The 1829 Show. Less than two years after the founding of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1827, the organi- zation produced its first Flower Show. It took place on June 6th at the Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street, where it stayed until 1841. With Zaccheus Collins as its president, the Society’s first public exhib- it featured fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plants. By awarding prizes to plant specimens of horticultural excellence, the Show attracted a diverse array of plants. It was noted in the minutes that the “Brilliant exhibition owes its merit to the individual patronage and contribu- tions of gentlemen amateurs and profes- sional cultivators.” (The latter designa- tion included working gardeners and 26 green scene / march 2000 poinsettia to the famous Scottish garden, thereby introducing this Christmas favorite to Europe. And just think, it all started at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The Next 60 Years. The following decades featured a large number of domestic and international plant intro- ductions at the Show. As early as 1842, members Caleb Cope (PHS president from 1841-51) and George Pepper were enthusiastic collectors of exotic orchids, while John B. Smith and Richard Fetters were cacti enthusiasts. Gerhard Schmitz, meanwhile, was considered the leading dalhia grower. A sampling of the plants brought for exhibition throughout the years indicates the vitality and strong interest in horticulture. Such plants included ardisias, euphorbias, hibiscus, aristolochias, abutilons, aloes, achimenes, bouvardias, ericas, jasminums, plumba- gos, azaleas, and calceolarias. The library, set up in 1833, flourished in spite of setbacks, including fires. Until the Civil War, the Society prospered, but following the conflict there was a lull in the activities of the organization. After 1871, however, there appeared to be a rejuvenation when the commercial ele- ments of the organization began to be more active. That, combined with the Society’s participation in the Centennial Exposition of 1876 held in Fairmount Park, appeared to provide the right stim- ulus. Membership soon leveled off at about 800 until the year 1900, when it rose to 1,344 and the library had increased its shelf space to accommo- date 2,300 volumes. Into the 20th Century. The Exhi- bition of 1900 was held in Horticultural Hall from November 13-17. Exhibits included chysanthemums, palms, ferns, dracaenas, maranthas, begonias, cycla- mens, geraniums, and anemones, while a gold medal went to Mrs. George B. Wilson for her corner display of “George Washington sago palm, foliage plants, and orchids.” The Philadelphia Flower Show of March 1926 — held in coopera- tion with the Florist's Club at the Commercial Museum — had a paid atten- dance of 45,000 at 50<£ per admission. The previous year, the Show had drawn 80,000 visitors, though no admission fee had been charged on that occasion. In May 1927, PHS undertook another major event when it hosted the American Orchid Society’s 2nd national exhibition at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. The attendance was extraordinary, approaching a staggering 110,000 visi- tors. PHS had gone all out to help make the event a success and it was pro- nounced the most beautiful show ever produced in this country. Other large events that year included the June show of roses, peonies, and other spring flowers (16,800 visitors); the Dahlia Show (26,720 visitors); and the Hardy Chrysanthemum Show. Three years earlier, in 1924, the Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. (PFS) — a not-for-profit corporation of horticultur- ists including W. Atlee Burpee, J. Liddon Pennock Sr., Fred Mitchell, and Alfred Campbell — was set up and ran the Show for 40 years. In 1965, PFS decided against putting on the Spring Flower Show, as it was then known, due to renovation of the Philadelphia Civic Center. Sensing an opportunity, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society — under the guid- ance of executive director Ernesta Ballard — re-launched the Show under its own auspices. The organization eventual- ly gathered enough experience and courage to bid against PFS for the right to put on the Show, finally winning the city’s approval and beginning full man- agement of the Show in 1968. In one fell swoop, the Philadelphia Flower Show had been put on the path to its present- day glory. But that, of course, is a story for another day. ❖ Wilbur Zimmerman has been a chair of the Flower Show executive committee, chair of PHS Council, a member of Council for 19 years, and a member of the PHS judging panel. He's also participated as an accred- ited judge for the American Orchid Society since 1955. Now in his nineties, Wilbur is still an active contributor to Green Scene, both as a writer and committee member (in fact, he was chair of the committee that helped launch the magazine in 1972). Finally, in a fascinating footnote to this article, Wilbur recently noted that he once met the Mrs. George B. Wilson mentioned in the article, back in 1936. She won a Flower Show prize... exactly 100 years ago. A Philadelphia Flower Show . ■ ^ . tf. /'. Major Exhibitor specializing Kin Floral Design jf jf Decorating for Weddings^ Parties and Special Events ^www.party-jlowers.com Or call us for.anrappointment* ” .21 5-624-70507 i b( tii si Imagine more than 700 football fields lined in a row or a 50-mile stretch of unsightly urban decay. Both of these images convey how much “vacant land” actually exists in the city of Philadelphia. Everything from waist-high weeds and discarded tires to broken refrigerators and trash piles make their home in the more than 30,900 vacant lots in the city. Building on its foundation of com- munity greening, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green pro- gram is setting its sites on turning these lots into fresh green palettes on which neighborhoods in coming decades can rebuild and flourish. Story by Pamela Vu A Little City History Philadelphia’s history is truly America’s history. From the time of the earliest settlers, people have been drawn to the city’s diversity, promise of toler- ance, and better way of life. With the advent of industrialization in the early 19th century, Philadelphia became a thriving center of commerce and indus- try. Philadelphia’s prosperity attracted immigrants from Europe as well as African-Americans from the southeastern states to the city. From its very beginning up through the present, Philadelphia has been greatly shaped by its inhabitants and the niches they carve for them- selves. Although Philadelphia’s population had peaked to over two million by mid- century, the ’50s marked the rise of “sub- urbia” and the decline of the inner city. While economic and population growth once occurred within the city limits, St St 0 S( tl il fl tl 8 f a t a t j e Philadelphia Green Helps Fight the City’s Biggest Problem beginning in the 1950s, the urban fron- tier began to reach outward to the areas surrounding Philadelphia. Like other industrial cities — Detroit, St. Louis, and Baltimore — Philadelphia struggled to keep pace with a changing economy. Manufacturing jobs moved to southern and western states, leading to the permanent erosion of the city’s industrial base. At the same time, better highways, GI loans, low-mortgage homes, and new information technolo- gies made it easy, even desirable, for people to leave the city for the bustling burbs. As jobs dried up in the inner city, more and more of its residents joined the exo- dus to the suburbs. The neighborhoods around the mills and factories, once teeming with hard-working citizens, were abandoned. As the suburbs around it now flourish, post-industrial Philadelphia has become increasingly unrecognizable from its glory days; its neighborhoods now dotted with thou- sands of lots of what has become known as “vacant land." The Facts on Vacant Land Over the years, abandoned residential and industrial buildings slowly decayed, were demolished, and have become vacant lots. For the first time in the city's history, local government has had to con- front a mounting inventory' of vacant land. According to the Philadelphia Planning Commission’s report Vacant Land in Philadelphia (1995), Philadel- phia’s population decreased by more than 23% between 1950 and 1990, a loss of 486,028 people (bringing it to its low- est level since 1910). The hardest-hit area, Lower North Philadelphia, lost 60% of its population. Conversely, the popula- tion of the outlying, semi-suburban Far Northeast increased by an astonishing 500%. And once people leave the inner city, they rarely look back. As people move out, property values plummet, and those who stay must deal with their declining communities. As the downward spiral of deterioration and abandonment spins out of control, even the most resilient find it hard to stay. Perhaps most detri- mental of all is the feeling of despair that festers in these neighborhoods, robbing them of their vitality and spirit. If this all appears too gloomy, we have only to look at the statistics to see the magnitude of the problem. Today, there are over 30,900 vacant residential lots in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. There are also nearly 23,000 abandoned houses, which are the precursors to vacant land. A Bright Spot in the Rubble At the same time the city' was heading into its rapid decline, a new program was emerging from the rubble. Begun in 1974, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green program works with neighborhood groups, orga- nizations, and city agencies to green city blocks, create community vegetable gar- dens and parks, and spruce up Philadelphia's downtown areas. Slowly, people began to take notice of the city’s changing landscape for the greener and saw first hand, the positive impact of greening in Philadelphia’s neighbor- hoods. In the 1980s, Philadelphia Green launched its “Greene Countrie Towne” program, emphasizing the connection between community, greening, and qual- ity-of-life issues. “People in other neigh- borhoods took for granted what we had to work for,” recalls Iris Brown, commu- nity leader of Norris Square Greene Countrie Towne. “We daydreamed about things we weren’t supposed to. But through community gardening things started to change and our neighborhood changed — if one person on the block planted a tree, then another person wanted to plant one. It was contagious. We also use gardens to teach children about their heritage and to instill ethnic pride. I know it’s a cliche, but we culti- vate more than gardens; we foster hope. And with aid from other agencies we re better able to tackle other issues like van- dalism, crime, and drugs.” A constant in the changing urban landscape, Philadelphia Green has from the outset recognized the resourcefulness of peo- ple and channeled this energy into improving the quality of life in neighbor- hoods. borhood. But this neighborhood is mak- ing a comeback in a profound way. Sandy Salzman has a personal and pro- fessional interest in this area: she’s lived in New Kensington all her life and is also the executive director of the New Kensington Community7 Development Corporation (NKCDC). “CDCs initially were set up to deal with housing and renovation issues,” explains Salzman. “But it wasn’t until we did our own strategic planning called New Kensington 2000’ that we found out what the residents really wanted. They were worried not just about housing, but about crime, safe- ty, schools and, the biggest problem of all, vacant land. We found that people would send friends far out of their way just to avoid vacant land. It was a wake- up call for us.” In three years, NKCDC — in partner- ship with Philadelphia Green and funded by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the William Penn Foundation and, for the most part, The Pew Charitable Trusts — has trans- formed about 540 lots (or 49%) of vacant land in this neighborhood into main- tained open spaces, community gardens, parks, playgrounds, and side yards. Salzman adds, “I actually saw a man exercising a pony in one of the cleaned lots. It’s unbelievable. We’ve made some headway, but the challenge will be to continue our work into the future. What we’d like to do is work with other neigh- borhoods to help manage vacant lots and get paid for our work, as a way of con- tinuing to support what we’re doing in New Kensington.” In a nutshell, the program works because it manages vacant land in the interim, while planning for its future reuse. In the short term, it cleans and greens vacant lots so they are no longer detriments to the neighborhood. Long-term plans are to transform vacant land into tangible neighbor- hood benefits that suit the community’s needs, be it new housing, parking areas, or community open spaces. It also seeks technical assistance and resources from partners and other sup- porters. Twenty-five years, eight Greene Countrie Townes, and more than 3,000 greening projects later (which include community gardens, street tree planti- ngs, revitalizing parks, and outreach and training programs), Philadelphia Green is seen as the model urban greening pro- gram for other cities. However, despite its strong partnerships in low-income neighborhoods, Philadelphia Green and other local organizations found that even with a large number of new gardens under development, it was becoming increasingly difficult to have an impact on the explosion of vacant lots. “A few years ago, we started to realize the overwhelming problem of vacant land in the neighborhoods where we were working,” says Philadelphia Green Community Greening manager Mike Groman. “We saw that greening alone couldn’t offset the rate at which vacant lots were increasing. At that point, we decided we had to take a more comprehensive approach.” The Penn- sylvania Horticultural Society’s study, Urban Vacant Land: Issues and Recommendations (1995) — funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts — looked at the problem nationwide and offered a model of how communities can reclaim this land, which led to work with com- munity development corporations (CDCs) and a model vacant land man- agement program established in Philadelphia’s New Kensington neigh- borhood. New Kensington Open Space Management New Kensington has its share of vacant land. To date, there are over 1,100 vacant lots covering more than 37 acres or nearly 15% of the neigh- The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Executive Vice President Blaine Bonham points out that while greening serves a role in the vacant land dialogue, it is by no means the be-all and end-all solution to the complex problem. “What we are trying to do is show the city that it needs to embrace the issue of vacant land and work with CDCs and other neighborhood-based organizations to manage it. Then we’ll work directly with them and neighborhood residents to develop green spaces appropriately. Our approach has evolved to one of broad neighborhood planning and revitaliza- tion. In essence, we re working with CDCs to build a vacant land management system.” This past spring, a series of vacant land management reports published by the Society bring home this point: Over time, with a holistic approach, the city can maintain vacant land, do it cost- effectively, and even generate revenue. What's the Hold-Up? If published reports agree that the city needs to invest in managing vacant land and can accomplish this in a fiscally sound manner, then what’s holding everything back? Herein lies the problem: the city is still using outdated policies and practices of land acquisition based on a “growth con- cept” of pre-World War II. Now, with “undercrowding” and land abandon- ment, many of these properties have low market value and thus, generate little tax revenue. So, for the city to hold on to the idea that vacant land in neighborhoods faced with de-industrialization and popu- lation loss will someday become valuable is wishful thinking and is crippling the process of acquiring land for redevelop- ment and reuse. Indeed, many private lots have been abandoned by their tax- owing owners, leaving the city with no revenue. Only if the city7 condemns the property (or has a valid reason, such as back taxes, to seek ownership of the lot) can it assume legal responsibility for demolishing unsafe structures or “clean- ing and greening." Otherwise, the city cannot reuse the land without the owner's consent. For those who want to acquire city- owned land, the system certainly doesn’t make it easy. You have to go through a labyrinthine process, which involves decisions from several city agencies and in many cases, years of waiting. To get around the rigmarole, recom- green scene march 2000 I I Take the load off your back! SprayMate: It's how smart gardeners fight insects and plant diseases without aches and pains! No hand pumping! No heavy lifting! SprayMate offers point-and- shoot spraying for your fruit, vegetables, roses and lawn! Easy to use. ..built to last! ONE-YEAR NO RISK TRIAL! For free details, call toll-free 1 -800-366-6268 or mail coupon today! We Make Gardening Easier® r . 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Big Beautiful Container Gardens, " . everywhere ybu look 'V* Chambers Medium Cradle Planter Over 50 different hand-welded steel containers in English ironwork let you select the ideal shapes and sizes for your outside living spaces. Clothe your walls with foliage, flowers and climbers. Surround your patio, deck or porch with soothing greenery and fragrant blooms. Each steel container is hand-welded and thickly coated with black plastic for permanent weather protection. The look is unobtrusive but elegant — designed to show off your plants at their best. Visit our store in the Old Point Pleasant Firehouse in historic Bucks County, Pa. See all the merchan- dise in our catalog plus many additional items, surprises and bargains. Mon.-Fri.: 9-5 Saturday: 10-5 Sunday: 12-5 Call or write for our FREE full-color Gardener's Catalog Kinsman Company River Road, Dept. 413, Point Pleasant. PA 18950-0357 CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800-396- 125 1 Why wait? Visit our web site and see all the different choices. You can order on-line or request a printed catalog. Or call or write us and we’ll send you our 96-page full-color catalog in the mail. Order on-line: www.kinsmangarden.com Photo: Residential patio container, Summer 1998. Container emphasizing tropical foliage Fine Garden Creations Creative Garden Installations Superior Plant Selection for Distinctive Plantings Borders, Containers, Ponds, Stone Work, Arboriculture Design, Installation, and Maintenance for All Seasons Philadelphia, The Main Line, Swarthmore, Wilmington. FINE GARDEN CREATIONS 610-338-0630 www.FineGardenCreations.com Announcing A New Greenhouse and Horticultural Program Cathedral Village President, Bill Owens, recently announced the development of an extensive Horticultural Program. The focal point will be a large greenhouse and headhouse, currently under construction. Horticulturist, Margaret (Peggy) Schofield is the newly appointed Director of the Program. While planning and developing classes and activities to appeal to all resident gardeners, she was assisted by the late Mrs. E. Perot Walker. As Director, Peggy will also be responsible for the gardens and landscape design of the entire Cathedral Village Campus. This new Program will add another unique dimension to our community which is nationally recognized as an innovative and progressive leader in retirement living. Whether you are an experienced horticulturist or a novice gardener, call our residential Admissions Office to learn more about the new Program and the many other cultural advantages that Cathedral Village has to offer. Call or visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends and preferred for weekdays. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 215-487-1300 -Website: www.Gtthedralvillage.com Hr Equal Housing Opportunity Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Community Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System N* - Pete Prown 6 The Potting Shed 10 Annual Vines Nancy J. Ondra takes us on a journey up the garden wall with a story on easy-to-grow climbing annuals. Beyond the morning glories we all love and admire, there are other winning annuals that are just as reliable and arguably even more colorful. So whether you have a trellis, a pergola, or just a fence that needs some perking up, these plants are sure to find a spot in your summer garden. 1 6 Doys of Daylilies Daylilies are one of the finest plants for our region, being both attractive and resilient. Join Dorothy Noble as she tells of a special daylily garden in rural Pennsylvania, where countless new Hemerocallis cultivars grow abundantly. From pastel colors to ruffled petals to everything in between, the daylily world is literally exploding and, if you haven't already, it's time to join the part)'. 22 Understanding Invasives Many of the trees, shrubs, and vines that grow rampantly in our green areas are not natives; in fact, some are insidious creatures known as “invasives." These plants were inadvertently brought to our region, only to escape into the wild and push out native species through unchecked growth. Here, Adam Levine looks at this pervasive problem, and further points out several of the common plants we buy and grow that are actually invasives. 26 Easy Roses Easy roses... in the Mid-Atlantic region? There’s no such thing, you say! According to Patricia A. Taylor, however, there are a growing number of rose cultivars that can take our heat, humid- ity', and sometimes brutal winters. Here are five of the toughest, yet most beautiful. 32 A Drive-By Garden The flower bed by Walt Chandoha’s driveway had literally lan- guished for years. Now, inspired by the memory of his late wife, the author/photographer tackles the task of turning it into a vibrant new garden. Let’s observe his progress, step by step. 37 Letters 38 Classified Ads 40 Backyard The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Cover Photo: Daylilies by Bob Ferguson GREEN Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Pamela Vu Publications Assistant Paula Holland Art Design Baxendells1 Graphic Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appell Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Ann L. Reed, ex officio Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Display Ads Michel Manzo, (610) 527-7047 manzocomm@aoi. com Classified Ads and Subscription Services Paula Holland, (215) 988-8769 pholland@pennhor t. org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 [closed in December] Web Site www. libertynet. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580). Volume 28. No. 5. is published bi-monthly (January, March, May. July. September, November) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organiza- tion at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103- 1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia. PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th St.. Philadelphia, PA 19103. © Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 2000 GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cox Arboretum, Dayton, Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Morristown, NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland. Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory, Inc., Pittsburgh. PA Staten Island Botanical Garden. Inc, New York CHANTICLEER A PLEASURE GARDEN featuring lush courtyards of tropicals, perennials and containers; a colorful cutflower and vegetable garden; exotic woodlands; a pond and ivater garden; and a new, spectacular ruin garden Open April through October Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm until 8pm Fridays in June, July, August 786 Church Road Wayne, Pennsylvania 610.687.4163 www.chanticleergarden.org Pete Pro M, 0 Have you ever visited a place that completely altered the way you think about gardens... even though you may not have realized it at the time? 1 had such an experience at 17 when I had the chance to visit the Laskett, the garden of Sir Roy Strong (former director of London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and author of many acclaimed garden books) and his wife Julia Trevelyan Oman, a noted designer. Of course, I was mostly oblivious to this — I was a teenager more into guitars and rock ’n’ roll than delphiniums or yew hedges, and Mr. Strong was simply a friend of the family’s. But I thought his garden was intriguing nevertheless. We stopped there during a UK vacation in 1979. My mem- ories of the trip in general are somewhat hazy, but 1 have a crystal-clear picture of the garden... largely because it was only about 2-feet tall. Spread out across an adjoining field, seem- ingly in the middle of English nowhere, I could look in sever- al directions and see dwarfish lines of hedges forming an intri- cate maze of garden rooms. 1 think 1 initially chuckled to myself, but it was soon explained that the garden was only a few years old and still very much in its formative stages. The shrubs that were then wee sprouts would someday form tall hedges and the spartan beds would be filled with interesting plants and topiary. The more I took in the view, the more fas- cinating it became. I began to see the mind of design across these partitioned green zones — there was clear, definite thought in everything I saw protruding from the ground. “Yes, 1 real- ized, the 30-watt lightbulb flickering on in my brain, “Great gardens are planned.” I also recall feeling sad that the Strongs would have to wait ^Ze//er „ ///r (oa/for I years, if not decades, for their gardens to mature and for those small shrubs to become stately walls of green. Today, however, I’m deeply envious. As your average obsessive gardener, 1 frequently walk around my small yard, imagining tiny rooms, walls, hedges, ponds, and everything else under the sun. But the Strongs had a big field to play with and, I’m sure, they were having the time of their lives, especially over the fact that it would take decades for their garden to mature. My “hurry-up teenaged mentality simply couldn’t fathom the joys of something that takes a good, long time. And as we were leaving the Laskett, I remember my mother noting that this would be an important garden someday; 20 years later, her comments proved true. Today, it is considered the largest, private formal garden created in Britain since 1945. Last fall, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Scott Arboretum invited Sir Roy to our region to give a lecture on the Laskett. The sight of the now-mature garden was stag- gering: those stumpy shrubs now formed great walls of green- ery and, within each of the distinct rooms, flowers shamelessly spilled out of their deep, loamy beds. If nothing else, I can say 1 visited a renowned garden in its very infancy, but more than that bit of tourist trivia, the experience did make me a better gardener. It gave me the courage to plant a hedge of upright yew to divide my garden from the rest of the open yard. This may not seem like much, but it takes nerve to dig ten holes across your lawn and declare silently to oneself, “Here, a hedge wall will some- day stand." It has also given me the confidence to plan other, more elaborate schemes: a second ornamental garden, a new terraced lawn in the front and, naturally, more hedge walls. Anything’s possible. Looking back at that vacation stop today, I now see the Strongs’ garden as a pivotal point in my evolution as a gardener. But if there’s a real moral to this tale, it’s to teach us all to bring our children and grandchildren to great gardens, just as my parents did with their brood. I am forever dragging my kids to gardens in our area. Whether the garden is grand or, as the Laskett was 20 years ago, just getting off the ground, I think it’s important for parents to send their children a clear message that gardens are an important facet of our health, hap- piness, and recreation. Your kids might not understand this at first, but somewhere down the road, it just might turn on a few lightbulbs. greenscene@pennbort. org Teach the Children ■ may 2000 . GREEN SCENE 5 Old Seed, Young Sprout One rainy morning last spring, employees of the Burpee Seed Company began to retake a part of their heritage. The company had recently reacquired Fordhook Farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a place which had originally been the testing gardens for many of Burpee’s early plant introductions. For the staff, however, it was a reawakening of another kind: while cleaning out the newly purchased property, a single squash seed was dis- covered on the floor of the Farm’s old seedhouse. In the early 1900s, this was a state-of-the-art seed storage facility, where wagons would unload seed to be stored. Eventually, the house fell into disrepair and was neglected. Still, from the millions of seeds that passed through its doors, one lonely squash seed somehow dropped to the ground and survived untrampled. No one knows how long this single seed was being kicked around, but according to Sharon Kaszan, Trials and Farm manager for Burpee, the last time this seedhouse was used was more than 1 5 years ago. Enjoying a good challenge, a few employees of Burpee decid- ed to plant the seed to see what would come up. Three months later — with very little super- vised care and remarkably free of ground- hog damage — a single 30-foot vine with five 10-pound fruits sat happily in the trial grounds. The variety has yet to be established, but it appears to be a Hubbard squash, some of which are still available through Burpee today. So how long can a seed survive? Many years is \\ what Burpee’s experts say, depending upon the seed variety. So what’s the lesson here? Perhaps it’s that we shouldn’t throw away those leftover packs of seeds from last year. Maybe they’ll be too dried out to germinate or, as this old squash seed p roved . . . maybe not. —Colby Wolfe |\1 ";jV AN ANCIENT TREE. We may have all marveled at the arrival of the new millennium, but for a tree in England, it was a mere blip or the calendar. According to a recent CNN story, the Great Yew at Crowhurst — a town south of London — is around 4,000 years old. With 4,000 summers and win- ters under its belt, the yew is alive and healthy, though part of it is actually dead. The core has been empty for several centuries, but it' outer layers remain vibrant. As the report noted, “According to foresters, the tree’s hollow center is a survival strategy, providing resilience against the tens of thou- sands of gales and ice storms a tree has to cope with in the long haul.’ Make that a very long haul. A TOUR DE FORCE. Ir search of a fascinating tour foi your garden club or communit) group? Try Meadowbloom, Sair Kenworthy’s highly artistic garder in Northern Chester Country Featuring acres of eclectic plant ings, outdoor sculpture, and strut ting peacocks, this garden is surel) one of the Delaware Valley’s finest For information on visiting Meadowbloom by group, cal (610) 495-5187. [You can also reai an article on the garden in the Maj 1994 issue.] SUNBURN. It may seem coo and spring-like outdoors, but then is actually enough solar heat to drj out and kill your young seedling in a day. If you’ve grown flowers o vegetables from seed, harden then off by leaving them outdoors in : shady spot for a few hours a day continued 6 Got Milkweed ? a ¥ ’V ut in your gar- I -^den bench first, .JL because you'll want to sit amidst the splen- dor of this finely foliaged plant and relax in its aroma- therapeutic fragrance,” is sage advice given by Margarit Babbe of J. Franklin Styer about Asclepias verticillata, the thread-leaf or Eastern-whorled milkweed. This unusual milkweed’s diminutive, creamy- white flowers appear on 2-foot tall stems. But unlike other milk- weeds, A. verticilla- ta exudes the deli- cious scent of jas- mine. According to Babbe, friends coming to your gar- den may easily mistake this plant for Amsonia at first glance. Many gardeners are unaware that A. verticillata grows wild throughout the eastern part of the country, and that it is also found in southern Canada, the Great Plains, and down into Florida and Arizona. Like its relatives, it exudes a characteristic milky latex from leaves and stems. Soils ranging from sandy to rocky to clay are suitable for this species. A shallow- rooted perennial, it needs full sun and tolerates dry conditions. Hardy in Zones 4 and up, this milkweed looks right at home in an informal cottage garden or wildflower setting. Best of all, it also attracts the monarch butterfly. — Pamela D. Jacobsen SOURCE J. Franklin Styer 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 (610) 459-2400 www.styers.com Gardening by Numbers Did you know that roughly 64% of all Americans partake in some form of gardening? Let’s look at the percentages for other horticul- tural activities, each one revealing how many of our fellow citizens revel in this very healthy pastime: Lawn care 47% Flower gardening 37% Houseplants 31% Vegetable gardening 26% Tree care 20% Container gardening 10% Water gardening 4% Source: U.S. Census Bureau (1996) Do this for about a week before set- ting them in the ground. Finally, try to plant them on a cloudy day, preferably before it rains. If you must plant your seedlings on a bright, sunny day, cover them for a day or two with an inverted pot or cardboard box to avoid transplant shock. There’s nothing worse than planting an entire bed, only to find your new plants wilted to the ground the next morning. BLUES FOR BIOTECH In the war against biotechnology and geneti- cally engineered food, one hard-fought battle over the so-called Terminator Technology has given its opponents their first victory [see the related article in the Sept. 1999 issue]. This past October, Monsanto announced that it would halt the development of plants that are genetically engineered to pro- duce infertile seeds. While other companies are still free to license this technology, the biotech industry is at least beginning to recognize the public opposition to their products. As consumer and advocacy groups gain momentum in tackling other biotech-related issues (such as the labeling of genetically modified foods), only one thing is for sure — this is only the beginning of the ongoing biotech battle. ROUTING DROUGHT. After last year, we all want to avoid anoth- er year of dry, dying plants. To help us out is Gardening Without Water by Charlotte Green (Search Press, softcover, $14.95), a new book filled with plant tips and water-saving techniques that can help us through the dry weeks of summer. Through mulching, irrigation, and the art of capturing rainwater, this book is full of good ideas, as well as dozens of useful color photographs and illustra- tions. There’s also a lovely section of drought-resistant plants for you to peruse. An attractive, winning book. CHARLOTTE GREEN Gardening without WATER Mwy Ooobfc-day ftn*ardi < SUKNWSS may 2000 • GREEN SCENE 7 The Gardener’s Bookshelf The Afterlife of Flowers By Jane Feldman Gross (Running Press, 96pp, hardcover, $24.95) Level: All levels Pros: A visual virtuoso that will change the way you look at flowers. Cons: May not interest those wanting information on how to press plants. Jane Feldman Gross’s The Afterlife of Flowers may make you feel like a child again. Each time you turn the page, another vivid daydream unfolds. Stunningly photographed and beautiful- ly laid out, there’s no denying this book’s appeal to the aesthetics. Each specimen is captured in full bloom and frozen in time for us to relish. By the way, did I happen to mention that these are “dead” flowers? Indeed, each flower has been pressed and posi- tioned evocatively to convey a mood and inspire delight. At times, I found myself interpreting each flower as if it were a Rorschach inkblot, taking pleasure in my musings. Gross’s revelations and insights peppered throughout add a personal touch and a bit of philosophy about nature. You’ll be amazed that most of these flowers are no more than 2-inches wide, though they take on a larger-than-life persona when magnified and seen in full grandeur. However, if you’re looking for a technical or historical discussion on pressing plants, you won’t find it here, although there is a section at the end of the book that identifies each specimen and provides its true dimensions. This book is purely for the aesthete who’s not so much interested in the how-tos as to the artistic beauty. For Gross, beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, but also in the “singularity of each blossom. ” — Pamela Vu Gardenwalks By Marina Harrison & Lucy Rosenfeld (Michael Kesend Pub., 356pp, softcover, $19.95) Level: All levels Pros: A detailed guide to East Coast gardens you can visit. Cons: None This book is “a must” for folks who love to visit gardens. Subtitled “101 of the Best Gardens from Maine to Virginia and Recommended Gardens Throughout the Country,” this guide contains state-by-state listings of gardens to visit on your holiday or free weekends. In eastern Pennsylvania, there are write-ups of obvious spots such as Longwood and Bartram’s Garden, but also gems like Chanticleer in Wayne and Joanna Reed’s much-admired Longview Farm in Malvern. There are also more gardens in the New Jersey and Delaware chapters for you to peruse. Whether you want to visit these local gardeners or stop off somewhere in Vermont or Virginia on your summer vacation, this handy softcover will prove an indispensable travel guide to stick in your glove compartment. You’ll never know when you’ll have a few hours to spare and this book can help you spend that time in sheer horticultural bliss. [Available by calling (800) 488-8040] — Pete Prown 8 GREEN SCENE • may 2000 Pete Prown ASK A GARDENER I by Hotline Volunteers Last summer, we spent two weeks in your beautiful state and saw a wonderful pink-flowering shrub that is the State flower. What is it? Gracya Lerotix, Quebec, Canada By an Act of the General Assembly approved on May 5, 1933, Pennsylvania adopted the mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia ) as the official State flower. During the middle of June, the laurel is in full bloom, adding a tinge of pink to every sunny nook of Pennsylvania’s mountains. By the way, our State tree is the hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis). Mountain Laurel I have a five-year-old redbud tree. Over the past few months, the bark has started to crumble. It has not yet fallen off the tree, but we have also noticed a green coating appear- ing on the limbs. What is causing this? Tom Doyle, Pottstown, PA Canker is the most destructive fungal disease of redbud ( Cere is) , and it can cause many stems to die. Remove the severely infected branches and, on trunks and large branches, remove any cankers by cutting about 2-inches beyond the infected area. Sterilize all pruning tools after each cut with rub- bing alcohol. You should check with your County Extension Agent for fur- ther recommendations (look in the phone book). How do you keep petunias from getting leggy? D. Freedman, Holland, PA It helps to deadhead petunias on a regular basis, about twice a week. Pinch it off just below the blossom on the stem. Halfway through the summer, you might want to give the entire plant a “haircut” by cutting all the stems in half. They rebound quickly and will reward you with flowers well into fall. Do you have a question for our garden experts? If so, contact PHS’s Horticultural Hotline in the McLean Library, which is open Monday-Friday, 9:30-noon. Phone (215) 988-8777; fax (215) 988-8783; email: askagardener@pennhort. org. Visit our gallery. . . Delight in our whimsy & design. ^/GaUeryo/ Treasures for the Home & Garden • Seasonal Annuals & Perennials • Orchids • Container Gardens Fine Crafts • Jewelry Unique Gifts Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton, PA 610-933-2289 Look for us on the WEB at www. createascene.com Mon. - Sat., 10 am - 6:30 pm • Sun., 12 am - 4 pm ■ may 2000 . GREEN SCENE 9 Story > by Nancy J. Ondra If you’re looking to get more flower power from a limited space, it’s hard to beat annual vines. Give them just a bit of room in a bed or border, and they’ll reward you with months of color to dress up walls, fences, trellises, and other vertical surfaces. Best of all, they bloom right at eye level, so you can admire them up close. Over the past few years, seed companies have responded to the increasing popularity of annual vines by providing a wealth of excit- ing new offerings. Some are old favorites dressed up in new colors; others are lesser-known but certainly garden-worthy species being rediscovered by adventurous gardeners. Here are a few great vines to set your sights on. No discussion on annual vines would be complete without a mention of morning glories ( Ipomoea sp.). The large, beautiful blooms of ‘Heavenly Blue’ have graced many a garden over the years and with good reason: few other flowers offer that distinctive sky-blue hue. If you’re looking for something a lit- tle more exciting, though, check out some of the newer I. imperialis cultivars, such as ‘Mt. Fuji Mix’ and ‘Tie Dye’. Definitely not for the color-cautious, these outrageous selections bloom in a range of intense blues, purples, fuchsias, and reds, as well as some softer pink and lavender shades. The blooms ol ‘Mt. Fuji Mix’ have a distinct white edge that flows in toward the center at regular intervals. ‘Tie Dye’, on the other hand, looks exactly like it sounds: a wild pat- tern of irregular white striping against a colored background. These two are worth growing just for the amazing flow- ers, but they offer an added bonus: green leaves shaped like a shield and decorated with irregular white, silver, and gray splotches. Looking for something to give vertical accent to your hot-color border? Cardinal climber ( Ipomoea x multifidd) certainly qualifies, with small but bright red blooms that contrast handsomely against deeply lobed, bright green foliage. A few years ago, I received Ipomoea coccinea — another eye-catching species — from a seed exchange. I’ve enjoyed its orange-red flowers and heart- shaped leaves every year since then — although not always by choice. This one is a very vigorous twining climber and re-seeds prolifically, so even if you pull out the seedlings you find, you’ll proba- bly always have a few left. Small-scale plantings may not be able to support a vigorous vine, but there are a number of lovely climbers that can produce a delightful display without much support. One of my favorites is Asarina scandens, commonly known as climbing snapdragon or (for some less obvious reason) chickabiddy. The 1-inch blooms do resemble individual snap- dragon flowers. You’ll often find it sold as a mix of purple, pink, and white, though individual colors are now avail- able as well. All make excellent covers for a small, special trellis, and they are great in planters, too. Love-in-a-pufif ( Cardiospermum halica- cabum) belongs in every garden for the young and the young-at-heart. True, it’s not especially showy, with lacy green leaves and tiny white blooms, but what you’ll grow it for are the inflated seed- pods that resemble small green balloons bobbing in the lightest breeze. It’s hard to resist popping a few of the pods in your fingers, but that’s okay — there will be plenty more! If you let some ripen on the vine, you’ll find black seeds inside: each bears a white heart, which gives the plant its common name, love-in-a-puff. This vine climbs by tendrils, so you’ll need to give it netting to climb, or let it find its way up through a shrub or other vine. Another worthy climber is the morn- ing glory relative, Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata). Commonly known as Spanish flag or exotic love, this climber could pass for a morning glory early in the summer, with its three-lobed leaves and twining stems. When it blooms, though, the difference is clear: Spanish flag produces one-sided racemes of tubu- lar blooms, which start out scarlet and gradually age to orange and then creamy 12 yellow. A newer selection called ‘Citronella’ is pictured in seed catalogs as being mainly yellow and cream, but I find that the new buds still have a touch of coral to them. In my garden, ‘Citronella’ starts to bloom about a month later, toward the middle or end of August. The black-eyed Susan vine ( Thunbergia alata ) has always caught my eye in catalogs, but the seeds commonly sold seem to be an unfortunate mix of the yellow-orange and the white-flow- ered forms. Fortunately, Thompson and Morgan now offers T. alata ‘Beauty Spots,’ which is actually three separate packets labeled by color. T. alata ‘Aurea’ produces the yellow-orange color, while 'Albo-maculata' (also known as ‘Alba’) GREEN SCENE • may 2000 | 13 may 2000 • GREEN SCENE Top right: Black- eyed Susan vine. Bottom: Climbing Snapdragon yields white blooms: both have a deep purple-black center spot. These two look great combined with the black berries of Malabar spinach (. Basella alba) or purple peppers (such as ‘Black Prince’). To me, the real prize is the third packet: T. alata ‘Lutea’, which offers light yellow flowers without the contrasting eye. All three colors of this twining vine are vigorous enough for a border or a regular trellis, but they also make unique and attractive hanging basket specimens. £3 Nancy Ondra owns Pendragon Perennials in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and is in turn owned by a Shetland sheepdog and one house bunny. Info: Pendragon Perennials, 225 Green Street, Emmaus, PA 18049, (610) 965-0102, pendragon@fast.net. SOURCES • Thompson & Morgan P.O. Box 1 308 Jackson, NJ 08527 (800) 274-7333 www.thompson-morgan.com Asarina scandens; Ipomoea lobata and I. lobata 'Citronella'; Thunbergia alata 'Beauty Spots' • Park Seed Co. 1 Parkton Ave. Greenwood, SC 29647 (800) 845-3369 www.parkseed.com Asarina scandens; Cardiospermum halicacabum; Ipomoea imperialis 'Mt. Fuji Mix' and 'Tie Dye'; I. x multifida; Ipomoea T lobata and I. lobata 'Citronella'; Thunbergia alata | • Shepherd's Garden Seeds 1 30 Irene St. g1 Torrington, CT 06790 J (860) 482-3648 ; www.shepherdseeds.com s CD Asarina scandens; Ipomoea x ? multifida; I. lobata; §_ Thunbergia alata 'Alba' f T3 • Also ask at your local - nursery. S 14 GREEN SCENE • may 2000 1495 Wilmington Pike • West Chester Pa, 19382 Tel: 484-840-0568 • Fax: 484-840-0569 • E-mail: paulblom@blomsbiilbs.com More than Just a Catalog Available Now For Your Copy of Our 2000 Bulb Catalog Visit our Web Site www.blomsbulbs.com Or Contact Us at the Following Bloms Bulbs Bloms Bulbs The Finest Bulbs in the World - Guaranteed. Philadelphia Flower Show , 2000 First Place Market Place Horticulture Large Booth explode in the Swain’s mid-summer garden. ; 1 ■ ‘ . ' V ' • m Deer Damage a Problem? jr HMMM...THE /SMITH'S FOR AZALEAS AND] UlOSTAS, OR THE JONES' FOR/ \THE all YOU CAN EAT BUFFET?