Washington Park ARBORETUM BULLETIN Published by The Arboretum Foundation for the University of Washington Volume 56, No. 2 * Summer 1993 • ($3j00y ELISABETH C. MILLER LIBRARY CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, GF-15 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON S8195 AUG 3 1 1993 C.^v, "l- "2- Officers of The Arboretum Foundation Duane Kelly President Vice Presidents: Sheila Taft Administration Margaret Li Unit Council Karole Kiefer Special Events Phil Wood Arboretum Planning Rae Tennyson Secretary Steve Garber Treasurer Mary Thorne Immediate Past President Jan Patrick Immediate Past Unit Council Chair Leslie Stoner Executive Secretary Pamela Tharl Bookkeeper Editorial Board of the Arboretum Bulletin Jan M. Silver Editor Tom Berger Linda Brubaker, Ph.D. Kelly Dodson Valerie Easton Book Review Editor Daniel J. Hinkley Timothy Hohn Jon Hooper Steven R. Lorton Sue Maloney Brian O. Mulligan Jan Pirzio-Biroli Sarah Hayden Reichard Mary Robson Richard Walker, Ph.D. Center for Urban Horticulture Clement W. Hamilton, Ph.D. Director Brian O. Mulligan Director Emeritus The Washington Park Arboretum John A. Wott, Ph.D. Director of Arboreta Tracy Omar Registrar In Bulletin articles, an asterisk (*) indicates species, including varieties and/or forms, that can be found in the Washington Park Arboretum. Advertising Director Susie Marglin (206) 325-4510 Concerning this issue . . . CC A petunia in an onion patch is a spot of joy, ’ ’ starts the old saying, but too many petunias and other annuals, clustered like soldiers in an institutional setting, seem like a waste of time, money, and space. This is approx- imately what former nursery owner Frances Roberson and I discussed as we walked through a heavily landscaped apart- ment complex. Why, we wondered, don’t designers put in perennial borders instead of relying exclusively upon the costly installation and removal of annuals? Pat Bender writes fondly of the influence of Frances — a very popular perennial herself — on local gardeners and horticulturists. During the 1993 Northwest Flower and Garden Show, Sunset editor and Arboretum Foundation member Nancy Davidson Short was honored when Sunset named an en- dowment of horticultural therapy after her. We follow up with horticultural therapist Sheila Taft’s informative intro- duction to her specialty, which will help you anticipate your gardening needs in later years. Fortunately, David Hamilton has anticipated that tradi- tional j^n/z^-loaded gardens droop at summer’s finale. Here he recommends some plants for beauty and backbone in the late summer /early fall landscape. South Africa is estranged from parts of the world commu- nity because of its social policies. On common ground, how- ever, are the horticultural gifts that South Africa can share with the gardeners of other summer dry/ winter rain re- gions, such as the Pacific Northwest. The Arboretum Foundation sponsored Art Kruckeberg’s plant exploration of this controversial country, and Art suggests plants to try and plants to look out for in Northwest gardens. The Elisabeth C. Miller Horticultural Library of the Uni- versity of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture is a place for botanists, landscape designers, and horticulturists, as well as just plain dirt gardeners. Sunset Magazine again demonstrates interest in the regional horticultural com- munity with an article by Northwest Bureau Chief Steven Lorton. Steve explains more about what the unique Miller Library facility has to offer as you plan your landscape. Miller Library’s Valerie Easton writes about what many gardeners hope to do ‘ ‘some day’ ’ — add a water garden. On behalf of the editorial board, thank you to Matsuo Tsukada, whose term expired in June. Starting her own three-year term is Sue Maloney, who supervises the creative landscaping on the Woodland Park Zoo grounds and in the zoological exhibits. We also must say a conditional farewell to Timothy Hohn, whose curatorial position was cut from the financially troubled University of Washington budget. Luckily for us, Tim will contribute to the Bulletin in his civilian capacity. We are pleased to have this spirit of con- tinuity in the Washington Park Arboretum. Jan Silver, Editor The Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin CONTENTS Features 2 . . Gardening in the Later Years — Start Planning Now by Sheila Taft 6 Frances Roberson: Gardener with a Soul by Pat Bender 11 Planning for Late Summer, Early Fall Color by David Hamilton 18 South African Plants for the Pacific Northwest by Arthur R. Kruckeberg 27 The Elisabeth C. Miller Library — A Library for Gardeners by Steven R. Lorton Columns 16 In the Washington Park Arboretum by Timothy Hohn 22 For Further Information: Water Gardening by Valerie Easton 24 New on the Shelves of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library by Valerie Easton Book Review 26 Garden Touring in the Pacific Northwest reviewed by Scot Medbury Magnolia grandiflora . See p. 11. Cover: Calycanthus occidentalis (spice bush) flowers from June to September in the Washington Park Arboretum. Find it near the magnolias, north of the service road to Loderi Valley and west of Arboretum Drive East (across from the old nursery). Spice bush is also known for its fragrant wood and hard fruits shaped like small figs. Photo by Joy Spurr. The Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin is published quarterly, as a bonus of membership in The Arboretum Foundation. The Arboretum Foundation is a non-profit organization that was chartered to further the development of the Washington Park Arboretum, its projects and programs, by means of volunteer service and fundraising. The Washington Park Arboretum is administered through cooperative efforts between the University of Washington, its Center for Urban Horticulture, and the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. The programs and plant collections are a responsibility of the Center for Urban Horticulture. The mission of The Arboretum Foundation is to ensure stewardship for the Washington Park Arboretum, a Pacific Northwest treasure, and to provide horticultural leadership for the region. This stewardship requires effective leadership, stable funding, and broad public support. Articles on gardening and horticulturally related subjects are welcome. Please call the Bulletin for guidelines. For permission to reprint any part of the Arboretum Bulletin , please contact The Arboretum Foundation for written permission. ©1993 The Arboretum Foundation. ISSN 1046-8749. For general information regarding the collections, visitor services or programs of the Washington Park Arbore- tum, call (206) 543-8800. To receive information about public education programs of the Center for Urban Horti- culture, please call (206) 543-8616 or 685-8033. For information about the activities of The Arboretum Founda- tion, call (206) 325-4510. Members of The Foundation receive four issues of the Bulletin , 11 issues of the news- letter, plant sale catalogs, discounts, and early notice of programs and special events. Join The Arboretum Foundation: Individuals, $25; Families, businesses, and organizations, $35; Sustaining, $50; Contributing, $100; Supporting, $150; Sponsor, $200; Lifetime membership, $1,000. Send payment to The Arboretum Foundation, University of Washington XD-10, Seattle, WA 98195. Printed on 50% recycled gloss coated paper (10% post-consumer waste) Typesetting and production by Scarlet Letters, Ltd. E. F. Marten , courtesy of CUH Opal Blaine attends weekly garden club meetings at the Ida Culver House in Seattle. Nancy Cadley tends her plants on the patio of Ida Culver House. Gardening in the Later Years Start Planning Now Raised beds make gardening easier at Seattle’s Jackson Park P-Patch. Virginia Morell works comfortably on her raised rock garden in north Seattle. 2 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin photos & text by Sheila Taft Horticultural therapists are trained to show gardeners of all abilities how to plan for current and future needs in the garden. Consider some of the ideas offered below by a horticultural therapist, to get a head start in planning for gardening situations in later years. orticultural therapy taps into the ability of plants to make us feel better. When talking with other gardeners or watching people at flower shows, you will become aware of this capacity, and the need to enjoy plants throughout your life. Some people feel the body changes that accom- pany getting older but instead of giving up the garden they adapt their surroundings. Robert Ulrich, Associate Dean of Research at the College of Architecture, Texas A & M Uni- versity, has done research that shows the impor- tance of plants to people during physically stress- ful parts of their lives. Ulrich’s studies on stress reduction help emphasize the health benefits of an environment containing plants. When evaluating the effects of plants on post-surgical patients, Ul- rich’s research indicates that recovering patients who had a view of plants from their hospital rooms had a shorter stay and required less pain medication than those patients who contemplated merely a brick wall and windows. The nurses said they were better tempered, too. Because of the benefits of gardening, it is valu- able to anticipate the gardening needs you will have in later years when your physical abilities may be different and prepare for them now. Al- though we are not alone in being able to adapt, we are the only beings who can sit down and plan for the future. This premise behind horticultural therapy is worth examining. You can start today to apply the methods used by horticultural thera- pists in their work. If gardening has so many benefits for us, it is worthwhile to spend some time exploring ways to make it as pleasurable and safe as possible, and to have it easy on our bodies so that we can continue to be actively involved as we age. Some labors spent in healthy middle age will allow an easier transition into gardening in later years, and need not compromise the intellectual stimulation of growing plants in new ways. Horticultural therapists understand disabling conditions, gardening techniques, resources, and a certain ability to adapt surroundings to suit the person involved. Although they help find ways for people to remain involved with plants, you can do much of this for yourself. To Plan for Future Gardening Needs: • assess your garden • assess yourself • consult resources • design a plan