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All photos by Art Blanc,
Montage by D. A. Blades

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-EIGHT, NUMBER ONE

Editorial Committee

Mr. David A. Blades, Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. Alexander L. Barbour
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Miss Lucy Crissey
Dr. William G. Gambill
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mr. Andrew R. Knauer
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Mr. James M. Schell
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens,
909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206.
Sent free to all members of the organiza¬
tion. Regular membership, $5.00; Par¬
ticipating, $10.00; Supporting, $25.00;
Contributing, $50.00; Sustaining, $100.00.

The Green Thumb

David A. Blades, Editor

WINTER 1971

CONTENTS

Title Page

Introducing the Education Building —

William G. Gambill . 2

Bottle Gardens — Helen D. Stanley . 5

Exotics of Colorado — Pinus sylvestris —

Helen Marsh Zeiner . 9

Turfgrass Varieties for Colorado — Dave Boyle . 11

Aligning Our Highways with Environmental

Landscape Design — Gerald F. Kessler . 13

Focus on Pimenta dioica — Peg Hayward . 21

Gift Shop Blooms — B.E.P . 23

African Violet Propagation Primer — Emma Lahr . 26

Worms That Worry You — Wes Woodward . 28

Ikebana — Elizabeth Wear . 30

Lecture Series . 32

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN
THUMB and the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the
use of the books in the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in the new Education Building
at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colo. 80206, or call 297-2547.

Introducing

THE EDUCATION

William G. Gambill

BUILDING

During the first week of March
1971 Denver Botanic Gardens will
celebrate an event it has been antici¬
pating for many months — the formal
opening of the new Education Build¬
ing. This handsome $850,000 structure
is the latest building in the complex
that has been officially named the
Boettcher Memorial Center of Denver
Botanic Gardens.

The building shares with the Boett¬
cher Memorial Conservatory an im¬
pressive entrance-way and lobby court
with its fountain and pool surrounded
by a plant display area. Made possible
by donations of numerous interested
citizens and a generous $500,000 grant
from the Boettcher Foundation the
structure complements the diamond
motif of the Conservatory. Hornbein
and White, Architects, designed the
Center; Gerald H. Phipps, Inc. served
as general contractor.

With this fine building Denver Bo¬
tanic Gardens, at last, is able to pro¬
vide a magnificent autitorium, currently
known as Horticulture Hall. Planned
specifically as an exhibition room for
large flower shows the auditorium is
also capable of seating more than 400
persons for meetings, lectures, films,
slide shows, plays and even concerts.
Provided also in the building are three
classrooms for instructional purposes
and for meetings of various plant-
oriented societies, spacious new quar¬
ters for the Helen K. Fowler Fibrary,

new facilities for the Kathryn M. Kalm-
bach Herbarium, a photographic dark
room, a plant preparation room ad¬
jacent to Horticulture Hall, storage
rooms, a research laboratory and a
projection room.

The imposing entrance faces south
serving the Conservatory to the west
(left) and Education Building to the
east (right). Practically all glass-en¬
closed it is approximately 32 feet wide
and 17 feet high with four sets of!
double doors. Predominating the Fobby \
Court is a water fall and rectangular
pool surrounded on three sides by dis¬
play areas designed to hold pots of
colorful or interesting plants seasonally
appropriate. The cactus collection hasa
recently been exhibited here.

Focal point from the entry is a I
bas-relief above a water fall; both are

suspended from a wall screen of rough |
texture. The screen actually forms the b

fourth side of the pool and completes
the north entry wall. Sculptured in pink |
Colorado travertine, the bas-relief, en-K
titled “Rima,” was created in 1955 by
Edgar Britton, noted Denver sculptor,
and is a gift to Denver Botanic Gardens
from Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hornbein. p
Water cascades into the pool from a J
shelf-like basin beneath the sculpture
to produce a pleasant musical sound.
A skylight above a three-dimensional 1
ceiling dramatically floods the entire
pool area. The native red quartzite
floor is a continuation of the adjacent

foyer to the Conservatory. Here, to the
left of the Lobby Court, is also the
, office of the newly appointed Horti¬
cultural Education Specialist. This of¬
fice formerly served as a storeroom
for the Gift Shop. Cloakrooms and
public restrooms are conveniently sit-
luated at the west of the Lobby Court.