/ We ^ <0 Have The Solution. Virtually Invisible Deer Fencing • High-Strength. • Easily attaches to trees or posts. • Protect garden areas or entire properties. Benner’s Gardens 6974 Upper York Rd.. New Hope, PA 18938 1-800-753-4660 www.bennersgardens.com Get the Most Value & Quality for Home & Garden MOSTARD1 NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 Visit our website! www.mostardi.com 610 • 356 • 8035 AHH...THE fyflN ” ’ Slg V., \ V jgp ?. \ ic * t. i * V'j, V • * /»' * ! Succulent and ripe, this strawberry and a perfect pair ol cherries make an elegant statement any time of year. These ruby pins are but a taste of the original designs that stem from the Groper tradition... a Century-long heritage dedicated to the highest standards of design and craftsmanship. ELAINE COOPER ( & COMPANY- Our Exclusive Catalog Is Available Upon Request 8609 Germantown Avenue, (Chestnut Ilill) Philadelphia, PA 215 248 8080 36 GREEN SCENE • may 2000 Letters First, I really liked the March issue of Green Scene. It was alive! I especially liked “Uncommon Beauties” and want to get them all. In the future, though, I’d like to see more garden experience pieces and how-to articles. Otherwise, a fine job. L.K via the Internet Your January issue was a knockout! The “Room With A View” cover story was colorful and inter- esting, as was the intriguing Letter from the Editor on “The Winter Gardener.” An all-around superior job, as usual. Beautiful cover, too. J. Bonner Lancaster, PA Staffer Thank you many times for the November article on “bulb gar- den pots.” I have had fun and success with six pots follow- ing Art Wolk’s suggestions — so much so that my garden club will spend one of its fall meetings making them. I started my pots at the end of November and had the first one bloom by Valentine’s Day. Thanks again. Kathryn West Midway, Kentucky I enjoy reading Green Scene. The articles are generally great to read and 1 especially like the new “Potting Shed” section, with its hints and tips. (I bought Rosa 'Knockout at Scott Arboretum this fall. 1 further enjoy the practical “how -to” stories, such as Art’s bulb- forcing project (Nov. 1999). I wonder if he can recommend how many bulbs to plant in each pot. Mary Liz Lewis Summit, New Jersey Art responds : “ For a pot that will be double-layered with dajfodils. Crocus, Iris, and Muscari, use nine dajfodils, eight tulips, three hyacinths, 18 muscari , 22 iris, and 12 cro- cus. For a pot in which every- thing is single-layered, use five dajfodils, eight tulips, three hyacinths, 10 muscari, 12 iris, and seven crocus. ” deader At the end of the article on PHS Gold Medal Plants in the November ’99 issue (“Woody Wonders”), you noted that many of these plants can be seen at Chanticleer. Since Chanticleer is closed in win- ter you might also mention that various Gold Medal winners can be seen at the Morris Arboretum, Scott Arboretum, and Longwood Gardens. That way in winter your readers won’t miss the bright red berries of Ilex verti- cillata ‘Scarlett O'Hara’ (1996 winner), I. 'Winter Red’ (1995), and /. ‘Sparkleberry’ (1988), in addition to the early spring bloom (Feb. /March) of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (1991). Alexandra Basinski Jenkintown, Pennsylvania may 2000 • GREEN SCENE Correction On page 22 of the March 2000 issue, the ]uncus effusus ‘Spiralis’ shown was inadvertent- ly attributed to Alice Farley. This blue-ribbon winner was actually grown by Mary Jane Greenwood. Our apologies. 37 Classifieds I ) ANTIQUES Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 19118 (215)247-3925 BUSINESS FOR SALE Extraordinary diversity in this eleven-year-old Chester Co. horticultural business. Selling all three divisions as complete package or separately. 1. PINE NEEDLE MULCH SUPPLIER. 2. SPECIALTY CUT FLOWERS/SEASONAL PLANT NURSERY. 3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE. Very affordable price with excellent growth potential. Serious inquiries only, call Nan at 610-593-7333 GARDEN FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Hill Co. - Outdoor Furniture Specialists An outstanding selection of outdoor furniture with distinctive designs in aluminum, wrought iron, teak, and all-weather wicker. Wind chimes, statuary and fountains galore! 8615 Germantown Ave. Chestnut Hill (215)247-7600 Elizabeth Schumacher’s GARDEN ACCENTS Antique, handcrafted and contemporary garden ornaments from around the world in a wonderful showroom and unforgettable garden setting. Tiny stone frogs to limited edition bronze sculptures Ask about visits with your garden club Call 610-825-5525 for directions 4 Union Hill Road, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 CONTAINED GARDENS Custom Planted Containers for Pools, Patios, Terraces and Decks Trough Gardens Our Speciality Call (215) 628-8615 GARDEN SHOPS THUJA X ‘GREEN GIANT’ New U.S.D.A. U.S. National Arboretum Elite Plant Release. A Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Gold Medal Plant Award, 1998. Tough, fragrant, tall, Skinney, high resistance to deer, bagworms & disease. Fast 3-5 ft. /year, evergreen, excellent alternative to leyland cypress. 6-8” plants $5.50 each. Call 888-855-3300 fax: 888-844-8198 or greengianttrees.com MEADOWBROOK FARM Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cac- tus & succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horticultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Michael Bowell’s CREATE A SCENE GALLERY Treasures for the Home & Garden Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Unique Gifts, ORCHIDS Seasonal Annuals, Perennials and Container Gardens 10% Discount To All PHS Members with Membership Card Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30 Sunday: 1 1 :00 - 4:00 Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton (Just East of Kimberton Inn) Delight in our Whimsy and Design Let Us Help You Create a Scene visit our website: www.createascene.com Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’ Mike Dirr’s selection of yellow flowering shrub. Rare & unusual, difficult to propagate. Delicious aroma to perfume your garden and your life! Large plants available now! The best quality & selection of PHS GOLD MEDAL winners in the Delaware Valley. PHS members receive 10% off with membership card. See pictures & descriptions of our plant @ www.tripleoaks.com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden P0 Box 385 - 2359 Delsea Drive Franklinville, NJ 08322 Email: greatplants@tripleoaks.com 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Take Walt Whitman or Ben Franklin Bridge to Route 42 South. Take Route 55 South until Exit 43, left off ramp, right on Delsea Drive (Route 47 South). GARDEN STRUCTURES HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises, & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration com- pany who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. (21 5) 699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, Pa. 38 GARDEN TOURS Delightful Garden Tours Visit America’s finest gardens and specialty nurseries. Many trips include Garden Conservancy. Open Days in New York, Connecticut and Long Island. www. delightfulgardentours. com Ph/Fax 703-812-4628 9TH ANNUAL MILL HILL GARDEN TOUR SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH 12:00 NOON-5:OOPM Tour a dozen of Trenton New Jersey’s most diverse city gardens hidden behind restored Victorian houses in a charming historic district. For info call: (609) 392-1646 GREENHOUSES GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 HELP WANTED Nursery and Landscape Personnel for Conservation Nursery/Contractor Experienced technical personnel and middle management positions available with well established, progressive and growing company. Located at PA/MD line. Please send resume describing education, experience and technical skills to: PO Box 156, Maryland Line, MD 21105-0156. LANDSCAPE DESIGN Debbie Reed Designs Unlimited - Interior Landscape Specialists Pottstown, PA Come Visit Our Greenhouse and Gardens •Design ‘Renovation ‘Installation ‘Repotting •Maintenance Service & Guidance ‘Consultation •Tropical Plants & Trees ‘Orchids •Gainey Ceramic Planters Get the Best for your Home & Office ‘25 yrs. Experience Rent our Ficus Tree Archways for Parties & Weddings Christmas Decorations & Seasonal Displays are our Specialty •Hotels ‘Lobbies ‘Schools ‘Malls ‘Offices ‘Homes Phone 61 0-327-8060 Fax 61 0-327-8092 LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN •Consulting •Plans •Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 AVANT GARDENS Landscape design, maintenance and construction Over twenty years of experience Specializing in residential projects For free consultation or free brochure Call (215) 634-6332 / (610) 566-1579 or visit us at avantgardens.net GREEN SCENE • may 2000 www.creativelandscapes.com “Elegant Environments For Your Home" **GARDEN CALENDAR ** **HOT GARDENING TOPICS ** “ PORTFOLIO OF PHOTOGRAPHS ** View online or call 610-565-9910 Please Note: Corrected Website Address Above, Website address from last issue was incorrect David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215)247-2992 (610)584-1550 (610)525-3232 RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AND CONTRACTING Beautiful homes and gardens are the expression of imaginative and functional design concepts, not merely good inten- tions. Our award-winning designers and pro- fessional craftsmen, specialists in all phases of landscape construction and planting, collaborate closely with you during each phase of the design/build process. A leader in the successful design and management of large residential landscape projects in the Delaware Valley, Robert Montgomery Landscapes, Inc. assures that your property’s fullest potential is realized. “Blending Horticulture & Architecture To Enhance Your Lifestyle” ROBERT MONTGOMERY LANDSCAPES, INC. 55 East Uwchlan Avenue Chester Springs, PA 19425 (610) 594-1810 S. Edgar David Landscape Architects Site planning and Garden Design Lighting Design / Rooftop Gardens Native Landscapes, Streams and Wetlands Innovative Solutions Designs of Distinction Design Studio 610-584-5941 Awbury Landscape Services, Inc. A subsidiary of Awbury Arboretum Assn. Provides Lawn Maintenance, Spring and Fall Clean up, Plant Installation, Bed Preparation and Mulching, Tree Planting, Pruning and Removal One-Time or Yearly Service Contracts Contact Steve Pascavitch at (215) 849-2855 LIGHTING A CONSUMER GUIDE TO LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING is available without charge by contacting LANDSCAPE LIGHTING 800.569.9985 or visit our website www.sitelights.com MAIL ORDER Irises are our speciality Sans Souci Nursery - 3819 Beatty Road Monkton, Maryland 21111-410-557-0250 Continuous iris bloom from May ‘til November e-mail 1bh0251@msn.com MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM THE SOUTH SUPERIOR TO SHREDDED BARK •Less work to apply •More nutritious to plants •Better weed control •Longer lasting •Competitively priced CALL AND LEAVE ADDRESS FOR FREE SAMPLE 610-593-7333 WE SELL WHOLESALE AND RETAIL MULCHES, SOILS, ORGANIC MIXES, DECORATIVE STONE, & OAK FIREWOOD “PREMIUM PRODUCTS, DISCOUNT PRICES” UNDERDOG LANDSCAPE SUPPLY 215-482-2484 NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS •Specimen plants »Pond plants ‘Bonsai •Orchids »Hardy cacti ‘Tropicals •Sculptured trees and shrubs ‘Perennials •Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers.com Looking for a RAREFIND? We offer unusual rhododendrons, azaleas and other choice trees, shrubs and perennials at our eleven-acre nursery and display garden. Please come visit us during our open houses scheduled this year for May 13, 20, 21 and 27 during peak bloom season! Mail order catalog available; call (732) 833-0613 RAREFIND NURSERY 957 Patterson Road Jackson, NJ 08527 E-mail: rarefind@earthlink.net PUBLICATIONS RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Loch wood Ln. West Chester, PA 1 9380 (610) 436-9796 E-mail; GrannyPol@aol.com RESTAURANTS GRACIE’S 21 ST CENTURY CAFE Fresh, Natural Gourmet Dining with just a hint of decadence Dinners Wed. - Sat. MANATAWNY ROAD, PINE FORGE, PA 19548 Directions, reservations, & an unforgettable evening: (610) 323-4004 RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Call for Free Estimate Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 BUILDING RESTORATION Complete service in all phases of restoration Old homes, barns, spring houses Cedar and tin roofs Stucco removal/stone repointing Interior painting, refinishing of floors MARK BESTERMAN (610) 582-9785 TREE SERVICE ARADER TREE SERVICE, INC. “Working With People Who Care” Certified Arborists •Fast ‘Reliable •Equipped to handle the most difficult Removal and Take downs •Complete Spray and Fertilization Programs •State-of-the-art equipment •Large and Small Tree Transplanting •Landscape Design and Installation 610/277-8733 BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE •Quality Tree Care •Pruning, Trimming, and Removals •Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control •Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: November, January, March, May, July, September. Minimum rate $34. Charges based on $8.50 per line. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYLVANIA HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY and sent to Paula Holland, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. ■ may 2000 - GREEN SCENE 39 Classifieds BAC KYARD The Dry Look A Trio of Drought Lovers for the Mid-Atlantic Thanks to the unrelenting heat and water restrictions in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, gardening was a sere subject last sum- mer. Though I certainly had my share of browned lawn and desiccated trees, I also had islands of color. They were found in dry garden beds filled with native perennials that have evolved to withstand the weather extremes of our region. ..without pesticides or fertiliz- ers. Let’s look at three unusual drought lovers, all of which can tolerate the heat and dryness of summer. PRAIRIE CONEFLOWER (Ratibida pinnata) Found throughout midwestern prairies, these coneflowers are noted for their unusual drooping petals. Judging from last year’s performance, they really like drought conditions: Usually blooming for three to four weeks in July, they flowered from late June to mid August. In full sun, this 5-to-6-foot tall plant is a sturdy, structural presence in the garden. It assumes a more graceful presence in the open shade area where I have placed it. There, its long thin stems gracefully bend over, creating an arching shower ol lemon-yellow flow- ers that hover only 2 or 3 feet above underlying plants. WILD PETUNIA [Ruellia humilis) I first saw this plant baking in full sun as it cascaded over the gray stone boulders of a Connecticut garden and it’s a beauty. Wild petunia’s floppy stems extend up to 2 feet and produce constant new flowers at the tip. It is perfect draping over a wall or trailing down a slope. While it’s a spreader, rooting underground with stolons, it is not aggressive and escapees can easily be pulled in spring. r CUP PLANT J- (Silphium perfoliatum) Though frequently seen in sun gar- 5 dens throughout its mid-continent ^ haunts, cup plant is rarely found in East 2 Coast borders. I think this would change if more people became acquainted with its carefree nature and the attractiveness in arrangements. SOURCES All three plants: Prairie Nursery P.O. Box 306 Westfield, Wl 53964 (800) 476-9453 fax (608) 296-2741 http://prairienursery. com Cup plant: Heronswood Nursery 7530 NE 288th Street Kingston, WA 98346 (360) 297-4172 fax (360) 297-8321 www. heronswood. com Cup plant is a big (6 to 8 feet), bold, beautiful plant with calm yellow flowers. It too seems to favor drought conditions because, last year, it bloomed from mid- July to the end of August in my gar- den— a week or two longer than usual. Its popular name comes from the cup- like formations found at the periodic junctions of its leaves and stem. Rainwater often gathers within these areas, forming little pools from which you will occasionally see birds and but- terflies drinking. How can you resist? 0 - — Patricia A. Taybr 40 GREEN SCENE • may 2000 One reason you’ve become a person of means is because you never lived beyond them. Somewhere along your way to wealth, you learned to live well without living extravagantly. And it paid off. Handsomely. At Glenmede, we know many wealthy individuals like that. We manage their money. With an approach called Total Wealth Management. First, we identify your unique financial challenges. Then, Glenmede professionals tailor a comprehensive solution to meet your needs and goals. A plan that puts a wide range of disciplines at your disposal, including investment management, business planning, estate planning, and tax and retirement planning. The result is a long-term solution that ensures assets work in concert. To preserve principal and maximize return with the least amount of risk. To learn more, call J. Thomas Dunlevy at 1-800-966-3200, or visit our web site at www.glenmede.com. Glenmede The Glenmede Trust Company PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON PRINCETON MORRISTOWN CLEVELAND »<«<>■ WEALTH MANAGEMENT- Would You Rather be Thought of As Si. OJJ. 6X1. 02 Or As Pam? At PNC Advisors, we consider the business of wealth management highly personal. As one of the largest wealth management firms in the country, PNC Advisors is uniquely designed to give you the breadth of resources of a financial institution with $68 billion in assets under management combined with the agility of a small investment boutique. Our low client-to-advisor ratio enables us to work closely with you to develop personalized investment strategies built around your unique needs. The answers and information PNC Advisors provides to you are designed to help you make well-informed financial decisions, and in the end invest with confidence. pnc advisors Expert advice for all the investments in your life. To learn more about PNC Advisors or arrange for a complimentary consultation, please call 1 -800-762-7003. www. pnc advisor s .corn PNC Advisors is a service mark of PNC Bank Corp., which is used by a number of affiliated banks and trust companies in the provision of investment management, fiduciary and banking services. 0 THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY JULY 2000 • $3.00 Noted PA gardener, Joanna Reed CHANTICLEER A PLEASURE GARDEN featuring lush courtyards of tropicals, perennials and containers; a colorful cutflower and vegetable garden; exotic woodlands; a pond and water garden; and a neiv, spectacular ruin garden Open April through October Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm until 8pm Fridays in June, July, August 786 Church Road 6l0.687.4l63 Wayne, Pennsylvania www.chanticleergarden.org m Photo: Residential patio container, Summer 1998 Container emphasizing tropical foliage Fine Garden Creations Creative Garden Installations Superior Plant Selection for Distinctive Plantings Borders, Containers, Ponds, Stone Work, Arboriculture Design, Installation, and Maintenance for All Seasons Philadelphia, The Main Line, Swarthmore, Wilmington. LINE GARDEN CREATIONS 610-338-0630 www.FmeGardenCreations.com You bought the rest now GROW the best! For your FREE catalogue contact us at the address below or visit us at www.blomsbulbs.com 1495 Wilmington Pike • West Chester, PA 19382 Telephone 484-840-0568 • Fax 484-840-0569 Bloms Bulbs - *•* ■ I ; Keukenhof Gardens, I loll anil Announcing A New Greenhouse and Horticultural Program -7 Cathedral Village President, Bill Owens, recently announced the development of an extensive Horticultural Program. The focal point will be a large greenhouse and headhouse, currently under construction. Horticulturist, Margaret (Peggy) Schofield is the newly appointed Director of the Program. While planning and developing classes and activities to appeal to all resident gardeners, she was assisted by the late Mrs. E. Perot Walker. As Director, Peggy will also be responsible for the gardens and landscape design of the entire Cathedral Village Campus. This new Program will add another unique dimension to our community which is nationally recognized as an innovative and progressive leader in retirement living. Whether you are an experienced horticulturist or a novice gardener, call our residential Admissions Office to learn more about the new Program and ! the many other cultural advantages that Cathedral Village has to offer. Call or visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends and preferred for weekdays. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 215-487-1300 -Website: www.cathedralvillage.com d Hr TvlTIRtMlNT Equal Housing Opportunity Tested * ■ < • Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Communin' Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System Rob Cardillo 6 Arranging 101 Learn the basics of flower arranging from local expert Jane Godshalk. From essential materials to the art of visual compo- sition, here’s a step-by-step guide to making your very first arrangement. 10 Flower Show Frenzy Join us on the floor of the 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show as we witness an arranger in action in the Defined Space Classes. Captured in words and photographs, Jim Hayden shows us how he created his entry' on the spot, from developing a design to putting on the finishing touches. 1 4 Ikebana Today A world apart from Western arranging, ikebana is a Japanese design style that combines both minimalism and a desire to be closer to nature. Pamela Vu introduces us to the many “schools” of this ancient art form. 20 Where To Buy the Best Blossoms It’s great to read about exotic cut flowers, but where do you actually find them? Cheryl Lee Monroe gives us a behind- the-scenes look at the cut-flower industry, reveal- ing many of the best places to find both great flowers... and great deals. 24 Wi nter Wonders Famed Delaware Valley gardener Joanna Reed shares with us the secrets of her “Stick and Stuff" method, a style she employs all year long- even in the dead of winter. 30 Cutting Class Lorraine Kiefer explains how to design and grow your own cutting garden. From zinnias to mums and so much more, you'll see how to grow flowers to cut and enjoy every' day. 34 Classified Ads 36 Backyard Arranging for the Altar The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Cover Photo: A portrait of Joanna Reed by Harry Kalish A Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Pamela Vu Publications Assistant Paula Holland Art Design Baxendells’ Graphic Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appell Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Ann L. Reed, ex officio Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham. Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Display Ads Michel Manzo, (610) 527-7047 manzocomm@aol. com Classified Ads and Subscription Services Paula Holland, (215) 988-8769 pholland@pennhort.org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777, Monday through Friday. 9:30 to 12 [dosed in December] Web Site www. liber tynet. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 28, No. 6, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July. September, November) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organiza- tion at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103- 1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © 2000 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cox Arboretum, Dayton. Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown. NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory. Inc.. Pittsburgh. PA Staten Island Botanical Garden, Inc, New York Gale Nurseries is a challenge-oriented company, always striving for excellence in garden design and construction. Expenence and expertise are reflected in the installation of complete exteriors, whether reworking older plantings or creating entirely new garden areas to complement todays lifestyle. Charles H. Gale, Jr. B.S. Ornamental Horticulture 1716 School House Road, Box 264, Gwynedd, PA 19436 215-699-4714 (Sate A Design/Build Company for Period, Native and Contemporary Gardens Big Beautiful Container Gardens ...everywhere you look Over 50 different hand-welded containers in English ironwork let you select the ideal shapes and sizes for your outside living spaces. Visit our web site to see hundreds of unusual gardening items or to place an order. Visit our store in Historic Bucks County, or call for our Free Gardener’s catalog. Kinsman Company River Road, Point Pleasant, PA 18950-0357 Toll-Free: 1-800-396-1251 Order on-line: www.kinsmangarden.com ATTRACTIVE ARRANGEMENTS. Not just the flowers, but everything at Meadowood. From the appealing country landscaping to the spacious, often custom-designed, apartments and cluster-style homes. The financial options are also attractive. Our residents guarantee their lifecare by entering Meadowood on one of the Declining Balance Plans or the 90 % Refundable Plan. Our “Couples Together” program is carefully considered for cases in which one spouse may need extra support services. Imagine a morning dip in our sunlit pool, an afternoon hand of bridge and a leisurely round of twilight golf at our club. Your weekend itinerary may include a concert, theatre trip or dinner out at the near- by William Penn Inn. Come see all of the conveniences that await you at Meadowood. Call the Marketing Department, today, at 610-584-1000. A Lifecare Retirement Community 3205 Skippack Pike PO Box 670 Worcester PA 19490 610-584-1000 Meadowood^ Gracious Country laying Meadowood. Home of the floral arrangers and over 430 other talented residents. 4 GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo Walter Chandoha For many folks, flower arranging is the indoor side of summer garden- ing— indeed, why grow flowers outside if you can’t cut a dozen or so to bring inside? For others, arranging can be a year-round hobby, a profitable voca- tion, or just pure artistic expression. But as we hope to show in this special issue of Green Scene , flower arranging is more than just a bunch of posies in a pot. Flower arranging interests me because I have absolutely no talent for it. None. On occasion, I’ve tried to throw togeth- er an arrangement for the dining room table, only to end up with something resembling a 5th-grade science project. What I lack — and what all good arrangers have developed through expe- rience— is “the eye.” This seemingly mystical eye is the guiding factor that allows the arranger to select a comple- mentary array of flowers, foliage, and branches, and then meld them into a pleasing whole. It allows them to create designs imbued with a wonderful sense of balance, form, and scale. Finally, it helps them choose the perfect container in which to present the finished arrange- ment. Truthfully, though, there isn’t any- thing magical about “the eye.” It is a skill gained by nothing less than practice, practice and, of course, more practice. ■ july 2000 . GREEN SCENE - Like anything else, if you put in the time, you will be rewarded by years of glorious, much- admired arrange- ments. In this issue of Green Scene , we will look at many different aspects of arranging — every- thing from “the basics” to more advanced tech- niques, all written by some of our region’s best floral experts. You’ll also find information on growing your own cutting garden; the intricacies of ike- bana; putting together a stunning winter arrangement; and how to find the best deals on cut flowers. And we couldn’t put this issue together without running a story about the Philadelphia Flower Show (here, well focus on one of the hotly contested Competitive Classes). While the stories in this issue represent only a tip of the larger flower- arranging universe, together they will give you a solid primer on the subject, whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic amateur. As for me, I hope to pick up a few tips to improve my oft-ailing arrangements, but more than that, I simply want to stand back and admire the sheer artful- ness of this craft. Flower arranging is a wonderfully dynamic art form — an exciting flurry of live plants and foliage, inert materials, and the swift, creative whims of the arranger. To my mind, few other gardening forms are as viscer- al, eclectic, and of-th e-moment. Without further delay then, let us enter the sublime world of the flower arranger and see what thrilling visual treats they’ve whipped up for us. greenscene@pennhort. org 5 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 Mon. Sat. 8-6 Sun. 9-6 www.styers.com The Arranger’s Eye the basics F lower arranging is a wonderful way to bring our garden indoors, it can be a daunting process, however, especially when you’re a beginner. How do the “pros” whip up their incredible floral creations? The key is to learn the basic principles of flower arranging. With these principles under your belt, you’ll be a skilled arranger in no time. by Jane Godshalk ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES Flower arranging, like all art forms, is guided by basic design elements and principles. The elements of design are the tangible characteristics that can be seen and manipulated into a unified whole: light, space, line, form, size, color, texture, and pattern. The principles of design , meanwhile, are the intangible characteristics used to organize the elements: balance, proportion, rhythm, domi- nance, contrast, and scale. Consider them "your plan.” Balance is very important. An arrangement must not only be physically stable, but it must appear well balanced. This balance may be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or open. Symmetrical balance repeats the same materials on both sides of the arrangement creating a predictable formal effect. Asymmetrical balance is achieved with unequal weight on each side of a central vertical axis and creates a dynamic effect. ■ july 2000 . GREEN SCENE 7 formal Or symmetrical balance J. dsymmetrucal balance 3- Open balance 5- Thultcple -focal areas (3. Rhythm ls created by repetition of- -flower forms and gradation of -flower size and the space between -flowers In traditional flower arrang- ing, all materials radiate from a central local point that is at the base of the central axis. Open balance , however, places materials as if they were growing in nature, like trees standing in a forest. In Diagram 5, for example, there is no single focal point, but several focal areas at the base of the container — this is open balance. The principle of rhythm (or visual movement) through a design may be achieved by repeti- tion and gradation of plant material. Placement of ele- ments according to size and color or the space between forms causes the eye to move through a design. Now we come to the prin- ciples of dominance and con- trast, which are related. Dominance is the greater force of one element over another, such as a larger-sized flower or a stronger color. Contrast is placing unlike- elements together. Both ol these principles, when used properly, add interest to a design. When misused, how- ever, they can take your arrangement out of balance or disrupt the rhythm. GATHERING YOUR MATERIALS To begin your first flower arrangement, you will need to have plant material (flowers, branches, leaves), mechanics (means of construction), and a container. For material selection, you may choose from several different places. Flowers and plant material from your own or a friend’s garden can help make your arrange- ment unique. Flowers and loliage should not be picked in the heat ol the day and must be conditioned if they are to last. Now it’s time to use your “eye.’ Flower arranging is a three- dimensional art that uses materials having their own unique col- ors, sizes, and shapes. When choosing colors, look to nature for examples of harmonious combinations. You will need different flower shapes or forms in your arrangement as well. These can be classified into four categories: Line Material: Forms which give vertical direction to an arrangement (tall stems, branches). Focal Flowers: Plants with strong shapes and colors which catch the eye (such as lilies, gerbera daisies). Mass Flowers: Single-stemmed, rounded flowers (carnations). Filler Flowers: Smaller blossoms, usually in clusters, that soften the space between larger materials (baby’s breath, mini asters). THE MECHANICS Once you have your natural material, you will need to get your mechanics or means of control. To begin a simple arrangement, you will need clippers and/or floral scissors; floral foam (such as Oasis); floral tape or floral clay; a plastic prong to hold foam; a knife to cut foam; and a pin holder, which might be useful (but is optional). Now you must choose your container. It should complement the flowers you will be using in size, color, and texture. A good contain- er for a first-timer might be a low bowl with a wide opening, perhaps in a dark neutral color such as black, brown, or green. With flowers, mechanics, and container in hand, you must now focus on your inspiration. If a room or container is not the focus of your idea, then often the season and its flowers are. Spring brings fresh bright green foliage, blossoming branches, and bulbs. Late spring and early summer gives us lime-green lady’s mantle and, during this period, nature’s color palette broadens into deep- 8 GREEN SCENE- juiy 2000 ■ er tones of pinks and purples. Late summer brings brightly col- ored blossoms, gray-green foliage, soft whites, and pastels. Fall deepens into rich harvest colors, leaves, fruits and vegetables, while winter leaves us with evergreens, branches, and berries. Just a few store-bought flowers can add color to these cold-season arrangements. ip9 « Pick flowers in early morning or evening (not in the heat of the day.) It is a good idea to bring a bucket of warm water with you into the garden in which to place stems immediately. Bring flowers indoors and cut each stem under water. Cut stems at an angle to allow maximum water absorption. Remove foliage from stems. Tender blossoms may benefit from a dip into a product such as HydraQuick or 20 seconds in one inch of very hot water. « Place stems in tepid water for six or more hours in a cool, dark place. '« Split hard and woody stems in the middle to increase water intake. W Hollow stems may be turned upside down, filled with water, and then plugged with cotton. « Flowers that bleed, such as euphorbias and poppies, need to have their stems sealed by burning them or by placing them in boiling water for 20 seconds. is After conditioning, wash buckets carefully, fill with about a cup of bleach, and the rest of the way with water. More conditioning and flower arranging tips can be found in the PHS McLean Library. For starters, try these titles: Creative Flower Arranging by Betty Belcher (Timber Press) Flower Arranging Styles by Judith Blacklock (Bulfinch Press) The Art of Floral Design by Norah Hunter (Delmar Publishers, Inc.) C3n C_^onJrbi om na LET'S MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT Let’s try to make a simple arrangement. Follow these simple steps: 1) Cut and condition (or buy) three to five flowering branches or “line flowers.” 2) Also get three to five “focal flowers” of different sizes, as well as three to five “filler flowers” and a few leaves. 3) Assemble all of your mechanics. 4) Cut floral foam to fit your container with 1/2 inch show- ing above the rim. Soak foam in water. 5) Now, follow diagrams 7-9. J. Race branches so that they have actual and visual balance. Now that you’ve finished, ask yourself if the design pleases you? Why or why not? Then examine your arrange- ment, keeping in mind the guidelines of the elements and principles of design that we discussed earlier. This kind of self-critique will help make you a better arranger. Most of all, enjoy the process of working with nature’s beau- tiful materials. Sometimes you will love your arrangements and sometimes you won’t, but there will always be more flow- ers to arrange and new ways to arrange them. 0 container, the second slightly above it and the smallest at the top. CLllow more space between the second and thurd Rowers to create rhythm. \ Q_dd your leaves and Aller Rowers. Jane Godshalk has certificates from Longwood Gardens in both Ornamental Plants and Floral Design, and has studied with several European floral designers, including Gregor Lersch, Henk Mulder, and Althea Higham. She is a frequent exhibitor at Philadelphia Flower Show and the Philadelphia Harvest Show, and is a Garden Club of America artistic judge. Best of all, Jane's flower-arranging business, Botanical Designs, allows her to share her passion for flowers with others. 9 IT’S SHOW TIME! A Flower Show Arranger Battles for the Blue Story by Anne Vallery Photographs by Harry Kalish One of the most exciting aspects of the Philadelphia Flower Show is the Competitive Classes, where gardeners and designers battle head-to-head in the Artistic and Horticultural divisions. In the hotly contested “Defined Space” class, flower arrangers are required to erect a stunning arrangement in a 6 x 7 x 4 foot space... in exactly two hours. At the 2000 Show, we trailed Jim Hayden of Ambler, PA as he created his floral masterwork. Lets go down to the Show floor and witness him in the heat of competition. GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo 10 GETTING ORGANIZED Jim Hayden has been competing at the Philadelphia Flower Show for over 20 years. The first time he entered, he won a blue ribbon and hasn’t looked back since. Here on the Show floor, Jim has gathered the materi- als he will use to create his arrangement in the Defined Space class at the 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show. The class, “Dial in the Sun,” required that the exhibitor incorporate an actual sundial into the design. Jim’s goal was to make an arrangement that appeared, “natural, like it was a part of someone’s garden.” To achieve that effect, he gathered materials from his garden to use along with the flowers he purchased. From his own garden, he cut branches of Pieris japonica, curly willow, and St. John’s wort, and then bought lilies, roses, alstroemeria, and mimosa flowers. BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION Jim goes to work covering the wooden base and Oasis floral foam with moss. He has from 7 am to 9 am to get his arrangement ready for “passing." Every entry in the Flower Show has to be passed by experts who verify that it meets the restrictions of the class, as set by the rules. This includes checking that all materials are fresh and in good condition, and that none of the mechanics show. (Mechanics can include Oasis, wire, tape or any material/hard- ware used to hold an arrangement together.) During assembly, Jim tells of the time he entered a Niche class with a dried arrangement. His arrangement had been passed, but when the judges got to it a single rose petal had fallen and so it was disqualified. Harsh? Remember, this is the “big time” where everything is judged against perfection. Remember, this is the "big time" where everything is judged against perfection. juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE I CREATING THE DESIGN Continuing with the arrange- ment, he winds a wild honey- suckle vine around the base. The combination of the moss and vine contributes to the natural look he’s try- ing to achieve, while simultaneously hiding the mechanics. He puts the sun- dial in place and begins adding the background foliage. The design begins to take shape with curly willow for height and yellow roses “tipped” with copper to pick up the color of the sun- dial. Topping it off are bright yellow lilies and coppery red alstroemeria. With limited time to complete the arrangement you might wonder if com- petitors do a “dry run” beforehand. Jim doesn’t. Instead, he relies on experience and his eye for design. Jim praises the other exhibitors for their friendly competition and willingness to share and help one another. FRAGILE FLOWERS The success of the arrangement depends on the conditioning of the flowers, as well as the strength of the design. Jim’s arrangement has over $200 worth of fresh flowers in it, which he conditioned right away when he got them. [For more on condi- tioning, see page 9.] He suggests putting flowers in warm water with a floral preservative as soon as you get them home from the florist. Getting flowers to the Show in good condition is another challenge. Transporting delicate blooms and branches requires nerves of steel and very large, heavy buckets. The day of this entry, he lost some lily blooms when someone stopped short in front of him and he had to brake suddenly. Fortunately all was not lost, as the buds were still in good shape and, with some delicate pruning, he found he could still use a few stems. . rot 12 GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo 1 mB&y M wES HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS Entering the Flower Show for these many years has taught Jim a few things. First, he’s learned always to come prepared. He says, “Bring anything you imagine you might need. ..and extras of everything else! This includes flowers and foliage, Oasis, lightbulbs for any Fixtures that are part of your design, and other mechanics such as wire, florist’s tape, and pins.’’ Jim has come to the rescue of other exhibitors on occasion, supplying Oasis to someone whose whole arrangement collapsed just after being passed. She quickly redid the whole thing with Jim’s extra Oasis and was able to be judged! Jim praises the other exhibitors for their friendly competition and willingness to share and help one another. He says they all look forward to seeing each other every year. FINISHING TOUCHES Despite creating a truly exquisite arrangement, Jim didn’t win the blue, instead taking home a commendable third place. Although the judges commented that they didn’t like the placement of the sundial, he was pleased with the open, natural form of his design, as well as the textures and col- ors that reminded him of a beautiful spring garden. And as Jim noted with a quick grin, he’ll definitely be back next year! G3 Anne Vallery is the creative services coordinator of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and a Flower Show veteran — she won a blue in the Miniature Settings Class at the 1 990 Show. This is her first Green Scene article. Photographer Harry Kalish is a regular contributor to the magazine. | juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE 13 TREE GUARD *er REPE top deer from dining at your home . . . Can't find it? call 800-323-3396 $44.95 gallon 30-day satisfaction guarantee by BECKER UNDERWOOD. INC. The Ponds £r Gardens of Limekiln Don’t be fooled by our storefront, you’ll find 60,000 sq. ft. of greenhouses and display areas behind it! One of the areas best kept secrets! WE ARE YOUR MOST COMPLETE POND STORE! * A GREENHOUSE FULL OF FISH * PONDS SUPPLIES (Including Liners. Pumps. Filters. UVs, Fish Foods, Water Treatments & MORE!) * WE ARE A FULL AQUATICNURSERY GROWING OVER 140 V ARIETIES OF AQUATIC PLANTS! * FOUNTAINS & GARDEN STATUARY * EXOTIC PERENNIALS, ANNUALS, TROPICALS AND SO MUCH MORE! 200 Limekiln Pike, Glenside, PA 19038 Phone: (215) 884-5928 Fax: (215) 884-5907 A M Y S T I Q U E A Quick Guide to Japanese Flower Arranging hen we think of floral arrange- ments, most of us think about luxurious masses of blossoms and foliage in a large container. But to the Japanese, particularly those who practice ikebana, flower arranging is not so much about “the show,” but rather about the Zen experience of bringing to life a piece of nature. Instead of just dazzling us, an ikebana arrangement both stimulates the eye and brings the viewer closer to the natural world. Story > by Pamela Vu Hiftcry dr Ikebana is a form of Japanese flower arranging that began as the Chinese Buddhist tradition of placing flowers on the altar to Buddha. It was intro- duced to Japan in the sixth century and although once considered an art form practiced exclusively by the nobility, it has since gained popularity among people of all classes. Although no longer considered a religious custom, the precise rules and forms of ikebana are still being taught, along with its related spiritual and philosophical principles. Technique is important in ikebana, especially for the beginner, but in time it is the individual’s creative interpre- tation of nature in each arrangement that is crucial. A traditional arrangement has three main branches used to symbol- ize heaven, earth, and man, and is done in either a low (moribana) or tall (nageire) container. Depending on the school and the style, each branch in rela- tion to the other varies in length, angle, and direction. Today, styles can range from the tradi- tional classical to the creative contempo- rary to the avant-garde, where glass, iron, and other materials may be used in place of flowers. These variations are due large- ly to modern art con- cepts and Western influ- ence in Japanese culture. In the Ohara School, for example, there are five basic styles: upright, slanting, cascade, heav- enly, and contrasting. Add freestyle to that list and you can imagine the endless opportunity for creativity. Unlike Western arrangements, ikebana stresses simplicity, line, Left: On display at the 1996 Philadelphia Flower Show, this modern Sogetsu School arrangement uses green anthurium and bleached box- wood, along with orange cardboard and angel hair, for acces- sories. Right: Hiroshi Teshigahara, headmaster of the Sogetsu School, cre- ated this astounding display of cascading madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art in 1997. juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE — 15 A realistic interpretation of a spring day with purple iris and yellow-flowering kerria in bloom. Focusing on the seasonal use of plant material is characteristic of the Ohara School of ikebana. space, and form. “In the West, many people are drawn to a mass grouping of material in a symmetrical form,” says Lorraine Toji, who has been a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Ikebana International for the past 30 years. “In contrast, ikebana is focused on linear composition, space, and asymmetry of 16 GREEN SCENE • juiy 2000 £ | juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE L design. Although there is a certain school loyalty, nowadays with freestyle, every school can’t help but be influenced by another school. It’s important to note, however, that as with anything, you must know the rules before you can break them. Living branches, mosses, grasses, as , _ __ well as withered leaves, seed pods, and buds, are valued just as highly as flowers in bloom. As for the container, it should complement the arrangement and should never detract from the flowers. In the end, the plant materials, the contain- er, and the setting should all be in har- mony and balance. llttbans i Sckcclf Currently, there are more than 2,000 different schools of ikebana registered with the Japanese Ministry of Education. All, however, are rooted in the apprecia- tion of nature’s beauty — by doing ike- bana, it is believed that you will be in harmony with your natural environ- ment. Here are the three major schools of ikebana and their philosophies: Ikenobo, Ohara, and Sogetsu. Ikenobo, estab- lished some 500 years ago by Senkei Ikenobo, is the oldest and most tradi- tional of all ikebana schools in Japan. Notably, it is responsible for the rikka and the shoka styles of arranging, which have been adapted by the other schools in some shape or form. The rikka style places flowers in a formal upright posi- tion as if pointing to the heavens. The shoka or seika style is characterized by a tight bundle of stems that form a trian- gular, three-branched asymmetrical structure, representing the triad of heav- en, man, and earth. Until the Ohara School came along, ikebana arrangements were done in the upright style. Unshin Ohara, founder of the Ohara School in the late 19th centu- ry, introduced the low-bowl arrange- erenma sures t . ^ rona risn v . '. Native Phi it:, GATEWAY GarJ en Center RTE. 41, LANCASTER PIKE • HOCKESSIN, DE 19707 302 239 2727 gatewaygc@aol.com Your source for: Rare and Unusual Plants Annuals Shade and Sun Perennials Water Gardens Pond Fish Native Plants and Grasses Pottery and more. I ment called moribana using some of the shorter stemmed Western flowers for the first time. Taking a realistic approach, the moribana style strives to recreate the natural landscape, focusing on the sea- sonal use of branch and flower material. Sofu Teshigahara founded the Sogetsu School in 1926. Here, the approach is to look to a fresh and vivid world, where flower arranging is done to color and give life to our environment. Considered a modern school, its philosophy of “ike- bana anywhere with anything, at any time’ has made it one of the most popu- lar schools worldwide. Ccnt*M.j*crary iWhana Contemporary schools of ikebana may also use accessories, such as fruits or veg- etables and other artistic objects in addi- tion to the floral material. The idea is that beauty is not restricted to just using flowers. While some contemporary schools seek to elicit a visceral response from viewers, others concentrate on the therapeutic aspect of flower arranging. In fact, those from the Saga Goryu School recite a Buddhist prayer before arranging flowers. This school’s motto in practicing ikebana is “to unite flowers and religion.” This arrangement is done in the classical rikka style of the Ikenobo School. Here, the scenic elegance of nature is represented. The main branches are placed as though they are grown on a soaring peak, with plants at the foot of an autumnal mountain. GREEN SCENE • juiv2ooo For Elaine Yuen, who attends classes at the Shambhala Center of Philadelphia, ikebana is learned and done in the con- text of meditation. “Like any work of art you do, once you enter into it, you become one with the what you are creat- ing. For me, ikebana is pure relaxation and pleasure. Aside from the spiritual aspect, you also learn how to create ele- gant arrangements, and rather than fill space with excessive flowers you work with the ‘negative’ space to convey a sim- plicity. After studying ikebana, you’ll never look at a tree, plant, or flower the same again.” Vkila&elpkia Chapter Not only is ikebana gaining popularity worldwide (boasting over 10,000 mem- bers in the Ikebana International society in more than 50 countries), but also here in Philadelphia. Founded in 1964, the Philadelphia Chapter of Ikebana International is made up of members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Ikebana exhibits can be found among the area events such as the Philadelphia Flower Show and PHS’s Harvest Show, the Chester County Flower Show, and local institutions such as Longwood Gardens and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Once tied intimately to the Japanese appreciation of nature, ikebana can now be found in many American homes. More than just a beautiful flower arrangement, ikebana makes us look at nature in a more personal and meaning- ful manner — something that is frequent- ly lost in our fast-paced, disconnected modern world. E3 Special thanks to The Philadelphia Chapter #71 of Ikebana International for their exper- tise and generous donation of photographs. For more information or to become a mem- ber, call (610) 469-9646. Also visit: www 1 . biz. biglobe, ne.jp/~ikebana juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE Give a friend or loved one the gift of gardening. ..with a subscription to Green Scene magazine! That’s 6 issues of GREAT GARDENING TIPS and CREATIVE outdoor ideas, all perfect for gardeners on the East Coast. GET SIX ISSUES FOR ONLY $16.95 (ONE YEAR) OR SAVE 10% WITH 12 ISSUES (TWO YEARS) AT $32.95. Yes, sign me up for Green Scene magazine! Q 1 year Q 2 years Q Gift subscription Send subscription (and gift card) to: Name Address City/State Zip Gift from (if applies): Name Payment method: □ check enclosed □ credit card C& Card# Exp. date Date: Mail coupon to: Green Scene, PHS P.O. Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 19 Insider Tips on Locating Beautiful Blooms for Weddings, Parties... and Yourself! Story ’ by Cheryl Lee Monroe Every florist longs for an “abundant and ever-changing selection of extraordinary flowers with which to work,” notes Tom Pritchard, author of the acclaimed insider’s guide, Madderlakes Trade Secrets. Extraordinary flowers, of course, means no mums, no carnations, and no bakers fern — it means flowers with pizzazd. Today, our global economy can deliver selections of amazing flowers to our doorsteps in a day or two. But if you’re not a pro, where do you find all these wonders? Read on for the inside scoop. GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo r\ bo jVi lb P“ tn nil Oil fell on av. of III Rob Cardillo OUT OF SEASON Back in the 1980s, 1 remember cleaning boxes full of beautiful tulips. ..in November. They arrived in every color of the spectrum and we mixed oranges with purples for Thanksgiving, and replaced carnations with red, pink, and white tulips come December. They spruced up our palate and we used thousands of them for weddings, parties, and every possible order. Tulips were not the first flowers available out of season but they were one of the first used in large quantities. The range of colors and their price made them perfect substitutes for carnations, plus we were very thirsty for a new look. At the time, tulips and most of our other cut flowers — either in season or out — arrived from Holland, though Colombia was hot on their heels in terms of flower exports. Today, that South American nation is the biggest flower exporter on the planet with Holland now running third behind Ecuador. South America has great geographic advantages for producing cut flowers and, indeed they grow many flowers 365 days of the year. Just about any time of year, you can get bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macropbylla) which have inflorescences bigger than our gardens will provide. Plus they come in every color from blue to purple to red and every hue in between. They last an amaz- ing 3-4 weeks in a vase. 1 paid a visit to Kester Wholesale Floral Co. in Landover, Maryland in February to check out what is available to florists. You can find different flowers yourself by asking your local florist to check on what is interesting or unusual at the wholesalers in any particular week. ■ july 2000 . GREEN SCENE 21 Remember, always ask for the price before you order something special. Prices will vary depending on the time of the year and where the bunch comes from. The hydrangea, for example, can cost you between $5 and $10 a stem and possibly more. A flower lover in a wholesaler’s cooler is akin to a kid in a candy shop. At Kester’s, for example, I found deep-violet phlox (Phlox paniculata) — this is a color I could not easily find to plant in my garden. There were also sunflowers with huge faces from South America, and a beautiful indigo-blue veronica from Holland. There was broom ( Cytisus sp .) in white and yellow, hailed from Italy; white lilac from Holland; and deep blue gentian (Gentiana spj from New Zealand. I found, too, what one might consider the staples: delphinium, orchids from Thailand, Hawaiian protea, and even plain old dock, our summer- blooming roadside dock (Rumex spj. All of this ... in February! Roses are #1 in sales at Kester’s and they represent about 40% of inventory. Florists are unanimous in their current excitement over the new colors of roses coming on the market. The “rose baby boom’’ was how one article termed the emergence of so many new varieties. There are at least 120 rose varieties com- mercially available today. Jamie Rothstein, the florist who decked out the entrance to the 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show with lavish flower arrange- ments, raved over the newest roses she’d recently found, one a black-red color with loose petals and the other a brown-orange perfect for fall parties. FARM FRESH A new flower grower is emerging in our country. Rose growers in America are succumbing to the pressures of South America, as did our carnation and mum growers of the past. Imports from Israel, Korea, South America, and New Zealand are dazzling us, along with the prices they command. Enter Specialty Cut Flower Growers, a network of inde- pendent local growers and farmers who produce annuals, perennials, bulbs, and woody plants for cut flowers. The advan- tages to being their customers are these: there is only a short time from field to vase; there’s more of an unusual selec- tion; and you can find a more natural- looking flower. The best place to find these growers is at farmers’ markets or the equivalent in your area. The flowers are usually cut the same day they go to market, are not forced, but field grown and, in their nat- ural season, are luscious. You’ll need only to re-cut the stems, drop them in a vase and serve with your barbecue. Add a preservative, if possible. My favorite part is that the flowers look as if I’d cut them from my garden; no stem is uniform. Top-quality bunches in the flower industry mean all the stems are perfectly uniform. However there is a definite need and place for the look of a more naturally growing flower in our designs. Specialty Cut Flower Growers have only touched the tip of the iceberg on what they can harvest and put in a vase. GOING TO THE CHAPEL Flowers are most relevant for special occasions, weddings in particular. Flowers reflect the spirit of the bride and stay long in the memories of the day. “The point,” says Jamie Rothstein on the subject of brides and wedding flowers, “is that you want to be beautiful and flowers are like insurance. You can enhance every choice, from location to linens, with your flowers.” 22 GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo How do you get the perfect flowers for your wedding? First, find a florist, an expert who can help turn your vision into flowers. Ellie Cox of Floral Events in Silver Spring, MD tells us, “The most important aspect of wedding flowers is the bride’s vision of the day. It is not about the designer.. .it’s about the bride’s individual ideas. Your florist should be your translator; choose someone who can help make your day stunning." Today’s wedding bouquets have a European flavor and are often hand-tied. Elegance is the operative word. Bruce Robertson of Robertson’s in Chestnut Hill, PA, compares it to Dutch bouquets, where flowers are gathered and tied with bands. The stems can be left showing for a just-picked look, or wrapped with rib- bon. The whole look is cleaner, sophisti- cated, and ever-so classic. Rothstein adds, “It will be classically beautilul even in 20 years when the photographs get hauled out for an anniversary.” Brides are also choosing color over ail- white arrangements. “Nine out of 10 bouquets at Kremp Florist in Willow Grove, PA, have color,” says Mary Lou Grasso. At Kremp’s, the blush tones, light blues, and lavender are very popu- lar. Magazines show lots of color, too. If you look at the bouquets in the book Weddings by Martha Stewart, she mixes deep rich colors with unusual foliage in order to capture the look of the paintings of Dutch “Old Masters.” Designers, overall, agree that the sea- son dictates the colors and, moreover, seasonal flowers are still the #1 favorite of brides. Forced flowers are beguiling, but the vibrancy of flowers blooming in the right season perfectly matches the bride’s vibrancy. The freshness of lilacs and delphiniums for May, peonies and roses for June, the wildflower look of summer, hydrangeas and berries for fall, and the jewel tones of winter are often what work best. Juggling expenses is always part of planning a wedding and there are ways to use your resources well. Jamie Rothstein suggests using potted flowers in the church or at the wedding site: aza- leas for spring, impatiens for summer, and mums for fall. Church pews or structures can be decorated with greens and ribbons, adding flowers as the bud- get allows. Bruce Robertson suggests hand-tied bouquets of only a few stems lor the wedding party. Select an elegant flower like calla lilies for the most impact. DOT. COM $15 billion dollars. 1.2 billion roses. These are floral industry dollars that are big enough to make lots of folks take a fresh look at how we buy flowers. Enter “dot.com” and a new kind of accessibili- ty. Buying flowers on the Internet has great advantages and a few challenges, too. See the selection below for surfing potential. Flowers arrive fresh Irom the farm in most cases, and you can’t negate the money you can save. “The best package a person can buy these days is a plain box of cut flowers,” says Bruce Robertson, regardless ol where you buy it. “The price online is reasonable because you removed the labor involved, but you’ll have to arrange them, because you’ve also removed the designer.” The challenge for folks new to fresh- cut flowers is, you must condition the Internet-ordered flowers. And don’t for- get the vase — you’ll need one at home, so if you haven’t a ready supply, order one that will be shipped concurrently. Conditioning is not rocket science and directions are enclosed or, you can print them off the website. If you’ve never done this before, you’ll need to read them. Poorly conditioned flowers mean you’ll throw $50-$ 100 down the drain, particularly with roses which have droopy heads until they get a big drink. Fry www.rosesinc.org for an incredible amount of information on caring for your roses. The best part about buying flowers online is they are likely to come directly from the grower. The product is very fresh and the extra work you’ll put into arrang- ing will earn you more mileage on your dining room table. Shop around because prices vary widely. Two dozen roses, for example, can range from $50-$ 11 5, depending on the time of the year. (That’s unarranged and without the vase.) On the other hand, flower shop prices, if arranged and in a vase, can be $100-$ 175 for two dozen roses. That’s something to think about next time you’re surfing for flowers on the Internet. 53 Cheryl Lee Monroe is a longtime Green Scene author and professional horticulturist whose special love is cut flowers. She gardens in Myersville, MD. WEB SOURCES FOR CUT FLOWERS • www. proflowers, com • www.ftd.com • www.l-800-flowers.com • www.marthasflowers.com • www.calyxandcorolla.com • www. grea flowers, com • www. exquisite-flowers, com • For more on Maryland markets: www. mda. state, md. us • USDA listing of farmer’s markets: www. ams. usda.gov i ■ juiy2000 . GREEN SCENE 23 Be Inspired by One Expert’s Off-Season Creations GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo the WINTER Story by Joanna Reecl Photographs by Harry' Kalish Flowers and espe- cially bouquets are important in my home. They provide an unspo- ken welcome and cheer for the drop-in visitor, invited guest, and even for me. Above all, they bring my garden inside, where these gathered bits and pieces of nature can be leisure- ly savored at any season. Using a style I call “Stick and Stuff,” I put arrangements together all year long, even in winter when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE 25 The WINTER Arranger LESSONS FROM NATURE Before becoming a gardener, I spent hours gleaning sparse bouquets from the well-tended countryside. What I called “flowers” my neighbors, most of whom were farmers, considered unwelcome weeds. Back then, fields were cultivated assiduously, while hedgerows and road banks were kept clean with a scythe wielded several times a season. Few flow- ers were left to be seen or picked. But those that were left, such as the occa- sional ditch daisy, clover blossom, or Queen Anne’s Lace, became more visible to me as I passed by. These I would pick, put in a vase at home, and fill out with sprigs of green from a juniper. It is from these experiences of my youth that my “Stick and Stuff” method was born. One lesson I’ve learned over the years is that need is the world’s best teacher. One summer was sufficient for me to learn that if I wanted bouquets, I had better plant something to cut. Along with perennials and annuals, I planted every sort of promising ever- green shrub or tree. Many died, either trampled by two- or four-legged crea- tures, eaten by rabbit or sheep, or wrong- ly sited, ecologically. I consoled myself that at least an equal number of plants lived, though I shy away from any offi- cial tally. The survivors enable me to cut an interesting mixture of evergreens throughout the winter. During the remainder of the year, I cut both decidu- ous and evergreen or ever-gray foliage for my arrangements. When the summer’s abundance of fra- grant and colorful blossoms become a memory, the contrasting form, texture and color of sturdy foliage is all-impor- tant for making late fall and winter GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo ffia Facing page top: With a large palette of woody plants to choose from, Joanna clip: branches freely. Facing page bottom: She returns from “the hunt” with an armful of greens. Above: With the greens spread across the countertop in her kitchen, Joanna strips away extra leaves from a sprig of stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus). arrangements. Favorites are wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae ), lily-of-the-valley bush (Pieris japonica), Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), box (Buxus spj, yew (Taxus spj, droop- ing leucothoe ( Leucothoe fontanesiana syn. L. catesbaei), and all the hellebores (Helleborus foetidus, H. atrorubens, H. niger, and H. orientals). The juxtaposi- tion of green, purple and bronze hues — and a variety of solid, feathery, oblong, round or sword-shaped leaves — create interest which bears even the closest inspection. As most of these are woody plants, the twiggy stems supply ample support in the vase. With the basic arrangements secure, these bouquets can be augmented with rosy or golden fruit from hawthorns, crabapples, ornamental fruit- ing shrubs or wildlings like winterberry {Ilex verticillata, also commonly known as black alder). You can also choose from branches of dried leaves such as beech or oak, flowers air-dried during the summer past, or seed heads which have obliging- ly dried on the plant such as sweet-pep- per bush (Clethera alnifolia), money plant (Lunaria annua), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and the various Japanese and Siberian irises, hydrangeas and astilbes. ARRANGING FOR THE HOLIDAYS At Christmas, when time is most pre- cious, a collection of interesting and var- ied greens can be most helpful. Using the aforementioned hollies, plus any pine branches and its cones, can give my arrangements a more seasonal look. The white-fruited form of swamp holly or inkberry {Ilex glabra 'Ivory Queen’) looks ■ juiy2000 . GREEN SCENE JbfllA .Ml yK" ; 'll F 1 v JIt . . . , The WINTER Arranger much like mistletoe. Pods, cones, and twiggy branches can also be sprayed with silver gilt, white or any color of one’s choice for added pizzazz. In my home, though, the natural look is preferable. As the New Year begins, if the hungry bird population has not yet stripped and devoured every showy berry from tree and shrub, I continue to brighten the dull gray days of January and February by adding winterberry and graceful pan- icles of red fruit from idesia (Idesia poly- carpa). The brilliant purple of beautyber- ry’s (Callicarpa dichotoma) clustered fruits, as well as the miniature berry clus- ters of common privet (Ligustrum spj and the English ivy fruits — both blue — add an extra dimension. When the birds have left my winter cupboard bare (which they often do), I overcome this paucity of punch with foliage from variegated euonymous, yucca, or false cypress ( Chamaecyparis sp.). To cheer visitors as the long winter drags on (but mostly for myself), I sub- stitute fresh or silk flowers for the aging berries and pods. A handful of either can brighten quite a few rooms, if used in conjunction with the hardy foliage from outdoors. Fruit can also be used in these winter arrangements. Bowls or trays of ripening apples, pears, tangerines, or grapes seem more festive when highlighted with foliage from lavender (Lavandula angus- tifolia or L. x intermedia), holly (Ilex glabra, /. opaca, or /. aquifolium), or English ivy (Hedera helix). Snippets poked between the pieces of fruit will remain fresh looking for almost a week or until the fruits are ripe enough to be edible. A few candles will add height and sparkle. GREEN SCENE • juiy2ooo g WAITING FOR SPRING When the earliest bunches of snow- drops (Galanthus spj are combined with fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca spj in tiny vases, 1 indulge myself with expectant thoughts of spring and the eventuality of full-blown summer. I anticipate the end- less abundance and range of color that spring and summer flowers will assuredly provide. Also a treat for my arrange- ments, the wealth of deciduous foliage in myriad shades of fresh green that will also be available. Still creating arrangements as winter winds down, I combine these “new kids on the block” with my faithful, long-last- ing standbys of diverse evergreens. To me, they are a gift of time. Until spring finally shows up, they remain the foun- dation of my bouquets. Refreshing a few vases daily also avoids the possibility of turning a delicious pleasure into an oner- ous chore. When a great occasion dawns, such as a special party or mammoth celebration, cut buckets and buckets of flowers, fruits, berries or pods, depending on the season. Cut plenty of mixed foliage, too, allow- ing sufficient time to adequately harden them all off for long keeping. By using the twiggy armature of woody stems and abundant evergreen leaves to support fragile stems and blossoms, you avoid the inevitable stress of missing pin holders or buying extra Oasis. You can simply rejoice at the ease, speed and joy of “Sticking and Stuffing” — so much so it will soon become second nature. E3 One of the most respected gardeners in the Delaware Valley, Joanna Reed is also well known for Longview Farm, her fine garden in Malvern, PA. She has been a contributor to Green Scene for nearly 28 years, appearing first on the cover of our November 1 972 issue. juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE Facing page top: Deciding on a pleasing combination of plants, she begins constructing her arrangement in a tall decorative pot. Facing page bottom: The arranger and her finished “Stick and Stuff” masterpiece — a striking combination of leucothoe, dried beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica), dried money plant (Lunaria annua), swamp holly (Ilex glabra), cryptomeria, and pieris (Pieris japonica). TARM MARKET Growers of Premier Garden Plants including Annuals, Perennials, Proven Winners & Garden Dahlias. Propagators of Zonal Geraniums. New Guinea Impatien Hanging Baskets Ivy Geranium Hanging Baskets Combination Garden Baskets Charles S Heal Jr. & Eric Heal visit us on the web www.cshealmarket.com 1607 Salem Rd. Burlington Twp. NJ (609)386-9422 Fax: (609)386-9635 OPEN DAILY! Mon.-Fri. 9-5:30, Sat. & Sun. 9-5 Visit our gallery. . . Delight in our whimsy & design. rei , cene~N ^ Gallery^ Treasures for the Home & Garden • Seasonal Annuals & Perennials • Orchids • Container Gardens Fine Crafts • Jewelry Unique Gifts Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton, PA 610-933-2289 Look for us on the WEB at www.createascene.com Mon. ~ Sat., 10 am - 6:30 pm • Sun., 12 am - 4 pm 29 A cutting garden can be a plot of colorful rows, a bed tucked in an intimate setting, or even a barrel or pot on a deck. It is the garden where you cut annual blooms to bring indoors, or the place where you grow bulbs to enjoy in the garden as well as in a vase. It is a bed where perennials tumble about, caressing each other with color all summer long, while flowering shrubs yield fragrant and colorful boughs to cut. Have you planted your cutting garden yeti Photos courtesy of Renee's Garden 7 PLANNING AND DIGGING First, get ready to plan and then to plant. List flowers you love, those that you have grown well, and those you want to grow. Look choices up in seed catalogs, read about them in garden books, and surf the Internet. But most important, ask other gardeners if they have ever planted these flowers in your area. Also, jot down notes about the soil and light preferences of plants you want to grow, and you’re on your way. Now, look outdoors. Pick a place, plan a plot, and prepare the soil well. If there is sod it can be cut, removed, and dropped in the compost pile. Have your soil tested if this has not been done in a while (contact your county extension office for information about soil testing). Depending on the results, add limestone and other required nutrients to the gar- den. Turn or till the soil and rake only when dry. Remember, the more organic materials in your bed, the better flowers will grow in it. PANTING When planting, I place my tallest plants on the north side of my huge kitchen garden, so they don’t cast a shad- ow on smaller plants. Many seeds — like zinnias, nasturtiums, marigolds, and cos- mos— can be planted up to July 4th. Check the seed packet to see how many days until bloom time. It is always important to keep newly planted seeds moist, especially with summer planting. Successive planting yields a constant, youthful supply of flowers to cut. Our kitchen garden is one of our best cutting gardens. Here we have great perennials on both sides of the fence. The pungent lavenders, silver foliage herbs, and other aromatic plants on the outside actually deter rabbits from trying to go under or over the fence. Perennials planted here are also out of the way of tillers, weedwackers, and lawnmowers. Inside are the classic rows of annuals, often mixed right in with the vegetables. ^ juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE But don’t feel that you must always devote a plot or square of your yard to just being “a cutting garden.” More than 34 years ago, my husband and 1 planned our landscape to produce a year-round supply of annuals, perennials, and flowering shrubs and trees. Over that time, I’ve observed that one of the nicest small spring-flowering trees to have in the yard is the swamp magnolia or sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana), which gives me hundreds of sweetly fragrant blooms from late May until July. These last only a day, but add such fragrance to a bouquet it is worth picking a bud daily. The lilac tree (Syringa spj is also fragrant, exquisite, and dramatic. Having big bouquets of lilacs everywhere in the house is wonderful for that old-fashioned look and fragrance. Roses are gorgeous, too, and a fragrant mainstay of the cutting garden. An area of our landscape planted with perennials has a large stand of early hardy orchids (Bletilla spj. These are long lasting when cut and can be used in creative and unique ways. Other useful perennials to cut include asters, daisies, monardas, campanulas, coneflowers, lavenders, yarrows, mallows, and ascle- pias — all of which flower profusely dur- ing the summer. Many will continue until late hill if picked often, watered well, and fed with a balanced fertilizer. Gathering blooms of perennial black- eyed Susan, salvia, scabiosa, veronica, and many other perennials also encour- ages more blooms. The annuals that march round and round your pool or along the driveway will also bloom better when cut often. To my eyes, those delicate annual and bien- nial poppies that nod and bob in spring breezes are oh-so pretty in a clear vase. I was surprised at how long they had last- ed after being cut and placed in water — what is more beautiful than poppies in bloom? They look like chiffon skirts bil- lowing in the wind. Poppies can be tricky to grow, so I toss the seeds on the ground in full sun a couple times a year and then let Mother Nature do the rest. They now re-seed year after year. This Purple bee balm is great for cutting. same process goes for larkspur or corn- flowers, whose seeds I scatter with the poppies. Keep in mind that all these seeds need a cool period in which to ger- minate and bloom. GET INTO A ROUTINE Garden flowers should be picked with- out a second thought. Get in the habit of gathering a few blossoms daily and con- dition them for display [see sidebar on page 9J. Display a bud in a vase on your nightstand, a small bouquet where you eat, a few blooms near a door, or on the porch as a greeting bouquet. I find that people’s spirits are uplifted when they are in a room with flowers, too. If you have a powder room, get in the habit of always having a seasonal posy sitting on the counter or sink. I have sev- eral small containers that I use for the kitchen table, where we take most of our meals. These might contain a sprig of evergreen with berries in the winter, or a few snowdrops, forsythia or daffodils GREEN SCENE- juiy 2000 ■ early in spring. Then starts a constantly changing bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley, lilacs, tulips, violets, geraniums, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, calendulas, salvias, mums, grasses, and various field flowers. This practice also makes an impression on children. For more than 30 years, a garden offering has graced our kitchen table. Now I notice that my sons also do the same in their own homes. Flowers are a renewable crop and, when you plant a cutting garden, they are enjoyed three times over. First when you plant them, again when you pick them, and Finally when you arrange them in your home. Also give flowers to a friend or loved one to spread a happy feeling. Remember: the hand that gath- ers and gives flowers always retains a pleasant fragrance... and a memory. A Green Scene contributor for 22 years, Lorraine Kiefer is the proprietor of Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden, located at 2359 Delsea Drive, Franklinville, NJ 08322, (856) 694-4272, www.tripleoaks.com . Zinnia and castor bean in the garden. Get the Most Value & Quality for Home & Garden Pl0«w • Hom'*GQn/ MOSTARDI NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 Visit our website! www.mostardi.com 610 • 356 • 8035 TIPS FOR DRYING FLOWERS When cutting any plant or flower you want to dry, it is important to note how close it is to blossoming. For example, when cutting goldenrod ( Solidago sp.), you should do so when the buds are just starting to show color. After it is cut, it will continue to open as it dries. If you cut the flowers when they are fully open, the flowers will shed soon after drying. Cut flowers toward the end of the day when plants are the most dehy- drated, as this will reduce drying time considerably. You should also know that the quicker they dry, the better the longevity and quality of the flowers. Therefore, don’t try to dry flowers in a damp basement. Hang the flowers upside down in a cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated area. If you plan to make mixed bouquets, wreaths, and swags, make them before you dry the flowers. This will decrease breakage and will give greater latitude in designing. Adjustments can also be made while the designs are drying. Wreaths and swags can be dried lying flat or hung in place. These meth- ods of drying yield perfect results every time, creating lovely dried flow- ers for your tabletop arrangements. Finally, a quick note about drying hydrangeas. When making dry hydrangea wreaths, work with the flowers when they are first picked. Pick them when they are stiff and spring back to the touch, usually in August in our area. When they are cut too early, they will become limp and flop- py. If you are not sure whether they are ready, cut one stem and lay it out overnight. If it droops, wait several weeks longer before harvesting. — Eva Monheim 33 I ANTIQUES Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 19118 (215)247-3925 BUSINESS FOR SALE Extraordinary diversity in this eleven-year-old Chester Co. horticultural business. Selling all three divisions as complete package or separately. 1. PINE NEEDLE MULCH SUPPLIER. 2. SPECIALTY CUT FLOWERS/SEASONAL PWNT NURSERY. 3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE. Very affordable price with excellent growth potential. Serious inquires only, call Nan at 610-593-7333 EVENTS Delaware Valley Daylily Society 9:00 a.m. Annual Sale of plants from members' gardens. 1:00 p.m. Join us for an unusual opportunity to bid on auction plants from Convention 2000 tour gardens. August 26, 2000 Good Samaritan Episcopal Church Route 30 and Paoli Pike Paoli, Pennsylvania GARDEN FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES GARDEN CULTURE of Longwood Extraordinary selection of garden Ornaments. Retail/trade showroom. • Statuary in marble, granite, Stone, bronze, brass, teak & twig • Arbors, trellises, pergolas, indoor/outdoor fountains vanes statuary, planters and more. Mon-Sat 10 til 5 Wed 10-7 Sun 11-4 Just 1/2 mile south of Longwood Gardens on Route 1, 610-388-6300 GARDEN SHOPS MEADOWBROOK FARM Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus & succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horticultural gift including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Michael Bowell’s CREATE A SCENE GALLERY Treasures for the Home & Garden Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Unique Gifts, ORCHIDS Seasonal Annuals, Perennials and Container Gardens 10% Discount To All PHS Members with Membership Card Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30 Sunday: 11:00 - 4:00 Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton (Just East of Kimberton Inn) Delight in our Whimsy and Design Let Us Help You Create a Scene visit our website at www.createascene.com Calycanthus floridus ‘Athens’ Mike Dirr's selection of yellow flowering shrub. Rare & unusual, difficult to propagate. Delicious aroma to perfume your garden and your life! Large plants available now! The best quality & selection of PHS GOLD MEDAL winners in the Delaware Valley. PHS members receive 10% off with membership card. See pictures & descriptions of our plant @ www.tripleoaks.com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden PO Box 385 n 2359 Delsea Drive Franklinville, NJ 08322 Email: areatplants@tripleoaks.com 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Take Walt Whitman or Ben Franklin Bridge to Route 42 South. Take Route 55 South until Exit 43, left off ramp, right on Delsea Drive (Route 47 South). 34 GARDEN STRUCTURES HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises, & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. (21 5) 699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, Pa. Pn Ian GARDEN TOURS Delightful Garden Tours Visit America’s finest gardens and specialty nurseries. Many trips include Garden Conservancy Open Days in New York, Connecticut and Pacific Northwest. www.delightfulaardentours.com Ph/Fax 703-812-4628 GREENHOUSES GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 HELP WANTED Horticulturist/Gardener Fine Garden Creations, Inc. Seeking 3 Full-Time horticulturists who will have the unique opportunity to work in the gardening design and installation of private estate homes and Philadelphia urban gardening projects, as well as smaller suburban gardens design, installation, and maintenance, pond and stone work. Fine Garden Creations has a creative, world-trained staff, and is seeking someone who can bring unique skills, ideas, and talents to our growing company. Starting salary $30,000, plus some benefits. Paid vacations and holidays. Education budget. Opportunity for significant overtime. Fine Garden Creations Swarthmore, PA info@finegardencreations.com Contact Person: Andrew Bunting 610-338-0630 ltdv ■ nurr | VAN GREEN SCENE- juiy 2000 ■ LANDSCAPE DESIGN NURSERIES RESTORATION LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215) 247-2992 (610) 584-1550 (610) 525-3232 AVANT GARDENS Landscape design, maintenance and construction Over twenty years of experience Specializing in residential projects For free consultation or free brochure Call (215) 634-6332 / (610) 566-1579 or visit us at avantgardens.net S. Edgar David Landscape Architects Site planning and Garden Design Lighting Design / Rooftop Gardens Native Landscapes, Streams and Wetlands Innovative Solutions Designs of Distinction Design Studio 610-584-5941 MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM THE SOUTH SUPERIOR TO SHREDDED BARK • Less work to apply • More nutritious to plants • Better weed control • Longer lasting • Competitively priced CALL AND LEAVE ADDRESS FOR FREE SAMPLE 610-593-7333 WE SELL WHOLESALE AND RETAIL RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers.com Bonsell’s Nursery Locally grown, high quality trees, shrubs and perennials. Featuring Acer griseum, Carpinus caroliniana, Carpinus japonica, Chionanthus virginicus Cornus sp., Styrax japonicus & Styrax Obassia. Conveniently located near 309 & the PA turnpike. 1245 Fort Washington Avenue Fort Washington, PA 215-643-2418 PUBLICATIONS RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Lochwood Ln. West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 436-9796 E-mail: GrannvPol@aol.com RESTAURANTS GRACIE’S 21ST CENTURY CAFE Fresh, Natural Fusion Cuisine Dinners begin @ 5:30 Wed. - Sat. Manatawny Road, Pine Forge, PA “Why not leave Pennsylvania for just one evening Come Dine With Grade's (610) 323-4004 www.gracies21stcentury.com REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 TREE SERVICE ARADER TREE SERVICE, INC. “Working With People Who Care” Certified Arborists • Fast • Reliable • Equipped to handle the most difficult Removal and Take downs • • Complete Spray and Fertilization Programs • • State of the art equipment • • Large and Small Tree Transplanting • • Landscape Design and Installation • 610/277-8733 e-mail: arader tree@aol.com BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care • Pruning, Trimming, and Removals • Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control • Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215)657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: October, December, February, April, June and August. Minimum rate $60. Charges based on number and format of words. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYL- VANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY and sent to Paula Holland, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. CD CL (/) juiy 2000 • GREEN SCENE 35 Flowers for the Spirit By Men ban M. Sparkman The custom of placing formal flowers on a church altar is not an old one. Although its exact origin is unknown, around 200 years ago, a group of talented women began experimenting with flowers in many non-denominational chapels, as well as on the imposing high altar at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. With a preference for seasonal materials, they raided their own summer gardens, experimented with newly discovered exotic flowers, and com- bined fruits and vegetables into their arrangements. Their floral skills added a welcoming dimension to the grandeur of the vast Gothic cathedral. Designing flowers for church is not unlike arranging for your own home. Proper conditioning ol materials, sturdy mechanics, suitable containers, harmo- nious colors, good design, and appropri- ate scale are the common underpinnings for success. The result — a mass arrange- ment or a single perfect blossom — brings a bit of the garden indoors to brighten and perfume the space. On the other hand, a church offers special challenges. Indeed, vast spaces can be daunting. The function of flowers on the altar is to enhance the cross that stands on or above it. A single-centered arrangement provides a background for the cross, in lieu of the more traditional placement on either side. Arranged in modern, low brass boxes, placed behind or immedi- ately adjacent to the cross, the design highlights that central feature. The same low boxes form the framework for a gar- land of flowers and greens along the back of the altar. At the base of the altar, three or four varieties of flowers are placed in a linear pattern as they might grow in a border. The pattern is then repeated sev- eral times to strengthen the design. A person sitting in the furthest pew should be able to enjoy the flowers. Exaggerated lines and clear bright colors or masses of a single color help an arrangement to stand out at a distance. Yellow mums tucked deep into an “all white” arrangement will be unseen, yet give the illusion of sunshine. Touches of red make the orange and russet colors of fall glow. Strongly contrasting colors such as red and white tend to give the effect of measles from far away. The cure is to clump together several stems of one color, called zoning, and to add a transitional color or some variegated material. Avoid blue flowers that appear as “holes” from a dis- tance. At the Washington National Cathedral, mem- bers of its Flower Guild continue to experiment with new designs and tech- niques as they prepare for the weddings, state funerals, religious festivals, and national holidays that are celebrated there. Visitors to the 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show were also enchanted by the floral artistry exhibited by the Guild in their simulated stone replica of the Cathedral. All were entranced by its sublime majesty, not only of the architecture, but also for the compelling flower arrange- ments within. The author recently completed the Flower Seminar at the Washington National Cathedral and is a member of the Flower Guild of the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr. Simple greens can make an elegant statement. Looped, stripped palms and branches of wax flower highlight trimmed and shaped fan palms. 36 GREEN SCENE- juiy 2000 ■ n7»Tj| a s 'L "A, 1 1 H raiTTf ifmg Iifggi * j * f L s' W ** K %% t (jrc • 1 *| They belong to that rare breed of individuals who don’t need to show the world they've “made it." At Glenrnede, we have an affinity for prosperous people like that. We manage their assets. With an approach called Total Wealth Management. First, we identify your unique financial challenges. Then, our professionals craft a comprehensive solution that meets your needs and goals. A long- term plan that puts a wide range of disciplines at your disposal: investment management, business planning, estate planning, and tax and retirement planning. The result is a personal solution that ensures assets work in concert, preserving principal and maximizing return with the least amount of risk. To learn more, call J. Thomas Dunlevy at 1 -800-966-3200, or visit wwwglenmede.com. Glenmede The Glenmede Trust Company PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON PRINCETON MORRISTOWN CLEVELAND k ‘Explore our zvebsite to appreciate the ju[[ scope of our design expertise . zvunv.britisfirose.com 800-566-6360 * ft n I rO W r-*. r5 iT § R 2 5 S*iS* KSS-JjL'i HB^yu mmukH «IB» HBIC hkjmI BJ!) l_J I Placing Ornament in the Garden New Longwood Introductions • Renny s Perennials THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AUGUST 2000 • $5.00 ~ Horticulture ~ Philadelphia’s horticultural tradition never retires. Nor do those for whom horticulture is a major interest. A Philadelphia Tradition at Cathedral Village Come to Cathedral Village Watch Your Lifestyle Grow! Visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 Website: www.cathedralvillage.com 71 S 79 Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational CCRC t=r Equal Housing Opportunity Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System Cathedral Village recently opened The William H. Sayre Horticultural Center, a greenhouse and headhouse where residents can continue to enjoy their horticultural pursuits in our premier retirement community. Our full time Director and Horticulturist has planned a year-round program of events for Garden Club members with classes and workshops that will be of interest to both experienced and novice gardeners. Resident Garden Club members, who will pay a nominal membership fee, will have the opportunity to attend classes and seminars given by our Director as well as by other prominent Philadelphia horticulturists. National and international plant experts will also be invited to give seminars when visiting Philadelphia. To the avid gardener, for whom there are no seasons, the ultimate enjoyment is having a greenhouse in which to grow plants year-round. The lifestyle of Cathedral Village encourages this Philadelphia tradition that continues to grow. Why not follow tradition! Move to Cathedral Village and become an active Garden Club Member. The William H. Sayre Horticultural Center is dedicated in memory of William H. Sayre , Founding Board Member who contributed twenty-three years of volunteer service as a former Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Directors. CHANTICLEER A PLEASURE GARDEN featuring lush courtyards of tropicals, perennials and containers; a colorful cutflower and vegetable garden; exotic woodlands; a pond and ivater garden; and a neiv, spectacidar ruin garden Open April through October Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm until 8pm Fridays in June, July, August 786 Church Road Wayne, Pennsylvania 610.687.4163 www.chanticleergarden.org Thug-Tubs Flexible, versatile carriers for the garden with dozens of uses around the home. Light and easy to carry, made of 100% recycled plastic. They are as hard- wearing as a car tire. Hanging Floral Globes Create striking deco- rations using these spherical wire forms planted with flowers, ivies, succulents, herbs or ferns. Embellish with ribbons for special occasions. Living Wreath Forms Our clip-together design makes it easy for you to assemble living wreaths planted with ivies, small annuals, herbs and succulents. For walls, doors and fences — even as a tabletop centerpiece. Rose Pillars Add an eye- catching column of interest wher- ever you place it: in borders, singly or in groups, by paths or gates. Clothe them with roses, wisteria, ivies and vines. Black coated rectangular steel tubing and steel rings. Fleur-de- lis finials. English Thatch Bird Houses Crafted in Devon from local hard- wood and long- lasting lacquered wheat straw, these rustic houses create the look of an English country cottage garden. Ten models of houses and feeders to select from. Over 50 different hand-welded steel containers in English ironwork let you select the ideal shapes and sizes for your outside living spaces. Clothe your walls with foliage, flowers and climbers. Surround your patio, deck or porch with soothing greenery and fragrant blooms. Each steel container is hand-welded and thickly coated with black plastic for permanent weather protection. The look is unobtrusive but elegant — designed to show off your plants at their best. Visit our store in the Old Point Pleasant Firehouse in historic Bucks County, Pa. See all the merchan- dise in our catalog plus many additional items, surprises and bargains. Mon.