and make the changes Assess Your Garden Take a critical look at your garden, patio, bal- cony, and indoor plant areas. Note paths, surfaces, steps, lighting, seating, watering systems, and ease or difficulty in maintenance. Which tools work best for you ? Which areas give you the most pleasure and why? Which do you avoid (a lengthy and heated discourse on morning glory and horsetail is quite permissible here). Can friends in wheelchairs get into and around the garden? Is the patio area accessible and inviting? Does it have potential as an alternate gardening area us- ing raised beds or containers? Does your garden reflect you and your interests? Assess Yourself Aging is normal. It does, however, require some acceptance of limitations, especially for ac- tive gardeners. If we try to forget that, our backs and joints may remind us later. The fear of kneel- ing down and being unable to get up again is amusing only to the young. Some of us will face a disability in old age. But we are good at adapting. It is worth evaluating your needs now. Retirement homes are filled with peo- ple who wish they could still have their gardens. Take a look at your general health. Do you sleep and eat well? Exercise? What are your current abilities? And limita- tions? Is the garden stressful to you? Physically? Emotionally? Why? Is your garden pleasurable? Do you feel secure on paths, steps, and lawn? Consult Resources Many resources are available to help plan for your future gardening needs. Your physician or physical therapist can advise you on your health and the most suitable exercises. Consultants who specialize in garden design for the disabled can be recommended by the American Horticultural Therapy Association and schools that offer Horti- cultural Therapy, such as Edmonds Community Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 3 College, north of Seattle. Plans are available for building raised beds and many catalogs offer phys- ical aids and specialized gardening tools and cloth- ing. Gardening periodicals have articles and ad- vertisements of interest. The library at the Uni- versity of Washington’s Center for Urban Horti- culture has a book list available on horticultural therapy and gardening techniques. Large retail nursery and garden centers and the Washington Park Arboretum Gift Shop are worth browsing through for new ideas. Assess your situation, identify problem areas, and keep an open mind while exploring the options. Design a Plan and Make the Changes You and your garden are unique. That is why garden tours are enthusiastically attended and why using a generic plan for your particular gar- den is impossible. One thought should remain constantly with you, however: “Does this idea make my garden functional for me?” The following ideas for physically challenged peo- ple who want the most out of their gardens were taken from the “Gardening for Seniors” series (sponsored by The Arboretum Foundation, Seattle) and from interviews with Arboretum Foundation members, including Lee Clarke, Lavonia Leo, Vir- ginia Morell, Elizabeth Moses, Margaret Mulligan, Sue Peterson, and Nancy Davidson Short. Making Your Garden Functional 1 . Use a kitchen timer to remind you of how long you plan to work, which will help to prevent tiring. 2. Wear a whistle on a string around your neck in case you fall in a remote area of your gar- den. 3. Protect yourself from the wind and sun by constructing trellises, arbors, umbrellas, walls, and fences, and planting shade trees now. 4. Use high-quality casters to move bulky items such as whiskey barrels. 5. Use a small-bladed shovel, six by eight inches, with a regular length handle. 6. Try a light English garden fork. 7. Use ratchet hand pruners if you have ar- thritis. 8. Hang tools by the back door for conven- ience. 9. Dig compost makings directly into the soil. 10. Mulch to avoid excessive weeding and the bending it requires. 11. Install automatic sprinklers and lighting systems. 12. Elevate faucets and hose reels. 13. Bury soaker hoses at the season’s start. 14. Install drip irrigation — even in the bird bath. Drip irrigation is good for those who travel extensively. 15. Build raised beds and consider container gardening. For example, Jackson Park P-Patch of- fers raised beds in several heights. 16. Build tables for your favorite plants. Make your tables the right height for your needs. 17. Prepare a raised rock garden; a wide wooden edge allows you to sit while working. 18. Maintain year-round ornamental interest in the garden. 19. Choose hardy, low-maintenance plants and dwarf varieties that suit the size of your garden. 20. For little, if any, maintenance, plant ever- green azaleas in a rockery. They bloom well, re- quire little care, and block out weeds. 21. Put ramps on hillsides. 22. Make a rest area with a favorite bench. 23. Purchase weatherproof chairs and place them around the garden for those who find walk- ing difficult. 24. Use a sitting stool that can be reversed for kneeling. The legs then become supports for ris- ing up from that position. This useful seat is ad- vertised in many gardening catalogs. Leverage from a kneeling position is a constant theme of older gardeners. 25. Purchase a small- wheeled cart that has a place to sit and some storage area; it should have wide wheels and a padded seat. Or, obtain a wheeled seat. Beware on a hillside, however. 26. Carry a carpet remnant into the garden and sit or lie down to work. 27. Add bird feeders and bird baths to the gar- den to reap the benefits of encouraging bird life. Place them where they can be seen from a seating area. 28. Hire someone to help. This is a popular solution for many older gardeners. Skilled help can sometimes be found by calling vocational- technical schools that offer landscape mainte- nance courses. The Millionaire’s Club and teen- agers also can help. 29. Take up photography — a wonderful hobby, which also creates a garden record for the family. 30. Divide favorite plants to share with your in- terested children. 31. Maintain a memory garden filled with plants given by family members and friends. 4 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Stay Involved with Your Garden There is no doubt that involving ourselves with plants is good for us, and if we teach our children and grandchildren that there is more to gardening than the chores of weeding and lawn mowing, we encourage better health for them, too, and much pleasure. This is a wonderful use of our golden years of gardening but included should be some role modeling of a healthy way to do it. We may find that the changes we make for our older years are thoroughly enjoyed long before we get there. Sheila Taft received an associate’s degree in Horticul- tural Therapy from Edmonds Community College. Sheila is the first vice-president for administration of The Arboretum Foundation. Resources for Horticultural Therapy Information American Horticultural Therapy Association, 9220 Wightman Road, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20879; (301) 948-3010. Everyone Can Garden. Maureen Phillips HTM, consultant. 5740 NE 62nd Street, Seattle, WA 98115; (206) 525-8682. More Reading Binetti, Marianne. Tips for Carefree Land- scapes. Pownal, Vermont: Storey Communica- tions, 1990. ISBN 0-88266-604-5. Pierce, John, and Roland Barnsley. Easy Life- long Gardening: A Practical Guide for Seniors. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0-943955-72-6. Yeomans, Kathleen. The Able Gardener. Pownal, Vermont: Garden Way Publishing, 1992. ISBN 0-88266-790-4. Catalogs Access with Ease, PO Box 1150, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. Gardener’s Supply Co., 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401. Smith & Hawken Tool Catalog, 25 Corte Madera, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Walt Nicke’s Garden Talk, 36 McLeod Lane, PO Box 433, Topsfield, MA 01983. Suggestions 1. Ask for help. 2. Don’t cram the entire mas- ter plan into one sunny Saturday afternoon. 3. Don’t pin your stretching exercises on the refrigerator for entertainment purposes only. 4. You are not to consider ranting and raving at quackgrass and aphids as a good cardiovascu- lar workout. 5 . Rest and drink fluids as you garden. 6. Incorporate fun into your gardening. 7. Wander and sit in the gar- den several times a week. 8. Remove, sell, dump on, or designate to others any thing or any activity that causes pain or puts your health at risk. 9. Buy a bumper sticker that says, “Weeds Happen.’’ 10. Chant several times a day, trying not to laugh, “I now con- trol the garden.’’ Interested in attending a program on adapting a garden ? Do you have ideas to share? Call The Arboretum Foundation office: (206) 325-4510. Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 5 by Pat Bender Nursery owner Frances Roberson has often affected our plant choices and frequently inspired our personal styles. 11/ e all have our heroes or V V heroines — those who in- fluence us, and who change the course of our lives. My heroine is Frances Roberson, and because of her my house is littered with boxes of seeds. Frances Roberson in the Roberson greenhouse on 102fid Street, Seattle (1954). Frances Roberson : Gardener with a Soul 6 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin I met Frances in 1976 at the First Interim In- ternational Rock Garden Conference held in Seat- tle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Colum- bia. She was busy organizing everyone, a ready smile wrapped around a no-nonsense demeanor. Her consuming interest in plants and the Ameri- can Rock Garden Society (ARGS) has become my interest also, and we have become close friends. Curious as to her origins, I began prying into her past. She was born Frances Kinne in Knox- ville, Iowa, in 1902. Her family was interested in plants, and had bought property in Knoxville upon which trees were planted not only on Arbor Day but throughout the year. The land was turned over to the city, and is now a city park. Frances’s grandmother gave each of the four grandchildren responsibility for a crop. Her brothers grew cane berries and her sister was in charge of strawberries. Frances grew hollyhocks from which she fashioned dolls by bending and ty- ing the petals to make a skirt. In 1920, Frances entered the University of Washington, from which she obtained two bach- elor’s degrees, in both music and education. She also obtained the bachelor Leonard Roberson, an electrical engineering student, whom she met at a school dance. Leonard