d Horticulture Hall

Horticulture Hall, a truly magnifi¬
cent auditorium, is to the east of the
llLobby Court. Approximately 64 feet
(square with a domed ceiling rising to a
height of 32 feet, it has no interior sup-
jporting columns. Smoked plexiglass
(tetrahedrons in the peak of the dome
(permit entrance of some light but not
(enough to raise temperatures signif¬
icantly during warm weather. The only
other natural light is admitted through
thigh doors on the east. These doors
open onto a narrow balcony on the
York street side of the building. At the
south side of the auditorium is a large
stage (24 feet wide and 22 feet deep)
boasting a gracefully curved prosce-
inium. Curtains, cyclorama and back-
i drop have been installed and a huge
projection screen (19 feet by 10 feet)
i is permanently suspended at the rear
of the stage. The projection room is
reached through the Herbarium on the
balcony level.

Horticulture Hall will accommodate
410 folding chairs (half are white and
half, avocado) with an unobstructed
view of the stage or they can be ar¬
ranged in-the-round. About 50 display
tables can be set up for flower shows
or banquets. Beneath the glazed dome
is a platform hydraulically operated
and designed to lift plants and equip¬
ment from the basement to the main
floor. Dollies can be loaded with fold¬
ing chairs, folding tables or used to
transport equipment from the lift to a
large basement storeroom. The lift,

about 10 feet square, may be left flush
with the floor of Horticulture Hall or
raised 4 feet above the floor and used
as a large plant display platform in the
center of the Hall. It has been con¬
sidered, also, as a stage for chamber
music or “concerts in-the-round.”

Tawny, golden-brown indoor-out¬
door carpet has been installed in Horti¬
culture Hall, the Library, Herbarium,
stairways, balcony and lounge. Doors
and woodwork are detailed in oak and
stained glass designs repeat accents
found in the Conservatory complex.

Plant Preparation Room

Double doors on the north side of
Horticulture Hall open to the plant
preparation room. Here, tiled work
counters slope toward trough-like sinks.
Numerous water spigots along and
above each counter can be used con¬
veniently in filling containers at flower
show time. Equipped with electric
range, refrigerator and dishwasher the
room can be used easily as kitchen area
by caterers and others. Here, too, is a
storage room as well as a walk-in re¬
frigerator for holding plant specimens
or floral arrangements at 40 degrees F.
before flower shows. Flooring is vinyl
tile.

Helen Fowler Library

Off the northwest corner of Horti¬
culture Hall a small lounge is furnished
with sofa, chairs and coffee table. From
the lounge is an entry leading to the
spacious quarters housing the books,
periodicals and journals of the Helen
K. Fowler Library. A rare book room
holds the Waring Botanical Rare Book
Collection donated by Mrs. James J.
Waring. Checkout desk, workroom,
and office for the library staff are lo¬
cated at the south end of the library.
Library tables with chairs and book
stacks in cheery yellow offer pleasant
comfort and convenience for study.

Beige draperies decorate small windows
on the north and east. An open metal
staircase leads to a basement room of
identical size for future library expan¬
sion and for storing books and period¬
icals formerly stored in the basement
of Botanic Gardens House.

The main hallway from the Library
descends to the basement level and
ascends to the second floor. A balcony
overlooking the Lobby Court below is
designated as Herbarium Display Area
and will contain glass-topped museum
display cases as well as glassed wall
cases. Exhibits will be shown of various
kinds of plant materials, including non¬
living plant specimens, charts, pictures,
books and plant materials significant in
economic botany and horticulture.

Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium

Adjacent to the balcony is the Her¬
barium, a depository for approximately
5,000 dried, mounted plant specimens
with space to expand the collection

eventually to 50,000 specimens. Be¬
sides standard herbarium cases the
room has several work tables, chairs,
and a work counter with sink along one
wall. A storeroom is also provided.

Garden Level

Three classrooms which can double
as meeting rooms and laboratories are
located on the lower level. The main
lecture room will accommodate 50 to
60 people with a portable dividing
wall. The east classroom leads through
double doors to the garden level. A
laboratory and the micology collection
occupy the area beneath the stage. The
photographic darkroom as well as
storage facilities for the Gift Shop and
auditorium furniture are also located
in the basement.

Boettcher Memorial Center of Den¬
ver Botanic Gardens, as of March 6,
assumes its responsibilities in providing
botanical education and enjoyment to
the citizens of Denver and Colorado.

CORRECTION, PLEASE

In the Autumn 1970 issue of The Green Thumb it was inadvertently stated
that “Low Shrubs for Colorado Landscaping” by George Kelly, p. 103, was the
reprint of Mr. Kelly’s list of low shrubs which appeared in the October 1948
issue of The Green Thumb together with a supplemental list. In truth, it was
the supplemental list only. Our apologies to Mr. Kelly and to our readers who
may have been misled by this erroneous information. For those wishing to know
more about low shrubs for Colorado landscaping, we refer you to The Green
Thumb for October 1948 where you will find George Kelly’s complete list or to
his current book, Rocky Mountain Horticulture, which contains essentially the
same material. Past issues of The Green Thumb are available for reference in the
Helen Fowler library.

ardening under glass started in
England over a hundred years ago
when Dr. Nathaniel B. Ward discov¬
ered that many plants would grow and
thrive in this type of environment. He
devised a container called a Wardian
Case and growing a garden in one of
these became a popular Victorian pas¬
time. Queen Victoria indulged in the
hobby and kept a number of these
gardens in her living quarters. The
cases were pretty things and when
planted became highly prized posses¬
sions. The bottle garden is a direct
descendent of Dr. Ward’s little Vic¬
torian contraption.

Glass gardening has undergone a
renascence during the past decade.
More leisure time in which to pursue
hobbies, a deeper interest in growing
things along with an increase in apart¬
ment living has caused many people
to engage in this type of indoor gar¬
dening. The marvelous therapy derived
from making a bottle garden cannot
be measured against a session on a
psychiatrist’s couch! There is a lovely

Bottle

Gardens

Helen D. Stanley

and mysterious quality to a well made
garden. It is a small world apart, self-
sustaining as it creates its own weather
and changing from day to day as tiny
fronds and new leaves unfold. And if
perchance a blossom should appear in
this bit of captive nature, you who
made it will experience a surge of
motherhood! After all you created the
thing. This is worth six sessions on the
couch.

The first step in your project is to
select a bottle. There are all sorts but
the larger the bottle, the better the
garden will thrive and the longer it will
last. Use clear glass as tinted glass
tends to prevent the proper infiltration
of light. Have your container squeaky
clean inside. Sterilize it by pouring
boiling water in it after warming it up
sufficiently to keep it from breaking.

It is easier to make your garden if
you assemble all materials needed as
a good cook does when she bakes a
cake. Materials may include small
gravel, soil, plants, tools and charcoal.
Find a place to work where you can

leave the mess (and mess it is!) un¬
disturbed for as long as it takes to
make the garden. It could take several
days. Don’t work when you are tired
and feel like yelling at the plants when
they don’t cooperate with the delicate
task of placing and arranging them.