-Fri.: 9-5 Saturday: 10-5 Sunday: 12-5 Call or write for our FREE full-color Gardener’s Catalog Kinsman Company River Road, Dept. 413, Point Pleasant, PA 18950-0357 CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800-396-1251 Why wait? Visit our web site and see all the different choices. You can order on-line or request a printed catalog. Or call or write us and we’ll send you our 96-page full-color catalog in the mail. Order on-line: www.kinsmangarden.com Barbara Bruno 6 The Potting Shed 1 0 Renny's World Visitors to the Philadelphia Flower Show are often wowed by the daring exhibits by designer/arranger Kenny Reynolds. Here, Patricia McLaughlin introduces us to the man himself and leads us into his unique business of ' rented perennials.” 1 6 Principles of Design Beverly Fitts teaches us the concepts of accents and grace notes , which can be used to place ornaments in the garden. Better yet, these principles can be applied to any design situation, helping you create beauty out of chaos. 22 Yellow Fever Dr. Tomasz Anisko writes about three new plant introductions from Longwood Gardens, all of which come in striking shades of yellow. 28 A Photographic Memory Barbara Bruno con- tributed to Green Scene in many ways over the years, working as a pho- tographer, writer, and illustrator. Barbara died last year, but in celebra- tion of her talents, here is a photo essay containing some of her most memorable images. Also included is a moving tribute by friend and writer, Lorraine Kiefer. 34 The Natives are Restless Dorothy Wright and Bill Larnack uncover seven native plants that not only are beautiful, but flourish in our region with very little attention. Also included are sources for these great growers. 38 Classified Ads 40 Backyard A Gardener triumphs at the Philadelphia Harvest Show n The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Cover Photo of a garden at Whickham Place Farm in Essex, England by Beverly Fitts GRSE<£4 Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Pamela Vu Publications Assistant Paula Holland Art Design Baxendells' Graphic Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appell Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Ann L. Reed, ex officio Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Display Ads Michel Manzo, (610) 527-7047 manzocomm@aot. cow Classified Ads and Subscription Services Paula Holland, (215) 988-8769 pholland@pennhort.org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 [closed in December] Web Site www. libertynet. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 28. No. 7, is published bi-monthly (February, April. June, August, October, December) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organiza- tion at 100 N. 20th St.. Philadelphia. PA 19103- 1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER Send address change to GREEN SCENE. 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © 2000 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cox Arboretum, Dayton. Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown. NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory. Inc., Pittsburgh, PA Staten Island Botanical Garden, Inc, New York Visit our gallery. . . Nft- Delight in our whimsy & design. Treasures for the Home & Garden • Seasonal Annuals & Perennials • Orchids • Container Gardens Fine Crafts • Jewelry Unique Gifts & Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton, PA 610-933-2289 Look for us on the WEB at www.createascene.com Mon. ~ Sat., 10 am - 6:30 pm • Sun., 12 am - 4 pm Get the Most Value & Quality for Home & Garden MOSTARDI NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 Visit our website! www.mostardi.com 610 • 356 • 8035 FARM MARKET • Growers of Premier Garden Plants including Annuals, Perennials, Proven Winners & Garden Dahlias. • Propagators of Zonal Geraniums. • New Guinea Impatien Hanging Baskets • Ivy Geranium Hanging Baskets • Combination Garden Baskets Charles S Heal Jr. & Eric Heal visit us on the web @ www.cshealmarket.com 1607 Salem Rd. Burlington Twp. NJ (609)386-9422 Fax: (609)386-9635 OPEN DAILY! Mon.-Fri. 9-5:30 , Sat. & Sun. 9-5 better Jfrvm tAe ZZ///pr I live and work in a world of sophisti- cated gardeners. We speak the lan- guage of gardening in botanical terms; we admire each other’s rare and wonderful plants; and we visit all the finest gardens we can, both here in the Delaware Valley and abroad. But what about the lowly zinnia? Where does this pedestrian plant fit into our gardening universe? Actually, it fits into my garden just fine. The zinnia and a host of other seemingly “ordinary” flowers are regular visitors to my beds and I don’t think I’d have it any other way. I can’t imagine having a late- summer border without the huge, glowing blossoms of ‘Cut and Come Again’ zinnias blooming their proverbial heads off. I don’t care how gauche they are — for me, it’s zin- nias or bust. And since we re playing true confessions, you should also know that I have been known to plant marigolds, petu- nias, and impatiens, too. While some peo- ple wouldn’t admit to growing these low- brow lovelies in their garden, mine would- n’t be complete without them. You’d be surprised how charming these everyday annuals and perennials can be if planted alongside more exotic specimens. If used judiciously, many of these flowers can be perfect for the Mid-Atlantic garden. For example, if you have an area of pervasive shade on your property, what could be better than a pot of bright impatiens. They bloom profusely, don’t fuss much and, if cut back in | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE August, will last well into fall or even into milder Novembers. In the retail vernacular, that’s known as “bang for the buck.’’ And then there’s the mundane marigold, a plant so common that it barely registers on some people’s radar. But like zinnias, there are dozens of different col- ors and shapes to choose from, be it the deep gold of ‘Queen Sophia’, the yellow of ‘First Lady Hybrid’, or the creamy white of ‘French Vanilla’ (as well as electri- fying combinations of all three). They bloom defiantly during even the hottest months and stay on through fall. My kids love to collect the interesting seed pods they produce and, I must admit, I even like their weird, pungent aroma. Yet they are regarded by some as the lowest of the low in the flower kingdom. There are other “wrong-side-of-the- track” plants that are similarly disparaged: nasturtiums, annual geraniums (. Pelargonium sp.), cleome, dra- caena spikes, and Shasta daisies, among them. It’s really just a question of fashion, though. Until a year or two ago, the coleus was thought to be a very trite floral concoction. Today, it’s just about the hottest annual on the planet — today’s gardeners can’t seem to get enough of their wildly variegated leaves, which now come in a dizzying array of patterns. And all because of the vagaries of garden- ing taste and whim. So what should you do about this horti- cultural class war? My advice is to simply wait until afier your garden club comes for its annual visit next spring.. .and then sneak a perfectly vulgar verbena or ghastly gazania into your border. No will be any the wiser and you will reap the benefit of a charming plant that will bloom with the best of them in our hot and humid region. Go ahead — I promise not to tell anyone. Pete Prown greenscene@pennhort. org 5 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 Mon. Sat. 8-6 Sun. 9-6 www.styers.com Zinnias...6>r Bust Photos by Pete Prown Wrapped in her African-pat- terned shawl on a cool spring morning, Lily Yeh leads me on a tour through the Village of Arts and Humanities, an oasis of culture and gardening in North Philadelphia. In this neighborhood around tiny Alder Street, it’s easy to see the wounds of urban decay — the hollow shells of build- ings and vacant lots. But notes Lily, “Unlike some, we see these obstacles as opportunities to create art and beauty, as well as instill self-confidence and help rebuild the community.” This is the magic of her Village. Through partnerships with Philadel- phia Green (PHS’s urban greening pro- gram) and other organizations and indi- viduals, Lily’s plans for the “Village” helped launch a true renaissance for this community. The many gardens and parks in the Village — which include mosaic-studded sculptures, organic veg- etable beds, a tree farm, and a Magical Garden where children help out — tell only half of the story, however. The Village also offers workshops in dance, theater and art, after-school programs, and job training. “Here, we don’t do art for art’s sake; we do art to survive,” she says. “We need to do this so that our children don’t get lost on the street and get in trouble. But more important, it’s about getting people involved in bettering their lives and getting in touch with their inner strengths.” Although her title is executive director, Lily is quick to point out that the Village is hardly a one-woman show. “Along with the staff, there are special souls in this community who have made real connections with the kids and others in building the Village,” asserts Lily. Souls like Big Man, a 6-foot/8-inch former drug addict who is the artisan behind the many mosaics designed by Lily, as well as the late “JoJo” Williams, who volun- teered to organize the children in the neighborhood to clear vacant lots. Clearly, there is a real sense of communi- ty at the Village. (To see more of Big Man’s artwork, you can visit PHS head- quarters at 20th and Arch Streets, where several of his large wall mosaics are on display.) As we head back through a narrow passageway adorned with life-size mosaic angels on both sides, it dawned on me that the art and gardening in the Village represent a rite of passage for its resi- dents— a path traveled to greater self- confidence and self-betterment. And if it can happen here, amidst the turmoil of North Philadelphia, it can happen any- where. At the Village’s lie Ife Garden, concrete has been poured over old outdoor furniture to create artistic benches. Lily in front of the “Tree of Life” wall mosaic. The Village That Lily Built by Pamela Vu 6 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 Barbara Bruno GflRDCn na Looking for an easy and tasty veg- etable for late-summer planting? Consider Swiss chard. A member of the beet family, chard ( Beta vulgaris ) is grown for its crinkled leaves, which have a mild, sweet flavor and are rich in vita- mins. Swiss chard is also an attractive plant, with striking, dark-green leaves and white or red stems. What makes Swiss chard “Swiss,” however, is a bit of a mystery. The wild beet is a Mediterranean plant, originat- ing in the coastal areas of southern Europe and northern Africa. One source suggests that Roman armies found it while invading Greece and brought it north to feed their horses. There, it became an excellent food crop for the cooler climates of northern Europe, hence its “Swiss” designation. Chard is very easy to grow. It tolerates a wide range of weather conditions and can be sown in spring or summer. Directly seed it in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Plants grow quickly, and most varieties mature in 50 to 60 days. Succulent, young leaves are ready for thinning (and eating) in as little as 30 days. For a late-season crop, sow seeds in early- to mid-August and begin enjoying chard in September. Swiss Chard by Debbie Moran Although chard is not seriously bothered by pests or disease, tunneling leal miners may disfigure some leaves. Young plants can be protected with floating row covers. I simply cut off and discard damaged leaves, and the chard quickly recovers. Swiss chard can be used raw in salads or lightly cooked. 1 enjoy it boiled until tender and topped with butter, salt, and pepper. Chard is also delicious sauteed in olive oil and garlic until slightly wilted. It makes an excellent spinach substitute in many recipes and is often used in Greek and Italian cuisine. Beyond chard, there are several other vegetables suitable for late-summer planting, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and collards; the latter two can be har- vested until early winter. Terry Allan, vegetable trials manager at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, notes, “I love spending cool summer mornings planting crops like Swiss chard for fall harvest. It’s much mote fun than weeding and renews the empty areas left after the spring crops have finished.” Debbie Moran is a freelance writer who lives in New York state. SOURCES • Johnny’s Selected Seeds, (207) 437-4301 , www.johnnyseeds. com • Burpee Seeds, (800) 888-1447, www.burpee.com PLANT WINNERS. Attention herb lovers: the 2000 Herb of the Year is rose- mary, as selected by the International Herb Association and the Herb Society of America. Native to dry hillsides around the Mediterranean, most rosemary species are not cold hardy (generally growing best in Zones 8-10), but make excellent sum- mer plants that can be easily potted up and overwintered on a sunny windowsill. In the home and kitchen, rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis) can be used in numerous ways, from a garnish for lamb and savory stews to an aromatic base for teas, oils, and soaps. According to folk- lore, it’s also said to improve memory and ward off evil. In other award news, the Garden Club of America has given its 2000 Freeman Medal to the bald cypress tree ( Taxodium distichum). Hardy in Zones 3-9, the bald cypress is best known for its coppery fall foliage and the “cypress knees” that pro- trude up from water when it’s sited in a swamp or pond. A THERAPEUTIC GARDEN. Gardening is great therapy for everyone, but is often difficult for those who are wheelchair bound or have disabilities. To help make gardening accessible to all, however, is the new Cellugro Therapy Garden. The system includes a movable growing box with up to 52 individual plant cells inside. Gardeners can put their favorite plants in a cell and water continued august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 7 ! i i' Foil Lawn Tips for the Delaware Valley Homeowners generally think of spring as the ideal time to perk up their lawns, but in recent years, experts have begun recommending late-summer and fall as great times to re-seed grassy areas and even prevent weeds. This is primarily because the cool temperatures and wetter weather during this period encourage grass to germinate and set roots before the cold of winter hits. Adds Richard Martinez, vice president of R&D for the Scotts Company, “Dollar for dollar, you can improve your lawn more in fall than at any other time of the year.” Here are some quick tips for your autumnal lawn adventures: • Early Fall: Look for patches of lawn that were dried or thinned out by summer heat. Either rake up or aerate the soil to improve drainage, and then evenly spread a premium seed mix. Try to avoid “cheapo” seed packages that may contain weeds. (Also make sure to plant the appropriate seed mixes for sunny or shady spots.) Fertilize on the same day and keep the area moist until the grass is well established. • Late Fall: If you’re trying to maintain better color into the cold months, con- sider a “winter fertilizer” to strengthen roots for the long winter haul. It can also help the lawn get off to a quicker start in spring. Improving the lawn in the fall can further work to prevent “salt damage” caused by salty run-off from winter-snow plowing on many streets, if that’s an annual problem. • Weeds: If you’re really after “The Perfect Lawn,” you might think about applying a weed-control product sometime during the fall, too. This will help destroy perennial weeds that will happily ride out the cold winter months, only to return bigger and stronger next spring in your lawn. away, thanks to a built-in drainage system. There’s also a rubber armrest on the front edge for added comfort. For more information, call (800) 755-9223. BUTTERFLIES IN FLIGHT. If you find yourself in Pittsburgh this summer, stop by the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens to see hundreds of butterflies in their annual “Butterfly Forest” exhibit. Here, visitors can observe various species of butterflies at close range, including monarchs, zebras, julias, and queens, all in a dazzling array of shapes, colors, and sizes. For more information, call (412) 622-6914 or visit www.phipps. conservatory, org. AUGUST IN THE GARDEN. It’s late summer and the harvest is in full swing. In the flower garden, however, you can divide daylilies and Japanese irises so they have time to set roots before the cold sets in. Also, pick strawflowers, zinnias, roses, celosia, and globe amaranth for drying. Finally, lay down a new layer of com- post and dig it in a few inches. Your soil is likely depleted from the long growing season and in need of rich, fresh nutrients for next year. GREEN SCENE WINNER. We re happy to report that one of our regu- lar contributors, Adam Levine, has won a 2000 Quill & Trowel Award from the Garden Writers Association of America (GWAA) for a story he wrote in Green Scene. The award is for his March 1999 story about Michelle Murphy’s rooftop garden in West Philadelphia. Congratulations, Adam! TOTAL IMPACT. Want to learn about the latest achievements of Philadelphia Green, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s urban-greening program? If so, read our newsletter Impact 2000, which reports on our greening initiatives throughout the city, as well as related national trends. Recent subjects have included urban agriculture , vacant land issues, and youth horticulture activities. For FREE copies of these reports, please call (215) 988-8809 or e-mail: jgannon @pennhort. org. GREEN SCENE • august 2000 (| £ : ( l C c Si snat sck Me moi Jani der issui son; w® I ASK A GARDENER by Hotline Volunteers In spring, we used a grub-con- trol chemical on our lawn. In mid-June, however, we noticed grubs eating sections of our lawn. Again we put down grub control. It seemed as if the grubs were gone, but then there were beetles all over our plants. What can we do to control this infesta- tion? Mary Ellen Paz, Mt. Holly, NJ Since grubs are the larval form of bee- tles, the beetles that are in your garden signify that your grub control didn’t cure the problem. Unfortunately, some grub reducers take a few years to see results, and some grubs are even resistant to pes- ticides. You are not alone with this prob- lem, however; Japanese beetles, the type you most likely have, are a common prob- lem throughout the area. There are also organic products that eliminate grubs — one is called Doom and another called Japandemic. These pesticides use a bacte- ria to kill the grubs that is harmless to other organisms. Usually, only one appli- cation is necessary, but occasionally an annual re-application is needed. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control , edited by Barbara W. Ellis & Fern Marshall Bradley discusses some organic methods to rid your lawn and garden of pests. If you’re a PHS member, you may borrow this book from the McLean Library by calling 215-988-8772 or e-mail: jalling@pennhort. org. Can you tell me the name of the attractive shrub that blooms in the garden near the Art Museum in early August? There are pink and white varieties, both of which have a lilac-like cluster for a bloom. Edward Lonergan, address unknown You are most likely referring to crape myrtle (Lager stroemia indica). This shrub or small tree is often multi- stemmed, and can grow to 15-25 feet in height. The flower panicles can be 6- 8 inches long and 3-5 inches wide. Crape myrtles are available in a wide color range, from white, pink, and pur- ple to deep red. Its bark is smooth and gray in color, and many varieties have exfoliating bark, which exposes a vari- colored underbark — excellent for win- ter interest. Its only caveat is that it is only hardy to Zone 7. Check your zone before planting, as many places in the Mid-Atlantic region are in Zone 6. Do you have a question for our garden experts? If so, contact PHS's Horticultural Hotline in the McLean Library, which is open Monday-Friday, 9:30-noon. Phone (215) 988-8777; fax (215) 988-8783; email: jalling@pennhort.org Changes Afoot! Starting with this issue, Green Scene magazine will begin a new publishing schedule. In the past, our full-color maga- zine has come out in such off-season months as September, November, and January. Now, we will shift its entire calen- der back a month, allowing us to publish issues that better coincide with such sea- sonal events as the autumn harvest, the winter holidays, and more. So what does this all mean to you? It simply means that Green Scene will start appearing in your mailbox at the beginning of the following months: August, October, December, February, April, and June. For you diehard collectors of Green Scene, we re also adjusting the serialization (Vol. and No.) to make it coincide with the yearly calendar. Usually, volumes run from summer to summer, but this year (thanks to an inspired idea from PFIS librarian Jane Ailing), Volume 28 will be extended three extra issues, making nine in total. The February 2001 issue, then, will be called “Volume 29, No. 1.” This may sound con- fusing at first, but believe me, it will make searching for back issues so much easier. -Pete Prown august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 9 r t Left: Plants ready to go: lush and enticing pots of hydrangea, dahlia, pelargonium, delphinium, coleus, euphorbia, and pink salvia. Right: Renny and friend at the nursery. Story by Patricia McLaughlin They told him a nursery specializ- ing in specimen perennials couldn’t make ir. But that was before Renny Reynolds invented the “rent-a-plant” market niche at his retail outlet, Renny Hortulus Farm Nursery. A longtime Philadelphia Flower Show exhibitor, Renny bought his farm 20 years ago. He’d been looking for a couple of years, driving down from New York on week- ends, before he found what he was looking for: a “per- fect” 18th-century farm- house and 72 acres in Wrightstown, Bucks County. “The land was breathtaking — rolling hills and a stream,” he says. The house was perfect, in that its integrity hadn’t been violated by bad renovation. Or any renovation, for that matter. But the fact that it was a ‘complete wreck’ was perfect, too, because it made it affordable. Nine years ago, with the house com- fortably restored and a good start made on the gardens, he opened his nursery next door. It had been a longtime daydream: a nursery where he’d grow specimen plants — mostly tropicals and subtropicals — in containers. Only one problem with that idea, as one expert after another kindly pointed out to him: Not enough people are willing to pay for them. Indeed, he’d noticed that even the biggest, most established nurseries stocked mostly the small, young plants he thought of as “grocery- store size.” And once he started making serious plans for his nursery, he could see why — mature, beautifully grown speci- men plants can’t support themselves. “First, you build a greenhouse,” he says, “Then you need another, and then you need a propagation house, and then a cooler, and then a greenhouse with a taller roof for taller plants. You can end up with a huge investment in greenhouses, and nothing at the other end." There’s only so much you can do to streamline the operation because you can’t negotiate with plants. You can't talk them out of needing to be weeded or watered — you can only persuade them to be so much more productive than they’re naturally inclined to be. By the time you grow a plumbago into a 6-foot- tall, tousle-headed standard, you’ve paid for up to five years of room and board, including lots of labor-intensive weed- ing, feeding, watering, pruning, debug- ging, general TLC, and a long, luxurious winter vacation in an expensively heated, humidified, and ventilated greenhouse. That plumbago has been costing you money since day one, and it has yet to make a dime. Moreover, the market for $150 plumbagos is limited. Still, it must exist, given how fast White Flower Farm sold out of its $950 yellow clivias...but how big can it be? Renny’s ingenious solution was that his plants must work for a liv- ing, just like everyone else. Unlike the average nursery’s lady-of-leisure plants 1 1 A | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE Photo by Patricia McLaughlin/Digital imaging by Scott Hoisington Greenhouse staffer Meg Ware deadheads Marguerite daisies. that lounge around the greenhouse for weeks or months on end soaking up the sun and guzzling expensive water and plant food, his plants work outside the home. They get paid for it, too. They’re “rent-a-plants.” They make personal appearances at all manner of snazzy affairs: weddings, charity balls, cocktail parties, museum openings, and the like. (Well, all except the Anisodontea, which “doesn’t like going to parties, ” Renny notes) It’s a whole new market niche for flowering plants. To understand how Renny came to this conceptual breakthrough, we should back up here to his childhood and his first meaningful relationship with a Pachysandra cutting. It came from the yard next door to the house he grew up in back in St. Louis. The next-door neighbor, maybe hoping to keep rambunctious 8-year-old Renny out of her hair and out of her flower beds, showed the kid how to root it. “It was amazing,” Renny remembers. It was just like magic: he’d created a whole new plant. Something from nothing, the sort of thing that hooks most serious garden- ers for life. Thus hooked, he gardened his way 12 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 Harry Kalish One of the many interesting plants in Renny’s greenhouses, chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) has long flowering catkins that are usually red or, as shown here, pink. through school, graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in landscape architecture, and moved to New York to join the heirs of Frederick Law Olmstead. It was only after he achieved his ambition — a job as a land- scape architect — that he noticed how lit- tle it had in common with actual gar- dening. He was spending his life cooped up in an office, working at a drawing board under a lot of fluorescent lights. Garden-lorn, he started doing bal- conies, terraces, and decks for friends in his spare time, and then he did one for designer Bill Blass, and his business took off. There’s no greater luck than being able to make a living by pursuing your passion. On the other hand, he soon learned, the job involved as much heavy lifting as creative imagination: “If it isn’t the elements, it’s the apartment superin- tendents,” he says. “In addition to deal- ing with heat and wind, there’s the mat- ter of getting plants up 40 stories in small freight elevators.” Eventually, he noticed that the people he was designing and installing roof gar- dens for needed just as much help with their interior landscapes when they entertained. He started doing flowers for parties, which led to flower shops on Park Avenue and in the Plaza and Carlyle hotels in New York. He also began designing, planning, and stage-manag- ing parties, balls, weddings, perfume launches and other sorts of galas for clients as diverse as the U.S. Open, Yves Saint-Laurent, Diana Ross, Diana Vreeland, Merrill Lynch, and Studio 54, not to mention the White House under three presidents. What’s Renny’s secret to success? “It’s all about scale,” he said one Friday after- noon last summer. At the time, he was in the middle of turning a sterile country- club ballroom in a Philadelphia exurb into an enchanted wedding grove of Ficus benjamina, all a- twinkle with can- dles and fragrant with flowers. “It was a huge room I’m working in," he explained. If he’d have filled it with rows of banquet tables, it would’ve looked like an unusually pretty train shed or institu- tional dining room. Instead, he centered a trio of round tables around each of the ficus trees, put votive lights in crystal globes on the tables and hung them at different heights on each of the tree’s branches. The next day, he ringed every tree trunk with a wreath of roses and hydrangeas. Finally, in the cozy shelter of its tree, each cluster of tables became an inviting little, conversational village. What he’d done to this once-sterile room is not unlike what Gertrude Jekyll, one of his heroes, did to the Victorian garden, and what Capability Brown before her did to the English landscape. He naturalized it, got rid of the rows, manipulated the scale, varied the levels of interest, painted it with drifts of color. Nice, but it’s still not exactly garden- ing, which is why he wanted the farm in Wrightstown. There, on weekends, he spends every waking moment in the gar- | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 13 Harry Kalish dens, working on the woodland walk, the stream walk, the perennial borders, the yellow foliage garden, or the sunny red and orange garden. The farm pro- duces, among other things, 25,000 stems of peonies for his flower shop in a good year. There are heirloom vegetable gar- dens, the domain of his partner, garden- ing writer Jack Staub. And there are also geese, ducks, swans, pheasants, guinea fowl, doves, dogs, cats, sheep, horses and a goat — everything, he says, but a cow. He refers to them collectively as “the kids.” What he calls “the appetite for grow- ing everything” is also why he wanted the nursery which, in the spirit of com- promise, now offers both specimen trop- icals and a zillion varieties of young perennials. But it all connects: Besides providing the nursery’s oleanders, alliga- tor Solarium (potato vine) standards, and starburst Clerodendrum with “part-time jobs” that let them earn their keep, the business of creating indoor fairylands for galas picks up the tab for Renny’s other creative projects. This includes renting a fleet of front-end loaders for a weekend to play God on the farm, resculpting hills and dales, turning the creek into a necklace of woodsy reflecting ponds, and moving 30-foot trees from where they happen to be to where they belong. (This last achievement, he says, is “like moving furniture: It completely changes the room, and it’s great, great fun.”) Besides, it was only because he’d worked on so many parties — some where the sky was the limit, some with considerably lower budgets — that he had the flash of insight that makes the specimen plants-in-containers business 14 Left: A view of the nursery in Wrightstown, PA. viable: “For people on a budget, renting flowering plants goes a lot further than buying cut flowers.” So brides get more bloom for their buck and his specimen plants in pots get to make a living. And then there’s the farm: he and Jack Staub are creating a foundation so that its gar- dens, nursery, and horticultural library will continue as a public garden and a resource for horticultural education after they’re gone. Ail the while, it gets pretti- er each year. 53 Patricia McLaughlin writes the Style column in the Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine. She gardens in the Spring Garden section of the city. Renny’s Hortulus Farm Nursery is locat- ed at 60 Thompson Road in Wrightstown, PA, (215) 598-0550. BUSH JACKET PLANT PROTECTOR ...the attractive alternative to burlap and rose cones FOR ROSES, RHODYS, AZALEAS, EVERGREENS ... FLEXIBLE, BREATHABLE, 4' X 6' PRINTED SHEET CUTS WITH SCISSORS, COVERS UP TO 4 PLANTS REUSABLE WITH EASY-TO-INSTALL FASTENERS COMPACT STORAGE, WON'T BLOW OFF! CIRCLEMOON, Inc. BOX 3619, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 www.bushjacket.com 1-800-207-3768 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 ... Let the Light Into Your Home Two Locations! • 512 N. 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Its fun to hunt for just the right one, but with the vast selection, the process can be a little overwhelm- ing. How do you choose? And how do you display them effectively? Find out as we explore the art of finding and placing ornaments in the garden. Accents are larger ornaments that rely on contrasting form, texture, and color to attract our attention. I ;! I ■_ I I CHOOSING ORNAMENTS Choosing the right ornament is really a matter of building unity in the garden. Barnes Foundation founder Albert Barnes once wrote, “Unity is the ideal by which all art is judged,” and that applies to garden design, too. Ornaments work best when they’re part of the overall plan, and when they harmonize and unify the garden. Look for a piece that blends with the garden’s formality and style. That’s the first step towards unity. My friend, Kathy, lives in a fieldstone farmhouse. When she terraced her slop- ing property for a garden and swimming pool, she built walls using the same stone as the house. Recently, she found the perfect ornament. It’s a large, moss-cov- ered Irish staddle stone. The rough, util- itarian stone blends perfectly with the informal style of her house and garden. It also repeats the stone building materi- als, tying the ornament to the house and walls. She bought the old Irish stone as a present for her husband on St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating the family’s heritage with panache. It unifies, personalizes, and adds distinction to the garden. So consider what’s special about your house, garden or property and choose your ornaments accordingly. LEARNING PLACEMENT Placing ornaments effectively is easy, especially if you divide them into two basic groups. Accents are large, impor- tant ornaments. They’re focal points that attract the eye and draw us into the gar- den. When placed at the end of an axis or in the middle of a clearing against a contrasting backdrop, they demand attention. Grace notes are smaller orna- ments. Tucked into perennial beds or shrubbery that repeat their color, texture or form, they become little surprises dis- covered while walking through the gar- den. Driving past the quarry near our house, I caught sight of the perfect accent piece for my garden. I quickly reversed the car and turned into the quarry’s driveway to take a closer look. Sitting near the entrance was a bench about 3- feet long. It was made of rough stone — just one slab stretched across two Repetition of both the vertical form and silver color of this chimney pot unifies the composition. GREEN SCENE • august 2000 uprights. 1 was looking for an ACCENT to put at the end of the path that leads from our terrace, but a statue or sculpture was what I originally had in mind. The minute I saw the bench, however, I knew it was right. The bench would capture the woodland atmosphere, repeat the stone of the terrace, and provide a won- derful place to view the mass of spring wildflowers that carpet our woodland floor. I bought it without hesitation, and went on my way.. .absolutely ecstatic. I also placed a grace note in the woods, near the base of our river birch (. Betula nigra). It’s a large rock that I bought with my birthday money. I dug the rock into the earth and partially con- cealed it with ferns. The rock has a depression that catches rainwater and forms a small pool. So, on top near the water, I added two stone lovebirds. They look appropriate, even charming, and are sometimes joined by the real thing. Both the bench and the lovebirds’ basin repeat the stone of the terrace and blend with the style of the woodland. They build harmony and unity. Now all I have to do is choose plants that display the ornaments effectively and establish them as either ACCENTS or GRACE NOTES. KEY PRINCIPLES Displaying ornaments is where an artist really shines. Some people instinc- tively do it well, but as for me, I like a lit- tle help. So, I modify the design princi- ples in Leroy Hannebaum’s Landscape Design: A Practical Approach and extend them for use with garden ornaments. Repetition establishes unity in the garden. Therefore, I use ornaments made of materials that repeat those of the house or ones based on a theme, such as animals or birds. If the ornament is a grace note, I also repeat its form, texture or color in the nearby plants. For instance, Japanese painted ferns Grace notes are smaller ornaments that rely on repeating form, texture, and color to tie them to their surroundings. I I •••##••• • | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 19 — A Sequence leads our eye progressively from dark-green foliage, to gray-green, to gray, and finally to the gray-white color of this statue. This example is at Blickling Hall on England’s Norfolk coast. ( Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’) surround the rock and stone birds in my woods, and their silver and green fronds, in turn, match the color of the rock and the love- birds. To that, I added maroon Trillium erectum to match the color of the fern’s rachis, plus the silver variegated foliage of Asarum shuttleworthii, and — voila\ — a grace note. [A rachis is the main stem of a compound leaf or cluster of flowers. — ed. ] These repeated colors hind the grace note to its surroundings, help it recede into the garden area, and create a unified composition. Again, it’s all about unity. Contrast provides interest and vari- ety. It also attracts attention, so I use this principle to develop compelling focal points. Surrounding the orna- ment with plants that contrast its form, texture or color make it stand out, anci hold the eye. [See the photo on the cover of this issue.] Balance is either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Ornaments can be dis- played effectively both ways. For exam- ple, two identical terra-cotta pots sit symmetrically on either side of a path. This formal placement creates a sense of entrance and it works well even though I have an informal garden. Identical plants in each pot accentuate the symmetry. An example of asymmetrical balance is a tall, narrow pagoda placed opposite GREEN SCENE • august 2000 1 c p i« 1 E [ ii n ( a i t several rocks lining one edge of a pond. The vertical mass of the pagoda roughly equals the horizontal mass of the rocks. (Picture an adult on one end of a see-saw and three children on the other.) Emphasis draws attention to impor- tant parts of a garden. On a residential property, the primary point of emphasis is usually the front door. To some degree, all ornaments are points of emphasis, whether they’re accents or grace notes. Emphasis is created by contrasting the form, color, or texture of the surround- ing plants to the ornament. Strong con- trast creates an accent, while less contrast and more repetition creates a grace note. Sequence suggests a gradual change in the form, texture, or color of plants. Gradual change minimizes variety and leads the eye in an orderly fashion to a focal point. It builds stronger accents by holding the eye on the contrasting elements that immediately surround the ornament. I saw a great example of sequence on a trip to England’s Norfolk coast, where my husband and I visited the National Trust gardens at Blickling Hall. Part of the estate is a huge sunken and walled perennial garden. In the middle of one wall is a staircase, flanked by matching sculptures. The large herbaceous bed at the wall’s base perfectly demonstrates sequential planting by gradually chang- ing foliage color. It begins with dark green foliage farthest from the orna- ments, moves to gray-green, then to gray, and finally to gray-white statues placed against dark-green ivy. This sequential composition keeps the emphasis on the statues and staircase. [See photo above left.] Scale, however, ultimately determines the success or failure of an ornament. Can you imagine a 12-inch rabbit in the middle of a three-acre lawn, or a 1 ife-size elephant in the backyard of a town- house? Both would be incongruous. Ornaments are best in areas appropriate Scale appears appropriate when a 6- inch frog is placed in a small clearing, under a small perennial with fine foliage. to their size: small ornaments in small spaces, large ornaments in large spaces. Plants, too, should relate to the size of the ornaments: small ornaments with small plants and large ornaments with large plants. Harmony is the goal. [See photo at right.] USING YOUR EYE You don’t have to be an artist to dis- play ornaments effectively, especially if you use the design principles below. When I go about placing a particular ornament, 1 consider all the principles and then choose the ones that are most applicable to my particular ACCENT or GRACE NOTE. These guidelines help me choose, place and display garden ornaments effectively. They instill confidence and keep me focused on the goals ol harmo- ny and unity. (They also keep me from buying every ornament I see!) If you'd like a little help, give these guidelines a try. Choose ornaments that blend with the formality and style of your garden. Place them as accents or grace notes. Display them using the principles of repetition, contrast, balance, scale, emphasis, or sequence. Then sit back and enjoy the harmony and unity in your gar- den, knowing it’s “the ideal by which all art is judged.’’ 53 Beverly Fitts is a garden lecturer, photographer, and former president of the Hardy Plant Society (Mid-Atlantic Group). In addition to a busy lectur- ing schedule, she also finds time to chair the Container Display Class for the Philadelphia Flower Show. 6 Principles Of Good Garden Design • REPETITION establishes unity in the garden. • CONTRAST provides variety and interest in the garden. • BALANCE promotes a satisfying arrangement of plants and objects. It is either symmetrical or asymmetrical. • SCALE keeps plants and objects in proportion to each other and to their surroundings. • EMPHASIS draws attention to an object. • SEQUENCE leads our eyes in an orderly progression using the gradual manipulation of form, texture, or color. august 2000 • GREEN SCENE ■ IN THE LAN DSCAPE Story and photography by Dr. Tomctsz Anisko If you decide that your garden could benefit from a subtle touch of yellow, there are three new plant introductions from Longwood Gardens worth considering. Longwood is widely known for its lavish horticultural displays, but few people realize that it also has an ongoing research program designed to introduce better plants for those displays. Past success stories include the introduction of New Guinea impatiens and the development of a whole series of cannas. 22 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 | The three introductions presented here exemplify a lengthy process of care- ful evaluation and observation involved in selecting and naming a cultivar. These plants not only possess outstanding landscape qualities, but are also deeply rooted in the rich horticultural history of the area. They were found and cared for by many dedicated plantspeople, from botanists to gardeners, and now are being passed along to skillful nursery workers so the plants can become avail- able to the general public. YELLOW-BERRIED TOPEL HOLLY (Ilex X attenuata ‘Longwood Gold’) Mystery surrounds the origin of this plant. Longwood raised it from open- pollinated seeds distributed in 1971 by the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania under the name of Ilex forrestii , a rare species from East Tibet and China. However, when germinated and grown for several years, the plants were re-identified as seedlings of Ilex x attenuata (older name I. topeli). The ori- gin of those seeds distributed nearly 30 years ago is not recorded, but it is likely that they were collected from a plant received by Morris Arboretum in 1964 as Ilex forrestii from F. D. Moore Nursery in Narbeth, PA (later re-identified as Ilex x attenuata ‘Fosteri’). Among the 19 plants grown at Longwood from that seed, one plant had yellow rather than the usual red fruit. In 1976, this plant was propagated for fur- ther observations, while the remaining red-berried plants were discarded. One of the propagations was planted in the Longwood’s visitor parking lot, where it remains today and can be admired as a full grown, 24-year-old specimen. ‘Longwood Gold’ grows into a very handsome, evergreen tree with a regular, dense, conical habit, and is generously decorated with bright yellow fruits that remain on the tree throughout the win- ter. This tree has proved to be more reli- ably hardy than many other Topel hol- lies. This selection has been in favor with Longwood’s visitors for a long time and younger plants are currently used in var- ious locations around the garden, including container plantings and the Conservatory Christmas display. The cultivar was named and registered with the Holly Society of America in 1998. Left: Ilex x attenuata ‘Longwood Gold’ Above: Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata ‘Peirce’s Park’ CUCUMBER-TREE MAGNOLIA (Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata ‘Peirce’s Park’) Longwood’s magnificent specimen of the yellow-flowered magnolia standing on the grounds of the former Peirce’s Park provides a silent testimony of the period of active floristic exploration in North America. Shortly before the end of the 18th century, brothers Joshua and | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 23 Left: Corylopsis glabrescens ‘Longwood Chimes’ SOURCES Propagation material has been released to several nurseries, including: Birmingham Gardens (wholesale) 1257 Birmingham Road West Chester, PA 19382 (610) 793-1494 Broken Arrow Nursery (retail) 13 Broken Arrow Road Hamden, CT 08518 (203) 288-1026 www. brokenarrownursery. com Rare Find Nursery (retail) 957 Patterson Road Jackson, NJ 08527 (732) 833-0613 Rivendell Nursery (wholesale) Stathem’s Neck Road P.O. Box 82 Greenwich, NJ 08323 Roslyn Nursery (retail) 2 1 1 Burrs Lane Dix Hills, NY 11746 (516) 643-9347, wwiv. roslynnursery. com Samuel Peirce began planting an arbore- tum that later became a nucleus of today’s Longwood Gardens. During this period, many plants newly discovered in the vast East Coast forest were intro- duced to gardens in America and Europe. One such new discovery was a yellow-flowering variety of Magnolia acuminata , originally found in 1788 by French explorer Andre Michaux in South Carolina, only a few years before the Peirces conceived the idea of creating an arboretum. The specimen growing today at Longwood probably found its way to Peirce’s Park with the help of either Humphry Marshall or William Bartram — two prominent figures of Philadelphia’s horticultural circles at that time— who may have received this new variety from Michaux himself. Longwood’s magnolia was mentioned as “a very fine” specimen in such early den- drological publications as the 1853 edi- tion of Thomas Meehan’s American Handbook of Ornamental Trees and the 1865 edition of Francois Andre Michaux’s North American Sylva. 24 After 200 years, the tree measures over 90 feet in height and over 12 feet in cir- cumference. In spring, it never fails to adorn itself with an abundance of yellow flowers that open high in the crown as its leaves emerge. It’s the largest specimen of this variety in existence. To preserve the unique history of this treasured tree, Longwood’s specimen was given cultivar status in 1998 and the name ‘Peirce’s Park was registered with the Magnolia Society. FRAGRANT WINTER HAZEL {Corylopsis glabrescens ‘Longwood Chimes’) The story of this plant began in 1983 with the request from U.S. National Arboretum director Dr. John Creech to Dr. Clifford Parks, professor of botany at the University of North Carolina, to col- lect seeds of Corylopsis glabrescens in Japan. Dr. Parks spent five months there and, in the fall of 1983, while searching for plants at the elevation of about 3000 feet on the Ebino Highland in southern Kyushu, he found himself walking under the canopy of C. glabrescens. These GREEN SCENE • august 2000 | The Finer Things In Lifecare. 