was also interested in plants; he had been growing and selling Lilium longiflorum (the long, white-trumpeted Easter li- ly) and L. regale (the white regal lily). Leonard purchased property at 1540 East 102nd Street in 1927. This north Seattle site was to be the home of L.N. Roberson Company, a nursery that became Frances’s domain, and a greenhouse installation and manufacturing com- pany run by Leonard with help from Frances. Leonard was away much of the time as a consult- ing electrical engineer, so Frances was responsible for running the business, raising sons Peter and Kenneth, and propagating new nursery stock in the 25 x 72-foot greenhouse Leonard built. Leonard’s lilies proved more difficult to maintain in the sloping terrain. They were sold off except for the few kept for the Roberson’s own landscaping. Frances began to raise groundcover plants obtained from such sources as the Children’s Orthopedic Plant Sale, which was then held in downtown Seat- tle. She also purchased a quantity of stock from Else Frye, a noted early Seattle gardener, and in 1939 they purchased the equivalent of a small nursery from Mrs. Frye. Still more plants were ob- tained from other nurserymen and the then Uni- versity of Washington Arboretum. Water plants also became one of Frances’s spe- cialties. At the foot of the hill, she had a 12 x 48-foot pool, as well as three 12 x 12-foot pools, for both waterlilies and special goldfish she raised for sale. The Japanese Garden at the Wash- ington Park Arboretum bought many water plants from the Robersons. Frances also imported pansy seed from Ger- many and planted it on the steep hill below the house. She worked long hours in the nursery and at home, and was glad to rest a bit after the nurs- ery closed for the day. One Sunday afternoon, long after closing, an elderly lady arrived to ‘ ‘pick out some pansies.” Frances followed her up and down the hill while she picked plants up and put them back, finally deciding upon the 12 she wanted for the 25-cent price. When Frances told her customer the cost she said, “Aren’t you ashamed to take 25 cents from a little old lady?” Frances said, “No,” and accepted the quarter. The nursery stock also included dwarf conifers, heathers, rhododendrons, and many plants that were newly fashionable. For example, the Rober- son Nursery was one of the first to raise Lewisia tweedy i from cuttings, and the Robersons intro- duced the dwarf form of Juniperus communis into the market. Sharon Collman, an entomologist now with the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Agency as liaison to the Environmental Protection Agency, says, “Frances was writing of androsace and epimedium in the 1930s, yet, in 1970, when we ‘discovered’ them — apparently again — she gave us only words of encouragement.” Her nursery catalogs are fascinating to read: fifty heathers in the 1948-49 catalog were priced from 75 cents to $2.00. There is even a variegated heather for 75 cents. What I would give for that now! Always the teacher, Frances’s nursery ads were prefaced by “Do you know?” followed by an in- teresting fact, and then a plant list. Many people, including Alice Lauber, National Recording Secretary for the ARGS, feel that her accomplish- ments as an educator were extremely valuable. She taught groundcover and water plant classes both at the Washington Park Arboretum and the University of Washington Center for Urban Hor- ticulture, and was in demand as a speaker both for garden clubs and study weekends. Despite being a commercial establishment, the Roberson Nursery was always open for “cutting parties” for garden clubs and Arboretum Founda- tion units. When we arrived to take cuttings, Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 7 The 25 x 72-foot greenhouse manufactured by L. N. Boberson Co. It had air heat and circulation, as well as one long bench, heated with electric cable, for root cuttings and startirg seeds. Concrete benches held fish and water plants. Frances would explain, as we stood beneath a “dwarf” conifer, that “dwarf” was a relative term and that over time, even dwarfs head for the skies. The Robersons also supplied many plants to the Washington Park Arboretum. Director Emer- itus Brian Mulligan says, “For fifteen to twenty years this was a reliable source for a variety of use- ful plant material and some of these are still grow- ing there.” For many years Frances wrote for and was on the editorial board of The Arboretum Bulletin. She also wrote a monthly column for Northwest Gardens and Homes for about 13 years. Her writ- ing is pithy, literary (who still quotes Tennyson?), and extremely informative, as this excerpt demon- strates: Maybe it’s the Irish in me which welcomes St. Patrick’s Day as a time to pluck a Sham- rock for a boutonniere as well as an oppor- tunity to use the green flowers of Helleborus corsicus for arrangements. But the emphasis on green for one day only would hardly suf- fice for any person who gardens. Green foli- age serves so many purposes in the garden. It is the backdrop against which all other colors play their respective roles. It is the spirit of repose captured in tangible form. It is the common denominator of most of the plant world. — from “The Wearin’ of the Green,” March 1954 In 1984, Frances compiled a 50-year history of the Northwestern Chapter of the American Rock Garden Society that is all-inclusive and an impres- sive piece of work. The people in that chapter are compiling a book of her writings. The Robersons were early environmentalists, who used non-poisonous methods of pest control. For example, in the 1930s: [We] placed an electric fan heater in a small greenhouse belonging to one of our custo- mers whose heating system was not quite adequate. We were assured by all the profes- sional growers that we would spread fungi with which the customer’s geraniums were badly infected to all the rest of the plants. Three weeks later when we again visited our customer with the electric fan heater we were amazed to find the house almost free of any visible evidence of fungi, and even the green- house had a fresh smell. I was surprised, when going through Frances’s notebooks, to find a number of gold and silver medals won at plant shows in the AOs, ’40s, and AOs. The surprise was due not to her winning but to the number of early shows that there were (for example, the Spring Flower Shows of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs of Greater Seattle, as well as shows for the American Rhododendron Society, Primula Society, and Ca- mellia Society). If this were not enough, Frances was president of Chapter 28 of the American Association of Nurserymen and a member of the Washington State Nurserymen’s Association, which, in 1986, awarded Frances a plaque for her outstanding con- tribution to the nursery industry. Also, the Seat- tle Garden Club gave her a certificate of merit in 1985. In 1934, Else Frye initiated the founding of the Northwestern Chapter of the American Rock Garden Society. Her husband, T.C. Frye, was the head of the Botany Department of the University of Washington. Frances was a charter member, as were many noted gardeners of the time. Frances’s history of the group’s first display garden evoked a vivid scene: Six months after its organizational meeting, the Washington Region attracted public at- tention with a Rock Garden Show in the east wing of the Volunteer Park Conservatory. Our noted landscape architect, Otto E. continued on page 10 8 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin From Friends of Frances Roberson... “Our first real acquaintance with the Roberson family . . . was in early April 1947 when they took Margaret and me on an early spring trip to Vantage on the Columbia River in Central Wash- ington. Since we had only arrived in Seattle the previous October, this idea was both a very kind thought . . . and a real eye-opener to see that wide- open country for the first time. While director of the then University of Washington Arboretum, I had many contacts with the Roberson Nursery and its owners. It was located on the side of a steep valley in northeast Seattle, with a creek at the bot- tom which allowed them to grow some water-lov- ing plants . . . The acquisition books at the Arboretum record many entries of plants acquired from this source, from December 1946 (104 heather plants of two kinds) and subsequently more heathers in March 1950, in August 1952, and October 1953 (100 plants and seedlings of a Menziesia in July 1954). Plants of six rhododendron hybrids arrived in Oc- tober of 1954, and various other plants at differ- ent times in 1955, 1956, 1957 and particularly in the spring of 1958 when a collection of ground covers was obtained. In October 1964, plants of Cytisus X versicolor , Rhododendron intricatum , and of two dwarf spruces came from the Roberson Nursery. These last are still with us in the Arbo- retum, but regrettably many others, especially the heathers, have been lost, chiefly owing to age, un- usually cold winters, or drought in summer. In any case, it is evident that for 15 to 20 years this was a reliable source for a variety of useful plant material for the Arboretum and that some of them are still growing there, especially the larger shrubs such as the rhododendrons and spruces. Hopefully they will long remain as living souve- nirs of that era and of Frances Roberson herself, still active in local horticultural circles, as her many friends can testify. — Brian Mulligan, Director Emeritus, Washing- ton Park Arboretum “With all her knowledge of plants, however, to me her greatest contribution is her relationship with people. People are important to her, which is bound to make them feel more important to them- selves. That is a wonderful gift.” — Mareen Kruckeberg of MsK Nursery “Frances Roberson is a person who loves plants. The plants know it and will do their best for her. She also loves people. They know it and they will do their best for her.” — Florence Free, ARGS member “I first became acquainted with Frances in 1956 when I needed some advice in stocking a pool with suitable plants . . . Frances was extremely helpful and we were glad to make her acquain- tance again when we joined the ARGS a few months later. We found she was a wonderful source of information on plant life. If one needed to have a plant identified, even if this was un- known, she could take considerable time out to provide the correct information.” — Cliff Lewis, a long-time ARGS member and seed expert “In the world