The tools you work with are simple
and you devise, invent and improvise
them yourself. A wire coat hanger
straightened and twisted into a curled
end big enough to cradle a plant and
small enough to enter the opening of
the bottle is the gadget you use to place
the plants. A Chinese back scratcher
whittled to fit, chop sticks, a long
pointer type stick and a kitchen funnel
are all useful. For a large bottle a long
roll of cardboard or a hollow pipe can
be used to funnel the soil. It can be
angled so that soil will flow where you
want it to. This method helps to keep
the insides of the bottle clean. Part of
the fun in making a garden is seeing
how clever you are in getting the plants
in and placed artistically. With these
tools you dig little holes and maneuver
the plants in place and cover the roots
without injuring them.

The success of your garden depends
largely on the foundation and the soil
mixture. Always use sterilized soil. You
can buy this or you can sterilize it your¬
self by sifting it into a pan, covering
it with water and simmering it a few
minutes on the stove. Dry it thoroughly
before using. Add peat moss and sand
and work in a little crushed perlite and
some charcoal granules. The latter
keeps the soil sweet. The proportions
are roughly one part potting soil, one
part sand and one part peat moss by
volume. The proportions could vary
with the type of plants used. The mix¬
ture should not be too rich as this
causes the plants to grow too fast and
in no time, you will have a tangled
jungle on your hands!

Cover the bottom of the bottle with
small gravel which has also been steril¬
ized or thoroughly washed and dried.
About an inch will do for a larger
garden. Cover this with a thin layer of

charcoal. Insert the prepared soil into
whatever funnel you have, being care¬
ful not to get the insides of the glass
dirty. Use about three inches for a large
bottle, less for a smaller one. Make the
landscape uneven; build the soil up to¬
ward the back. Wash your plants free
of any soil and insert them with the
coathanger tool, first digging a little
hole with your stick. Getting the plant
loose from the tool, covering the roots
with soil and tamping is a problem
you will have to grapple with yourself.
It really takes some doing! For artistic
results, be sure your plants are varied
in size and coloring and be sure to

leave room for growth. Remember the
garden is supposed to last a long time.
Bits of colored rock (copper rock is a
lovely blue) can be sprinkled over the
landscape and tiny rotting logs for ac¬
cents. Some like a woodland animal
or two peering from the forest; these
are optional.

You have been working with dry
soil so far and there must be some
moisture. The best way to provide this
is to tip the bottle gently and pour in
tablespoons of water, letting it run
down the sides. This also cleans the
glass of any soil. Repeat this, turning
the bottle around until the soil is damp
but NOT soggy. A little water poured
directly into the opening will dampen
the middle. Don't upset the plants and
don’t be heavy handed with the water.
You can test with one of your tools
after a few days, bringing up a bit of
soil and judging the wetness. Droplets
will form on the inside of the bottle
and this gives the plants the humid
atmosphere they thrive in. The garden
should be placed in a cool bright (no
sun) place for a week or so to “ripen”
and so the plants can become settled
in their new home.

If the garden clouds up too much
(and it will at first) you can make
another tool to wipe down the inside.
Twist a light wire hanger in various
shapes as needed to do the job; tie
wads of absorbent material on the tip
with string or rubber bands (be sure
the material is held firmly as it is a
disaster if it drops off) and ever so
carefully rub down the insides. The
removed moisture will clear the view.

There are many plants which do well
in a bottle garden. Listed below are a
few.

Artillery Plant {Pile a micro phyllci
Liebm.)

Aluminum Plant {Pilea cadieri Gag-
nep. & Guill.)

Asparagus Fern {Asparagus spren-
geri Re gel.)

Boston Fern {Nephrolepis exaltata
Schott)

Dwarf Palm {Collinia elegans
Liebm.)

Corn Plant {Dracaena L.)

Creeping Charlie {Pilea nummu-
lariaefolia Wedd.)

Finger Aralia {Dizygotheca elegan-
tissima Vig. & Guill.)

Ivy (various small leafed varieties)
{Hedera L.)

Pepper Face {Peperomia obtusifolia
A. Dietr.)

Wandering Jew (Miniature Varie¬
ties)

Watermelon Begonia {Peperomia
sandersii C. DC. )

Coleus (Various Varieties) {Coleus
Lour.)