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Summer 2000 Fine Garden Creations Creative Garden Installations Superior Plant Selection for Distinctive Plantings Borders, Containers, Ponds, Stone Work, Arboriculture Design, Installation, and Maintenance for All Seasons Philadelphia, The Main Line, Swarthmore, Wilmington. FINE GARDEN CREATIONS 610-338-0630 www.FineGardenCreations.com Order Toll Free: (877)661-2852 Brent and Becky Heath: (804) 693-3966 7463 Heath Trail Gloucester, VA 23061 Fax: (804) 693-9436 WEBSITE: WWW.BRENTANDBECKYSBULBS.COM VOTED BEST MAILORDER SOURCE FOR BULBS. OCTOBER 1999 BY GARDENWEB.COM TREE GUARD REPELI*^^ I top deer from dining at your home . . . Can't find it? II 800-323-3396 $44.95 gallon www.treeguard-deer.com | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 25 Give a friend or loved one the gift of gardening... . wi,ha 1 10 op°6o£u subscription to Green Scene jL- \qS$\ ^ y ^ magazine! That’s 6 issues of GREAT GARDENING TIPS and CREATIVE OUTDOOR IDEAS, all perfect for gardeners on the East Coast. GET SIX ISSUES FOR ONLY $16.95 (ONE YEAR) OR SAVE 10% WITH 12 ISSUES (TWO YEARS) AT $32.95. Yes, sign me up for Green Scene magazine! Q 1 year Q 2 years □ Gift subscription Send subscription (and gift card) to: Name Address City/State Zip Gift from (if applies): Name Payment method: □ check enclosed □ credit card Card# Exp. date Date: Mail coupon to: Green Scene, PHS P.O. Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 multi-stemmed shrubs, about 10-15 feet in height, formed nearly a pure stand on a volcanic slope. The bulk of the winter-hazel seed col- lected by Dr. Parks went to the U.S. National Arboretum, which in turn dis- tributed the plants grown from that seed. Longwood Gardens received three seedlings in 1985 and evaluated them for several years in the nursery before select- ing one outstanding specimen for plant- ing in the garden. This plant has flowers about 50% larg- er and inflorescences about 50% longer (about 2 in. long with 11-12 flowers per raceme) than what is typical for the species. Individual flowers open wide, somewhat resembling flowers of forsyth- ia but with a more pleasing soft, pale-yel- low color. This is much gentler on eyes and is easier to incorporate into early spring landscapes. Its flowers are not only showy, but also delightfully fra- grant, readily apparent to the passerby. They open about 2 weeks later than other Corylopsis and are therefore less prone to late-freeze damage. In fact, in some years this is the only winter-hazel that flowers reliably at Longwood, while the other species have flowers damaged by freeze. The original shrub grows near the Chimes Tower at Longwood, hence the name ‘Longwood Chimes’ given to the cultivar and registered with the International Registration Authority for Unassigned Woody Genera at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1999. 53 Dr. Tomasz Anisko is curator of plants at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. One Of The Many Ways Friendships Grow at Dun woody . * Dunwoody VILLAGE -—--The retif 3500 West Chester Pike Newtown Square PA 19073 of Kiwll.-nc.' • ti>A-««) Contact Ei_aine Kaiser at 6 I 0.359.4400 or I .800. DUNWOODY . Visit us at www.dunwoody.org 26 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 PATIO ROOM BUILT ON EXISTING DECK OR PATIO ENGLISH STYLE CONSERVATORY Low Monthly Payments POPULAR SUNROOM ADDITION PATIO GREAT ROOM (215) 946-0937 • (610) 992-1404 • (609) 396-1589 FOUR SEASONS SUN & SHADE CO. Local Since 1946 SOLARIUM IZZZZ*™ HOBBY GREENHOUSE “KIT” * Guaranteed Lowest Prices of the Year Plus This Special Offer Stay Cool in the Summer, Warm in the Winter with Four Season’s revolutionary patented new MC Glass. LIMITED TIME OFFER INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED FOUR SEASONS SUNROOMS Sunrooms • Conservatories Patio and Deck Enclosures Patio Rooms Skylights Outdoor Living. ..Indoors 14 Room Styles Highest Quality Best Prices! Guaranteed! lique & Contemporary Ornaments for the mnoisseur’s Garden. Elizabeth Schumacher's JhS"4? Harden ^ ( Iccents 4 Union Hill Koad West Conshohocken, PA 19428 610 . 825 . 5525 www.garJen-accent.com Hours: Tues Jay- Saturday 10:00 - 5:00 y Bring in this ad to receive , --r Meadowbrook Farms Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus and succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden- related gifts fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horti- cultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants. Meadowbrook F arm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook. PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 27 28 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 Story by Lorraine Kiefer When visiting Barbara Brunos garden in spring or summer, one might have seen a charming basket of pansies on the garden gate, dancing poppies reminiscent of Flanders fields, or clay pots lovingly grouped here and there. These were just a few of the gardening signatures she created in her lifetime. She also had a long and very close association with the Pennsylvania Fiorticultural Society. It was in Green Scene that her beautiful photographs, paintings, and articles were shared with so many other plant enthusiasts during the past two decades. Barbara died last fall, but here, we pay tribute to her many talents, particularly those that involved her camera and unerring eye for horticultural beauty. Bold red poppies re-seed themselves generously each year. Here, white daisies escort them for their annual spring parade through- out Barbara’s garden. Above: Barbara’s stu- dio was surrounded by her gardens. She had a passion for antique roses and other heirloom plants. Favorites such as the stately foxglove and silvery artemesias were part of her gen- tle, casual style. Right: Her studio in winter, a place of bucolic peace. * I 30 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 , * i 'A*}' ' 44 * Left: The sunsets of south- ern New Jersey often stretch on forever, especially along fields or bay fronts. Barbara took delight in these scenes and often frequented “down Jersey spots” that were little known to the public. Below: One of her many primroses, here showered with pink spring-blossom petals from a nearby tree. Among my fondest memories of Barbara is one of a sunny early-summer afternoon at her house. We lunched out- doors at a small table nestled amongst a patch of fragrant hyperion-lemon lilies. She made us wonderful, healthy dishes from freshly picked vegetables, which we consumed while birds sang, butterflies and hummingbirds skirted our space, and a small plane lazily hummed in the far distance. I his was a magical visit to a place fashioned with hard work and tem- pered with the joy of a plant connoisseur. Time flew as we talked and went from one plant to another in her delightful gar- dens in Elmer, New Jersey. Whenever I visited, I came away with seeds or cuttings for my own garden. Some of my favorite plants, including a beautiful stand of Dame’s Rocket (. Hesperis ) and a bed of poppies, came from Barbara. Then there was the winter I “plant sat’’ while Barbara was in Northern California with her husband, Joe. When she came to drop them off, she made several trips in her car, hauling her pots of herbs, scented geraniums, rosemary, sweet olive, and other tender treasures. Now one of the very same large rosemary plants is back here, a gift from Joe after Barbara’s death. I cherish this rosemary for “remembrance’ and have it planted outdoors in a very protected spot. Joe and Barbara lived in their charming old brick home almost all of their 38 years of marriage. It was there on Henry Avenue that she started her gardens. Left: Barbara collected all sorts of Primula and often traded seeds with friends from various plant societies. Those that were not hardy to South Jersey were kept in a cool greenhouse on the property. Bottom Right: In late May, the cottage gar- den looked so welcoming as one drove up the Bruno’s driveway. Bottom Left: Another side of her artistic talents, this charming water- color depicts Barbara (right) during her college days with a friend in a Philadelphia park. It is titled “Pigeon Ladies: 1958.” r/erenniai rieasures mm ' v. it , ^ GATEWAY Gar J en Center RTE. 41, LANCASTER PIKE • HOCKESSIN, DE 19707 302 239 2727 gatewaygc@aol.com Your source for: Rare and l nusual Plants Annuals Shade and Sun Perennials Water Gardens Pond Fish Native Plants and Grasses Potterv and more. During her multifaceted career, Barbara sold dried flower arrangements, published a book, and did many illustrations and photographs for magazines, inspired from the beautiful blooms in her gardens. Thinking back, I remember Barbara as a quiet and gentle person. She walked daily and had a real kinship with the turning of the seasons, as well as all the subtle changes that occurred in her garden and surround- ing woodlands. There was never a time when I spoke with her that she didn’t tell me about some rare primrose that was blooming or about the seeds she had col- lected which finally germinated. And it was with a fresh joy that she appreciated all of these mini miracles. Whether in person or through her paint- ings and photographs, it was clear to all that Barbara’s talents were prolific. How lucky are we whose lives were touched by her. Indeed, there are many of us. 53 Thanks to Joe Bruno for his help in prepar- ing this story. You bought the rest now GROW the best! For your FREE catalog contact us at the address below or visit us at www.blomsbulbs.com 1495 Wilmington Pike • West Chester, PA 19382 Telephone 484-840-0568 • Fax 484-840-0569 | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 33 AMERICANS 7 CHARMIN6 NATIVES FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC CARDEN Introduction by Dorothy Wright Plant Profiles by Bill Lamack Do you dream of spending less time working in your garden and more time sipping cool lemonade in the shade? Fortunately, you can reduce your chores by using native plants in the more challenging corners of your garden. For example, that hot, dry spot has the makings of a colorful meadow, while the shady nook where the grass always dies out can become a cool woodland refuge. Once native plants are established, you’re likely to spend less time, energy, and money taking care of them than you would on some of their more finicky, non-native cousins. So, consider introducing a few of the interesting natives listed here into your own garden... and then sit back and watch them grow. 34 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 | Flora Graphics WHITE WOOD ASTER [2, 3] WREATH GOLDENROD [1] If you’re looking for color to light up your shaded garden in late summer and fall, try the combination of white wood aster (Aster divaricatus) and wreath gold- enrod (Solidago caesia). Both plants grow under average conditions, but tolerate summer drought and will start blooming in August, sometimes finishing in October. White wood aster’s 2-foot wiry I stems — occasionally with a blackish tint — are clothed in clean heart-shaped | august 2000 • GREEN SCENE foliage and topped by three-quarter-inch white flower heads. Wreath goldenrod doesn’t fit most people’s ideas of what is a goldenrod, especially since it grows in the shade and is clump-forming. At times, the arching, purplish stems have a bluish-white bloom similar to a blueberry, hence its other common name: blue-stemmed goldenrod. Yellow flowers bloom along the 2-foot stems in the axles of the lance- shaped leaves. They form airy clumps of color in open shade, especially when sit- ting next to white wood aster. 35 MISTFLOWER [1 , 3, 5] While the flowering effect of white wood aster and wreath goldenrod is subtle, the late summer/fall blooming mistflower or hardy ageratum (Eupatorium coelestinum ) produces a bolder impact. Its 2- to 3-foot stems are topped with intense violet flower heads, similar in shape and color to the popular annual-bedding plant, ageratum. It can grow in partial shade, as well as in scorching afternoon sun. Under favorable conditions (moist, well-drained soil), it can spread vigorously by Floro Graphics am m m m; : Clockwise from left: Little bluestem grass white wood aster and wreath goldenrod Barbara s buttons GREAT REASONS TO GROW NATIVES They grow well in poorer soils (good-bye, double digging!) Are often drought tolerant stolons, though we have yet to encounter serious problems of invasiveness in the garden. Last September, mistflower was the star of the display garden at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. This plant also survived both the drought and browsing deer virtually unscathed, in addition to attracting Monarch butterflies by the dozen. CREEPING PHLOX [1,3] Mistflower makes for an excellent tall groundcover, but creeping phlox’s ( Phlox stolonifera) foliar mat tops out at 3 to 4 inches, while its flowering stems reach a height of 8 inches in April and May. The flowers are tubular with five spreading lobes and come in shades of lavender, Do not generally require fertil- izers, pesticides, or fungicides Do not need regular watering Promote biological diversity, along with food and shelter for birds and butterflies They come in a vast range of shapes, sizes, and colors 36 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 | 1 Three-toothed cinquefoil. pink and white. They attract early-rising swallowtail butterflies and early-arriving hummingbirds, as well. Creeping phlox can also give off a pleasing scent when grown in mass. This is a favorite groundcover for shade, because its creeping stems produce an evergreen mat of foliage that prevents weed germination, yet still allows taller wildflowers to grow up through it. It likes a moist, well-drained spot in part shade, but tolerates drier and sunnier spots, though it doesn’t do as well. THREE-TOOTHED CINQUEFOIL [4] My favorite groundcover for sun is three-toothed cinquefoil ( Potentilla tri- dentata ), producing an evergreen mat that is 6-inches tall. The small leaves are shiny, three-parted and each leaflet has three terminal rounded teeth. In the fall, the leaves take on various shades of pur- ple with some red and yellow mixed in. If attractive evergreen foliage wasn’t august 2000 • GREEN SCENE enough, three-toothed cinquefoil pro- duces masses of small white, rose-like flowers starting in early June and lasting for at least 4 weeks. This plant does very well under harsh conditions. I have it growing in dry clay on a sunny, hot, exposed slope where the driveway emp- ties onto the road. Considering how tough it is, it’s hard to believe it is con- sidered endangered in Pennsylvania. BARBARA’S BUTTONS [2, 3] Another endangered plant that makes an excellent garden subject is Barbara’s buttons ( Marshallia grandiflora) . Barbara’s buttons is an endangered rela- tive of the aster. From a basal clump of shiny, strap-shaped leaves rises 1-foot flower stalks in June and July. Flower heads are lavender, similar in form to bachelor buttons, and attractive to but- terflies. It does well in moist, well- drained soils in part shade to full sun. 37 LITTLE BLUESTEM GRASS [1 , 3, 5] If you have a dry, sunny spot, you have the perfect spot for little blucstem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’). This beautiful dumper tops out at 2 to 2.5 feet and has powder blue leaves which turn amber in the fall. Little bluestem shrugs off the worst snow storms and remains upright through the winter. After last year’s drought, I can testify to this plant’s incredible tough- ness. Indeed, this kind of resilience is what “native gardening” is all about. 3 Bill Lamack is the grounds and nursery manager of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Washington Crossing, PA. Dorothy Wright is a writer and editor based in Ardmore, PA. SOURCES [1] Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA (215) 887-5900 [2] Mostardi Nursery 4033 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA (610) 356-8035 www. mostardi. com [3] J. Franklin Styer 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA (610) 459-2400 www.styers.com [4] Forestfarm (catalog $4.00) 990 Tetherow Road Williams, OR 975 44 (541) 846-7269 www. forestfarm. com [5] Potter’s Landscaping Co. 359 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA (610) 647-2926 ANTIQUES GARDEN STRUCTURES LANDSCAPE DESIGN Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 19118 (215)247-3925 BUSINESS FOR SALE CHESTER CO. HORTICULTURAL BUSINESS. Includes mulch supplier, cut flower/greenhouse nursery, landscape installation/maintenance. Very profitable and growing. Moving away. Will sacrifice. 610-593-7333 GARDEN SHOPS MEADOWBROOK FARM Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus & succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horticultural gifts includ- ing bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Michael Bowell's CREATE A SCENE GALLERY Treasures for the Home & Garden Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Unique Gifts, ORCHIDS Seasonal Annuals, Perennials and Container Gardens 10% Discount To All PHS Members with Membership Card Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30 Sunday: 11:00 - 4:00 Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton (Just East of Kimberton Inn) Delight in our Whimsy and Design Let Us Help You Create a Scene visit our website at www.createascene.com HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises, & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. (215) 699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, Pa. GREENHOUSES www. creativelandscapes. com “Elegant Environments For Your Home" "GARDEN CALENDAR ** "HOT GARDENING TOPICS" "PORTFOLIO OF PHOTOGRAPHS" View online or call 610-565-9910 LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN •Consulting •Plans •Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (21 5) 247-2992 (610) 584-1550 (610) 525-3232 S. Edgar David Landscape Architects Site planning and Garden Design GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 Design / Rooftop Gardens Native Landscapes, Streams and Wetlands Innovative Solutions Designs of Distinction Design Studio 610-584-5941 38 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM N.C. fungus, better weed control, longer lasting. Wholesale and retail. 610-593-7333 NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 ivivw. mutschlers. com PUBLICATIONS RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Lochwood Ln. West Chester, PA 19380 (610)436-9796 E-mail: GrannyPol@aol.com RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 SPECIMEN TREES HOLLIES Beautiful Ilex opaca & others 10’ - 15’ in ground at Indian Orchards, Media, Pa. Phone/Fax (610) 565-8387 TREE SERVICE ARADER TREE SERVICE, INC. “Working With People Who Care" Certified Arborists • Fast • Reliable • • Equipped to handle the most difficult Removal and Take downs • • Complete Spray and Fertilization Programs • • State of the art equipment • • Large and Small Tree Transplanting • • Landscape Design and Installation • 610/277-8733 email: AraderTree@aol.com BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care •Pruning, Trimming, and Removals •Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control •Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: November, January, March, May, July, September. Minimum rate $34. Charges based on $8.50 per line. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYLVANIA HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY and sent to Paula Holland, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. august 2000 • GREEN SCENE 39 P Classifieds A Real Gardener's Show > affile tyzwm/ijf 3fau2d/efe£d Jffarv&jf 5%?w By John Gannon The drought of 1999 brings to mind a tale from Greek mythology. Persephone, while gathering flowers in the Vale of Nysa, was seized by Hades and brought to the underworld. Her mother, Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, fell into such a state of deep misery that she became uncon- cerned with the earth’s harvest, resulting in an outbreak of widespread famine. Last summer, one might have argued that Demeter was again fretting over her missing daughter, as the drought seemed to threaten the bounty of the Philadelphia Harvest Show, an exciting annual event put on by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Miraculously, area gardeners gathered over 2,500 entries for hundreds of competitive categories in spite of the heat and dry weath- er. This year’s Show, Harvest 2000... and Beyond , promises to further the success of the previous year, preferably.. .without the drought! Being held in beautiful Fairmount Park on the weekend of September 16th and 17th ( save these dates), the upcoming Harvest Show will feature horticultural and artistic competitions, as well as gardening “how-to” and craft demonstrations, the third annual Great Pumpkin Pie Contest, and an open-air farmers’ marketplace. Youth activities will include scarecrow mak- ing and pumpkin painting, along with com- petitions for the best vegetables, annuals, perenni- als, container gar- dens, and more. From near and far, gardeners come to the Show, bring- ing with them their prize plants, veg- gies, and foodstuffs. For the past nine years, Stephen Clarke has entered his homegrown veg- etables in a range of classes at the Philadelphia Harvest Show. Last year, his garden yielded 36 blue ribbons for everything from egg- plants and tomatoes, to baskets of peppers and gourds of numerous varieties. Clarke and his eight siblings were intro- duced to gardening, not by choice, but under orders from their father, a master of reverse psychology who “persuaded” them to tend the family soil. As Clarke recalled, “At the time we hated it, but now of course we’re all enthusiastic gardeners." In his first year at the Show, he submitted 10 entries and won the Award for Horticultural Excellence, providing additional motivation to expand his gardening palette. Clarke has always had an interest in grow- ing “the big things,” and two years ago he somehow managed to grow a gourd that mea- sured an astonishing eight feet in length — one of the largest ever produced on the planet. Clarke and one of his blue-ribbon entries. “The gourd was so big that we took it on a road trip to Buffalo, New York, so that experts from the World Pumpkin Confederation (yes, they really do exist) could officially confirm its size,” he notes, proudly. Reminiscing about the Philadelphia Harvest Show, Clarke echoed the thoughts of many gardeners, who not only get a thrill from the Show’s competitive nature, but from the efforts of their peers. All agree that showcasing their harvests is not an isolated exercise, but a communal experience. “Year after year, I’m always learning something new,” Clarke said. “For instance, the basket arrangements for vegetables are always very competitive. There’s a lot of artistry at work, and I’m always picking up new design and gardening ideas. If you want to meet other area gardeners, this is the place to be.” With his mastery of the gourd now myth- ically entrenched in vegetable lore, Clarke has turned to growing a “very large” pumpkin. How big, we ask? “ Very big," he says, smiling. Perhaps Demeter will again look with kind eyes on his patient labors. 53 John Gannon is project manager of Research and Documentation for the Philadelphia Green program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This is his first Green Scene article. GETTING TO THE SHOW! September 16-17, 2000 The Philadelphia Harvest Show is easy to get to. Just take the Schuylkill Expressway (1-76 ) to the Montgomery Drive exit — just one exit north of the Zoo — and turn onto Horticultural Drive. Then follow signs for the Horticulture Center. For information or to receive an entry guide call (215) 988-8828 or visit our website at www. liberty net. org/phs. 40 GREEN SCENE • august 2000 Somewhere along your way to wealth, you learned to live well without living extravagantly. And it paid off. Handsomely. At Glenmede, we know many wealthy individuals like that. We manage their money. With an approach called Total Wealth Management. First, we identify your unique financial challenges. Then, Glenmede professionals tailor a comprehensive solution to meet your needs and goals. A plan that puts a wide range of disciplines at your disposal, including investment management, business planning, estate planning, and tax and retirement planning. The result is a long-term solution that ensures assets work in concert. To preserve principal and maximize return with the least amount of risk. To learn more, call J. Thomas Dunlevy at 1-800-966-3200, or visit our web site at www.glcnmede.com. One reason you’ve become a person of means is because you never lived beyond them. Glenmede The Glenmede Trust Company PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON PRINCETON MORRISTOWN CLEVELAND I Doug and Brinton Mooberry in the Kinloch Woodworking Ltd. wood barn. Our furniture starts with some amazing wood. Please Visit Our Showroom • Route 82, Unionville, PA • 610.347.2070 Photo: Bell A Arranging the Harvest Cool-Weather Camellias • 2001 Gold Medal Plant Awards THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OCTOBER 2000 *$3.00 All Phases of Tree Care: Residential and Commercial Corporate Offices 1290 East Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902 (203) 323-1131 and other offices throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom Pennsylvania Allentown (610) 770-0799 Lancaster (717) 285-7099 Ambler (215) 643-3939 Lebanon (717) 274-3737 Bala Cynwyd (610) 664-3200 Lititz (717) 626-6182 Carlisle (717) 245-0200 Norristown (610) 239-0881 Chambersburg (717) 264-6105 Pittsburgh Area (800) 232-8223 Doylestown (215) 340-2725 Pittsburgh (724) 863-8951 Dublin (215) 249-1819 Warrington (215) 343-1381 Exton (610) 594-4740 Waynesboro (717) 765-0370 Hanover (717) 632-5317 Yardley (215) 493-6469 Harrisburg (717) 233-8733 York (717) 764-4020 Irwin (724) 863-8951 BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS www.bartlett.com T ® Innovators in Plant Care: Guided by The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Charlotte, North Carolina Creators of Museum Quality Porcelain Since 1950 anJ THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY P/*>c±f f // C^f/oa> J/\ o6e The modern rose, the hybrid tea, is the inspiration for “Best in Show Rose," a sculpture developed hy the artists at the Boehm Porcelain Studio in conjunction with The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The evolution of the sophisticated hybrid tea rose has brought us not only pleasant scent but also a wonderful ranfje of color unsurpassed in any other flower. Over the years, thousands of roses have been placed in competition hy competitors in the Philadelphia Flower Show. We commemorate these exhibits and salute the roses of tomorrow with this lovely sculpture. Limited edition of 500 sculptures. 4"H x 5 1/2”W x 4”D $250. To place your order call 1-800-257-9410, ext. 123. The rose, the world’s favorite flower, can trace its ancestry back 70 million years. Our sculpture is inspired by the many varieties of the group called the “Queen of Flowers.” The first of these roses is said to have been imported from the Isle of Bourbon (now Reunion Island) to France in 1822. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and The Boehm Porcelain Studio collaborated to produce this sculpture to commemorate the new millennium. The “Timeless” rose rests upon two books from the rare book collection of the McLean Library of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Flora Symbolica or the Language and Sentiment of Flowers, by John Henry Ingram (1882), a special Victorian genre of books inspired by the language of romance, love and courtship and The Philadelphia Florist, Volume I, (1852-3), a monthly magazine. Limited edition of 100 sculptures. 8"H x 9”W x 7”D $2,000. Proceeds from these purchases benefit The Pennsylvania Florticultural Society's community programs including Philadelphia Green, the nation’s most comprehensive urban greening program. iAoe/i/ti T£b/'ce/a//i * f in c/to 25 Princess Diana Lane, Trenton, NJ 08638 E-Mail: boehmporcelain@att.net. Visit our website at www.boehmporcelain.com. Boehm Porcelains are exhibited in 137 museums and institutions throughout the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Vatican Museum, The Hermitage Museum and The Smithsonian Institution. ~ Horticulture- A Philadelphia Tradition at Cathedral Village r « * ' £r - Come to Cathedral Village Watch Your Lifestyle Grow! Visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 Website: www.cathedralvillage.com ?1 S-Q84-8A?? Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational CCRC Hr Equal Housing Opportunity Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System Philadelphia’s horticultural tradition never retires. Nor do those for whom horticulture is a major interest. Cathedral Village recently opened The William H. Sayre Horticultural Center, a greenhouse and headhouse where residents can continue to enjoy their horticultural pursuits in our premier retirement community. Our full time Director and Horticulturist has planned a year-round program of events for Garden Club members with classes and workshops that will be of interest to both experienced and novice gardeners. Resident Garden Club members, who will pay a nominal membership fee, will have the opportunity to attend classes and seminars given by our Director as well as by other prominent Philadelphia horticulturists. National and international plant experts will also be invited to give seminars when visiting Philadelphia. To the avid gardener, for whom there are no seasons, the ultimate enjoyment is having a greenhouse in which to grow plants year-round. The lifestyle of Cathedral Village encourages this Philadelphia tradition that continues to grow. Why not follow tradition! Move to Cathedral Village and become an active Garden Club Member. The William H. Sayre Horticultural Center is dedicated in memory of William H. Sayre, Founding Board Member, who contributed twenty-three years of volunteer service as a former Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Directors. Jon Cox ! Yfv/z/e/z/- r VILLAGE -c-wtiThe retif E RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 3500 West Chester Pike eMdluiiiiu1‘4 • - C ' . “You’ll want a partially shaded site, espe- cially in areas with hot summers, because strong sun may burn the foliage and bleach out the flowers. The soil should be moist, water-retentive (but not soggy), rich in organic matter and have a pH of around 6.5.” Incidentally, com- posted pine needles, oak leaves, coffee grounds, or tea bags added to the upper level of the planting hole will aid in low- ering the pH value. “An annual spring application of Holly-tone can be helpful,” he adds, or you can use your favorite acidifying granular or water-soluble fer- tilizer. Although Jim Jeffrey admits to never winterizing his newly planted 1- to 3- year-old camellias, the following recom- mendations are still worth noting: Winter protection may include a tempo- rary seasonal windscreen of burlap sup- ported by wooden two-by-twos or thick bamboo poles, each cut to height of the shrub. For newly planted or young spec- imens, the gap between the foliage and the burlap can be filled with dry straw, forming an insulating cushion of air. This is removed in early spring. A win- ter-mulching, however, proves to be deleterious to the root system (doing so causes root rot and retention of too much moisture) and should be avoided. As for pests, Jim notes, “All camellias, including hardy ones, are subject to attack by tea and camellia scale, peony scale, spider mites when it’s hot and dry, and aphids on new growth, but they are by and large insect- and disease-free.” The most debilitating pathogens include fungal flower or petal blight in areas where summers are hot and humid, and a viral flower blight for which there is no cure. To help prevent these distressing maladies, Jim removes spent flowers from the ground and disposes of them in the trash — not on the compost pile. The mulch should be periodically replaced, too (ditto for disposal). A CAMELLIA FOR YOU? With exquisiteness of color, texture, and form, and uniqueness of bloom peri- od, camellias have endured for centuries in our collective hearts and gardens. Truly, it seems they will seduce us forever. Fortunately, with the ascent of these new hardier varieties, we’re getting to enjoy them more often outside of a greenhouse. While breeders are still in search of a fully hardy camellia for Zone 6, these latest cultivars are reason enough for us north- ern gardeners to rejoice and try planting at least one in our gardens. S3 Scott D. Appell is the director of education for the Horticultural Society of New York. He wrote an article on ornamental fruit for the garden in the May 1 999 issue. Scott is a member of the PHS Publications Committee. Thanks to the following for their help with this story: Bill Thomas, Chuck Taylor, Jim Jeffrey, Susan A. Roth, and Stephanie Massey. further fading Macoboy, Stirling. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Camellias. Timber Press. Portland, OR. 1998. Phillips, Roger and Rix, Martin. The Random House Book of Indoor and Greenhouse Plants (Volume I). Random House. New York, NY. 1997. Poor, Janet Meakin and Brewster, Nancy Peterson. The Garden Club of America Plants that Merit Attention Volume II: Shrubs. Timber Press. Portland, OR. 1996. Trehane, Jennifer. Camellias: The Complete Guide to Their Cultivation and Use. Timber Press. Portland, OR. 1998. | October 2000 • GREEN SCENE Tongwood ’s Search for ajiardy Camellia by R. William Thomas What defines a hardy camellia? Is it one that survives without winter damage for two years? Ten years? Fifty years? The camellias being tout- ed today as “hardy” were not growing in Delaware Valley gardens during our last really cold winters of the late 1970s, so we don’t know if they are truly hardy. In fact, it may be a num- ber of years before a cold winter fully tests these plants. Longwood Gardens has set out to find a hardy camellia that will not need protection or pampering in USDA Zone 6. The camellia that meets this goal will be as tough as an American holly; in other words, able to grow in sun or shade, in wind as well as in a pro- tected location. Four test plots, each located in full sun, are being planted with camellia seedlings, hybrids, and selections. Laboratory freezing studies will start next year to eliminate waiting for a naturally cold winter. Multiple approaches are being used to find plants to trial. From nurseries, we are buying every cultivar that sports hardiness claims. Beyond that, we are cooperating with hybridizers and sup- porting individuals who are collecting wild camellia seeds, cuttings, and pollen. Seedlings of Korean Camellia japonica show great promise among wild collections. These seeds were col- lected on islands off the northwestern coast of South Korea, near the North Korean border. We are testing C. oleifera, one of the most common camellias in China (see photo above). We have seedlings from a number of sources and are testing their winter hardiness. The high elevation species C. tenuivalvis and C. chekiangoleosa are also being planted. These offer excellent poten- tial for surviving cold weather, if they can tolerate the heat of our summers. We are also hybridizing these high elevation plants with C. japonica and C. oleifera. Dr. William Ackerman (formerly with the U.S. National Arboretum) and Dr. Clifford Parks (University of North Carolina) developed most of the hybrids being tested. Most of Ackerman’s hybrids have C. oleifera and C. sasanqua in their parentage and bloom in late autumn, their advantage being that the flower buds do not need to survive the winter. Park’s hybrids, meanwhile, are pri- marily winter and spring blooming. As promising plants are identified, they will be propagated and tested at other sites. We won’t know for some time if a fully hardy camellia has been found. In the meantime, you can con- duct your own trials with the hardier selections that are currently available at nurseries. R. William Thomas is research horticul- turist at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. 17 Right: Fruit and vegetable arrangements can be more formal by creating monochromatic designs in a ceramic or crystal container. This style arrangement enables the creator to concentrate on line, texture, and shape, rather than on color combinations. New Ideas for the Autumnal Flower Arranger Story by Eva Monheim • Photography by Jon Cox When the late-summer and fall crops of fruits and veg- etables start to come in from the garden in great abun- dance, even the best of gardeners can feel over- whelmed. These delectable delights lead to many action-packed days of harvesting and preserving the bounty: canning, cooking, freezing, baking, and grilling. When all the work is done, the finished prod- ucts transform into manna on cold winter nights, making all the work well worthwhile. What is lost, however, are the shapes of veg- etables and fruit in their original, natural form. We can pay tribute to the fresh, sumptuous fruits and vegetables by glorifying them in table designs. Whether at the height of the season or purchased at the market in the dead of winter, fruits, and vegetables can take their rightful place at the dining table as the main attraction. How? By using them in the creation of a beautiful centerpiece. 18 One of my favorite designs is the pepper arrangement. The container may be one pepper or a bunch of peppers, depending on how large of an arrangement you chose to make. With the large number of varieties of peppers available through seed cat- alogues and in produce markets, peppers can be used as an integral part of table decor. In the fall, I enjoy making designs with orange and yellow peppers filled with stems of miniature pep- pers, goldenrod ( Solidago ), roses, rose hips, berries, and other cut flowers that will dry well. These products require less water and stay fresher looking in the arrangement. When was the last time the potato was paid homage to, other than mashed, fried, or baked? When was the last time you made a pepper and broccoli arrange- ment for your dinner party guests to admire? Likely never. But we can be Promethean in our decorative approach to our fruits and vegetables, creating conversation pieces that guests will long remember. Instead of merely being viewed as potential side dishes, they can become vessels of adoration. Cut open, split apart, husked, cored and peeled, the fruits and vegetables take on a whole new look in my arrangements. The tomato becomes as important as a rose; the pepper shares the stage with prized china; the pumpkin transforms into a golden tureen; and the cauliflower becomes the diva who flaunts her full figure on the operatic stage. It is as though the vegetables and fruits go to the ball and are transformed into Cinderella. More importantly, these arrangements provide endless combina- tions of visual appeal, besides being easy to create. Everything is left to the imagi- nation. Bumper crops of zucchini are no longer the laughing stock of their unin- tentional proliferation. By linking zuc- chinis together, a long table arrangement can be made by filling each zucchini with flowers that dry beautifully. These include Limonium of all sorts (statice, sea lavender), Solidago , Gypsophila, and Lunaria, all of which look beautiful tucked into the body of the zucchini. Open a tiny slit the length of the zucchi- ni to insert the stems. The spongy inside of the vegetable provides enough mois- ture for the flowers to remain fresh long after the dinner party is over. To make a container out of a pepper, carefully cut around the top of the pep- per and twist off the top. But don’t throw the top away — heavens no. After filling the hollow pepper with a small piece of Oasis, put a floral wooden pick up through the stem end of the top of the pepper and insert it into the foam. The pepper top becomes inverted to expose a treasure-trove of seeds that provides added interest to the overall arrange- ment. The seeds now become an integral part of the design, adding texture and a soft inner color that is not usually seen. Plump, radiant cherry tomatoes can be added to an arrangement, stems and all. A taped or covered wire wrapped around the stems of the clusters of cherry toma- toes can be put into an arrangement with wooden picks. This creates a cascade effect down the side of a container. (Attach grapes in a similar manner.) To arrange with smooth, blushing apples, use a floral wooden pick to skew- er the apple through the blossom end. This creates little injury to the apple and allows the apple to last weeks in an arrangement. When selecting apples, pick an apple that is on the drier side. (Juicer apple varieties spoil quicker.) Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious are the best examples of apples for arranging. This selection of apples also provides a wider range of col- ors to work with. One of the great advantages of fruit and vegetable arrangements is their ser- viceable afterlife — dinner for your fami- ly, a gift for a friend, or produce for the local food bank. Consider these options when making your selections of produce and the design style. The Delaware Valley is a mecca of hor- ticultural diversity, including fruits and vegetables available year round from local farms as well as from worldwide markets. The world is our garden and we can take full advantage of our markets and gardens when creating the perfect design, either to accent the foods we are serving or to remind us of the impor- tance of their position within the horti- cultural scheme of things. After making a fruit and vegetable arrangement, you can see how your own perspective changes. Be it the lowly pota- to or the prized tomato, each fruit or vegetable can impart a special persona to GREEN SCENE • October 2000 Create an original party theme with green onion and leek arrangements adorning the tables. Bundle leeks and/or green onions together and tie the bundle with raffia. Tuck fresh cut flowers in between the tops of the greens. The flowers can be put in water tubes or use flowers that are durable out of water. Serve potato-leek soup as an appe- tizer, and have recipe and seed packages for each guest. When everyone is leaving, give your guests the leek/onion bouquets to take home. (This is a wonderful theme for St. Patrick’s Day.) any ornamental arrangement. It may seem like a strange marriage at first, but as I’ve found out through many success- ful designs, fruits and veggies can be downright beautiful. 53 Eva Monheim is a well-known local horticul- turist and lecturer. In addition to writing for Green Scene, she frequently gives demon- strations at the Philadelphia Flower Show. a wtfe fw“'2 *r. ^ ■ViO'ie Cop r\ f O' October 2000 • GREEN SCENE - A 21 A TRIO of GOLD Story by Sheila Gmciner • Photography by Larry Albee Each year, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society gives the Gold Medal Plant Awards to woody plants that excel at growing in our region. For 2001, the winners include a sturdy American evergreen, an unusual dogwood, and a charmer of a hydrangea named Annabelle’. MEDAL WINNERS | The 200 1 CU)hl Meclcil Plant'flwards SMOOTH HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabel le’) Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle’ is a winner. The species is a native shrub hardy 1 in Zones 4 to 9. It has several common names, including smooth hydrangea, wild hydrangea, and high geranium, among others. ‘Annabelle’ was introduced by J. C. McDaniel of the University of Illinois. This cultivar flowers two weeks later than the cultivar ‘Grandiflora’ and boasts full globose flowers at least 8 inch- es in diameter, composed of showy, sterile blossoms. In the landscape, this old- fashioned gal possesses a sub- tle charm and elegance. Grown as a spreading, multi- stemmed shrub, it can reach 3 to 3 feet in height and width at maturity. Smooth hydrangea is perfectly at home in the perennial border, foundation planting, or natu- ralized garden. The flowers bloom on new wood in mid-to-late June. Its large flower clusters are initially light green and then turn white. Fortunately, these flowers keep their heads up after rainfall and do not turn brown when wet. The leaves are green to dark green, simple, ovate to elliptic, and approximately 2- to 8-inches long. In autumn, the leaves turn light yellow before falling. Proper pruning affects the plants’ ability to remain intact after rain or wind. Instead of cutting these shrubs back to the ground every spring, leave some height on healthy, vigorous stems. Remove the oldest wood on an annual or bi-annu- al basis. This technique will result in favor- able growth and beautiful flowers for this hydrangea. Unfortunately, deer may do some unplanned pruning as well. Smooth hydrangea is not difficult to grow, and it yields tremendous satisfac- tion. ‘Annabelle’ is not particular about soil pH but favors well-drained, moist soil in partial shade. If adequate moisture is available, it can tolerate some sun. &AL PLA^ This encounters insects or hydrangea seldom disease, although powdery mildew, aphids, and mites may affect a poorly sited plant. The best method of propagating ‘Annabelle’ is through softwood cuttings taken in June through August — this cul- tivar does not produce fertile seeds. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ can be seen and enjoyed at many of our local arboretums and public gardens, includ- ing the Scott Arboretum, the Morris Arboretum, Chanticleer, Mt. Cuba, Winterthur, Longwood Gardens and Brookside Gardens. ‘Annabelle’ is a dependable encore performer on a popu- lated hydrangea stage. Enjoy her show! AMERICAN HOLLY (Ilex opaca) Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Ilex opaccv1. Yes, Ilex opaca. It’s as “American” as Chevrolet. Ilex opaca, or American holly, is truly a classical and colossal species. Millions of years ago, its ancestor, Ilex opacoides , shared the land with the reigning dinosaurs. In the millennia that fol- lowed, Ilex opaca was routinely used in superstitious, symbolic, and traditional rituals of mankind. The wood from this American classic was also revered. This holly has long been prized for its fine hard- grained, light-colored wood. It has been used for chariot shafts, tomahawk handles, farm tools, furniture, inlay, and drawing and musical instruments. The landscape value of Ilex opaca is as important as its past history. American holly can be used in either formal or informal types of landscaping. It is attractive as a single specimen evergreen tree or massed in a mixed border, hedge, or background. A pyramidal, broadleaf evergreen. Ilex opaca is native to the east- ern United States and is hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9. A grand 30 to 50 feet high at maturity, its base can become 15 feet wide, providing a habitat for birds and other wildlife. The flowers are small and insignificant, but when fertilized they produce a radiant fruit. These red fruits (1/8 to 1/4 inches in diameter) provide food for its occupants and persist throughout the winter. Another attribute is its apparent resistance to deer. The foliage and fruit are also used extensively for winter holiday decorations. Because of its aesthetics and versatility, Ilex opaca October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 23 i ' ; ! Ilex opoca has earned “heirloom” status among gar- deners and Ilex enthusiasts. Culturally, Ilex opaca has a wide spec- trum of adaptability. It can thrive in a range of “seasonal” wet to dry soil condi- tions in either sun or shade. Some pro- tection from winter winds and sun is rec- ommended but not necessary. The root system is fibrous and shallow and plants can be easily transplanted in early spring or late fall. There are several choice cultivars of Ilex opaca that Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal com- mittee plant experts agree are notewor- thy. ‘Jersey Princess’ is a great choice for its dark green foliage; ‘Satyr Hill’ for its extraordinary foliage size; and ‘Old Heavy Berry’ and ‘Dan Fenton’ for both fruits and foliage. Because this plant is dioecious (bearing male and female flow- ers on separate plants), a male of the same species in the vicinity will ensure fruit production. ‘Jersey Knight’ is a good choice for the pollination of female Ilex opaca. There can be considerable variation within the species, too. For example, there is a spreading form, ‘Maryland Dwarf’, and a yellow-fruited form, ‘Xanthocarpa’. All of the cultivars men- tioned are grown by asexual reproduc- tion. A chance seedling of Ilex opaca does not guarantee the desirable characteris- tics of cultivars propagated by cuttings. A vegetative cutting will duplicate the phenotype and genotype of these splen- did and remarkable hollies. (Phenotype refers to a specific appearance pattern shared by several individuals of a genus. Genotype is the species type within a genus.) In this region, we can expect two or sometimes three flushes of 2-to-5 inch average growth per year, if nutrition lev- els are optimum. The ideal time for propagation is generally after these flush- es become semi-hard wood. Rooting auxins can hasten the rooting process; rooting cuttings later in the growing sea- son require increased concentrations of 24 GREEN SCENE • October 2000 THE GOLD MEDAL PLT\NT AWARD PROGRAM The goal of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal Plant Award is to unite gardeners interested in unique woody plants through a strong program of promo- tion and education. The Gold Medal recognizes woody plants of outstand- ing merit that are little known, yet available to the trade. If you know about a great woody plant that’s beautiful, disease and pest resistant, and is hardy in our Zone 5- 7 region, it might be a contender for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal Plant Awards. To enter a plant for consideration, call (215) 988-8800 or fax us at (2 1 5) 988-8810, and we’ll send you an entry form. The deadline for submis- sion is December 15th. Each plant must fulfdl the following qualifica- tions: 1) Three landscape-sized, plants must be accessible to the evaluating commit- tee. 2) Plants must be hardy from New York City to Washington , D. C. 3) A program of propagation must be under way. GOLD MEDAL PLANT AWARDS COMMITCE Steve Hutton, Chair Darrel Apps Richard L. Bitner Tom Dilatush William H. Frederick, Jr. Sheila Gmeiner Joseph Gray Richard Hesselein William Heyser Richard W. Lighty Paul Meyer Philip Normandy Claire Sawyers Barry Yinger Charles Zafonte Judith D. Zuk Ex officio Jane G. Pepper, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Staff Manager Kathleen A. Mills Gold Medal Plant Coordinator Joe Ziccardi, Jr., PCH For source information on winning plants and a portrait sheet, send a SASE with 550 postage to: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Attn: Gold Medal Plant Awards, PO. Box 7780-1839, Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642. Also visit our website, www. liberty net. org/phs . auxins (these are natural plant hormones that are involved in various physiological processes such as root formation, stem growth, suppression of bud develop- ment, etc.). Occasional pruning is neces- sary for these moderately slow growers, primarily to develop the pyramidal shape of younger plants. Select a dominant api- cal leader to keep the plant well propor- tioned (the apical is the active growing tip of a plant). Ilex opaca is a plant with much to offer. It is a gift to ourselves, our com- munities, and our environment. CORNELIAN CHERRY DOGWOOD [Cornus mas 'Golden Glory’) This is not your typical dogwood. It is not adorned with showy flower bracts in the spring, nor is it native from Florida to New England. So what does this “winter flowering” tree have that enabled it to earn the prestigious Gold Medal? Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’, commonly known as Cornelian cherry dogwood, is a picturesque small-flowering deciduous tree and has reliable tri-season interest year after year. Introduced by Synnesvedt Nursery Co. of Illinois in the 1960s, the genus Cornus mas is a Western Asian native hardy in Zones 4 to 7. C. mas ‘Golden Glory’ can be grown as a large shrub or as a single or multi-stemmed tree — whichever fits your landscape. Growing at a medium rate, ‘Golden Glory’ could become 20 to 25 feet high and 15-feet wide at maturity. It flowers profusely and M October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 25 J is more upright than the species. There are several reasons to grow this tree — the flowers, the fruits, and the bark. The early clusters of intense-yellow March flowers escape the frost and attempt to awaken the sleeping spring season. And, when ‘Golden Glory’ is used with com- panion plants such as Hamamelis, Magnolia , Ilex (deciduous and broadleaf), and early spring bulbs, spring seems even closer at hand. The distinct fruit is edible (it makes a flavorful jam) and is a delicacy for birds and other wildlife. The oblong, bright- red fruits (5/8 by 1/2 inch) become noticeable in September. The thick and dark glossy-green leaves are approxi- mately 4-inches long. These leaves are tougher in drought conditions than those of other Cornus species and their fall color is subtle. The exfoliating brown and gray bark is especially attractive at bloom time and provides striking winter appeal. Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’ is a main- tenance-free living treasure. It is adapt- able to many different soils and can be grown in full or partial sun. The root sys- tem is fibrous and is easily transplanted in the late fall or early spring. Better still, it is not susceptible to any pests or dis- eases of serious consequence. Propagation can be done by seed, cut- tings, or grafting. Other cultivars of Cornus mas include ‘Alba’, a white-fruit- ed form, and ‘Flava’, a gold-fruited form. ‘Variegata and ‘Aurea’ have distinct foliar interest. Another cultivar, ‘Spring Glow’, was a favorite of the late horticulturist, J. C. Raulston. 53 Sheila Gmeiner — area manager and grower of deciduous and broadleaf trees and shrubs, topiaries, and perennials at Imperial Nurseries in Quincy, Florida — is also a mem- ber of the PFIS Gold Medal Plant Award committee. Sheila has been working in the horticulture industry since 1 982 and is certi- fied as a Professional Horticulturist in Maryland and Florida. She has received two Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens. Meadowbrook Farms Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus and succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden- related gifts fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horti- cultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants. Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 26 GREEN SCENE • October 2000 Photo: Client, Residential: Winter 1999. Fine Garden Creations Holiday Lighting For Winter Interest Superior Plant Selection for Distinctive Plantings Borders, Containers, Ponds, Stone Work, Arboriculture Design, Installation, and Maintenance for All Seasons Philadelphia, The Main Line, Swarthmore. Wilmington. FINE GARDEN CREATIONS 610-338-0630 www.FineGardenCreations.coin A Philadelphia Flower Show Major Exhibitor specializing in Floral Design &jj| f jf Decorating for Weddings^ Parties and Special Events - Special Events r n&A MiL * -m QSSI GN i L- www.party-flowers.com Or call us for-a_n^appointment» Sgt2 1 5-624-7050;^ Get the Most Value & Quality for Home & Garden plants • Home Q mm MOSTARD1 NURSERY 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 Visit our website! www.mostardi.com 610 • 356 • 8035 Bloms Bulbs, Inc. For Your Free Catalog Contact us at 484-840-0568 www.blomsbulbs.com 1495 Wilmington Pike West Chester Pa, 19382 Fax: 484-840-0569 | October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 27 DOWIl on the Tree Farm Jl I'ook at 'Philadelphia’s ■Past-Growing Community -Paresis By Pamela Vu n a hot summer day this past summer, I retreated from the daily grind and sought refuge in the shady nook of a tree. With a garden and church nearby and birds chirp- ing overhead, it was a picturesque snapshot of country life. That is, until the blast of a car horn reminded me that I was in South Philadelphia, standing down on the Bel Arbor tree farm at 10th and Kimball streets. Although most trees in the city are transplants of large commercial tree nurseries, this and other tree farms in Philadelphia are looking to grow their own trees and in the process fos- ter community spirit. Indeed, good things grow from urban tree farms. BEL ARBOR’S BOUNTY On one-third of an acre in south Philadelphia, trident maples, golden-rain trees, crab apples, Turkish filberts, and other trees flourish amid a wildflower and native-grass meadow. For members of the Bel Arbor gardening group, what began as an effort to stop a vacant lot from becom- ing a trash-dumping site has led to some- thing of an urban-forestry movement in its own right. “When we first started growing trees in 1995, it was simply a way to prevent people from trashing a lot in our neigh- borhood,” recalls the group’s president, Carla Puppin. “It wasn’t long before we found ourselves fighting for a permanent home for the trees. We had to move the | October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 29 Down on the Tree Farm trees several times due to commercial development, but the trees were potted so it wasn’t too much of a challenge. After we got to Bel Arbor, it looked like we’d have to move again when the owner decided to develop the site. Fortunately, he eventually decided to donate the land for long-term use by our residents; it was then that we decided to create a tree farm. We wanted to grow trees that would go back into our community.” In 1997, Bel Arbor volunteers planted 40 trees from the farm on the streets of South Philadelphia, and 22 more went in this past spring with plans to plant a dozen or so more trees next year. Puppin adds, “Since we started the tree farm, I’ve noticed more people putting up planters and window boxes on their blocks. And the Kimball Street Community Garden next to the tree farm now has a waiting list for those who want a garden plot. There’s no doubt the trees have made an impact in our neighborhood.” As for the future, Puppin says Bel Arbor members will help residents with tree care and maintenance, as well as become more involved in community tree programs and begin working more with youth. A NORTH PHILADELPHIA FARM Beyond the gardens and park space at the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia [profiled on page 6 ofi the August issue], there is also a tree farm that not only grows and sells trees, but also incorporates artwork into its sur- roundings. From the center of this lot, once the site of an abandoned factory, soars a high totem as a beacon of com- munity revitalization. Guarding the grounds of the tree farm are colorful mosaic-studded figures that appear to be half man and half animal. The Village grows trees, especially native trees, such as oaks, tulip trees, American beech, willow, and sycamore, all donated by the National Tree Trust. Most of these are sold to the Fairmount Park Commission and Awbury Arboretum, and the rest go back into the community. More than anything else, the tree farm serves as a job training and education site. According to Jennifer Rulf, manager of environmental programs at the Village, the tree farm embodies the Village’s mission of social and environ- mental services: “Right now we have 25,000 trees as seedlings, but we grow more than just trees. The tree farm is part of the Village’s outreach program, which also includes parks, gardens, and art workshops. During the summer, paid teen interns work with our trained staff — who are usually hired from the community — to learn about plant prop- agation, potting, and how to incorporate greening into their own lives. The interns acquire jobs skills while making positive contributions to their commu- nity through greening. And there’s also, of course, the environmental benefit of having a tree farm. It improves the air quality in the neighborhood, prevents dumping on the site, and adds beauty to the surrounding blocks.” TREES FOR EDUCATION & HEALTH The Schuylkill Center for Environ- mental Education, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the School District of Philadelphia all view trees as a way to educate students about the envi- ronment, as well as promote service learning. Hence, the “Seeds to Trees” program was born. Here’s how it works: students gather native seeds in their neighborhoods, schoolyards, and parks. Half the seeds Left: Trident maples, golden-rain trees, and oaks, among others, are grown at Bel Arbor tree farm in South Philadelphia. I October 2000 • GREEN SCENE will be potted and remain at the Center. The other half will return with the stu- dents to their own school’s tree labs. These seedlings will spend their first winter at the school before being trans- ferred to the Center the following spring. After several years at the Center, the trees will be planted in permanent homes either at the Center or in com- munity sites. “Tree labs are basically mini-tree farms,” says PHS Public Landscapes pro- ject manager, Joan Blair. “Each year, the Society’s Tree Tenders project selects two schools that will begin a tree lab. The students build raised beds, where they will grow the tree seedlings, and go to places such as Temple Ambler Native Plant Nursery, Awbury Arboretum, or the Schuylkill Center to learn about tree care. Eventually the mature trees they tend will all receive permanent homes, either on the school grounds or in near- by neighborhoods.” Meanwhile, at the Center in the Park in Germantown, a senior center, trees mean better health. Researchers for some time now have documented the thera- peutic value of greenery, from bolstering patient morale to reducing stress and violence in youth. The Center in the Park has taken heed to such benefits. With money from the William Penn Foundation, the Center has devoted a portion of the grounds to growing trees. In this multi-generational setting, a group of teens — working alongside their mature cohorts — planted and are now maintaining the trees. Ail of the trees grown at the Center are now inhabiting area parks and other common spaces. With plans underway to add living space to the Center, trees are no longer grown here. However, the temporary tree farm was successful in engaging seniors and young people in greening activities. It also provided trees for Germantown parks and gardens, as well as helped a local arboretum in reforesta- tion efforts. Placing Gnu New Longwood Introductions • Rennys 1'ercnnok The Perfect Gift! (we’ll even send a gift card) Give a friend or loved one the gift of gardening. ..with a subscription to Green noo^ ^ Scene magazine! That’s 6 issues of ^ GREAT GARDENING TIPS and CREATIVE OUTDOOR IDEAS, all perfect for gardeners on the East Coast. GET SIX ISSUES FOR ONLY $16.95 (ONE YEAR) OR SAVE 10% WITH 12 ISSUES (TWO YEARS) AT $32.95. Yes, sign me up for Green Scene magazine! Q 1 year Q 2 years Q Gift subscription Send subscription (and gift card) to: Name Address City/State Zip Gift from (if applies): Name Payment method: JD □ check enclosed □ credit card Card# Exp. date Date: Mail coupon to: Green Scene, PHS P.O. Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 Down on the Tree Farm NON-PROFITS LEND A HELPING HAND Thanks to non-profit organizations such as the National Tree Trust, National Arbor Day Foundation, and American Forests, cities across the country are puncturing their concrete with urban forests and hundreds of shady niches. Whether it’s planting more than 1 1 million trees through the American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program, or turn- ing a former vacant land in Philadelphia into a tree farm through a National Tree Trust grant, each of these non-profits is entrenched in a “treefare” of its own. What makes these programs so success- ful is the depth of involvement from their participants, from the local to the national level. They also provide mone- tary assistance, foster tree care education, and work in partnerships with groups of varying sizes and needs. According to Beth Clark, assistant program director at the National Tree Trust, “Of the more than 500 groups that received grants from the National Tree Trust this past year, about 120 groups (or 23%) used the money to start a tree nursery of some kind. Thirty groups in the Southeastern states and 25 groups in the Mid-Atlantic states built tree farms — these two regions had the most start-up tree farms this year.” REALITY CHECK With everything going for tree farms, both environmentally and socially, why aren’t there more of them in the city? For one thing, growing trees takes time. ..lots of it, in fact. On average, it takes at least two years or more before saplings are ready to be transplanted to a permanent site. Unlike gardeners who see the fruits of their labors within weeks of planting, tree farm volunteers have to wait a bit longer. This is why it is important to have a committed and organized com- munity group at the outset. Otherwise the farm may not survive. Like many community efforts, these farms are a labor of love for the volun- teers. Not just any volunteers, however. This dedicated corps needs to be knowl- edgeable in tree planting and care. They’ll also spend much of their time watering and maintaining the trees. It’s rewarding work, but work nevertheless. There’s also the issue of land. In urban settings, the land that is available — which often has been abandoned— needs to be tilled and improved before trees or any- thing can grow on it. Fortunately, for most Bel Arbor president, Carla Puppin, standing amidst young trees that will eventually be transplanted throughout the neighborhood. D tl n o n '1 t! V f; ii k tl 32 GREEN SCENE October 2000 Pete Prown tree farms in the city, grant money and tree donations from local arboreta have made it possible for them to obtain trees. So before you go out and start your own tree farm, consider the time com- mitment and labor involved in sustaining this type of business. Also, keep in mind that these farms aren’t money-making ventures. The people who launch tree farms are more concerned with reforest- ing our city blocks and promoting neigh- borliness. Regardless, many working on the tree farms will attest to the fact that “it’s the toughest job you’ll love.” | October 2000 • GREEN SCENE THE URBAN FOREST Even in the hardest-hit areas of Philadelphia, where hope can sometimes get crushed under the rubble of aban- doned homes, our street trees stand tall and resolute. Weathering the extremes of city life, they continue to flourish and amaze us with their beaury and generos- ity. Although most trees are grown in tree nurseries outside of the city, local tree farms are staking a claim on the quality of life in their neighborhoods. For every tree that is grown on these farms, its future is most certainly right 33 around the block. Not only do the trees contribute to our sense of well-being and community, they also provide environ- mental benefits as well. Trees reduce heat in urban areas; help to control storm- water runoff; cut pollution; and increase property value. The benefits are great, outweighing the costs of planting and maintenance. Whatever shape or form a tree farm takes, be it combined with art, gardening, or urban farming, it is slowly taking root in our neighborhoods and creating a thriv- ing urban forest within the city limits. 53 Formerly associate editor for Green Scene, Pamela Vu is now managing editor of The Record for Columbia University in New York. If you would like to learn more about urban forestry, or to start a community tree project, contact the following organizations: National Tree Trust 1120 G St. NW Suite 770 Washington, DC 20005 (800) 846-8733 www. nationaltreetrust. org The National Arbor Day Foundation 100 Arbor Ave. Nebraska City, NE 68410 (402) 474-5655 Fax: (402) 474-0820 www. arborday. org American Forests P.O. Box 2000 Washington, DC 20013 (202) 955-4500 www. americanforests. org The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders Project Attn: Mindy Maslin 100 N. 20th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 988-8844 www. liberty net. org/pks J The PASSIONATE PERENNIALIST by Beverly Fitts Berry Pretty Just when I think color in my garden is over for the year, berries begin to appear. As a child I watched for wild blackberries on a nearby abandoned farm, delighting in a secretly foraged snack. As a young mother I watched for non- edible berries on backyard shrubs, fearing they might be too attractive for my inquisitive „ children. Now, as a seasoned ^ gardener and fellow passionate S perennialist, I watch for the col- “ orful berries of favorite perenni- als, signaling the end of another growing season. My woodland garden cur- rently hosts the scarlet berries of arums ( Arum sp.), Jack-in-the- pulpits ( Arisaema sp.), and rohdeas ( Rohdea japonicd), plus the white, black-eyed berries of doll’s eyes ( Actaea alba), and the orange berries of the stinking iris {Iris foetidissima). I’ve always enjoyed the isolated spots of color these berries bring to my fall garden, but I never realized their full design potential until I saw them at Beth Chatto’s. Moving attentively through Chatto’s famous garden in Essex, England, I came to a dead stop upon seeing a stun- ning combination of berrying perennials. The berries weren’t an isolated afterthought, but the focus of a planned and perfectly executed autumn combi- nation. In awe, I realized the possibilities of these herbaceous fruits. Instead of a bit of serendipity, they were the inspiration for the entire composition. It was a revelation. Chatto combines the loosely-formed berries of red baneber- ry {Actaea rubra) with the tightly clustered berries of arums. The papery seed pods of honesty {Lunaria annua) repeat the rounded form of the berries and add textural interest to the fer- tile theme of the composition. She adds the upright blades of stinking iris to provide a contrast of form and texture to the broad foliage of the arums and the finer leaves of the baneber- ry {see photo). In early fall, the iris also produces orange-red berries, extending the berrying season through winter. Her composition is a work of art and, for me, a new approach to berrying perennials. Each fall now, I admire my berrying perennials and remem- ber Chatto’s brilliant creation. I imagine designs that mimic hers and envision exciting combina- tions to celebrate the beauty of the season. I dream of red berries with golden ferns, sway- ing grasses, and much more. The red berries of Jack-in- the-pulpits always spur my imagination, because they were part of my childhood. My grandfather and I would track them down while walking in Pennypack Park. Our favorite resting place was a rock jutting into the stream under Ninety Foot Bridge. Jacks were usually found nearby. In spring my grandfather would lift the spathe and tell stories of imag- ined preachers. In fall, their bright red berries would min- gle with the golden fronds of aging ferns, bringing the bril- liant color of the trees right down to our feet. The combination of ferns with arisaemas holds a special place in my heart, conjuring images of those magic childhood days. If Jack-in-the-pulpit berries were more reliable, I’d build sophisticated designs, like Beth Chatto’s, around this beloved genus, adding native ginger {Asarum canadense), ferns, and stinking iris for a start. Yet, as much as artistic combinations excite my imagination, combinations that evoke memories transform my garden into a cherished space. These combina- tions offer more than color, form and texture. They offer mem- ories, as well as dreams for next year’s garden. 53 ! Beverly Fitts is a busy garden lecturer, photographer, and former president of the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group. GREEN SCENE • October 2000 34 Letters MAY DAY What a super issue of Green Scene (May 2000). Kudos to you. It is the first time I picked up the magazine and instead of giving it a “glance through,” I read each article right through to the end. All in one sitting. If I were you, I would frame this one for your wall! J.R. via the Internet CHURCH HISTORY I’d like to make a small clarification on the article “Flowers for the Spirit” that appeared in the July issue. Contrary to the text, the practice of decorating church altars dates back to the begin- nings of history. Flowers have long been associated with celebrations of religious events. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans adorned their temples with flowers, herbs, and greens. I have even read a charming anecdote written by a medieval priest who states that the change of the flowers and greens helped him mark the changing of the ecclesiastical seasons. The floral arrange- ments of our ancestors may have been stylistically less formal than those of today, but are no less important. Thank you for your excellent publication. Sarah Dressier St. Georges, Delaware BOOK REPORT I am writing to you for two reasons. First, I want to compliment you on the “Letter From the Editor” in the May issue. You so eloquently reminded me of my own personal experience with gar- dens and culture in general. It really struck a nostalgic chord within me. Secondly, I want to thank you for the wonderful surprise on page 8, where you featured my book, The Afterlife of Flowers. As for Pamela Vu’s critique, I would reply that individuals looking for “how to” information can and do have interest my book. That’s like saying a book featuring the paintings of an artist would not be interesting to others because it does not contain instructions on how to paint. Still, I am honored to have been selected for your publication. Janie F. Gross via the Internet COMING UP ROSES In your May issue, there was an article by Patricia A. Taylor called Easy Roses. Well, I went out and purchased some of the roses mentioned in the article, name- ly Carefree Delight and Flower Carpet Pink. What a success! These roses started to bloom immediately and have contin- ued right through the summer. For an amateur gardener, you cannot imagine the delight I had with these roses. How many times have we all pur- chased plants that were just “so-so” or never lived up to our expectations. But these roses exceeded all that. We need more “easy roses” like this — especially climbers — as well as other plants that beginning gardeners can plant without much effort. A lot of us don’t have the time that we’d like to spend outdoors, but we still want a beautiful garden. Keep up the good work and thank you. Bernie Keil Boonton, NJ COLOR CHARD In the August issue, there is an article about Swiss chard that says its stems come in either white or red. Actually, the stems can be one of eleven colors, including pink, cream, yellow, gold, orange, apricot, scarlet, crimson, and bi- colored, as well as white and red. This is especially true of the variety ‘Bright Lights’, which won an All-America award. Not only are its leaves more ten- der than the old white and red kinds, but they can be used decoratively as annuals to make sensational container plantings. Moreover, the colors are retained in cooking, while the younger leaves can be used raw as a lettuce substitute in sand- wiches (since the bitter taste of the older varieties has been eliminated). ‘Bright Lights’ was developed from a New Zealand variety, ‘Rainbow’, by the late John Eaton of Maungaraki near Wellington. I brought this seed back to Pennsylvania in 1993 and have grown it every year since. From John’s genetic material, Rob Johnson of Johnny’s Select Seeds in Maine selected the eleven colors to make ‘Bright Lights’. Rob readily acknowledges John’s valuable work in the resulting seeds. Below is a photo showing its remarkable color range. Derek Fell, author The Pennsylvania Gardener Gardenville, PA Send your letters to: Green Scene The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 | October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 35 Derek Fell TOOL TALES by Adam Levine Planting Bulbs Most gardeners love bulbs, but abhor the chore of bulb planting. That’s because too many of us use what I call the “hack and curse” method. On our hands and knees, we hack at the unprepared ground with a hand trowel trying to make a hole, which often isn’t as deep as it should be since the hacking is so laborious. Our cursing comes after planting maybe seven or eleven bulbs, not nearly as many as we dream of having. Breaking up the soil, with either a shovel or spade or a rototiller, will make subsequent planting with a trowel far less aggravating. At Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, where 90,000 tulips are planted every fall, the rototilled soil is so airy and light that the job probably could be accomplished with tea- spoons, though the crews choose to work with hand trowels instead. Even so, according to horticulturist Nora Lasher, it takes 5-10 gardeners at least a week in mid-October to get all those bulbs in the ground. If you’re lucky enough to have soil as loose as that at Longwood, a tubu- lar hand-held bulb planter might work as well as a trowel (make sure to get one that’s deep enough for larger bulbs like daffodils). You could also try a dibble, which is a hand-held tool with a sharp, pointy end, allowing you to essentially punch a hole in the soil. In new plantings I sometimes avoid hand tools alto- gether by excavating the entire area to the proper depth, setting the bulbs in place, then carefully backfilling with soil. You might sometimes wonder how the pros plant bulbs en masse. Longwood gardeners use a specialized version of the circu- lar bulb planter, especially when naturalizing small early-spring bloomers such as grape-hyacinth and Siberian squill in lawn areas. Resembling other long-handled bulb planters [see sidebar for sources], Longwood’s tool stands about 40-inches high, with a step bar above a sharp circle of steel about 3-inches wide and 3-inches deep. Hopping up on the bar forces the circle into the lawn and makes a neat hole; the next step makes another hole, and pops the first sod plug out. A person following the “sod-hopper” pops a bulb in each hole and replaces the plug. For truly heavy-duty work, the gardeners at Chanticleer in Wayne, PA plant thousands of bulbs each year using a welded steel auger (28 inches long, the bottom third a 3-inch wide auger) on a heavy-duty electric drill with a 1 /2-inch chuck and made for two-handed use. The drill can be rented, but the auger, alas, may be hard to find. Chanticleer horticul- turist Dan Benarcik insists it’s worth looking for, however, and says he’ll never plant bulbs by any other method. Cheaper augers more commonly available, Benarcik warns, may be too light- weight for use in heavy, rocky soil, and could strain the motors of reg- ular hand-drills. Whether using specialized or garden-variety tools, the key is to find more efficient ways to get bulbs in the ground. Whether you use a trowel, dibble, or drill, the T easier the job becomes, the more bulbs you’ll be willing to plant and — after the long, gray win- ter— the more beauty we ll have to greet us in spring. £3 Left: Dibble Right: Long-handled bulb planter BULB TOOL SOURCES A.M. Leonard (800) 543-8955 www.amleonard. com (short- and long-handled planters) Brent & Becky’s Bulbs (804) 693-3966 www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com (long-handled planter) Bulb Bopper www. bulbbopper. com (specialized drill bit) Gardener’s Supply Co. (800) 833-1412, www. gardenerssupply. com (long-handled planter, dibble) A frequent Green Scene contributor, Adam Levine also writes for Garden Design and This Old House, among other magazines. 36 GREEN SCENE • October 2000 UNCOMMON GROUNDCOVERS by Patricia A. Taylor Waldsteinia fragarioides Take heart all ye who share my dislike of pachysandra. There is an alternative to that ubiquitous and unrelenting- ly dull groundcover. It is called barren strawberry — a name, alas, that does not win many converts. Ah, but in real life it is a year- round, attractive, easy-care delight. Botanically dubbed Waldsteinia fragarioides, this plant is one of five in the genus. Three, according to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Index of Garden Plants, are native to North America, one to Japan and China, and one to central Europe. It is from this last little plant that the genus acquired its name. It honors a Viennese nobleman by the name of Count Waldstein-Wartenburg, who wrote a book in the early 1800s on rare plants of Hungary. (It is for- tunate, I believe, that the genus took on the first rather than the last part of that name.) All members of the genus were rare then and remain so to this day. As such, botanical descriptions vary tremendously. I base mine, except where noted otherwise, on four year’s grow- ing experience in Princeton, New Jersey. My plants are one of the American species and are reputed to be hardy in Zones 3- 9, gracing woodlands from Quebec south to Georgia, and westward to Minnesota and Alabama. I started with three that I purchased from Bluestone Perennials and now they have become dense mats measuring 3 by 4 feet. These charming plants wander among a deciduous shrub border, ensuring hor- ticultural interest throughout the year. The leaves, resembling those on strawberry plants, are three- lobed, with each lobe measuring 2 inches. They are a rich, almost “Kelly green” color and provide a lovely floor to catch the falling scarlet and yellow foliage shed by the shrubs at this time of year. In winter, the leaves take on purple hues and are particularly lovely when emerging from a light blanket of snow. Come early April, barren strawberry struts its stuff with a display that borders on gaudy. Light green leaves push up from the older, purple tinted ones and five-petalled, 3/4-inch, gor- geous sun-yellow flowers float above on wiry, 1- to 2- mch stems. Usually these flowers open for six weeks, but this year, the combina- tion of climate and weather encouraged them to pro- duce flowers for a full two months. They leave behind no fruit; hence the popular name of barren strawberry. 1 have yet to see any pest oi disease attack this groundcover. Although the [expletive deleted\ rabbit has visited it to eat the emerging stalks of Triteleia hyacintha bulbs (I had so hoped to see theii white, bowl-shaped flowers pushing up among the foliage in June). In the dark, moist shade of what I dub the “slug taste-testing area by my front deck, the barren strawberries that were transplanted there two years ago thrive unblemished, slowly spreading by under- ground stolons. How can such a great groundcover be so little known? Just in case I was overlooking some terrible trait, I consulted Viki Ferreniea. A formei director of horticulture for the New England Wild Flower Society, Ferreniea is now manager of new-product development for Spring Hill Nurseries in Ohio. She has been using barren strawberries in her garden designs for 25 years and says its a perfect groundcover for woodland gardens. It can also take light foot traffic and looks smashing in containers. Ferreniea also agrees with my observations that, despite several sources saying it can grow in full sun, barren strawberry fries in the unprotected heat of high summer. And we also both agree that the only difficulty with barren strawberry is finding commercial sources. Fortunately, the fol- lowing two offer it through the mail: Bluestone Perennials, 7211 Middle Ridge Road, Madison, OH, (800) 852-5243, www.bluestoneperennials.com ; and Tripple Brook Farm, 37 Middle Road, Southhampton, MA 01073, (413) 527-4626, h ttp .7/ trip plebroo kfarm . com. So be daring. Be innovative. But most of all, be savvy and plant barren strawberry for year-long charm and interest. 53 Patricia A. Taylor describes many more superb groundcovers in her book, Easy C,are Native Hants (Holt). Bl October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 37 ANTIQUES Rare Antique Flower Prints 17th and 18th Century Hand Colored and Very Decorative Nesta Parry 8862 Towanda Street Hours by Appointment Phila., Pa 19118 (215)247-3925 BUSINESS FOR SALE CHESTER CO. HORTICULTURAL BUSINESS. Includes mulch supplier, cut flower/green- house nursery, landscape installation/mainte- nance. Very profitable and growing. Moving away. Will sacrifice. 610-593-7333 GARDEN SHOPS MEADOWBROOK FARM Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus & succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horticultural gift including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Michael Bowell’s CREATE A SCENE GALLERY Treasures for the Home & Garden Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Unique Gifts, ORCHIDS Seasonal Annuals, Perennials and Container Gardens 10% Discount To All PHS Members with Membership Card Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30 Sunday: 11:00 - 4:00 Kimberton Road in the Village of Kimberton (Just East of Kimberton Inn) Delight in our Whimsy and Design Let Us Help You Create a Scene visit our website at www.createascene.com GARDEN STRUCTURES HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises, & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. (21 5) 699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, Pa. GREENHOUSES GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 HELP WANTED Horticulturist/Gardener Fine Garden Creations, Inc. Seeking 3 Full-Time horticulturist will have the unique opportunity to work in the gar- dening design and installation of private estate homes and Philadelphia urban gar- dening projects, as well as smaller suburban gardens design, installation, and mainte- nance, pond and stone work. Fine Garden Creations has a creative, world-trained staff, and is seeking someone who can bring unique skills, ideas, and talents to our growing company. Starting salary $30,000, plus some benefits. Paid vacations and holidays. Education budget. Opportunity for significant overtime. Fine Garden Creations Swarthmore, PA info@finegardencreations. com Contact Person: Andrew Bunting 610-338-0630 GREENHOUSE - ORCHID LOVER Small Philadelphia Main Line Estate seeks a full-time, experienced GREENHOUSE- ORCHID person to develop, grow and main- tain, with loving care, two greenhouses, and occasionally assist other grounds-people. Top salary, many benefits, long-time employ- ment. Opportunity to show Philadelphia Flower Show. Possible live-in, or live-out. Please fax your resume to (215) 752-1965 38 GREEN SCENE • October 2000 1 LANDSCAPE DESIGN www.creativelandscapes.com “Elegant Environments For Your Home” ** GARDEN CALENDAR ** **HOT GARDENING TOPICS** ** PORTFOLIO OF PHOTOGRAPHS** View online or call 610-565-9910 LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215)247-2992 (610)584-1550 (610) 525-3232 S. Edgar David Landscape Architects Site planning and Garden Design Design / Rooftop Gardens Native Landscapes, Streams and Wetlands Innovative Solutions Designs of Distinction Design Studio 610-584-5941 MAIL ORDER TREE SEEDLINGS Musser Forests offers the widest selection available of evergreen and deciduous tree seedlings; both potted and bare-root. Also offered are landscaping shrubs, ground covers, grasses and perennials. Send for FREE color catalog. Musser Forest, Dept 63-LOO. PO Box 340 Indiana Pa 15701 800-643-8319. Fax 724-465-9893 Email 63@musserforests.com Visit our Website: musserforests.com MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 PINE NEEDLE MULCH FROM N.C. Superior mulch because it is less work, no fungus, better weed control, longer lasting. Wholesale and retail. 610-593-7333 NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers.com PUBLICATIONS RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Lochwood Ln. West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 436-9796 E-mail: GrannyPol@aol.com RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 SPECIMEN TREES HOLLIES Beautiful Ilex opaca & others 10’ - 15’ in ground at Indian Orchards, Media, Pa. Phone/Fax (610) 565-8387 TREE SERVICE ARADER TREE SERVICE, INC. “Working With People Who Care” Certified Arborists • Fast • Reliable • •Equipped to handle the most difficult Removal and Take downs • •Complete Spray and Fertilization Programs • •State of the art equipment • •Large and Small Tree Transplanting* •Landscape Design and Installation • 610/277-8733 email: AraderTree@aoi.com BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care • Pruning, Trimming, and Removals • Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control • Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: October, December, February, April, June, August. Minimum rate $60. Charges based on number and format of words. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY and sent to Paula Holland, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia. PA 19103. October 2000 • GREEN SCENE 39 Classifieds Ray Rogers Art Wolk The Perfect Amaryllis By Ray Rogers Known for his meticulously groomed plants , Ray Rogers has racked up numerous blue ribbons at the Philadelphia Flower Show over the years. Last spring, he won two PHS “ Best Bidb Other Than Narcissus” rosette* for his amaryllis, Hippeastrum Pamela’. Indeed, it was a beauty. Here are a few of Ray’s tips for basic amaryllis culture, including his secrets for getting spectacular blooms year after year. First and foremost, start with a sound, healthy bulb. Then choose a pot (clay, not plastic) that allows about 1 inch of space between the bulb and the rim once the bulb is planted. I use azalea pots, which are shorter than standard pots of the same diameter, especially when the plants are in bloom. (A tall amaryllis — or a big clump — in a standard pot can tip over easily.) For the soil, use a mix that has good drainage but is able to retain moisture. 1 combine two parts of a peat-based potting mix with one part sterilized garden soil. To that I add a handful or two of coarse perlite, turface, or something similar. Plant the bulb with about half of it stick- ing above the soil mix. I keep the contain- er in a bright, warm place (around 70°) and water lightly until active growth begins. Then I give it lots of water. Finally, Top: A close-up of Rogers’ amaryllis Inset: The author with his prize winner I sit back and enjoy the blooms. Now, how do you get it to bloom again the following year? From April to August, keep the plant in active growth with plen- ty of water and liquid fertilizer (anything with more phosphorus than nitrogen). I keep mine in a bright greenhouse (shaded in summer) and never put them outside or in the open ground because of concerns over insects (bulb flies nearly destroyed my big clump of ‘Pamela’ several years ago) and other pests (including slugs and wireworms). My plants live their entire lives in pots in a greenhouse. Control any mealybugs with insecticidal soap. In early September, discontinue fertiliz- ing and begin to cut down on watering. Stop watering entirely by the middle of October and let the foliage wither, turn yellow, and dry up. In November, put the pots in a cool, dimly lit place (a basement with windows is perfect) until January. In the meantime, keep checking for dying leaves and remove them. Don’t give the plants any water. In January, bring the pots back into the light and for a bit more warmth. Tips of the bloomstalks will begin to appear. Begin watering 4-8 weeks from the desired bloom date. As different cultivars bloom at different times, experience will soon tell you how long it takes from the first water- ing until first flowering. Over subsequent years, let the bulbs grow into clumps and fill the pot (as opposed to the conventional wisdom of separating the offsets from the parent bulb). When the clumps get very thick, re-pot the entire clump soon after the flowers fade, remem- bering to leave about an inch between the root mass and the rim of the pot. I’ve found that the smaller-flowering cultivars, such as ‘Scarlet Baby’ and, of course, ‘Pamela’, mul- tiply much faster and give more satisfying results than the large-flowering ones. Following these tips, you too can have an impressive pot of amaryllis blossoms within a few years, something that you can both admire and help to usher in spring. 53 When he's not competing at the Philadelphia Flower Show, Ray Rogers is an editor for DK Publishing, Inc. in New York City. 40 GREEN SCENE • October 2000 !rrn«! ImIBQH nm ; irsa , Si 4-k ^ .SO '§ s -u fi Si so .so ^ -ti so S^ ^ a ■S ~ vs *c <50 S -u si jsi Q Cj -u ^ ss> 'fj'S I a s J ■ 5 st £ g5§ s ' £ « a Na , HU ^ ^ ^ ^ O ^ ■§3^ ^ so Wk a g^Si •- ^4 g\o si -u ^ si so ^5 43 si y l^T £ Si s> 4i ^ so K. so so 4-k. "4 ^,,,,** u ^ ^ * T-U 4a _ si _ ■£ ^ ^ 33 so « Si |v§ I £ ^ Si si , <50 ss § K. Si O 'Em Core our zvebsite to appreciate the fu[( scope of our design expertise. uww.britisfmse.com 800-566-6360 9 v wgRb- *£f* You re thinking* "Now that I’ve built a successful career, what’s next? JL k\ A WeVe thinking, Now build your future Proprietary Unparalleled Personalized Networking Es Research Investment Service Opportunities Planr Experience We understand that while all investors may share the same basic goal, how you achieve your goal differs. Our low client-to-advisor ratio ensures you get the care, time and attention to detail you expect. Plus, our Women's Financial Services Network offers seminars to help you make better-informed decisions. All of which helps you reach the most important goal of all. Your future. For more information, call 1-800-PNC-7003, or visit www.pncadvisors.com. 0 PMC Advisors The Thinking Behind The Money. ©2000 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC Advisors is a service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., for investment management, banking and fiduciary servic aim m2*. m V0\ *00 THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY DECEMBER 2000 *$3.00 PHS staffer Janet Carter Creating a Holiday Centerpiece 7£er£s hi f^intet C he (hemisS I rum cJs ~ Horticulture- A Philadelphia Tradition at Cathedral Village Come to Cathedral Village Watch Your Lifestyle Grow! Visit Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary for weekends. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128-1933 Website: www.cathedralvillage.com Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit, Nondenominational CCRC Hr Equal Housing Opportunity Affiliated with the Jefferson Health System With the recent opening of the William H. Sayre Horticultural Center, our expe- rienced and not-so-experienced resi- dent gardeners can enjoy horticultural pursuits year-round in the expansive greenhouse and headhouse. Our full-time Director of Horticulture has planned an annual program of events for the newly formed Cathedral Village Garden Club. The Director and other promi- nent horticulturists are conducting regular classes and seminars. National and international plant experts are also invited to give seminars when visiting Philadelphia. To the avid gardener, for whom there are no seasons, the ultimate enjoyment is having a greenhouse in which to grow plants year-round. Philadelphia’s horticultural tradi- tion never retires ~ especially not here in our premier retirement community. Why not follow Philadelphia tradi- tion! Move to Cathedral Village and become an active Garden Club Member. The William H. Sayre Horticultural Center is dedicated in memory of William H. Sayre, Founding Board Member, who contributed twenty-three years of volunteer service as a former Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Directors. FEATURES 8 Fresh Herbs. ..All The Time Dill in December? Fennel in February? Join Walt Chandoha as he leads us through the ins and outs of growing herbs indoors throughout the winter. If you’ve never tried this before, well, it’s thyme that you did. 1 6 Growing Green Adam Levine takes us on a personal tour of North Creek Nursery, a local wholesale operation that specializes in superb native plants. You'll also meet Dale Hendricks, the cre- ative visionary behind this venture, as well as learn of his attempts to create a genuinely “environmentally friendly " nursery7. 20 Ho, ho, ho! The holidays are a great time for creative projects with “greens.” Using branches cut from your y ard, greens can be used to make a variety7 of Yuletide masterpieces, from wreaths to swags and more. This year, PHS staffer Janet Carter shows us how to make a joyous holiday centerpiece. 26 Weeds That You Can Love Planting weeds in the garden? Of course. . .if they're beauti- ful and controllable. Toni Brinton introduces us to seven natives that some consider weeds, but for those-in-the-know, are great additions to the garden. 31 1999-2000 Green Scene Index COLUMNS 34 The Passionate Perennialist: Growing Arums by Beverly Fitts 35 U ncommon Groundcovers: Golden Ragwort by Patricia A. Taylor 36 Tool Tal es: The Mattock by Adam Levine 38 Classified Ads 40 Backyard A Scientist's Garden The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Cover Photo by Rob Cardillo K GR5EI4 Editor Pete Prown Associate Editor Jane Carroll Publications Assistant Laurie Fitzpatrick Art Design Baxendells' Graphic Publications Committee Kathryn S. Andersen Scott D. Appel I Walter G. Chandoha Stephanie Cohen Adam Levine Patricia McLaughlin Marban Sparkman Jackie Reardon Ann L. Reed, ex officio Wilbur Zimmerman Printer ALCOM Printing Group. Inc. THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICl LTl RAL SOCIETY 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 (215) 988-8800 Chair Ann L. Reed President Jane G. Pepper Executive Vice President J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, (215) 988-8776 Display Ads Michel Manzo, (610) 527-7047 manzocomm@aol. com Classified Ads and Subscription Services Laurie Fitzpatrick, (215) 988-8769 tfit2pat@pennhort.org Horticultural Hotline (215) 988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 [closed in December] Web Site www. liberty net. org/phs GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580). Volume 28. No. 9. is published bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October, December) by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a non-profit member organiza- tion at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103- 1495. Subscription: $16.95. Single Copy: $3.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia. PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 2000 GREEN SCENE subscriptions are part of the membership benefits for: Cox Arboretum. Dayton, Ohio Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore Horticultural Society of New York Phipps Conservatory. Inc., Pittsburgh. PA Staten Island Botanical Garden. Inc, New York Creators of Museum Quality Porcelain Since 1950 and THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PAel/ in ci/vm PA, i <>:><' I Ik- mtxlcrn rose, the hybrid tea, is the inspiration lor "Best in Show Rose," a sculpture developed hv the artists at the Boehm Porcelain Studio in conjunction with The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 1 he evolution of the sophisticated hybrid tea rose has brought us not only pleasant scent but also a wonderful range ot color unsurpassed in any other flower. Over the years, thousands of roses have been placed in competition by competitors in the Philadelphia blower Show. We commemorate these exhibits and salute the roses of tomorrow with this lovely sculpture. Limited edition of 500 sculptures. 4"H x 5 1 2HW x 4"D $250. To place your order call 1-800-257-9410, ext. 123. ^ y f M <>/<>$ J The rose, the world's favorite flower, can trace it> ancestry back 70 million years. Our sculpture is inspired by the many varieties of the group called the “Queen ot Flowers." The first ot these roses is said to have been imported from the Isle of Bourbon (now Reunion Island) to France in 1822. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and The Boehm Porcelain Studio collaborated to produce this sculpture to commemorate the new millennium. The "Timeless" rose rests upon two hooks from the rare book collection of the McLean Library of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Flora Symbolical or the luinguage and Sentiment oj Flutters, by John Henry Ingram (1882). a special Victorian genre of books inspired by the language of romance, love and courtship and The Philadelphia Florist, Volume I, (1852-3), a monthly magazine. Limited edition of ICS? sculptures. 8"H x 9"W x 7"D $2,000. Proceeds from these purchases benefit The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's community programs including Philadelphia Green, the nation's most comprehensive urban greening program. £/$oe//?t ySb/K'e/at/i dtuc/io 25 Princess Diana Lane, Trenton, NJ 08638 E-Mail: boehmporcelain(a att.net. Visit our website at www.boehmporcelain.com. Boehm Porcelains are exhibited in 1 37 museums and institutions throughout the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Vatican Museum, The Hermitage Museum and The Smithsonian Institution. It often surprises me when someone says, “I’d love to have a garden. ..but it’s too much work.” Or worse, “I just don’t have the time.” To my mind, I can't think of a pastime that returns so much for so little work. We’ve heard a lot of talk about “low maintenance” gardening in the past few years, but perhaps not enough new gardeners have bought into this relatively painless approach. I can safely classify my garden as low maintenance. Indeed, if a garden is sup- posed to reflect the personality of its cre- ator, then mine reveals those things I value, which, above all else, is getting a big return for minimal investment (I tend to refer to this quality as being thrifty. My wife, however, calls it cheap.) As for actual work, the hardest part of gardening, as many of you know, is the initial digging of the beds — awful work, that is. In my otherwise-favorite reference book, The Garden Primer, author Barbara Damrosch writes about how she gleefully | december 2000 • GREEN SCENE double-digs beds to a depth of 2 feet. 1 don’t know about you, but I don’t think there’s anything gleeful about double-digging, much less single-digging or any other digging that comes down the pike. But if you want to have a garden and can’t hire strapping young people to dig the beds and amend the soil for you, then you will have to grab a shovel or tiller and face the music. This, however, is really the only part that I would dub as “grueling.” The next step — installing the plants — is where you, The Gardener, will determine how much upkeep your garden will require in the future. If you don’t mind fussy plants like delphiniums or those that need frequent staking, like lilies after a thunderstorm, then more power to you — I’ll be on the veranda, admiring your efforts and sipping iced tea. In my home garden, the golden rule for every plant is, “Take care of yourself.” Like many so-called “native" advocates, I gravitate towards tough perennials and annuals, ornamental grasses and shrubs, self-sowers (such as foxglove and cleome), and a few tropical bulbs for spice [see photo] Certainly, no one will confuse this plot with one of the spectacular private gardens you’ll see on PHS Garden Tours each spring. But it meets my personal standard of beauty and is definitely low, low maintenance. I speculate that, in all, I spend less than five hours each month on deadheading, weeding, edging, and general clean-up from mid-June through September. In order to achieve this light workload, I pack annuals and perennials densely together, allowing little room for weeds to move in and take up residence. Those that do — ground ivy, clover, and that schem- ing villain, bindweed — are easily removed in a few minutes. There are also one or two invasive plants that I intentionally 3 Low-Maintenance Lessons leave in, though under supervision (the forget-me-nots grow like wildfire and I do pull out dozens each June after bloom time, but they’re the mainstay of the May garden. A necessary evil, I think of them). If we could put this low-maintenance approach into an equation, it would be: right plants + right place = low mainte- nance. One of my past errors can help illustrate this. With only part sun avail- able, I planted a pot of Russian sage (Perovskia sp.) for a vertical shot of laven- der. However, without quite enough sun to keep it erect, it just flops on the ground each year, forcing me to move it out of the way whenever I mow the grass. Instead, if I had put in a shade-loving Tiarella , Pulmonaria, or an interesting Hosta in the same spot, I wouldn’t have to do a thing. This is the essence of the low- maintenance method. (By the way, for a taste of what Russian sage should look like, visit the East Courtyard of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in midsum- mer and witness the dramatic lavender show, a project managed by PHS’s Philadelphia Green program). So if you’ve been putting off the com- mitment of a full garden or have a pro- crastinating friend, then it’s time to jump in. Once those beds are dug and you select specimens that follow the “right plant, right place” model, then the garden you’ve always dreamed of will be a far easier affair than you think (for specific plant advice, take a book out of PHS’s McLean Library or contact our Horticultural Hotline). Better still, the more garden you have, the less lawn you will have to mow. Call me lazy, but thanks to the low-mainte- nance approach, I now spend much more time in my garden sitting and enjoying the scenery than I do pulling weeds. By the way, can you pass the iced tea? Pete Prown greenscene@pennhort. org Dial “M” for Monkshood There’s something luridly appealing about growing monkshood in one’s garden. Nor only is it a tall and charming perennial, but also quite poisonous to ingest. In cultiva- tion for nearly 500 years, monkshood ( Ac o n i turn sp., Zones 3-8) has a rich and colorful his- tory, as well as a long list of hapless victims — including those who unwit- tingly picked its leaves for dinner. Of its notorious past, author Rob Proctor dryly notes in Perennials, “Monkshood has enjoyed a reputation for solving unhap- py marriages, although it was once con- sidered a rather vulgar remedy — not at all the sort of poison for a person of good breeding.” Despite its scandalous reputation, monkshood (or wolfsbane, as it’s also known, so named for the lethal wolf poi- son once extracted from its roots) remains a sturdy and interesting garden perennial. Admired for its shroud- shaped flower of dark blue, pink, yellow or white, this member of the Ranunculus family is a durable bloomer from mid- summer through fall. It is rather tall (3 feet or more), but often with a narrow spread — try to plant it in mass for best effect. It also prefers moist, well-drained soil; in my Pennsylvania garden, it has happily returned each year, despite heavy, clay-like soil and only part sun. Gardeners may want to wash their hands after handling monkshood, as well as keep it away from pets and overly inquisitive children (though in his new Timber Press book, Garden Flowers, Christopher Lloyd counters, “But who is going to be tempted to nibble aconites anyway? This insistence on designating every poisonous plant has spread like a leprosy, wasting a lot of time, space, and effort. I suppose we shall be expected to label our poisonous weeds soon...”). Deadly or not, to the gardener-in-the- know, monkshood is a champion per- former in the Delaware Valley, providing a dramatic spike of flowers long after the delphiniums and foxglove have withered away. Call it a “fatal attraction.” — Pete Prown GREEN SCENE • december 2000 Caroline Meline * / GflRDtn na The Secret Gardens of Temple’s Main Campus Glenn Eck doesn’t know the acreage of his horticultural domain at Temple University. “It’s irrelevant here,” declares the 31- year-old, whose official title is Assistant Superintendent of Grounds. “You’d be surprised how many tucked-in, hidden, and enclosed garden spaces there are at school.” Indeed, it may come as a sur- prise that Temple’s main campus on North Broad Street houses several of Philadelphia’s most delightful gardens, including “secret” spots, like the Tuttleman Courtyard, Johnny Ring Garden, and Annenberg Courtyard. “One of the maintenance challenges is that there are so many of these pocket parks’ to look after. I think a lot of peo- ple aren’t even aware that some of these spaces even exist,” says Eck, who was trained at Longwood Gardens and England’s Royal Horticultural Society, among others. With the help of 16 crew members and six students under his direction, he likes to point out that he was introduced to the challenges of gar- dening in an urban environment during two seasons of drought. “During my first two years here, the drought made work very difficult, but I learned a lot. It may even have been helpful, in that it saved me from making some mistakes in plant choice and siting. Now, I’m better able to understand the planting needs of an urban campus in summer.” An example of his influence is evident in the eight large, circular containers located in the sunken Founder’s Garden, which now boasts dramatic displays that last through the seasons. Before Eck’s tenure, the concrete urns were planted solely with annuals each spring, and stood empty during the winter. But now, he gets very creative each fall: “When we prune the evergreens in early December, we save all the cuttings and combine them with ornamental kale to make huge winter arrangements in these con- tainers. This is something I’ve been proud of and they’ve attracted a lot of attention.” For his part, Eck feels for- tunate to have found the job at Temple. “Temple is going for a more garden-esque feel. A lot of other college campuses have a park-like setting with plenty of trees, lawn, and maybe limited plantings. But at Temple, they like a lot of color, which makes me happy here because that’s what my training is. I come from a public-gardens background, rather than park manage- ment, and now I’m studying landscape architecture. I like to think of myself as paint- ing on the ground.” — Caroline Meline AAS WINNERS. The winners of the 2001 All American Selections (AAS) Awards have been announced and, as usual, there’s a crop of great plants from which the gardener can choose. The AAS Gold Medal went to Zinnia ‘Profusion White’, a disease-resistant annual with 2- 1/2 inch single flowers that spreads from 12-24 inches and never needs pruning or pinching. Other flower winners for the year include the hot-pink portulaca ‘Margarita Rosita’; lisianthus ‘Forever Blue’; the dwarf nicotiana ‘Avalon Bright Pink’; and the sunflower ‘Ring of Fire’, whose petals have golden outer tips and turns a deep burnt-orange near the center. For pictures and descriptions of these and other AAS winners (all of which will be available for purchase next year), visit www.all- americanselections. org. DON’T PANICA— GO ORGANIC. So says Gardens Alive! (812-537-8650, www.gardens-alive.com ), a mail-order cata- log devoted to environmentally responsi- ble products for the lawn and garden. They were championing the practice of organic gardening following the EPA’s ban on the pesticide Dursban, which no longer met safety standards. At the time of the announcement, Dursban was the most widely used chemical pesticide in the U.S., found in more than 800 consumer products. In many ways, this move heralds the growing trend here towards organic Eck in one of Temple’s “pocket parks”. ■ december 2000 • GREEN SCENE continued The Gardener’s Bookshelf FLOWER & GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY Flower & Garden Photography by Derek Fell (Silver Pixel, 144pp., $29.95) Level: Beginner to intermediate Pros: Colorful and informative Cons: No index For anyone who wants to improve their garden photos, this book should prove eminently useful. Written and photographed by noted local lensman Derek Fell, this comprehensive text walks the reader from equipment selec- tion through numerous techniques to the lighting idiosyncrasies of various flowers. Illustrating the text are hundreds of color photographs, including highly useful “error” shots that show what not to do when you push the shutter release. The range of topics include macro (close-up) images, as well as lush land- scape shots from Fell’s many world excursions. Cumulatively, this makes for a thorough and clearly written text on becoming a better garden photographer. For a reference book, the lack of an index is an obvious inconvenience, but the rest of the book is quite strong and, indeed, highly recommended. — Pete Prown Chile Peppers: Hot Tips and Tasty Picks for Gardeners and Gourmets By Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Beth Hanson, Guest Editor (Science Press, 111 pp., softcover, $9.95) Level: All levels Pros: Colorful pictures, interesting recipes and gardening tips Cons: Not much depth As Handbook 161 in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s 21st Century Garden Series, Chile Peppers is so much fun that it will tempt even those most timid about eating hot foods. To those who love it hot, this booklet offers a satisfying, albeit intro- ductory range of information from the his- tory of the chile, from growing chiles both indoors and out to cooking with chiles (14 recipes are included). Finally, it lists where to obtain even the rarest varieties. An altogether useful book, the chapter “What Makes Chiles Hot” will help you apply scientific objectivity to the agony you’ll experience after nibbling a Habanero pepper, the hottest chile known to humankind. Another chapter, “Encyclopedia of Chile,” could likewise help prevent a painful culinary experience. The usual assortment of gourmet recipes also offers up a weird one or two: imagine Chile-pecan brownies that will wake up anyone’s grandma or discourage the kids from begging for sweets for a while. Overall, Chile Peppers is a book equally at home in the green- house, library, or kitchen. Just keep a fire extinguisher handy. — Laurie Fitzpatrick gardening. Notes George Wagner, 63, who has been gardening in California for near- ly 50 years, “I simply don’t want to expose myself to chemicals in the gar- den.” When George’s pepper plants became infested with aphids this year, instead of using Dursban or another chemical, he used an organic spray made from chrysanthemums and a canola oil called Pyola, which quickly did the trick. Adds 77-year-old garden- er Joy Bell, “I prefer organic products because each one of us needs to do what we can to preserve the environ- ment. It’s also a comfort to me to know that I’m not exposing myself to chem- icals whenever Fm working in the gar- den.” GRASSES ON DISK. Timber Press is known far and wide for its scholarly reference books on horticulture, but now they’ve opted for the electronic route with a CD-ROM called The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses. Written by noted Delaware Valley writer/photographer Rick Darke, this disk (PC format, $59.95) is a companion to the 1999 book of the same name, and includes text and over 700 hi-resolution photos of sedges, rushes, cat-tails, and selected bamboos. There’s also an easy “Search" function to track down plants and plant names with the click of a button. For more information, call (800) 327- 5680 or visit www.timberpress.com. 6 ASK A GARDENER by Hotline \ olunteers Is there place in or near the city where resi- dents can acquire com- post for free or at reduced cost? I have a small city garden and would probably only need a few bags. Alison McDowell , Philadelphia, PA There is the Fairmount Recycling center on Ford Road in Fairmount Park. The center is there for all city residents; you just bring your own spade or fork and plastic bags. I received a three-month subscrip- tion of flowering bulbs as a Christmas gift. I just read that they may not be good to force indoors again, but I’m wondering if I can plant them outside in the spring to bloom next year. Also, should I continue to water them indoors until I can plant them outside? Barbara Kasper, Rochester, NY You should keep your pots watered until it is time to plant outdoors; in the Delaware Valley area, the last frost date is May 15th. These bulbs will come up this spring, but the performance will not be as good as new bulbs. However, with some bulb food and growing outdoors for a year, they should recover for the sec- ond year’s bloom. I have a small dendrobium orchid that I purchased at last year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. It just fin- ished blooming for the first time since last March, but all of the new buds have turned purple and dried up without ever opening. Any ideas why? John Donahue, Pine Hill, NJ “Bud blast” may occur because temper- atures are too cold or too hot. Also, ethyl- ene air pollution — which is harmful to orchids — can cause buds to turn pink, then brown, and drop off. One source of ethylene is ripe or ripening fruit. A basket of ripe apples or other fruit nearby can cause such problems. Also, make sure the plant is getting adequate air circulation, is properly potted, and is receiving the cor- rect orchid fertilizer. On the subject of failed blossoms, Elvin McDonald writes in his book 100 Orchids for the American Gardener (Workman Press), “Adequate light is need- ed to sustain the flowers (of course, no hot, direct sunlight, except possibly for brief times early or late in the day). Avoid heaters, coolers, fireplaces and the TV, and take care that spotlights and floodlights are not placed too close to the flowers.” Do you have a question for our garden experts? If so, contact PHS's Horticultural Hotline in the McLean Library, which is open Monday- Friday, 9:30-noon. Phone (215) 988-8777; fax (215) 988-8783; email: askagardener@pennhort.org. A LIVE CHRISTMAS TREE. Are you planning to enjoy a living tree for the holidays this year? If so, how will you keep it alive through the winter? As PHS president Jane Pepper offers in her book, Jane Pepper’s Garden (Camino Books), “If you plan to pur- chase a live, balled, and burlapped Christmas tree, dig your planting hole now, rather than face solid, frozen ground on New Year’s Day. Put the fill dirt in an area where it will not freeze and keep the hole open by filling it with loose mulch. It’s also wise to sur- round the hole with stakes to avoid accidents.” GARDEN WRITERS IN PHILLY. On September 15, 2000, over 600 members of the Garden Writers Association of America (GWAA) invad- ed Philadelphia for a four-day sympo- sium of lectures and garden tours. They visited Longwood, Scott Arboretum, Chanticleer, Morris Arboretum, and Bartram’s Garden, along with a number of private gardens. One high point was a visit to the Village of the Arts & Humanities in North Philadelphia [profiled in the August 2000 issue]. The garden writ- ers— many of whom represent maga- zines, newspapers, websites, and other major media outlets — were awed by the artistry and passion of Lily Yeh and her army of volunteers. Indeed, it was a big day for the Village, as well as for PHS’s Philadelphia Green program, which has supported the garden for many years. | december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 7 The perfect centerpiece for a dinner table is a cluster of fresh herbs. Dinner guests are encouraged to pinch and snip the herb of their choice to amend the flavor of their food, just like salt and pepper. The next morning, the herbs go back on their sunny windowsills. all Winter Story and Photography by Walter Chandoha Most winters, I have a pot of fresh rosemary grow- ing in my windowsill herb garden — but not last year. In the fall I had forgotten to dig up and pot a full-grown specimen growing in my outdoor garden. And for a mid-winter dinner party, I needed rosemary to spark up my signature dish of herbed roast pork. Reluctantly, I had to buy the dried stuff in one of those tiny jars — less than a half ounce for $2.95. Highway robbery! And even worse, in the produce department a couple of branches of fresh basil for my Insalata Caprese cost $2.50. Right then and there I vowed to have fresh herbs all the time, whether its summer or the dead of winter. Here’s how you can, too. 9 Fresh Herbs WHAT TO GROW During the summer and early fall, growing fresh herbs in the garden is a given. Fortunately, if you have a few sunny windows, it’s relatively easy to grow fresh herbs indoors all through the winter, too. You’ll not get bumper har- vests as you would from your summer outdoor garden, but you get enough ferny dill to add to a pot of chicken soup, cilantro to flavor salsa or a salad, and certainly enough rosemary and sage to add another dimension to pork, chicken, or beef. Some herbs do better than others indoors. Annuals like basil, parsley, and dill are a cinch. All you need are some pots, seeds, a sterile soil mix, and lots of sunny window sills. Most of the perenni- als— sage, thyme, winter savory, bay and lemon grass — thrive indoors (rosemary is iffy because of spider-mite infesta- tions). Chives and tarragon need a dor- mant cold spell before resuming growth in mid-winter. Pot some up in the fall, bury the pots in a pile of chopped leaves until the New Year, bring them indoors, and new growth will start almost imme- diately. You’ll be harvesting within a month. You can start your winter herb garden in three ways: start plants from seeds; dig up and pot plants growing out in the gar- den, or buy started seedlings from nurs- eries or by mail from garden catalogs. Let’s take indoor seed-starting first. Forget about seeding perennials for now. They are best dug up from the garden or grown from bought seedlings. Yes, you can go the seed route with perennials if you want to get lots of plants economi- cally for the summer outdoor garden. But except for chives, perennials take too long to get a harvestable amount during the winter. Because annuals grow fast and are usu- ally consumed frequently, these are a bet- ter choice for starting from seeds. But at this time of the year, local stores have not yet gotten their new supply, so mail- order catalogs are your best source. If you have seed packets left over from last year, use them but sow double the amount indicated to make up for the reduced viability of old seed. If you’ve saved your own seed from last summer’s garden, you will have no problem, as they are the freshest you can get. SOIL & FERTILIZER Regular garden soil packs too tightly when used in container gardens, so I use a sterile soil mix like Pro-Mix or Jiffy- Mix. These are mixtures of peat, perlite, vermiculite and assorted nutrients. All are dusty, bone dry, and need to be moistened. Cut a slit in the bag, slowly add water, and knead to blend it with the mix. It should be damp to the touch, but not sopping wet. For each potful of mix, I add a gener- ous pinch of Osmocote, a timed-release fertilizer. As the round pellets slowly dis- solve over weeks and months, the fertil- izers they contain are taken up by the plants. Additionally, twice a month, water the indoor herbs with a water-sol- uble fertilizer (like Schultze, Miracle Gro, or Peter’s) at half the recommended amount so you don’t burn the roots and kill the plants. STARTING SEEDS Fill a flower pot with moistened mix, sprinkle seeds over the surface and just barely cover with a pinch or two of more mix. Insert the seeded pot into a plastic Above: Dig up cold-sensitive rosemary before frost, then plant it in a pot to spend the winter indoors. Next spring, plant it outside again. Right: A radiator to provide bottom heat, a sunny windowsill, and a plastic con- tainer and bags to trap moisture make an ideal seed starting combination. Remove the bags once the seeds germinate. (Some of the basil in the pot on right will be transplanted to individual containers.) Far right: When seedlings are a few inches high, transplant to individual pots. To maximize sun exposure once potted, move herbs around from one sunny room to another. 10 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 1 There is safety in numbers. Clustering pots together boosts the moisture in the air surrounding the plants. This added moisture is especially helpful in houses heated with hot air, which can create an environment that is too dry. Fresh Herbs bag, seal with a twist tie; then set it atop a warm place — a refrigerator or even a radiator. Bottom heat accelerates germi- nation, but buffer the heat with a 2-inch stack of magazines. As soon as the seeds sprout, take the pot out of the bag and place it on a sunny window. The seedlings will be crowded. Depending on how much of any one herb you use, either let them grow crowded in the starting pot or transplant clusters of 3-4 seedlings into individual pots. Available sunny window space is also a consideration. This seems obvious, but don’t make more potted seedlings than you have room for. If I’m limited in space, I stick to just one pot with crowd- ed seedlings and use the “cut-and-come- again” method, notably for harvesting basil, dill, cilantro, fennel (grown for its ferny anise-flavored leaves), and parsley, the latter of which is actually a biennial. With a pair of scissors, I snip off the desired amount about 2-3 inches above the soil line, but never cutting any more than 1/3 of the tops. In their fertile soil, the plants quickly send up new growth and, in a few weeks, you’d never know they were cut. Herbs growing in their individual pots are harvested by pinch- ing off solitary leaves as needed. To have a supply of fresh annual herbs all winter, I make new sowings about every three weeks. As the older plantings are used up, the newly sown plants push up new growth. TRANSFERRING GARDEN PLANTS TO POTS If you’re as heavy an herb user as I am, the best way to have an abundance of herbs in your winter window-sill garden is to dig up the big, mature plants from 13 the garden in fall. In our USDA Zone 6 region, tender perennials like rosemary, bay, and lemon grass have to be brought indoors anyway, so you might as well consider these as candidates for your winter garden. At the same time, dig some of the winter hardy perennials and even annuals for potting. Lift the herbs 3-4 weeks before the first fall-frost date. Here in the Mid- Atlantic area, that’s around October 1 5, give or take 1 0 days. The day before dig- ging, deeply water the soil surrounding the chosen herbs. The following day, use a sharp spade to slice into the soil around the sides of each herb and lift it out, tak- ing care to keep the root ball intact. Fill the bottom of a pot with 1-2 inches of soil mix fortified with a generous pinch of Osmocote and set the dug-up herb into the pot so that the top of the root ball is about an inch below the pot’s rim. Fill the space around the root ball with more soil mix and tamp it down to elim- inate air pockets, water thoroughly, then take the potted herb to a sheltered out- door area (where it can become acclimat- ed to its new home in the pot). After a couple of weeks of this reverse hardening-off process, hose off the plants to get rid of any bugs that might be lurking in the foliage. After the foliage is completely dry, bring the plants indoors to their new winter home. NURSERY-GROWN PERENNIALS Lacking big, mature herbs from the garden, you can order seedlings by mail from garden catalogs. Chances are slim that local plant markets and garden cen- ters will have any in stock at this time of the year, but check out florists and i Fresh Herbs greenhouses in your area. Some stock herb seedlings all-year round. When you receive the plants, pot them in 6-inch containers using the same ster- ile soil mix used tor starting annual seeds. Water the plants, then park them indoors where they get bright light, but not direct sun. After about a week of coddling, move them to the sunniest window available. Care for them as you would annuals. INDOOR CONDITIONS Most houseplants — and that’s what your container herbs become when you grow them indoors — prefer a slightly cool climate and soil more dry than moist. Foliage, however, benefits from frequent misting to counteract the dry- ness in most heated homes. Household spray bottles, thoroughly rinsed and filled with water, are perfect for this use. I put the potted herbs in the kitchen sink and spray mist the entire plant, includ- ing the undersides of the leaves. The foliage gets the humidity it likes, but even more importantly, the weekly spraying dislodges lurking aphids, white fiies and spider mites. I also do this so that the herbs I eat won’t have any bug killers of any kind on them. The weekly water misting is adequate to keep the plants bug-free. So what are you waiting for? Though the weather is turning cold outside, the time is always right for fresh herbs in your cooking. Just grab a pot, soil, and seeds. ..and you’re in business. 53 Walt Chandoha is a professional garden photographer and writer who lives in New Jersey. . Herbed Roast Pork • Slice the pork 1/2 to 1 inches thick, cover with mushroom sauce, and Boneless pork loin (6-10 inches long) serve. Excellent with rice or mashed 3-4 cloves of garlic potatoes. This herb mixture can also 5 8-inch sprigs of rosemary be used to coat beef, veal or lamb 10-20 sage leaves roasts, and is especially good on 2 tablespoons salt grilled chicken. 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil 1 cup chicken stock Insalata Caprese Dollop of white wine (Tomato/mozzarella salad) 3 tablespoon flour 4 oz. butter Fresh ripe tomatoes ( one per person) 12-16 oz. sliced mushrooms Fresh mozzarella Basil • Score fat side of pork with criss- Garlic cross gashes about 1-inch apart, Extra virgin olive oil penetrating through the fat and just Balsamic vinegar barely cutting into the flesh. Salt and pepper to taste Fresh Italian bread • Strip leaves off rosemary stems, combine with sage, garlic, salt, and • Slice tomatoes, slice mozzarella. pepper. Mince herbs and add Arrange on plate alternating toma- enough olive oil to make a paste. toes with cheese. The salad is more Rub the herb mixture all over the eye appealing if both red and yellow meat, working it into the criss-cross tomatoes are arranged to alternate gashes. with the cheese. • Cook in oven at 400°F for 1/2 hour. • Sprinkle shredded basil leaves over Add 1/2 cup chicken stock to pan, the tomatoes and cheese. lower heat to 325°F, roast for anoth- er 30 minutes, Add more chicken • Sprinkle with minced garlic and stock (or water) to keep liquid in dust with salt and pepper. bottom of pan. • Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil • Remove meat to platter and let rest and dot with vinegar. Use about 4 for 13 minutes. parts oil to 1 part vinegar. • Deglaze bottom of roasting pan • After the salad is gone, mop up the with white wine, add balance of garlic-infused vinaigrette with the chicken stock, and use enough of Italian bread. The insalata can be the flour to thicken the sauce. For a served as a first course on individual richer sauce, melt and blend the plates, as a main dish entree on a big butter in with the other ingredients. platter, or as a salad following a pasta or meat entree. • Add half the mushrooms to the sauce, reduce its volume by about a third (these mushrooms will shrink). Just before serving, add the balance of the mushrooms and heat through. 14 GREEN SCENE • december2000 A forgotten American herbal masterwork now available for the first time in English Sauer’s Herbal Cures America's First Book of Botanic Healing William Woys Wearer The secrets of this long-lost classic have now been recovered by renowned food historian William Woys Weaver. Adding descriptions of the 266 plants listed, 50 period woodcuts, and fascinating cultural information that places Sauer's advice in its historical context, Weaver brings a treasury of herbal lore to today’s readers. s s s v a. o V 3 >e n D 3 At Bookstores or Call 1 - 800-634-7064 C Get the [(FARM MARKETS Most • Growers of Premier Garden Plants including Annuals, Perennials, Proven Winners & Garden Dahlias. • Propagators of Zonal Geraniums. • New Guinea Impatiens Hanging Baskets ' • Ivy Geranium Hanging Baskets • Combination Garden Baskets Value & Quality for Home & Garden ^ \ Charles S Heal Jr. & Eric Heal MOSTARDI visit us on the web @ NURSERY www.cshealmarket.com 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 Visit our website! www.mostardi.com 610 • 356 • 8035 1607 Salem Rd. Burlington Twp. NJ (609)386-9422 Fax: (609)386-9635 OPEN DAILY! Mon.-Fri. 9-5:30, Sat. & Sun. 9-5 december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 15 The Perfect Gift! (we’ll even send a gift card) fcGR6£f4 ■p GREEfcJ Give a friend or loved one the gift of gardening. ..with a subscription to Green * tooRfexw Scene magazine! That’s 6 issues of GREAT GARDENING TIPS and CREATIVE OUTDOOR IDEAS, all perfect for gardeners on the East Coast. 3 = GET SIX ISSUES FOR ONLY $16.95 (ONE YEAR) OR SAVE 10% WITH 12 ISSUES (TWO YEARS) AT $32.95. Yes, sign me up for Green Scene magazine! □ 1 year Q 2 years Q Gift subscription Send subscription (and gift card) to: Name Address City/State Zip Gift from (if applies): Name Payment method: □ check enclosed □ credit card Card# Exp. date Date: Mail coupon to: Green Scene, PHS P.O. Box 7780-1839 Philadelphia, PA 19182-1642 A Visit with Dale Hendricks of North Creek Nurseries Story by Adam Levine As I step into a greenhouse at North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, I initially only notice the color — bright green as far as I can see, about a hundred feet to the door at the opposite end. I follow Dale Hendricks, the nursery’s co-owner, down the center aisle, and realize that the color’s source is my favorite native plant. “Tiarella!” I intone, shaking my head, amazed by the beauty of this miniature mass planting. “How many are there?” I ask, and Hendricks makes a quick menial calculation and guesses between 10,000 and 15,000. I’m entranced. 16 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 A wholesale operation, North Creek produces starter plants, or plugs, that other wholesalers and retailers buy and grow on to full size, so each tiarella is no more than a few leaves in a plastic cell only 1-1/2 inches square. But as small as they are, the sweep of tiny foamflowers reassures me that, even while the habitat of this and many other native plants con- tinues to be degraded and destroyed, the plants themselves are in no danger of extinction. North Creek’s latest 60-page catalog has more than 300 species and cultivars, many of which are Eastern U.S. natives that gave the business its start. “These days, lots of people don’t want a lot of lawn, but aren’t aware of the alterna- tives,” Hendricks says. “What we’re try- ing to do is create a new vision of what’s beautiful, largely by using natives. These are plants with habitat value and, if they’re properly selected, offer a sense of regional harmony and appropriateness to the landscape. By planting native, you take gardening way beyond decorating, beyond the merely ornamental, and give it all these positive environmental values. We call it ‘ecologically-informed horti- culture,’ and look at ourselves as a bit of a new bridge in the industry.” He laughs and adds, “Though it seems to be a rope bridge at times.” Hendricks, 48, and his business part- ner, Steve Castorani, founded the nurs- ery in 1988 to grow and market native plants, a niche few others occupied at that time. “Back then, natives weren’t fashionable, they were misunderstood,’ Hendricks recalls. “People thought they looked weedy and harbored ticks. Fortunately, they’ve since become more accepted.” While Hendricks did a bit of garden- ing growing up in Lederach, 40 miles north of Philadelphia, he never intended to make horticulture his life’s work. In | december 2000 • GREEN SCENE - college, he first studied psychology and then philosophy, paying his own way with a series of odd jobs — dishwasher, golf caddy, welder, taxi driver — but in the end, never getting a degree. In 1973, he was living in Lancaster, PA when a friend told him about job openings at Green Leaf Enterprises, a nearby whole- sale plant grower. “I convinced Green Leaf to let me water plants and unload trucks lor $2.25 17 an hour,” Hendricks recalls. While it may have begun as “just another job,” he quickly became engrossed in the work. His interest and intuitive skill as a prop- agator caught the attention of Oliver “Buzz” Babikow, the company’s presi- dent, who gave the novice horticulturist increasing responsibility. Within two years, Hendricks was in charge of grow- ing a number of the tropical plants the company sold during the 1970s house- i I A vast hoop greenhouse full of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis , and many other natives. plant boom. And as perennials became more popular in rhe 1980s, Green Leaf moved Hendricks into that line of pro- duction. He supervised a range of peren- nial greenhouses in Kennett Square, PA, and, ro learn more about this new field, took classes taught by Dr. Darrel Apps at Longwood Gardens. “I would badger Dr. Apps with a lot of questions,” Hendricks recalled. “I even- tually convinced him to come out to our greenhouses and look around.' Apps then recommended different varieties for Green Leaf to grow and even provided stock plants. He also introduced his eager student to buyers and growers in the industry, relationships Hendricks maintained after leaving Green Leaf and setting up shop with Castorani in 1988. By that time, with a wife and two chil- dren and 13 years at Green Leaf under his belt, Hendricks was looking to forge his own path in horticulture, but had yet to find a niche. The turning point came when, by chance, he saw a small article in the local Kennett newspaper about a Philadelphia landscape-restoration firm, Andropogon Associates, and the beauti- ful native bluestem grass from which the company took its name. “I was growing ornamental grasses as a side project,’ Hendricks recalls. “Once I saw the article, 1 called up Andropogon Associates and invited them out to see what I was doing. They were unbeliev- ably excited when I offered to grow Andropogon for them, and before long, I was getting orders for grasses that Green Leaf wasn’t interested in. I took this as a bit of a sign from God that there really was a market out there for native plants.” Besides Apps, Hendricks soon met several other “high priests” of horticul- ture, as he calls them, including a Maryland grower named Richard Simon, Dr. Richard Lighty (then direc- tor of the Mt. Cuba Center for the Study of Piedmont Flora in Centreville, Delaware), and Pierre Bennerup of Sunny Border Nurseries in Connecticut. Hendricks was the first grower to offer several of Lighty’s most popular native- plant selections, including Aster novi- belgii 'Purple Dome’ and Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. “Bennerup walked me through his nursery, gave me armloads of plants, and said, ‘Grow me a thousand of this, grow me a thousand of that,’ Hendricks says with a smile. “With friends like these, it wasn’t terribly hard to sell all the plants we could grow in those early days.” And unlike some, Hendricks never fails in his catalog to give credit where it’s due. “A lot of growers pretend everything new that they grow is their own intro- duction,” he says. “I’ve always tried to share the spotlight with those kind enough to get me new plants.” He is especially grateful for the partnership of Castorani, who provides the business expertise that has allowed the nursery to expand many times over the years. As he enters his second dozen years at North Creek, Hendricks’ goal is now to find new ways to “green” the business of making plants at his own nursery and others. He does this by recycling more of the plastic he uses, making greenhouses more fuel efficient, and reducing the use of chemical pesticides. “Consumers in Europe are already demanding environ- mentally friendly products,” Hendricks says, noting that it’s only a matter of time before the movement spreads to the U.S. “Hopefully,” he adds, “before long, the Andropogon Associates of the world will not only want native plants, but want them grown in the greenest man- ner possible.” Today, North Creek produces several million small plugs every year, employ- ing about 40 full and part-time workers in 30 greenhouses and several open fields covering a total of about five acres. But, as big as this operation may seem to the home gardener, the nursery is small by wholesale-industry standards. Hendricks has to work hard to keep ahead of the big guys who can produce far more plants far more cheaply. He finds new plants by scouring wild areas with botanists, buy- ing them from specialty retail nurseries, and trading with growers in Europe 18 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 — “ f M /m IT 14 ill (where gardeners have appreciated our stateside natives far longer than most Americans). He also helps out PHS’s Philadelphia Green program, providing plants and technical assistance for pro- jects at the Airport, 26th Street gateway, and Eastern State Penitentiary. North Creek has a trial garden, where these new varieties are tested before being offered in the catalog, but Hendricks asked me not to photograph these new, unreleased plants, or even describe them in this article. To do so, he said — quoting another of his many unofficial teachers, plantswoman Stephanie Cohen — would be to promul- gate “plant pornography.” He elaborates, “That’s when a garden magazine pub- lishes sexy pictures of plants that people can’t get their hands on.” All I can tell you is that some of North Creek’s trial plants I recently saw are fan- tastic, and we should be able to get our hands on them soon, thanks to Dale Hendricks. 