of gardening, one tends to know a fellow plant lover by their garden or their special- ties. But with Frances Roberson, the connections go well beyond the plant world . . . Her concern for the people of the plant world has been legen- dary. Just for example, when C. Leo Hitchcock, the principal author of the Flora of the Pacific Northwest , was stricken, she was a faithful visitor to his bedside. And Frances has kept up this ‘Good Samaritan' role through the years. So I re- joice in knowing Frances, not only as a skilled and knowledgeable plant enthusiast. She is truly a rara avis among gardeners . . . She’s a gardener with a soul.” — Art Kruckeberg, consultant and professor emeritus of botany, University of Washington Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 9 NORTON BUILDING 801 Second Avenue, Floor 16 Seattle, WA 98104-1564 206-464-5295 1-800-426-5105 (Located 7 Vi miles from any ferry) 20211 Vashon Hwy. S.W., Vashon Island, WA 98070 206-463-3655 (Seattle) An uncommon place at the heart of Vashon Island. Offering the unusual in perennial ornamentals, herbs, garden decor, gifts, natural fiber clothing and more. Send $1.00 for plant list. Herron Gardens Distinctive Northwest Quality Landscaping Ann Herron 454-1216 Jl vi CUSTOM DESIGN, INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE Since 1975 herrog#i37LQ The Berger Partnership, P.S. 2021 Minor East Seattle, Washington 98102 (206) 325-6877 Landscape Architecture Site Planning Holmdahl, constructed a rock garden with a meadow, pool, scree, and cliff of enormous rocks. . . Nestled at the base of the highest boul- ders . . . was a small pool in which floated Azolla. Fringing the pool was a meadow with Primula wardii, P marginata , P farinosa, P frondosa—a mass of clear lavender, blue- lavender, and pink-lavender — ending in a cre- scendo of color with a large mass oiP wanda. Hesitating among the primroses were some lovely Saxifraga decipiens hybrids, with some S. allionii [now moschata ] nestled in a crevice, all set off by mosses, sedges, and small ferns. Beyond these were huge blue trumpets of Gentiana excisa [now acaulis ] and the delicate foliage of the dwarf Thalictrum kiusianum from Japan. A delightful clump of shooting-stars nodded by the water’s brim, with the native white heath {Cassiope merten- siana ) nearby. Hanging precariously from the cliff over the water was the pink heath (. Phyl - lodoce empetriformis)\ above clambered Dryas X suendermannii and not far away was splayed the gray foliage of Penstemon rupicola . Frances goes on to discuss how the crowds, which were over 5,000 the first day, “thronged around the exhibit and threatened to trample the plants until a heavy rope was tied all the way around the boundaries. We had to conclude,” she wrote, “we had made a loud noise for such a small beastie!” Frances became the backbone of the Northwest- ern Chapter of the American Rock Garden Society (ARGS), twice being chair, being on countless committees, and leading field trips into the moun- tains. From 1977 to 1979, she headed the ARGS Seed Exchange, responsible for sorting many thou- sands of kinds of seeds, publishing the catalog, and sending out orders all over the world. She was 7 5 years old, living in a three-story house with steep steps, and putting in sixteen-hour days while she supervised 85 or more willing helpers. Many of us did not know much, but became inspired. In 1977 Frances was presented with the high- est award the National ARGS gives: the Award of Merit. In 1992, she received the Northwestern Chapter of the ARGS Service Award. Pat Bender is a member of The Arboretum Founda- tion and co-director of the American Rock Garden So- ciety Seed Exchange. 10 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon), in August. Photo by Joy Spurr Planning for Late Summer, Early Fall Color by David Hamilton photos by Joy Spurr Northwest gardens tend to be “ spring loaded” for blossom y causing a flower and color deficit by summer’s end. Below are some familiar and some lesser-known trees and shrubs that provide baekbone to the garden, as well as color after July. /\ s we move deeper into the summer season, a conspicuous characteristic of the Northwest land- JlJL scape becomes more apparent. Just as we start spending more days and evenings out in our gar- dens, it seems that everything has stopped blooming! Summer color appears to be provided by a few perennials, some bulbs, and a whole lot of annuals — all poised against a vast backdrop of green. Let’s face it: the typical Pacific Northwest garden is heavily front loaded for spring bloom. There are lots of reasons why this is so, ranging from the vast preponderance of temperate climate plants that tend to bloom in the spring to people’s desire to see their gardens burst into flower after a dreary winter. For these and other reasons, nurseries tend to carry colorful spring plants. “Makes sense to me,’’ you say, but now spring is over and you are left in the lurch. Well, not to worry, there is a remedy. Nature has salted some excellent summer and fall bloomers Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 11 around here and there, which, with a little plan- ning and searching, can be brought into our land- scapes to great effect. There are, in fact, many plants that fall into this category, so I selected several of particular merit that are eminently worthy of inclusion in the landscape. I con- centrate on trees and shrubs that come from all over the world, and encompass a range of climatic and cultural needs. Summer and Fall Bloomers Silk tree ( *Albizia julibrissin) and its cultivars provide a beautiful deciduous umbrella-shaped tree usually in the 20- to 30-foot range. Its bil- lowy canopy of bright green, ferny, compound leaves creates a wonderfully tropical effect in the landscape. This is enhanced by the fluffy pink pin- cushion flower clusters that appear to float on top of the branches all through the summer months. The tree can be trained high with a single trunk but its naturally wide, horizontal look is best when allowed to develop multiple trunks or low- spreading branches. The silk tree blooms most prolifically in full sun but grows quite well in par- tial shade. Trumpet vine ( * Campsis x tagliabuana ) is a magnificent summer-blooming vine that is a re- sult of a cross between the common trumpet vine (i Campsis radicans ) and the Chinese species ( Campsis grandiflora). There are a number of cul- tivars from this cross, one of which, ‘Mme. Galen’, has large salmon-red flowers, and is the only one available locally. The vine is large and vigorous, with coarse pinnate leaves of heavy sub- stance. The flowers are produced on the new growth so the vine can be pruned heavily, if desired, and thus held to a moderate size. Sun is required to ripen the new growth for flower prod- uction. Chiltalpa (* x Chiltalpa tashkentensis) is a new introduction to horticulture from a cross made in the former Soviet Union between the western na- tive desert willow ( Cbilopsis linearis ) and the west- ern catalpa (< Catalpa speciosa). The chiltalpa is a small-proportioned deciduous tree varying in height according to the cultivar. The University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture has two selections: ‘Morning Cloud’ and ‘Pink Dawn’. The leaves are lanceolate and about four to five inches long, an inch to an inch and one-half wide. Clusters of pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow throats are produced all through the summer and into fall, commencing in late June or early July. This is a very fine plant, and a real as- set to the smaller garden, in particular. Harlequin glorybower (* Clerodendrum tricho- tomum) is a strong growing deciduous shrub or small tree with large hairy leaves that give off an odor when disturbed that some think is foul, others think smells like peanut butter. White, fragrant flowers with maroon calyces are pro- duced in airy clusters in late summer. The flowers are followed by metallic turquoise blue berries. It is easy to grow in sun or part shade, and tends to sucker freely. Eucryphia ( Eucryphia ) is an upright growing evergreen to semi-evergreen small tree or large shrub from Australia and Chile. Mature speci- mens produce an abundance of single or double white 2- to 3-inch flowers in August and Septem- ber. Eucryphias require some protection, espe- cially when young. They need full sun on the tops, with shade and moisture at the roots. The cultivars of hybrid *E. x nymansensis , *‘Mt. Usher’ and ‘Nymansay’, are the most likely to be found in Northwest nurseries. Franklinia (* Franklinia alatamaha ) is a decidu- ous relative of the loblolly bay, with a similar growth habit and white cup-shaped blossoms, which, as the season progresses, are held against the orange and red fall color of its leaves. This open and airy small tree is upright growing, reaching 10-20 feet, with the foliage and flowers held at the branch tips. Hardy fuchsia ( Fuchsia magellanica, hybrids and cultivars ) is a rather large group of mostly hy- brids and cultivars developed around F. magel- lanica. Nearly all varieties have red sepals with petals in white, purple, pink, or red. They are freely produced throughout summer and fall, and may freeze to the ground, depending on variety and severity of the winter, but will come back vig- orously in the spring. Loblolly bay (< Gordonia lasianthus ), an ever- green, is a somewhat slender, upright growing small tree with shiny green foliage. White golf ball-like flower buds appear at the branch tips about the middle of August. They turn into 2- to 3-inch blossoms with a boss of golden stamens in the center, remaining into fall until the weather cools. This southeastern United States native likes moisture and a sunny, somewhat protected spot in the landscape. Rose-of-Sharon (* Hibiscus syriacus) is a stellar performer in summer gardens if there ever were one. This rugged and accommodating member of 12 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin the hibiscus genus forms an upright and compact deciduous shrub anywhere from four to ten feet tall, depending on how you prune it. Some rather dumpy double-flowered forms are available, but its real glory is in the striking single, 4- to 5 -inch hibiscus-like flowers produced in profusion through the summer months. In addition to pure white, many varieties in white, pink, blue and near-red are available, most having a darker eye at the center. The new triploid cultivars (such as ‘Diana’, a pure