Boxwood (Small Varieties) {Buxus

Podcarpus (Small Varieties) {Podo-
carpus L’Her)

Baby’s Tears {Helxine soleirolii
Req.)

Your garden should be placed as
you would a cherished art object. For
a dramatic effect, at night place a light
behind it. In the daytime, place it where
it gets plenty of light but not in the
direct rays of the sun. Occasionally, it
might need the addition of a little water
and you will learn to judge this for
yourself. You might have to replace a
plant from time to time. A plant might
outgrow the garden or get scrawny or
just lie down and die.

These gardens make wonderful gifts
for a shut-in, a child or a garden lover.
They look great on a man’s desk in a
business office. They are conversation
pieces, guaranteed to start the talk.
The first question people will ask is:
“How in the world did you get those
plants in that bottle?”

Exotics of Colorado . . .

Pinus sylvestris ,

Scotch Pine

Helen Marsh Zeiner

Pinus sylvestris L., Scotch pine or
Scots pine, is one of the large orna¬
mental evergreen conifers planted in
the Denver area. A good place to see
this tree is on the Denver Country Club
grounds adjacent to South University
Boulevard, where Scotch pines are
growing in a row along the edge of the
country club property and are plainly
visible from the street.

Scotch pine is a two-needle pine,
with blue-green needles varying in
length from D/2-3 inches. They are
usually twisted. The foliage is some¬
times rather sparse.

Cones are small — only about 1-2V2
inches long. They are stout-stalked,
with dull, yellowish-brown thick scales
with a tiny central prickle.

The tree forms an irregular crown
with spreading branches, which, with
the sometimes scant foliage, gives an
open effect. One of the best identifying
characteristics is the orange or orange-
red bark on the large branches and
the upper trunk; this is easily seen on
the trees mentioned above. Bark on the
main trunk is gray.

Scotch pine may reach a height of
80 feet in this area; in its native habi¬
tats, when conditions are favorable,
it may grow to a height of 150 feet.

Pinus sylvestris is native to Europe,
where it is widely distributed across
the continent as well as in northern

Asia. It makes up the bulk of the for¬
ests of northern Germany and Russia.
It often forms pure stands, particularly
on poor soils. On better soils it may
be associated with other conifers such
as Norway spruce. The tree is found
in Scotland, as the common name tells
us; it is found growing in association
with European white birch in the high¬
lands, but on the peat moors it is asso¬
ciated with aspen and alder.

Pinus sylvestris is a very important
timber tree in Europe. The wood is
used for general construction. It has
been planted in this country for com¬
mercial purposes, but has not proved

to be very successful because the first
seeds planted were not taken from good
stock, and the trunks grew crooked and
the wood was not of good quality.
However, selection of seeds from bet¬
ter stock is expected to result in com¬
mercially useful plantings of trees in
the United States.

Scotch pines have been widely
planted for shelter belts and for orna¬
mentals, both in the United States and
in Canada. Since the mature tree is
large, it is a better tree for parks and
public grounds than for most homes.
This much-planted tree is becoming
naturalized, and is well-established in
the northeastern part of the United
States.

Flowers

It’s not a home until it’s planted and
we do need beauty, inside and out. We
love our family and home and can
express that impressively with a yard
and garden of flowers.

Sometimes we may travel away, on
vacations or otherwise, finding some¬
thing to bring back to make home
more livable and attractive.

All-America Selections, current
flower winners as the best of their
kinds, are planted in Demonstration
Gardens from Bermuda to Honolulu,
in Canada and over the United States.

More recent All-America gardens
are in South Africa and New Zealand.

Pin us sylvestris is not particular as
to soil or climate, and is said to be
resistant to city smoke.