53 Adam Levine is a regular contributor to Green Scene. He recently won an award from the Garden Writer’s Association for his writing. december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 19 L A (%k (dljrxstmas Creating Your Own Holiday Craft Story by Janet Carter Photography by Harry Kalish What is a Christmas feast without a charming centerpiece set as the table s focal point? Festooned with greens, ribbons, ornaments and, of course, a candle in the middle, a well- made centerpiece can capture the essence of holiday cheer. Let s follow these simple steps to create your own version of this Yuletide favorite. Glenterpiece IHere are all of the mechanics (or design elements) you’ll need to create a centerpiece. Among the necessary items are a design bowl, candle, ribbons, greens, a good pair of pruners, scissors, wire, wire cutters, and a block of Oasis (a foam-like medium used to hold flower arrangements together; it is available at most nurseries and florist shops). For the greens, I suggest you get three different kinds of greens, which will create a more natural look. Branches from Douglas fir, white pine, holly, and juniper are often good choices. Greens can be purchased at a nursery, or you can cut them from your yard or a neigh- bor’s (with permission, of course). Also, think about where you’re going to place the centerpiece. Is it going to have a round shape for the center of a table, or will it be long and nar- row for a fireplace mantle? If the lat- ter, cut longer pieces of branches for the sides of your bowl. I | december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 2 Prepare the design bowl by cutting the Oasis block to fit snugly inside. It’s easiest to use a piece of wire to cut the Oasis. (There are cutting grooves in the Oasis which the wire fits right into, making the task much easi- er. You can get three pieces out of the one block and each section will fit into a standardized bowl size.) Put the Oasis in a bucket of room-temperature water and let it soak the water up naturally. Then place the Oasis — drainage holes down — into the bowl. Now you’re ready to begin build- ing your centerpiece. 3 Place the candle in the center of the Oasis block. Firmly press the candle down about an inch or more — enough so that it will stand up on its own. I : j\ QJljristmas (Cmterpt ece 4 Start cutting the greens for the sides of the arrange- ment. Here, I’m starting with juniper, but you can use any kind of evergreen you’d like. Strip the needles off the lower parts of each stem before inserting into the Oasis. (Also, don’t cut the tips off the stems — you want to leave the tips on for a natural look.) 3 Start inserting your cut pieces into the Oasis, making a skirt around the rim of the bowl. Build upwards so that you cover the sides of the block entirely. 22 GREEN SCENE • december2000 6 When you get to the flat top of the Oasis, start to mix and match greens, covering all of your mechanics — in this case, the bowl and Oasis. After 1 cover the sides with juniper, I fill the top in with white pine twigs. Again, a variety of greens will give the centerpiece a more dynamic look. One type of greenery will look static and fake, while using different kinds creates the appearance you see in nature, with trees and shrubs randomly mixed together. 7 Begin decorating with rib- bon, pinecones, or whatev- er ornaments you choose. You can also use fresh flowers, Christmas bulbs, fake holly berries, and more — use your imagination! And for holiday fra- grance, try a few sprigs of euca- lyptus. To attach, either wrap a little piece of wire around the decorative ornament and stick the other end in the Oasis to secure it, or buy a “floral pick," a small piece of wood that has a wire on the end for securing objects. december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 23 i A (Eljrtstmas Centerpiece 8 Check to see that all the Oasis is com- pletely covered and, if necessary, add final greens to achieve the shape and size you want. If you plan to light the candle, don’t build the greens up too high — doing so might be a fire hazard. Water weekly in a cool room; more often in warmer rooms. The only step left is to put your centerpiece on the dining room table, surround with friends and food, and then have a wonderful holiday feast. Now that wasn’t hard, was it? □ Aside from being one of our “Christmas workshop experts,” Janet Carter is outreach coordinator for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green program. Pljilabelplfta (§>vzm gets into tlje Christmas spirit Each December, PHS’s Philadelphia Green program sponsors several Christmas workshops to encourage community-garden groups to spread holiday cheer. Three people from each group attend one of the workshops in order to learn how to cre- ate festive wreaths, centerpieces, and door swags. These trainees can also purchase supplies and then return to their local groups to teach them how to create these projects. And with members of 50 gardening groups attending the workshops, rhe number of people who eventually get trained is sub- stantial. Notes Philadelphia Green’s Janet Carter, “These Christmas workshops are an important con- nection to the community during the non-gardening season. They help us fulfill the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s mission to help create a sense of community through horticulture. Besides that, they’re a lot of fun!” 24 A Philadelphia Flower Show Major Exhibitor specializing in Floral Design &Jf ^ jf Decorating for Weddings7 Parties and 4k /? Special Events * GREEN SCENE • december 2000 Gale Nurseries has been designing and building exquisite, award-winning garden dreamscapes for three generations. And our garden projects are as diverse as your dreams that inspire them: • Period gardens that relate to architecture and personalities • Natural, native plantings that create quiet, inviting areas • Contemporary designs for a hold, exciting statement • Older plantings refurbished, reworked and revitalized. A Design/Build company for Period, Native and Contemporary Qardens Charles H. Gale Jr. B.S. Ornamental Horticulture 1716 School House Road, Box 264 • Gwynedd PA 19436 • 215.699. 4714 • fax 215.699.3203 * gale@netcarrier.com Bloms Bulbs visit us at www.blomsbulbs.com For Your Free Catalog 1495 Wilmington Pike West Chester, PA 19382 Tel: 484-840-0568 Fax: 484-480-0569 december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 25 Cardinal flower ‘WONDERFUL T1VEEDS 7 Woodland Treasures For Every Garden Story by Toni Brinton Yes, there are some wonderful weeds — several plants that are derisively labeled as “nothing but weeds ’ are actually beautiful, garden-worthy specimens. They might not be for every gardener, but for those in the know, they can add a wild, native touch to your plantings. 26 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 Pete Prown large Garfield Blue phlox My favorite weed is the spring-flower- ing blue phlox ( Phlox divaricatd) It was one of the first wildflowers 1 learned and planted. Many years later, I still think it’s a gorgeous plant. A solid 100 feet of this “weed” cascades down the side of my dri- veway underpinning the soft whites, pinks, and apricots of native deciduous azaleas. It also has scattered itself all over my south-facing forest hillside. I do occasionally weed it out of places where it might overrun a more fragile plant. But it is easily removed from unwanted places because its roots are shallow. To my mind, you can never have too much Phlox divaricata. From late summer into fall, the native cardinal flower ( Lobelia cardinalis and L. siphilitica) send their tall bright spires of red and blue skyward. The nearer to water and damp soils they are, the taller they rise. But amazingly, cardinal flowers december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 27 have grown and prospered tor me in an extremely sunny south-facing stable- yard — in poor, gravely soil, no less. In both growing situations, they self sow in such great quantities that I weed them away from their less aggressive plant mates. Next in my list of praiseworthy weeds are two yellows: the woodland poppy (, Stylophorum dipbyllum ) and Corydalis lutea (no common name). In mid- spring, the poppy, with its bright yellow cups, edges the woodland path leading from the top of our hill to our front door, underpinning daffodils and early- flowering azaleas. I remove several each year so they do not overrun my winter blooming treasures, the Christmas and Lenten roses ( Helleborus niger and H. orientalis). One caution: this poppy has yellow juice that will stain your clothes and any exposed arm or leg, so wear your oldest clothes when doing this gardening job. The other yellow in my duo is a small, dainty-looking treasure that self sows with gay abandon, and provides a contin- uous small bloom of bright yellow. Six-to- eight inches tall with delicate cut foliage, Corydalis lutea scatters itself everywhere but is so barely attached to the earth that you can whisk it away from wherever you don’t want it. C. lutea is also very tough compared to the fancy, new oriental-blue Corydalis that transpires in the muggy Philadelphia summers. Another durable and good-looking “weed” is the ostrich fern ( Matteuccia pennsylvanica syn. M. strutbiopteris), whose brown fertile frond keeps compa- ny all winter with the seed pods of Rudbeckia. In spring, bright green edible croziers emerge and then, all summer long, their tall green fronds withstand sun, humidity and storms aplenty with- out showing any signs of stress. Ostrich ferns send out long white underground runners and zoom across the soft forest floor, but if they become too intrusive, I’ll pull them up where they are not wanted. They can simply be mowed or sheared, too. Still, like Corydalis lutea , it makes a great groundcover under large and small trees and shrubs. Dainty violets, too, can be very weedy, throwing their seed far distances. They fasten their corm-like roots to the soil, requiring a stout hoe for their removal. My favorite — and the least aggressive — is the very tiny Labrador violet ( Viola SOURCES (IN SEASON) Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 (215) 887-5900 [Labrador violet, Corydalis lutea, woodland poppy, cardinal flower, blue phlox, ostrich fern] Mostardi Nursery 4033 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610) 356-8035 www. mostardi. com [Labrador viola, Corydalis lutea, woodland poppy, cardinal flower, blue phlox, ostrich fern] december 2000 • GREEN SCENE Primex 435 W. Glenside Ave. Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 887-7500 [Labrador violet, Corydalis lutea, cardinal flower, blue phlox, ostrich fern] Primrose Path 921 Scottdale-Dawson Rd. Scottdale, PA 1 5683 www. tbeprimrosepath. com [woodland poppy, blue phlox] Roslyn Nursery 21 1 Burrs Lane Dix Lane, NY 1 1746 (631) 643-9347 www. roslynnursery. com [woodland poppy, blue phlox, ostrich fern, Corydalis lutea, cardinal flower] 29 J. Franklin Styer 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 (610) 459-2400 www.styers.com [Labrador violet, Corydalis lutea, cardinal flower, blue phlox, ostrich fern, policeman’s helmet] Thompson & Morgan Seed P.O. Box 1308 Jackson, NJ 08527 (800) 274-7333 www. tbompson-morgan. corn [cardinal flower, Labrador violet] labradorica ), which has dark purple leaves and very dark purple flowers. The Confederate violet ( Viola soraria 'Priceana'), with its small, beardless light- purple flowers, is also a tough compan- ion to the spring beauties in our stream- side meadow. Both of these violets are spring ephemerals, disappearing into the meadow grass as the summer progresses (so they should never really be called “weeds”) . Most of the above weed treasures are native plants, not introduced from foreign lands. Yet there is one foreigner that self sows for me, the annual policeman’s hel- met or Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera syn. I. roylei), which is of European origin. Its pink and purple tubular flowers blend and mingle with the fall-flowering oriental anemones, chrysan- themums, and asters, and is a tall, airy cousin of our native impatiens (touch-me- nots or jewelweed), which have yellow or orange flowers. I don't remember how I came by the original plant, yet I would not be without it. For the record, Impatiens glandulifera is considered inva- sive in moister parts of the world (the Pacific Northwest, for example), but I have not had a problem with this stately specimen in my garden. Most of the wonderful weeds above should be considered assets in any but the most controlled garden. After 36 years of gardening (I didn’t start until my late 30s), these are the plants I would not be without. Rarer, scarcer, and more difficult plants do have their virtues, but for visual impact, these sturdy, reliable, and mostly native plants cannot be beat. So let a few of the wonderful weeds through your garden gate and then enjoy the show. 0 A long-time Green Scene contributor, Toni Brinton is a past member of the PHS Council and chair of the Library committee, as well as chair of Passing and the Horticourt at the Philadelphia Flower Show. In addition, she served for six years as presi- dent of Historic Bartram’s Garden. 30 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 U CL O 6 o o PURSLANE: THE INCREDIBLE, EDIBLE WEED by Ronny F. Kosempel Ifs prolific, it’s tasty, it’s nutritious... and it’s free. What is this miracle plant? None other than that pernicious, pesky, and prolific weed: purslane (Portulaca oleracea). As you yanked those green and succulent stems from the vegetable patch, I’m sure your mind wasn’t on purslane’s high Vitamin C content. Yet this “weed” is entirely edi- ble and indeed a good source of vitamins. With all of this to recommend it, I decided to give it a try. The plant itself is very easy to identify, so there is no mistaking it for something less edible. I chose the tender top leaves and picked a cup full, washed them, patted them dry, and sprinkled them in the evening salad bowl. No one complained (this is a feat in itself for my finicky fami- ly). It has a pleasant crunch and mildly acidic taste. This and the fact that it is absolute- ly free for the taking, high in nutrients, and low in calorie content inspired me to con- tinue my research into this incredible weed. I then spoke with Jeannine Vannais, head herbalist for Pennsbury Manor. She explained how the early settlers depended on what they grew in their gardens and also what grew wild in the surroundings to survive. Back in England, they would have had access to these wild edibles for a longer period of time because of the mild winters there. During the winter here, fresh food was scarce so pickling the raw purslane stems was common. And in the early spring, fresh greens were a blessing and a necessity to vita- min-starved colonists. In the kitchen at Pennsbury, they make pickled-purslane stems based on a recipe from William Penn’s time. Since my family is not really big on pickled-purslane stems, I needed to research other easier recipes in which to try this abundant harvest. Since the salad had passed muster, I decided to forge onward and try some other recipes, though not all at once. As the season progressed, I graduated to soups. Start with adding a small quantity to your soup or stew recipe, until you feel more confident. My family grew used to seeing me in the vegetable garden and has generously adopted the attitude “don’t ask, don’t tell” when they are not quite sure what those green things floating in the soup are. If we can do it, so can you. Invite some adventurous gardening friends over for a “weed lunch.” Trade recipes with other weed aficionados. Arm yourself with a good wild plant guide and try some of these “garden invaders.” They are tasty, nutritious... and did I mention that they are free? EUELL GIBBONS’ FRIED PURSLANE Cut several pieces of bacon into small pieces and fry them in a large skillet. When they are cooked to the desired crispness, dump in about a quart of purslane tips. Stir until the tips are evenly coated with bacon drippings, then cover and let cook for 6-7 minutes. Season with salt, if desired, and a little vinegar. PURSLANE CASSEROLE Gather enough tips to fill a pot. Wash well. Boil the tips for about 10 minutes. Drain. Chop fine. Stir in one beaten egg and as many bread crumbs as needed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bake until the top is lightly browned. (Also, try adding some grated cheese and garlic if this appeals to you.) Ronny Kosempel is the former President of the Old York Road Garden Club. 1 999-2000 Green Scene Index Sept. 1999 to Dec. 2999 (Volume 281 Arums (Passionate Perennialist column) by Beverly Fitts, Dec. 2000, p. 32 American Trees (essay) by Gayle B. Samuels, Nov. 1999, p. 22 Arranging the Harvest by Eva Monheim, Oct. 2000, p. 18 Berry Combinations (Passionate Perennialist column) by Beverly Fitts, Oct. 2000, p. 34 Bruno, Barbara By Lorraine Kiefer, August 2000, p. 28 Bulbs (bulb-garden pots) by Art Wolk, Nov. 1999, p. 6 Bulbs (design ideas) by Becky Heath, Sept. 1999, p. 20 Bulbs (layering techniques) by Art Wolk, Sept. 1999, p. 14 Bulb-Planting Tools (Tool Tales column) by Adam Levine, Oct. 2000, p. 36 Carnivorous Plants (garden art) by Steve Maurer, Nov. 1999, p. 4 Chanticleer (Chris Woods interview) by Fran Sorin, Nov. 1999, p. 10 Christmas Wreath Project by Sally McCabe, Nov. 1999, p. 27 Christmas Centerpiece Project by Janet Carter, Dec. 2000, p. 20 Daylilies by Dorothy Noble, May 2000, p. 16 Daylilies (book review) by Pete Prown, May 2000, p. 20 Drought Plants (plant profile) by Patricia Taylor, May 2000, p. 40 Faeries in the Garden by Victoria Lashley, Sept. 1999, p. 8 Flower Arranging (basics) by Jane Godshalk, July 2000, p. 6 Flower Arranging (cutting garden) by Lorraine Kiefer, July 2000, p. 30 Flower Arranging (Flower Show) by Anne Vallery, July 2000, p. 10 Flower Arranging (Ikebana) by Pamela Vu, July 2000, p. 14 Flower Arranging (National Cathedral) by Marban Sparkman, July 2000, p. 36 Flower Arranging (supplies) by Cheryl Monroe, July 2000, p. 20 Flower Arranging (winter techniques) by Joanna Reed, July 2000, p. 24 Forsythia (Philadelphia Green pruning tip) by Pete Prown, March 2000, p. 7 Garden Ornaments by Beverly Fitts, August 2000, p. 16 Garden Redesign (driveway garden) by Walter Chandoha, May 2000, p. 32 Garden Redesign (Southwest style) by Kirk R. Brown, Sept. 1999, p. 4 Genetic Engineering (special report) by Pamela Vu, Sept. 1999, p. 26 Gillenia (plant profile) by Debbie Moran, March 2000, p. 6 Gold Medal Plant Awards (plant profile) by Richard L. Bitner, Nov. 1999, p. 30 Gold Medal Plant Awards (plant profile) by Sheila Gmeiner, Oct. 2000, p. 22 Golden Ragwort (Uncommon Groundcovers column) by Patricia A. Taylor, Oct. 2000, p. 37 Hellebores (plant profile) by Pete Prown, Jan. 2000, p. 6 Hendricks, Dale (profile) By Adam Levine, Dec. 2000, p. 16 Herbs (Growing in Winter) by Walter Chandoha, Dec. 2000, p. 8 Invasive Plants (special report) by Adam Levine, May 2000, p. 22 Invasive Plants (controlled burning) by Jody Peterson, May 2000, p. 25 december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 31 A 1 999-2000 Green Scene Index Jock Christie (gardening tips) by Fran Sorin, Jan. 2000, p. 18 Letter from the Editor: The Grand Finale by Pete Prown, Sept. 1999, p. 3 Letter from the Editor: The Winter Gardener by Pete Prown, Jan. 2000, p. 5 Letter from the Editor: March— A Season of Beginnings by Pete Prown, March 2000, p. 5 Letter from the Editor: Our American Style by Pete Prown, Nov. 1999, p. 3 Letter from the Editor: Teach the Children by Pete Prown, May 2000, p. 5 Letter from the Editor: The Arranger’s Eye by Pete Prown, July 2000, p. 5 Letter from the Editor: Zinnias.. .or Bust by Pete Prown, August 2000, p. 5 Letter from the Editor: Tools of the Trade by Pete Prown, Oct. 2000, p. 5 Longwood’s Search for a Hardy Camellia by R. William Thomas, Oct. 2000, p. 17 Mattock (Tool Tales column) by Adam Levine, Dec. 2000, p. 36 Medieval Garden (design) by Pamela Jacobsen, Jan. 2000, p. 10 Monkshood By Pete Prown, Dec. 2000, p. 3 Native Plants (7 Charming Natives for the Mid-Atlantic Garden) by Dorothy Wright and Bill Lamack, August 2000, p. 34 New Plants: 2000 Introductions (plant profile) by Dorothy Noble, Jan. 2000, p. 24 New Plants: Unusual Varieties (plant profile) by Pamela Jacobsen, March 2000, p. 34 Northern Lights: Gardening with Camillias in Cold Climates By Scott D. Appell, Oct. 2000, p. 12 Old Seed (Burpee) by Colby Wolfe, May 2000, p. 6 Perfect Amaryllis, The by Ray Rogers, Oct. 2000, p. 40 Philadelphia Flower Show (Central Feature) by Adam Levine, March 2000, p. 10 Philadelphia Flower Show (history) by Wilbur Zimmerman, March 2000, p. 24 Philadelphia Flower Show (horticultural tips) by Judith C. McKeon, March 2000, p. 16 Philadelphia Green [see Vacant Land and Forsythia ] Philadelphia Harvest Show by John Gannon, August 2000, p. 40 32 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 Barbara Bruno Water Facts March 2000, p. 7 Plant a Row for the Hungry March 2000, p. 7 Resourceful Gardener, The by Lauri A. Brunton, Nov. 1999, p. 23 Reynold, Renny: The Life and Work of a Philadelphia Flower Show Favorite by Patricia McLaughlin, August 2000, p. 10 Rock Gardening (Watnong) by Ruby Weinberg, Sept. 1999, p. 30 Room with a View (indoor design) by Claire Sawyers, Jan. 2000, p. 30 Roses (easy roses) by Patricia Taylor, May 2000, p. 26 Roses (Knock-Out rose) Nov. 1999, p. 5 Stanley, James (city gardener) By Pamela Vu, Oct. 2000, p. 7 Toronto, Canada (Cabbagetown gardens) by Pete Prown, Jan. 2000, p. 8 Tree Farms by Pamela Vu, Oct. 2000, p. 29 Tulipa tarda By Debbie Moran, Oct. 2000, p. 6 Vacant Land (Philadelphia Green) by Pamela Vu, March 2000, p. 28 Variegated Plants (essay) by Stephanie Cohen, Jan. 2000, p. 7 Village that Lily Built, The by Pamela Vu, August 2000, p. 6 Vines, Annual (plant profile) by Nancy J. Ondra, May 2000, p. 10 Waldsteinia fragarioides (Uncommon Groundcovers column) by Patricia A. Taylor, Oct. 2000, p. 37 Swiss Chard Washington’s Crossing by Debbie Moran, August 2000, p. 7 (Colonial gardening) by Bridget Salantri, Nov. 1999, p. 18 Thyrum, Eve (profile) By Dorothy Wright, Dec. 2000, p. 38 december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 33 Watersheds (special report) by Adam Levine, Nov. 1999, p. 14 Weeds, Ornamental By Toni Brinton, Dec. 2000, p. 26 Yellow In The Landscape: A Tale of Three Sunny Plant Introductions by Dr. Tomasz Anisko, August 2000, p. 22 53 Statement of Ownership Management and Circulation (Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369. Title 39, United States Code) 1 . Date of Filing: September 29, 1 999. 2. Title of Publication: The Green Scene. 3. Frequency of issue: bimonthly. 4-5. Location of Known Office of Publication and Headquarters: 100 N. 20th Street. 5th floor. Philadelphia, Pa 19103-1495. 6. Names and Addresses of Publisher and Editor: Publisher - The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pa 19103- 1495: Editor: Pete Prown, 100 N. 20th Street. 5th floor. Philadelphia, Pa 19103-1495. 7. Owner: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Philadelphia, Pa. 19103. 8. Known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders hold- ing one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mort- gages or other securities: None. 9. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue Preceding 1 2 Months Single Issue During Nearest to Filing Date A. Total No. Copies Printed (net press run) 13,121 14,850 B. Paid Circulation: Sales through dealers and carriers. street vendors and counter sales Mail subscription 80 11,729 80 12,226 C. Total Paid Circulation 1 1 ,809 12,306 D. Free Distribution by mail, carrier or Other means, samples, complimentary And other free copies 74 74 E. Free Distribution outside the mail (carriers or other means) 1,021 400 F. Total Distribution (sum of D And E) 1.095 474 G. Total Distribution (sum of C and F) 12,904 12,780 H. Copies not distributed Office use, left over, unaccounted, Spoiled after printing 200 200 Return from news agents 0 0 1. Total (sum of G, HI and H2) Percent Paid and or Requested 13.104 12.980 1 certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Pete Prown, Editor i The PASSIONATE PERENNIALIST ............. by Beverly Fitts Fascinating Arums Looking through a book on perennials, the arums jumped right off the page and into my imagination. One photo showed boldly variegated foliage and another showed bright red berries that would make colorful additions to a shady garden. Fascinated with the appearance of these attrac- tive plants, my quest began. I found my first arum ( Arum italicum ssp. italicum ‘Marmoratum’) the next spring at a small nursery in upstate New York, and lovingly planted my new trea- sure in the shade of tall trees. In July, it died. This happens more often than I care to remember. So, imagine my surprise when I wit- nessed its resurrection the follow- ing fall. Determined to find out what was going on, and how to grow this curious plant successful- ly, I tracked down Peter Boyce’s book, The Genus Arum (quite a feat in pre-Internet days). Now, you can get this definitive Kew mono- graph from Amazon.com. From Boyce, I learned that the growth cycle of arums actually begins in the fall. Evergreen leaves emerge in early fall and last through ice and snow (yes, they’re great for winter flower arrange- ments). The plant looks a bit tired after a hard winter, but never mind, as new foliage appears again in spring. The flower of the Italian arum struts its stuff in late May or early June. Like Jack-in-the-pulpit and other members of the aroid family, it has a spathe (the pulpit) and a spadix (the jack). The pale, chartreuse flower reminds me somewhat of a calla lily and would be just as beautiful in bouquets and arrange- ments if, that is, it didn’t stink. The odor — caused by an increase in the spadix’s temperature at flowering time — varies according to the species and its geo- graphical location. This clever trick attracts the appropriate pollinator. Some years the smell reminds me of a dirty subway station; other years it’s hardly noticeable. Since the spathe and odor last less than a week, I never know whether to lament the loss of an unusually elegant flower or celebrate the improved air quality. By August, the foliage disappears, leaving only the naked and thickened stalk supporting 1 clusters of brilliant, red-orange 5; berries. I like to hide the bare stems 5 with the foliage of the stinking hellebore ( Helleborus foetidus), var- iegated ivies, or small ferns and hostas. After berrying, the plant goes dormant, which is the best time to transplant if you must. By early fall new foliage emerges once again. Although arums are slow to establish, they’re remarkably easy to grow. Just give the tubers rich, well-drained soil, moist springs and dry summers. They prefer light shade in the Philadelphia area, but I’ve been growing mine successful- ly in the full shade of mature trees for many years. The clump has been holding its own, but not increasing. While some lists of invasive plants include arums, Boyce men- tions only Arum maculatum as invasive. This is the common Lords and Ladies found throughout England and Europe. His detailed habitat maps show a much more limited scope for the Italian arum, and even more limited habitats for the remaining 23 species. This year, only three seedlings of the Italian arum appeared in my garden, the first in 10 years. Arums are all-round great plants for the shade. They offer attractive, evergreen foliage from October to July, elegant flow- ers in early summer, and stunning berries in August. Searching for cultivars of A. italicum like ‘Green Marble’, ‘Tiny’, and ‘White Winter’ can keep even the most avid collector busy. Begin your own quest to acquire these fascinating plants at Russell Gardens Wholesale, Richhoro, PA (215-322-4799) or at Seneca Hills Perennials, Oswego, NY. {www.senecahill.com) .53 Beverly Fitts is a busy garden lecturer, photographer, and former president of the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group. 34 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 UNCOMMON GROUNDCOVERS by Patricia A. Taylor Golden Ragwort Sometimes a plant has everything going for it except its name — golden ragwort certainly fits into this category. To me, its popular name conjures up a vision of a messy weed. And then there’s its oft-debated botanical name. Botanists are currently in a tug-of-war over it, so while most literature and mail-order catalogs list it as Senecio aureus , the new USDA plant database ( http://plants.usda.gov ) cites it as Packera aurea. So forget the nomenclature and just trust me, dear reader. Phis superb evergreen is a native groundcover, found growing on its own in sunny-to-partially shaded moist areas throughout the eastern half of North America (Zones 4-8). Once regarded as sacred by the Iroquois and Cherokee Indians, it is still used as a medicinal plant by herbalists. Since it is reputedly poi- sonous to wildlife (hence its resis- tance to chewing insects and ani- mals), it is only brewed as a tea using its dried leaves. Right now, golden ragwort’s dark green leaves are a standout in my bare winter landscape. They are somewhat heart-shaped, with the widest part measuring 5-1/2 inch- es and the deepest 4 inches. They tend to hunker down a bit with winter cold and reach no more than 8 or 9 inches in height. (In summer, an occasionally exu- berant leaf will soar up to 12 inches.) Golden ragwort expands slowly but relentlessly through underground stolons. This kind of spread results in a dense covering — one that admits little or no weeds. Deep snow and winter cold thin out its ranks, albeit briefly. With the arrival of spring warmth and sunshine, purple-flushed new leaves appear wherever they can squeeze their way through, as well as all along the outer edges of the expanding patch. Purple also suf- fuses the emerging stems and buds, which together top out at 2 feet. In early May, charming aster-like flowers of gold — about 1 inch in diameter — open for three to four weeks. The flowers metamorphose into rounded white seed heads, which look like fluffy buttons as they bob above the dark green foliage. (Honesty compels me to admit that things get a bit messy at this point. You can either let nature take its course, which it does in about two or three weeks ~o | when stalks and flowers shrivel and 5 disappear. Or you can easily and quickly yank out withering stalks f- and compost them.) Though it is said to prefer moist sites — because it is naturally found in such situations — my plants came through last year’s drought with only a weekly watering. I sus- pect this is because they are in a partially shaded location. Should you want to place yours in full sun, you should consider the availabili- ty of moisture. And that will be your only worry, because this plant is literally carefree. My golden rag- wort underskirts Nandina shrubs, but I also think it would be perfect when paired with vigorous, sun tolerant hostas, such as ‘Sum and Substance’ and ‘Royal Standard . The chartreuse foliage of the for- mer, in particular, would create a stunning combination with golden ragwort’s rich dark-green leaves. Though widely grown in American gardens at the beginning of the last century, golden ragwort is rarely found today. This is a great garden mystery to me. Perhaps the novelty of the now-ubiquitous Japanese pachysandra displaced golden rag- wort from garden and lawn areas, but I feel it’s time to reverse the situation. It’s a clear winner. 0 SOURCES Crownsville Nursery, P.O. Box 797, Crownsville, MD 21032 (410) 849-3143, www.crownsvillenursery.com Forestfarm, 990 Tetherow Road, Williams, OR 97544, (541) 846- 7269, www.forestfarm.com Patricia A. Taylor describes many more evergreen groundcovers in her book, Easy Care Native Plants (Holt). december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 35 TOOL TALES by Adam Levine Mastering the Mattock About 10 years ago, I inherited a number of gardening tools, among which was a well-worn mattock. 1 know now that this double-headed tool — with a flat, hoe- like blade on one side and an axe blade on the other — is indis- pensable for any number of difficult digging and grubbing tasks. But back then, I had no idea how to use a mattock, and it would have sat forever gathering rust if my friend Mac hadn’t called one day in search of it. Mac needed to install a plastic barrier along the edge of his bam- boo patch to keep it from escaping into the neighbor’s yard. He knew a mattock would be perfect for the job, but since he was nearly 70 and in ill health, I was “hired” as his mattock-wielder. Following Mac’s basic instructions, I quickly got a feel for the tool — its versatil- ity, strength, and efficiency amazed me. Swinging it like a pick, I could move a surprising amount of soil with the digging blade; and, when encountering the tenacious bamboo rhizomes, found it easy to slice through them with the axe head. Shifting quickly from digging to cutting and back again, I dug a narrow 50-foot trench through the tangle of bamboo in far less time, and with far less frustration, than if I had used the shovel and loppers that would have been my tools of choice for this job. These days, the more I use a mattock, the more jobs I find for it. Besides Mac’s bamboo, I’ve used it to grub out unwant- ed patches of ivy, pachysandra, and sod, as well as many tree stumps. It’s great for turning over new ground laced with sur- face tree roots — areas where I can barely sink a shovel blade, even if I jump on it with all my weight. When digging large holes for new trees or ponds, I’ll often use a mattock to break up the soil, then resort to a shovel to remove the loosened mass. And as Mac taught me that day in his backyard, it’s a perfect tool for digging narrow trenches for irrigation lines or wires for outdoor lighting (as well as for installing ineffective barriers against bamboo that, nonetheless, might bamboozle the neighbors into thinking you have a handle on the situa- tion. For, of course, the foot-deep x plastic barrier Mac and I installed 3 proved useless against the march of the bamboo rhizomes, which went over it, under it — even through it.) A wide range of similar tools are on the market — the most common has a digging blade paired with a pick — but a true mattock has the axe blade, which makes it uniquely useful in the tasks I just described. I’ve seen short-handled mattocks, but these need to be used in the kneeling position, and are only useful for much lighter tasks. Any mattock works best when a sharp edge is kept on both blades (a file or a grinder can be used). Neither blade needs to be razor sharp, since much of the cutting power of the tool comes from its weight and the force of the swing. Mattocks come in different weights and styles, with varying handle lengths, and are available in many local nurseries and home centers. Some are sold via mail order, but I prefer to buy my hand tools in stores. I like to hold them in my hands before I buy them: heft them, see how they fit my grip, swing them around (if I can do so with- out breaking anything). Unlike a power tool, a hand tool is an extension of the user’s body. If I don’t like the feel of it, I won’t use it (or I might hurt myself if I do). If you have a big digging job to do or, like my friend Mac, can find someone willing to do it for you, give the mattock a try. It’s a powerful handtool that can make quick work of a number of different garden tasks. H 1 l I < i 1 J i ‘ i { i i i i i i ] A frequent Green Scene contributor, Adam Levine also writes for Garden Design and This Old House , among other magazines. 36 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 Deer Damage a Problem? Virtually Invisible Deer Fencing / • High-Strength. • Easily attaches to trees or posts. • Protect garden areas or entire properties. Benner's Gardens 6974 Upper York Rd„ New Hope. PA 18938 1-800-753-4660 Visit our website and online catalog kinsmangarden.com English Ironwork Planters Handsome and generous containers that let you enjoy flowers everywhere. And hundreds of unusual gardening and gift items from our English Country Garden Store. Our website has a monthly update featuring seasonal items and special project ideas. The site is secure, so you can order 24 hrs. a day. Visit our store in Historic Bucks County, or call for our Free Gardener’s catalog. Kinsman Company River Road, Point Pleasant, PA 18950-0357 Toll-Free: 1-800-396-1251 Meadowbrook Farms Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus and succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden- related gifts fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horti- cultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants. Meadowbrook Farm 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, FA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 The Ponds & Gardens of Limekiln . Looking for great holiday gifts , for the devoted pond enthusiast . or the passionate gardener? We have both practical and unusual i gift items for everyone! ■ POND SUPPLIES ■ GARDEN & TABLETOP FOUNTAINS STATUARY & CONTAINERS AQUATIC PLANTS & FISH ■ WATER GARDENING BOOKS GIFT CERTIFICATES ‘ AND MUCH MORE!!! ‘ Don’t be fooled by our storefront — We are the MOST COMPLETE POND CENTER IN THE AREA! NOW OFFERING POND . . INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE 200 Limekiln Pike, Glenside, PA 19038 ' Phone: (215) 884-5928 Fax: (215) 884-5907 www.pondsandgardensoflimekiln.com A A A A Photo: Client, Residential: Winter 1999. Fine Garden Creations Creative Garden Installations Superior Plant Selection for Distinctive Plantings Borders, Containers, Ponds. Stone Work, Arboriculture Design, Installation, and Maintenance for All Seasons Philadelphia, The Main Line, Swarthmore, Wilmington. FINE GARDEN CREATIONS 610-338-0630 vsww.FineGardenCreations.com december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 37 Classifieds BUSINESS FOR SALE CHESTER CO. HORTICULTURAL BUSINESS Includes mulch supplier, cut flower/green- house nursery, landscape installation/ maintenance. Very profitable and growing. Moving away. Will sacrifice. 610-593-7333 GARDEN SHOPS MEADOWBROOK FARM Choose from an ever-expanding variety of annuals, perennials, tropicals, native and woody plants. Be sure to see our new cactus & succulent house. Our sales room is stocked with unique garden-related gifts, fountains, statuary and colorful combination baskets. Great horticultural gifts including bonsai and troughs. Tours for horticultural groups offered April-October, call for details. Visit us soon and often and become excited about plants! MEADOWBROOK FARM 1633 Washington Lane Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Mon-Sat 10-5 (215) 887-5900 10% Discount to PHS Members presenting Membership card Achieve a changing kaleidoscope of color in your landscape by planting 4 season interest plants including PHS Gold Medal Plants. Plan your Landscape using our Woody Plant Guide on ourwebsite: www.tripleoaks.com. PHS members receive 10% off with membership card. Triple Oaks Nursery and Herb Garden 2359 Delsea Drive-PO Box 385 Franklinville, NJ 08322 856-694-4272 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Take Walt Whitman or Ben Franklin Bridge to Route 42 South. Take Route 55 South until Exit 43, left off ramp, right on Delsea Drive (Route 47 South). GARDEN STRUCTURES HANDCRAFTED IRON GARDEN STRUCTURES Arbors, Trellises, & Gates in the tradition of elegance, beauty and permanence. Full Color Catalog $3 The Painted Garden, Inc. 304 Edge Hill Road Glenside, PA 19038 (215) 884-7378 HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. (21 5) 699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, Pa. GREENHOUSES GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION Sales and Service Janco, Lord & Burnham and more. Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited (610) 687-2444 HELP WANTED Horticulturist/Gardener Fine Garden Creations, Inc. Seeking 3 Full-Time horticulturist will have the unique opportunity to work in the gardening design and installation of private estate homes and Philadelphia urban gardening projects, as well as smaller subur- ban gardens design, installation, and maintenance, pond and stone work. Fine Garden Creations has a creative, world-trained staff, and is seeking someone who can bring unique skills, ideas, and talents to our growing company. Starting salary $30,000, plus some benefits. Paid vacations and holidays. Education budget. Opportunity for significant overtime. Fine Garden Creations Swarthmore, PA info@finegardencreations. com Contact Person: Andrew Bunting 610-338-0630 GREENHOUSE - ORCHID LOVER Small Philadelphia Main Line Estate seeks a full-time, experienced GREENHOUSE- ORCHID person to develop, grow and main- tain, with loving care, two greenhouses, and occasionally assist other grounds-people. Top salary, many benefits, long-time employ- ment. Opportunity to show in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Possible live-in, or live-out. Please fax your resume to (215) 752-1965 LANDSCAPE DESIGN LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN •Consulting •Plans •Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 David Brothers Landscape Services Bean Road Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration (215)247-2992 (610) 584-1550 (610)525-3232 S. Edgar David Landscape Architects Site planning and Garden Design Design / Rooftop Gardens Native Landscapes, Streams and Wetlands Innovative Solutions Designs of Distinction Design Studio 610-584-5941 MAIL ORDER JOHNNY’S SELECTED SEEDS Purveyors of quality seed for untreated, organic, and heirloom vegetables; annual and perennial flowers and ornamental grasses; and culinary and medicinal herbs. Free, information-filled catalog Call (207) 437-4301 and ask for Judith or order on-line at www.johnnyseeds.com TREE SEEDLINGS Musser Forests offers the widest selection available of evergreen and deciduous tree seedlings; both potted and bare-root. Also offered are landscaping shrubs, ground covers, grasses and perennials. Send for FREE color catalog. Musser Forest, Dept 63-LOO. PO Box 340 Indiana Pa 15701 800-643-8319. Fax 724-465-9893 Email 63@musserforests.com Visit our Website: musserforests.com - 38 GREEN SCENE • december 2000 I MULCH Oak mulch, enriched topsoil, blackgold, mushroom soil, 100% Oak firewood, and mixed Formerly Joe Juliano’s Top Quality Landscape Supplies Keith Carroll Landscaping, Inc. PO Box 254 Glenside, PA 19038 215-659-6021 NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS’ FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers.com ORGANIC FERTILIZERS EXPLOSIVE RESULTS! WITH NATURE-GRO 100% NATURAL VOLCANIC ASH PLANT FOOD BULK PRICING AVAILABLE. NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR SPRING SHIPPING Call 1-888-325-1838; www.nature-gro.com e-mail us at info@nature-gro.com PRESSED FLOWERS INTERNATIONAL PRESSED FLOWER ART SOCIETY. . . .membership $18 yr. Founded by Nobuo Sugino, President Send for application to: Theresa Phillips, 504 S. Old Middletown Rd. Media PA 19063. Phone 610-566-0131 PUBLICATIONS RARE & PREVIOUSLY OWNED BOOKS ON HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL PRINTS - Bought and Sold Polly Goldstein 37 Lochwood Ln. West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 436-9796 E-mail: GrannyPol@aol.com CLASSIFIED RATES Base Rate $3.00 per word (without formatting) Capitalized Words (No Formatting) $4.00 (ex. FOR SALE) Formatted Words.. . $5.00 (ex. 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Send all advertising correspondence to: Laurie Fitzpatrick, Green Scene , The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 -1495 If you have any questions, please call (215) 988-8769. Minimum Charge $60.00 Discount 10% off the second consecutive ad, using the same copy RESTORATION REED’S WOODS, INC. QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE Custom Builder Restorations, Remodeling Greenhouses Springhouse Restorations Decks, Carpentry & Landscape Structures Jamie Reed 2125 Bodine Road Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 827-9663 SPECIMEN TREES HOLLIES Beautiful Ilex opaca & others 10’ - 15’ in ground at Indian Orchards, Media, Pa. Phone/Fax (610) 565-8387 TREE SERVICE BRIAN J. TEMME TREE SERVICE • Quality Tree Care •Pruning, Trimming, and Removals •Fertilization, Disease and Insect Control •Cabling and Stump Removal (215) 572-5665 or (215) 657-0555 TREE TRANSFERS, INC. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Machine and Specialized Hand Digging Dealers and Locators of Large Horticultural Specimens Mature Screening and Shade Trees Assessing and Renovating Mature Collection and Estate Gardens Plant Material Purchased (215) 635-2310 ESTATE GARDENS Experienced gardener seeks a few fine gar- dens to tend in the year 2001 and thereafter. Call Bill Hengst at 215-438-9438 Advertising copy should be submitted 8 weeks before issue date: October, December. February, April, June, August. Minimum rate $60. Charges based on number and format of words. Deduct 10% for your second consecutive ad, using same copy. All copy should be accompanied by check made out to PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY and sent to Laurie Fitzpatrick, GREEN SCENE, 100 N. 20th Street - 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. | december 2000 • GREEN SCENE 39 Classifieds wm The Science of Things By Dorothy Wright Eve Thyrum has an artist’s eye for ornamentation and, as a retired bio- chemist, a scientist’s penchant for order. For the past 20 years, Eve and her hus- band Per, also a scientist, have trans- formed a 2-1/4 acre former orchard in Wilmington into an archipelago of gar- den islands. Tucked here, there, and everywhere are some 140 sculptures and ornaments, more than 40 bird houses, and close to 20 sitting areas. Looking among the plants also reveals the retired biochemist’s scientific meth- ods. “I have the original labels and make notes about every plant I ever bought,” she reflects. “I suppose it is a very orga- nized garden — maybe overly neat.” A new conservatory houses tropical plants, a potting bench, and a study with the Thyrums’ horticulture library and computer. It also provides more opportunities for her experiments. “I have a lot of niches where I can push the limit on hardiness zones,” Eve says. “Around the conservatory I’ve tucked in a lot of Zone 7 plants, such as a hardy banana, a hardy palm tree, and a pome- granate. We’ll see how they overwinter." Now the couple is planning a setting for their sundial collection and the addition of a shaded allee to the far pond. Clearly, it is not only the garden that has undergone a transformation. When they were researchers, Eve recalls, “We lived our lives in the lab and never had time to even think about working outdoors.” Since she’s been working on her own garden, however, she notes, “I’ve never had a second thought about going back to the lab.” Q Dorothy Wright is a writer and editor who lives in Ardmore, PA. GREEN SCENE • december 2000 914 Baltimore Pike Concordville, PA 19331 Mon. Sat. 8-6 Sun. 9-6 610.459.2400 r.styers.com J.Franklin Winners of The Best in Show Philadelphia Flo Perennials Herbs Garden Gifts Outdoor Furniture Garden Books Plants Pruners Trellis Garden Ornaments Bird Feeders Annuals Candles Orchids Statuary Sundials Plant Markers Unusual Tools Garden Art Roses Topiary Supplies erShow Nurseries andscape Design Services Annual Concepts Woodland Retreats Garden Shop A Pa«°r°,!s r Walks and Walls |jr»c0r*\/ Native Plantings ’ Perennial Borders Herb Gardens Master Landscape Plans Outdoor Lighting Garden Design >r*7 You re thinking/’ "Now that I’ve built a successful career, what’s next?’ WeVe thinking, Now build your future’. Proprietary Research Networking Opportunities Personalized Service Unparalleled Investment Experience We understand that while all investors may share the same basic goal, how you achieve your goal differs. Our low elient-to-advisor ratio ensures you get the care, time and attention to detail you expect. 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