white; ‘Helene’, white with gar- net center; and Aphrodite, deep pink with red center) have slightly larger flowers and an ex- tended season since they do not set seed. Crape myrtles (* Lager stroemia indica) are a group of handsome, deciduous shrubs and small trees of considerable merit in the landscape, in general, and for late summer flower, in particular. Large terminal clusters of small, crinkly flowers in colors ranging from white through shades of pink and lavender to red are produced from August in- to late summer where they have a warm location. An excellent plant for bark as well, crape myrtles are much loved throughout the temperate world. Lavatera ( Lavatera spp.) is a shrubby group of hibiscus relatives with felty or downy leaves and large, single, showy blossoms that are usually pink or white with a pink eye. Look for L. thurin- giaca , L. cachemiriana, *L. olbia , L. arborea, and L. bicolor. All tend to be rangy, informal and flor- iferous. Southern magnolia (* Magnolia grandiflora) is an evergreen tree of large proportions in all parts — the huge, creamy white, fragrant blossoms being no exception. The flower display com- mences in June and continues through the sum- mer. A couple of varieties — ‘St. Mary’s’ and ‘Victoria’ — are essentially massive shrubs. The cultivar ‘Little Gem’ is just that — considerably smaller in all respects and enjoying the shelter of a patio or courtyard. It can easily be held to six or eight feet, so you can enjoy its glossy green foliage and lemon-scented flowers at close proximity. There can be many years of waiting for flowering unless grafted plants are purchased. Matilija poppy ( Romneya coulteri) is a shrubby perennial member of the poppy family with huge, rose-scented white crepe paper-like poppy flowers produced in July and August. It grows four to six feet tall with multiple stems and deeply cut gray- green leaves. Difficult to get started, it is an ag- gressive and invasive grower once it settles in — great for marginal and fringe areas where its ex- Glossary Calyx (plural: calyces) comprises the sepals of a flower, collectively. Lanceolate signifies lance shaped. Pinnate leaves have leaflets arranged at in- tervals on each side of an axis. Sepal is a member of the outermost set of flower parts (the calyx), typically green or greenish and more or less leafy in texture. Stamen is a male pollen-producing organ of a plant. Triploid plants have three sets of chromo- somes in the cell nucleus instead of the normal two. This is sometimes accompanied by larger flowers and sterility. uberance will not get it into trouble. Stewartias ( *Stewartia spp.) comprise a genus of deciduous camellia relatives. These large shrubs or small trees have single white flowers in summer, beautiful flaking bark, and a splendid show of red, yellow, and orange in the fall foliage. As a group they prefer moist woodland conditions with sun to partial shade. Any of a number of species and a few hybrids turn up in area nurseries, and are worthy, rather elegant additions to our gardens. The range of trees and shrubs that bring color and interest into the summer landscape is quite varied. When you think in terms of late summer and early fall bloom and do a little research into the possibilities, you will find other prospects. As your interest develops in these and other summer-flow- ering plants and you make requests of local nurser- ies, the result will be greater availability of plants of this type. The expanded palette that will be created for our landscapes will enhance their diversity and interest throughout the entire season. See color photos on pages 14 and 15. David Hamilton lives in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood. His primary mission involves expanding gardeners’ awareness of many plants suitable to the Puget Sound area and its microclimates. Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 13 Mountain camellia ( Stewartia ovata ‘Grandiflora’) has showy pink stamens in June. Matilija poppy {Romneya coulteri ), for July and August, is a slow starter, but aggressive once settled in. Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) provides ferny foliage and pink, fluffy flowers for August. 14 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Above: Orange and red fall color featured with the bonus of white flowers distinguishes the Franklin tree ( Fmnklinia alatamaba ) in October. Below: Hardy fuchsia (Fuchsia magfellanica) produces through summer and fall. Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 15 In the Washington Park Arboretum by Timothy Hohn Personnel fter what seems like years of debate and dis- cussion, the Arboretum now has a new director. Dr. John Wott, Professor of Continuing Education, was recently appointed director of the Washington Park Arboretum by Dr. Clement Hamilton, Director of The Center for Urban Hor- ticulture. Wott joins the Arboretum at a critical time to direct and facilitate a new master plan, in- crease development activities, enhance public re- lations, and provide overall leadership. Changing priorities regarding the University of Washington’s Arboretum education program mean that we are saying farewell to the education coordinator, Lynda Ransley. Lynda has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Snoho- mish County Visitor Information Center. Significant changes have also been made to our plant care staff. Joe Erhard-Hudson left to attend Washington State University, and Linda Golds- worthy started her own business. Those two va- cancies, plus an unfilled vacancy from 1991, pro- vided us with the opportunity to hire three new gardeners; Annemarie Bilotta, Diane Campbell, and Steve Jensen are the newest members of the plant preservation staff. All three of them bring to the Arboretum previous professional training and background in plant science and horticulture. Testing and Evaluation The Arboretum has recently acquired 15 hy- brid crab apples from the National Crabapple In- troduction Program (NCIP) at the Morton Arbo- retum. We will test two of each of those hybrids in the Conifer Meadow section of the Arboretum, and will share one of each with the Bellevue Bo- tanical Garden, which will serve as a remote test- ing site. After a 4-year evaluation period, the Ar- boretum will retain the best selections for the per- manent collection. At the same time, we are re- moving many of the old and inferior crabapple sel- ections. Through participation in the NCIP, we will rebuild our collection of crab apples to con- tain trees more suitable to the Puget Sound re- gion. [See 55(4): 10-12, “Crab Apples Revisited,” by Robert A. Norton and Jacky King]. On the subject of testing and evaluation, we now have 150 crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia ) culti- vars planted in an evaluation plot in the produc- tion area at the Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH). These plants were donated to the Arbore- tum by the Byers Nursery Company of Meridian- ville, Alabama. Occupying the same testing plot are 13 cultivars of New Zealand flax ( Phormium ) from a total of 17 donated to the Arboretum for testing by Duncan & Davies Nurseries, Ltd., New Plymouth, New Zealand. The remaining four cul- tivars are planted in the McVay Courtyard at CUH. We will evaluate the ornamental features and horticultural characteristics of these increas- ingly popular agave relatives. The Inauguration Day Windstorm As a result of the violent storm that swept through the Arboretum on January 20, 1993, we lost 40 trees and sustained damage to 53 trees and shrubs. Fortunately, none of the losses involved particularly precious accessions in our collection. Also, now that we have a staff field arborist, we can effectively respond to such damage and implement tree care to minimize these problems in the future. Some New Accessions 28-93 Sorbus reducta (Rosaceae): These dwarf mountain ashes were originally sent by us to Car- leton Plants of Dayton, Oregon, as cuttings. Car- 16 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin University of Washington leton has returned them to us grafted on tall standards of S. aucuparia. The jury is still out. 41-93 Actinodaphne cupularis (Lauraceae): We received seed of this unusual, broad-leaved ever- green tree from the Shanghai Botanical Garden. Actinodaphne lancifolia currently resides in Loderi Valley. 62-93 Manglietia chingii (Magnoliaceae): In a trade with the Louisiana Nursery of Opalousas, Louisiana, we received this evergreen magnolia relative. A related species, Manglietia fordii, cur- rently lives in Loderi Valley. Newly Planted Collections From fall 1992 to spring 1993, we planted over 500 accessions from the Arboretum nursery. Here are a few examples now on public view: 393-78 Quercus alnifolia (Fagaceae): This evergreen, shrubby oak is native to Cyprus and has very dark green foliage, which is covered on the undersides with dense “wool.” Find it in the Rock Garden (ls-5e on the new grid). 166-90 to 178-90 Hypericum species (Gut- tiferae): A selection of 12 hypericums were re- ceived several years ago as seed from English plantsman Roy Lancaster. All of these shrubs are now planted at the south end of Azalea Way on the east side (6-2w to 8-2w of the new grid). 97-89 Alangium platanifolium var. macro- phyllum (Alangiaceae): This oriental native was featured in 56(1): 17-19 of the Bulletin. It is a handsome shrub in foliage, flower, and fruit. Find it in the Woodland Garden, 32-le of the new grid, and two others in the Rhododendron Glen park- ing area (14-8e). 252-72 Torreya taxifolia (Taxaceae): This en- dangered yew-like conifer is restricted to a very small population in northern Florida. View it be- tween the Woodland Garden and Loderi Valley in 29-3e of the new grid. Tim Hohn was Curator of Living Collections, Univer- sity of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture and the Washington Park Arboretum, through June 1993. Note: The position of curator, Washington Park Arboretum, has been cut from the University of Washington budget, as of July 2, 1993- Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 17 South African Plants for the Pacific Northwest photos and text by A.R. Kruckeberg Top: The grasslands, mid-, and high elevations of the Drakensberg, at Drakensberg Botanical Gardens, Harrismith, South Africa. Upper left: A Scilla. Bottom left: Ledebouria. Bottom right: Cyrtanthus. 18 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin The five Mediterranean climatic regions of the world, with their characteristic summer- dry/winter rain climates, all support rich floras to tempt the gardener. The European-North African version itself has been a major source of plants for centuries. The other Mediterranean climate north of the equator is California, west of the Sierra Nevada; its plant life has yielded up countless gar- den gems. But below the equator are three other regions with rainfall restricted to fall and winter, and with a long, dry growing season. Besides Chile and western Australia, the other Mediter- ranean climate is confined to South Africa, espe- cially its coastal regions in the Cape Province. Since it is the temperate flora, stiffened in hardi- ness in the mountains, that interests us, I focus on this high and often spectacularly rugged terrain. The succession of mountains extends from north- ern Natal right down to the Cape and reaches its grandest manifestation in the Drakensberg Alps of western Natal. Although the more southerly mountains might prove to yield hardy plants from their highest reaches, it is in the High Drakens- berg that we should seek plants for testing. The main or central Drakensberg lies about midway between Johannesburg and Durban. It is politically a mix of two South African states. Western Natal and eastern Orange Free States, here form Natal National Park. The Drakensberg heartland flies the flag of the independent country of Lesotho. Drakensberg topography has a consistent rhythm to it: invariably two-step. From base to mid-altitude (around 7,000 feet) one comes upon a broad grassland plateau, called the Little Berg. Dissected intermittently by deep forested gorges, the high plateau country is most evident along the northeast perimeter. The Little Berg has a sand- stone geology. Then sweeping upward from the Little Berg tableland is the spectacular escarp- ment, the summit Drakensberg (the High or Main Berg), a basalt cap, grandly serrated or flat- topped, leveling out at about 10,000 feet. We can look for the best prospects as plant introductions to the Northwest in this high stretch of moun- tainous terrain from the upper reaches of the Lit- tle Berg to the summit of the Main Berg. The Cape Province region of South Africa boasts the richest flora of anywhere in the world. And for both temperate botanists and gardeners, this lavish diversity comes in strange and won- drous “packages.” Although some plant families Glossary Cotyledon is a seed leaf. Monocot (monocotyledon) is any of a sub- class of seed plants having an embryo with a single cotyledon. Scapes are long, leafless flower stems. are unique in the southern hemisphere, most have wandered across the equator. But those that have gone south come in such distinct forms as to merit recognition as southern hemisphere genera. Take the family of sunflowers (Compositae) with its purely South African genera (. Arctotis , Felicia , Berkheya , etc.) or the rose family (Rosaceae) with endemic genera like Leucosidea and Cliff ortia. For another, the Iris family has gone on an evolution- ary binge, yielding such genera as Watsonia , Gladiolus , Morea, Crocosmia , Dierama , and Tritonia . Parts of this rich botanical region are high enough in elevation to support plants that have to withstand some frost and even snow. It will be from these mountain regions, especially the Drak- ensberg Alps, that we search for choice garden plants of Northwest potential. Some will have been tested and absorbed into our own gardens or at least into the most discriminating of horticul- tural proving grounds, the British garden. Others may not yet have appeared in any but the most tentative garden trials. Further, some of the more familiar are of easy culture, like Galtonia , Dierama , and Ornithogalum\ others, often un- tried, may be more fussy, especially as to protec- tion from frost. Although the flora is diverse, below we focus on bulbs and herbaceous peren- nials that come to us from the mountainous region of South Africa. Bulbs South Africa is a world-class champion for showy bulb species. For over 100 years, many have made their way to gardens in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. Indeed, other than Proteas and heathers, it is the species of bul- bous monocots that most often appear in nursery lists from South Africa. The Lily family leads the monocot pack with both tried and true types as well as ones deserving trial. Galtonia candicans and Ornithogalum thyrysoidea (the famous “Chincherinchee” — the white “camas” of South African pastures) are Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 19 DONALD S. HAVILAND Landscape Gardener jtA. C\ cr\ e* la 3 A^agic Aspects Balanced Implemented • Enhanced • Maintained H AVI LDS1 69LL 232"7 858 s Sherry Wellborn 842*7525 Landscapes For People Who Love Where They Live Wellborn Design MADISON PARK HARDWARE 1837 42nd E. 322-5331 GARDEN SUPPLIES • PAINTS • TOYS • GIFTS well-known for their copious white bells on im- posing stalks. But from the Drakensberg there are other species of these genera that should be tried: Galtonia viridiflora has yellow to greenish yellow flowers on tall scapes. Ornithogalum paludosum is white, 2 feet tall, and slender, and O. dipbyllum (white flowers, 4 inches tall) likes boggy ground. Species of Ledebouria are low-growing members of the lily clan; their short scapes bear pink to pur- ple pendant flowers. Agapanthus setosa from the Little Berg merits trial. The lovely blues and lavenders of the showy, robust Agapanthus , with imposing two- to three- foot-tall candelabras of large flowers, are well- known in Great Britain. Agapanthus campanula- tus, A. praecox minus , and A. inapertus (a Drak- ensberg species hardy in Scotland!) are choice samples of this group. Other tempting kin of lilies that grow high enough in the mountains to stand Northwest winters include Kniphofia ritualis and other “red-hot-poker” species, Scilla natalensis, S. nervosa , and several Eucomis species. The Amaryllis family, so richly embellishing the South African veld, has some fine high alti- tude species. Cyrtanthus flanaganii has yellow trumpets. Nerine bowdenii has lavender scapes, 2 to 3 feet tall; Brunsvigia species have red to pink scapes, 6 to 12 inches tall; and that incomparable rock-garden clan, Rhodohypoxis, little gems growing like blue-eyed grass in our Northwest “veld,” copiously dot the low turf just below Ca- thedral Peak. Let yourself be bewitched by the vast clan of South African kin to Iris. Some like Moraea look very much like our north temperate “flags.” Watsonia and Gladiolus are the largest, in species, of these iridaceous genera. Though most are prob- ably too tender for us, montane species of Gladio- lus, such as the pale yellow G. longicollis from the high Drakensberg, should be safe bets. And for the gladiolus-like Watsonias, Watsonia densiflora and W. meriana , both pinkish mauve and 2 to 3 feet tall, merit trial. Do not let the words Gladio- lus and Watsonia mislead you; there is much more to these varied genera than the common garden “cabbages.” The irid cornucopia is topped off with the red flowers oiSchizostylis coccinea and Tritonia , with two Drakensberg species, T. lineata and T. rubro- lucens , both with lovely apricot to salmon flowers. Crosses between Crocosmia and Tritonia have given the familiar garden montbretias. Dierama, another irid kind, should be familiar to many 20 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Pacific Northwest gardeners. Large paper mauve to pale purple to rose red flowers are pendant on long arching stalks and beset with grass-like leaves. Besides the choice and well-known Dier- ama pulcherrimum and D. pendulum, several high Drakensberg species, D. igneum , D. robus- tum, and D. medium, are most tempting. Herbaceous Perennials To draw up a ‘ ‘want list’ ’ of herbaceous peren- nials from the Drakensberg would be to take off on an endless trek. Yet I cannot resist naming a few favorites. Although the Buttercup family is of limited occurrence in South Africa, one of its members, Anemone fanninii, is a miracle among windflowers. Picture a plant with huge oval leaves and a three-foot-tall stalk of large, pure white flowers, quivering in the wind. It grows in moist places in the Little Berg. Two relatives of Penste- mon caught my eye; Phygelius capensis , a tall red- flowered “snapdragon,” already has a following in north temperate gardens. It can be found up to 3,000 meters in the Drakensberg. A very differ- ent Penstemon -like perennial is Diascia with over 50 species. These low perennials, with their charming, rose purple flowers, two-spurred, a bit like toadflax ( Linaria ), reach the summit Berg with D. barberae\ other montane species should be tested. Thanks to the generous support of The Arbore- tum Foundation, I was able to embark on a modest spree of plant testing South African na- tives, and with some colorful rewards. Anyone else tempted? Arthur R. Kruckeberg is Professor Emeritus of botany, University of Washington. A founder of the Washington Native Plant Society, Dr. Kruckeberg’ s re- cent book is The Natural History of Puget Sound Country , University of Washington Press, Seattle. Where to Find South African Plants Some of the more common South African plants are available from perennial and bulb firms. For the more unusual species, mostly grown from seed or as bulbs, there are other avenues of acquisition. BioQuest International (PO Box 5752, Santa Bar- bara, CA 93150) has an impressive list of Cape Pro- vince bulbs. And, as a bonus to overseas members of the South African Botanical Society (Kirstenbosch, Claremont 7735, Republic of South Africa), a seed ex- change list entides members to free seed; the list is issued annually. Perennials. Annuals. Geraniums. Seasonal Color. Bulbs and Vegetables. New Varieties and Old. And Herbs, of Course. 9 to 5 Everyday 206-784-2222 Easy to Find Just 30 Minutes from Seattle Take 1-90 east to Exit 22 Go through Preston toward Fall City 3 miles from 1-90, take V left over the green bridge Follow signs 1/2 mile further The Herbfarm NURSERY ■ GIFT SHOP ■ GARDENS • RESTAURANT • PHONE ORDERS New Store open at 1629 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle 5 LOVELY ACRES OF FLOWERS AND NURSERY STOCK A GARDENERS' PARADISE IN SEATTLE ... FOR 69 YEARS 9701 15TH NW • SEATTLE ■ 782-7842 Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 21 For Further Information: Water Gardening by Valerie Easton he resurgence of interest in water gardening is not as contradictory to our drought con- cerns as it appears to be at first glance. “Once a pond is filled and plants established, considerably less water is used than for a lawn area of similar size,” says Chris Moore of Moore- haven Water Gardens in Everett, Washington. A cardinal rule of low-moisture gardening is to group plants with similar water needs. What bet- ter way to do this than to grow all the moisture lovers with bold foliage like Astilbe , Rodgersia, and Ligularia in a bog garden created with a liner at the margins of your pond? Perhaps we do not even need these practical reasons to justify the many aesthetic pleasures water brings to the garden: sound, movement, color, reflection of light and sky, fish, frogs, turtles, and dragonflies. Many new books have been published recently on water gardening. The following books, which are available at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library, University of Washington Center for Urban Hor- ticulture, cover the design, materials, planting, and stocking of ponds. Allison, James. Water in the Garden: A Com- plete Guide to the Design and Installation of Ponds, Fountains, Streams, and Waterfalls. Bos- ton: Little, Brown, & Co., 1991. ISBN 0-8212- 1829-5. This is the book that will give you the in- centive to dig that pond, as its lushly photo- graphed ponds are the most inspirational of the re- cent books. It covers all aspects of water garden- ing, from koi to filters, and is particularly out- standing on how to design in harmony with na- ture, and how to attract wildlife to your pond. Look here for instructions on how to build an exit ramp for amphibians, which water-side plants are most attractive to birds, and how to encourage a variety of insects, newts, and other water life. Aslet, Ken, John Warwick, and Jan Bolders. Water Gardens. A Wisley Handbook. London: Cassell, 1990. ISBN 0-304-32000-5. The Wis- ley Handbook series is usually concise and practi- cal; this one is no exception. Particularly useful are sections on creating a bog garden and lengthy lists of plants arranged by water-depth needs. Axelrod, Dr. Herbert R.; Albert Spalding Benoist, and Dennis Kelsey- Wood. The Atlas of Garden Ponds. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publica- tions, 1992. ISBN 0-86622-343-6. This book is notable for its physical size and scope of coverage, with many photographs of Japanese ponds. The material has been taken from various resources, including the Japanese magazine RINKO, and is of mixed quality and a somewhat confusing ar- rangement. The oversized color photographs are very effective when capturing waterfalls or pool- side plantings, but you may wish for a smaller- scale format for the depiction of koi parasites and diseases. Clafin, Edward B. Garden Pools & Fountains. San Ramon, CA: Ortho Books, 1988. ISBN 0-89721-149-9. If you are at the digging stage, this is the book for you. Complete and practical, it will prove invaluable as you work in the dirt. In- cluded are sketches and photos of pond edges, in- structions on setting a submersible pump, and ad- vice on tools you will need for construction. Re- member your level! Grinstein, Dawn Tucker. For Your Garden: Pools, Ponds and Waterways . New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1991. ISBN 0-8021-1407-5. A clear and colorfully illustrated survey of the many creative possibilities of incorporating water in the garden. The author, a landscape architect, focuses on design and scale, while discussing moving and still water in gardens throughout the world. 22 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Other Books Booth-Moores, Andrew. Garden Pools, Water- falls and Fountains. London: Ward Lock, 1987. ISBN 0-7063-6511-9. Heritage, Bill. Ponds and Water Gardens. Poole, England: Blandford Press, 1986. ISBN 0-7137-1861-7. Llewelyn, Roddy. Water Gardens: The Con- noisseur's Choice. London: Ward Lock, 1987. ISBN 0-7063-6523-2. Paul, Anthony, and Yvonne Rees. The Water Garden. New York: Viking, 1986. ISBN 0-14- 046-756-4. Robinson, Peter. Pool and Waterside Garden- ing. Twickenham, England: The Royal Botanic Gardens, in association with Collingridge, 1987. ISBN 0-600-35173-4. Stadelmann, Peter. Water Gardens: Expert Ad- vice and Practical Instructions: Ideas for the Most Beautiful Streams, Pools, and Water Gardens. Hauppage, NY: Barron’s, 1992. ISBN 0-8120- 4928-4. Swindells, Philip. At the Water's Edge: Gar- dening with Moisture-Loving Plants. London: Ward Lock, 1988. ISBN 0-7063-6645-X. Swindells, Philip. The Overlook Water Gar- dener's Handbook. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 1984. ISBN 0-87951-970-3. Thomas, Charles B. Water Gardens for Plants and Fish. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, 1988. ISBN 0-86622-942-6. Further Resources Washington nurseries now specialize in hardy water lilies and other aquatic plants suitable for Puget Sound gardens, as well as pond liners, pumps, and a wide variety of water gardening sup- plies. Misty Valley, 702 10th Street SE, Puyallup, WA 98372; (206) 848-9473. Call for the mail-order water lily and water plant list. Moorehaven Water Gardens, 3006 York Road, Everett, WA 98204; (206) 743-6888. Oasis Water Gardens, 404 South Brandon, Seattle, WA 98108; (206) 767-9776. Roadhouse Nursery, 12511 Central Valley Road NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370; (206) 779-9589. Call for the mail-order aquatic plant list. Valerie Easton is a librarian at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture. She has been the book review editor of The Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin since 1988. AND_ FAUNA B a O^K s The Northwest’s finest garden bookshop. Specializing in horticulture and nature. New and rare books. Search service and mail order. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. 121 First Ave. So., Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 623-4727 cS ]arth laughs in flowers Ralph Waldo Emerson eauty, comfort, serenity and style rom classic to contemporary me landscape design DESIGNS WITH NATURE, Landscape design company 206-329-7830 Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 23 New on the Shelves of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library by Valerie Easton Barton, Barbara J. Taylor's Guide to Specialty Nurseries. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. ISBN-0-395-60836-8. Although written as a guide book to aid in locating unusual, well-grown plants, this new entry in the Taylor’s Guide series is so readable you will want to go through it cover to cover. Barton is the author of Gardening by Mail: A Sourcebook , and in writing that book came across many fascinating nurseries, discussed in this new guide. Arranged by specialty, from aquatics to sedums to vines, with a geographical index, each nursery is described so that you al- most feel as if you have visited and chatted with the owner. The Northwest is well represented in this na- tional directory, for a pleasant change. Over 40 Oregon and Washington nurseries are covered by Barton, who justifies this by stating, “The West Coast is an area of very intense gardening interest, containing some of the most interesting nurseries in the country. ’ ’ Pointing out that ordering plants is not like ordering tee-shirts from Land’s End, she includes a most useful chapter on how to read a catalog and order plants. Mallet, Corinne, Robert Mallet, and Harry van Trier. Hydrangeas: Species and Cultivars. Varen- geville, France: Centre d’ Art Floral, 1992. ISBN 2-9506523-4-4. There are very few books on hy- drangeas, and this title, translated from the French, is an attempt to illustrate and discuss the many different cultivars and species. Thorough and knowledgeable descriptions, history, a glos- sary, and information on culture and landscape use are a welcome addition to the literature. The truly outstanding feature of the book is the photography. Closeup photos capture an amazing array of colors from the purest white, through shell pink to wine red, and from the softest blue to rich purple. Most breathtaking are the images of mature hydrangeas growing in parks and private gardens in Ireland, Belgium, England, and France. Taylor, Patrick. The 500 Best Garden Plants. Portland: Timber Press, 1993. ISBN 0-88192- 257-9. If the smartest way to deal with limited garden space is to use only the best plants, this well-organized guide will prove invaluable. Ad- vice on garden placement, suggestions for plant associations, and numerous color photographs ac- company Taylor’s personal favorites, whose foliage, habit, bloom, bark, scent, etc., prove their garden- worthiness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our best Pacific Northwest gardeners would write a book like this on the best plants for our climate? 24 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Courtesy, University Photcgrap* University of Washington Also New: American Rose Society. Modern Roses 10: A Comprehensive List of Roses of Historical and Bo- tanical Importance . Shreveport, LA: The Ameri- can Rose Society, 1993. ISBN 0-9636340-0-3. Bryan, John E. Hearst Garden Guides: Bulbs. New York: Hearst Books, 1992. ISBN 0-688- 10040-6. Fell, Derek. The Encyclopedia of Flowers. New York: Smithmark Publishers Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-8317-2816-7. Garden Carpentry Free Custom Design ♦f* Tandaker MJ CONSTRUCTION 632-5583 Licensed and Bonded • #LANDAC*181ML Fleischmann, Melanie. American Border Gar- dens. New York: Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1993. ISBN 0-517-57646-5. Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for Western Re- gions: An Illustrated Guide to Plants for Water Conservation . Claremont, CA: Land Design Pub- lishing, 1992. ISBN 0-9605988-3-9. Pierce, John, and Roland Barnsley. Easy Life- long Gardening: A Practical Guide for Seniors. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0-943955-72-6. Prance, Ghillean Tolmie, and Anne E. Prance. Bark: The Formation , Characteristics, and Uses of Bark Around the World. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1993. ISBN 0-88192-262-5. Westwood, Melvin Neil. Temperate-Zone Pomology: Physiology and Culture. 3rd ed. Port- land, OR: Timber Press, 1993. ISBN 0-88192- 253-6. Temperate-Zone POMOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY and CULTURE Third Edition Melvin Neil Westwood ISC Y, TOUR ONE OF THIS AREAS MOST BEAUTIFUL GARDENS Make reservations now, LAKEWOLD 584-3360. In Lakewood GARDENS just south of Tacoma. ' A Join an Ever-changing Tour of the Arboretum Sundays at One at the Graham Visitors Center 2300 Arboretum Dr E. (206) 543-8801 Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 25 Book Review Garden Touring in the Pacific Northwest: A Guide to Gardens and Specialty Nurseries in Oregon , Washington and British Columbia. Jan Kowalczewski Whitner. Edmonds, WA: Alaska Northwest Books. 1993. ISBN 0-88240-429-6. $15.95, paper. egional garden guides are spreading faster than horsetails these days, a trend con- firmed by the recent publication of three such works about California’s public gardens and, now, two books that cover the Pacific Northwest. Dis- tinguished by its engaging writing and outstand- ing graphic design, this is a book for both the novice and the diehard garden-goer. Descriptions of public gardens and horticultural parks in Oregon, Washington, and British Colum- bia are grouped by sub-region, followed by a list of specialty nurseries and organizations offering tours of private gardens. After deciding upon which of the book’s 150 gardens you want to visit, up-to-date addresses and easy-to-follow maps and directions ensure that you will arrive happily at your destination. Enroute, reading sections on the history and design of the garden build your anticipation and, once there, a down-the-garden- path narrative helps you interpret what you see. The author writes most passionately about the gardens she loves best: the Bloedel Reserve (Bain- bridge Island, Washington), Lakewold (near Tacoma, Washington), and Deepwood (Salem, Oregon), among them. Excellent descriptions of garden features and special plant collections are included, along with dozens of captivating line drawings. The historical passages are always charmingly written, although there are errors. For example, the early design for Tacoma’s park system should have been attributed to landscape architects Hare and Hare of Kansas City, Mis- souri. Similarly, the identity of the designer of the original garden at Lakewold is unknown, but his- torians agree that it was not an Olmsted Brothers design, as Lakewold reports. The book does an outstanding job of canvassing gardens in the western portions of the Pacific Northwest, tantalizing the reader with sketches of exotic destinations like the historic Simpson Es- tate in Coos Bay, Oregon, now the Shore Acres State Park Botanical Garden. A curious assort- ment of small parks and natural areas in the coas- tal regions is also included. Unfortunately, the eastern portions of the region receive less atten- tion. Although the grandeur of Wenatchee’s Ohme Gardens is superbly captured, absent are imporant eastern Washington horticultural attrac- tions like the Yakima Area Arboretum, or the gardens at the Maryhill Museum on the Colum- bia River. Nevertheless, there are plenty of gar- dens that will be unknown to most readers, mak- ing for a host of new adventures. Readers better have the next weekend free before buying it, for it is bound to inspire even the most jaded North- western gardener into rushing out to see an un- familiar garden. — Reviewed by Scot Medbury Scot Medbury is a student in the doctoral program in environmental planning at the University of California at Berkeley. He formerly contributed the “Northwest Garden Explorer” column for the Bulletin , and is a past editorial board member. 26 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin Ml MR w flit f " J l»i | Oj i f i jft1 ' § an s' m filsl l dl v \ The Elisabeth C. Miller Horticultural Library of the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture, looking out to the McVay Courtyard. Photo courtesy CUH. The Elisabeth C. Miller Horticultural Library A Library for Gardeners by Steven R. Lorton The Miller Library is mentioned in each issue of the Bulletin as a place to find the titles in the book review section and it is home to Book Beview Editor Valerie Easton. A unique afid innovative facility in the Northwest , the library can be used by all. Learn how on the next page. Brian O. Mulligan, Director Emeritus of the Washington Park Arboretum, reading in a comfortable corner of the Miller Horticultural Library. Photo by Laura Lipton. Vol. 56:2 Summer 1993 27 #7eeling a sense of regional pride comes easy JL these days in the Pacific Northwest, espe- cially in horticultural matters. Consider the Elisa- beth C. Miller Horticultural Library at the Uni- versity of Washington’s Center for Urban Horti- culture. There is nothing like it for miles around. The place quietly bustles with library users. Patrons move through the stacks. Others sit at study tables, looking, between paragraphs, out through generous windows to view the Union Bay wetlands, which are used for both study and recreation. Some sink deep into research in an easy chair or at one of the study carrels. Designed by Jones and Jones Architects, Seattle, the library is a visually soothing place, with richly grained woods and soft colors taken from Northwest lichens and mosses. Opposite the wetlands view, windows look out on the Center’s McVay Court- yard, an intimate space filled with many textures and colors of grasses, designed by Iain Robertson as a setting for both people and plants. Opened in 1985, expanded in 1990, the 4,500- square-foot facility is the only public horticultural library west of Denver and north of San Francisco. It holds 7,200 volumes (500 of which are in a lending library). You can find 300 journals and newsletters, and 850 current nursery catalogs. Or perhaps you would like to examine one of the five- hundred volumes comprising the old and rare book collection: Gerard's Herbal was first printed in 1597; the oversized three-volume Genus Pinus by Alymer Lambert was published in 1829. And the venerable books are well used. Re- searchers and graphic artists, in particular, flock to the library to use the excellent reference collec- tion, to read about what grew when, and to look at the vivid, hand-colored illustrations. Volunteers from the Washington Park Arboretum’s Saplings Program for elementary school students regularly visit the library to use the children’s collection of books established for this program — but available to all. In addition to books for children, there are books that aid in the teaching and development of children’s gardening. This kind of accessibility, and the public use it generates, is the library’s greatest claim to fame. Librarian Valerie Easton estimates that 75 to 80 percent of her work deals with the general public. Confirms co-librarian Laura Lipton, “We’re particularly proud of the range of our col- lections and the variety of clientele it serves, from serious researchers to beginning gardeners, hob- byists, and horticultural professionals.’’ Northwest gardeners bring an amazing array of questions to the Miller Horticultural Library. Questions range from the specific, such as “What is the Latin name for the Canada thistle?’’ {Cir- sium arvense ) or “How can I kill a stump?’’ to the so general as to be unanswerable, such as “I need a list of all the best plants to grow in the Pacific Northwest.’’ “How do I take cuttings from my fig?” “Is there a local source for bees?” “What is ethno- botany?” and “Why hasn’t my wisteria bloomed?” are a few of the hundreds of other in- quiries answered by Easton, Lipton, and the li- brary staff in May 1993. Every Monday night, excluding holidays, the library hosts the Washington Garden Clinic, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A pair of Washington State University Master Gardeners and a Univer- sity of Washington plant identification expert team up to answer your gardening questions. If you have something unidentifiable growing, munching, taking over, keeling over, or simply adding beauty to your garden, take in a sample and expect to walk away with more information, if not a full answer to your questions. Most of the construction funds for the library and an endowment to support its staffing were the gift of Pendleton Miller in honor of his wife, Elisa- beth (Betty). Later, the 1990 expansion was made possible by a gift from Betty Miller herself. But public support keeps the library going, along with a small annual stipend from the University of Washington. Books, used and new, roll into the li- brary office regularly to be cataloged and added to the shelves. If duplications are made, excess books are given to the Arboretum for its annual book sale. Financial contributions large and small are funneled directly into specific projects or materials. “I continue to be amazed at the level of support in the horticultural community for the library. Its growth really is a reflection of peoples’ generosity,” says Valerie Easton. If you are interested in finding out more about the Miller Library or in making a contribution, call, write, or visit: (206) 543-8616; Center for Urban Horticulture, GF-15, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; 3501 N.E. 41st, Seattle. Steven R. Lorton is the Northwest Bureau Chief of Sunset Magazine and a member of the Bulletin editorial board. 28 Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin UNCOMMONLY BEAUTIFUL Wells AVedina NURSERY 8300 N.E. 24th St., Bellevue 454-1853 Garden Enthusiasts Garden Works is full of unique, practical ideas for the garden enthusiast — useful tools, seeds, wreaths, fountains, yard ornaments, organic fertilizers, address signs, bird houses and feeders, and more — at prices that are equally practical. 10632 N.E. 9th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 (206)455-0568 A block north of Tower Books, access via 108th Ave. NE 15625 NE 175th in Woodinville • Phone. 483-5000 (from Bellevue: 454-1951) AjRreys nuRS€Ri€5 Over 50 years of quality plants and service Since 1940 \ / Growers and V Propagators of Choice Nursery Stock / Seattle <0 Bellevue <0 Bremerton Renowned for its 16 acres of exquisite formal gardens and historic 43 room mansion, Filoli is a 654 acre estate set against the verdant California Coast Range. A National Trust property lo- cated 25 miles south of San Francisco. Open Tues.-Sat. 10-3 by reservation; no reservation needed Fridays and some weekends. Fee. Filoli Canada Road, Woodside, CA 94062 (415)364-2880 ^GTOfyf ARBORETUM The Bulletin is published by The Arboretum Foundation Washington Park Arboretum University of Washington XD-10 Seattle, Washington 98195 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Seatde, Washington Permit No. 126 An arboretum is a living museum of woody plants for education, conservation, research, and display.