George Kelly, in Rocky Mountain
Horticulture is Different, says that
Scotch pine seems to be as hardy as
the natives. He also says that it is the
most rapid growing of all pines for this
area, but he does not consider it as
beautiful as either Austrian pine (an
exotic) or our native ponderosa pine.
Both Austrian and ponderosa pines are
typically more regular in shape and the
foliage is long-needled and denser than
that of Scotch pine. However, the irreg¬
ular crown of Scotch pine has an at¬
traction of its own and it does add
interest and variety to the landscape.

to you

Thousands of visitors see these well
labeled award varieties in the fifty-five
famous botanical park and institutional
gardens.

Varieties of individual choice may
be noted and purchased conveniently
from reliable garden seed firms. Even
if one has not had the “green thumb”
success desired and needs the courage
to plant again, a gardener has that
courage. Garden and gardener improve,
always dreaming again for a more ex¬
citing, interesting beautiful garden.

After all, gardening is the greatest
hobby on earth and the whole family
can take part. We all should have a
dream of a garden.

INTERNATIONAL BONSAI CONVENTION

Cleveland, Ohio May 28-31, 1971

Sponsored by Bonsai Clubs International — Contact Keith Scott. Program
Chairman — 17771 Snyder Rd., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022.

for

COLORADO

Dave Boyle,

Extension Horticulturist , Jefferson County

Grass is the most important family
of flowering plants known to man. It
is a major source of food (wheat, rice,
barley, corn, sugarcane; it is exten¬
sively used for grazing; and it finds a
multitude of uses in recreation, beauti¬
fication, and soil conservation. There
are over 5,000 species of grass found
in the world, 1,400 of which occur in
this country. Approximately 25 of
these species are adapted for use as
turfgrasses. Even fewer are grown in
Colorado for lawns, parks, golf courses,
and other recreational and beautifica¬
tion purposes.

The principal turf species used in
Colorado is Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa
pratensis L.). Many varieties of Ken¬
tucky bluegrass are available commer¬
cially as seed or sod. This article will
be primarily concerned with a discus¬
sion of the characteristics of Kentucky
bluegrass and some of its more com¬
mon varieties.

Kentucky bluegrass is a fine-bladed,
cool-season, perennial grass that
spreads by rhizomes and forms a dense
cover under favorable conditions. It is
suited primarily to the northern por¬
tions of the country. It can adapt to
most growing conditions, with the ex¬
ception of extremely high temperatures.
Bluegrass has the ability to withstand
long dry periods, but does not remain
green without some precipitation or
supplemental irrigation. Being a cool-

season grass, it puts out much of its
growth, especially root growth, during
the cooler spring and fall months, and
goes into a semi-dormant state during
periods of temperature extremes. How¬
ever, with the increasing use of turf
dyes, it is possible to keep grass green
12 months a year.

Choosing a turfgrass for your own
use is primarily a matter of economics
and personal preference. The price of
bluegrass seed varies each year accord¬
ing to the supply. The retail price of
seed runs all the way from 50 cents
per lb. for the least expensive varieties,
up to $5.00 per lb. for the more ex¬
pensive ones. This is quite a broad
range, and may seem expensive, how¬
ever the initial investment for the seed
(or sod) is probably the smallest ex¬
pense in planting and maintaining turf¬
grass.

It does not pay to try to save money
on seed, because, as with most pur¬
chases, you get what you pay for. Good
quality seed is a must. It should be of a
high germination and purity percentage
— above 90% if possible. It is best
to stick to one variety rather than buy¬
ing a mixture, for the purpose of main¬
taining uniform color and texture in a
lawn.

A discussion of the qualities, both
good and bad, of some of the bluegrass
varieties is included in the following
table.

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ALIGNING OUR HIGHWAY

With

Environmental Landscape

Design*

GERALD F. KESSLER, Landscape Architect

Colorado is most fortunate in having an abundance of natural scenic beauty.
It should therefore be assumed that all roads can and should be scenic roads.

As the programmed highway transportation system throughout the nation
and state becomes a reality we are more and more aware of the broad influence
road design has on our community’s daily life. Neighborhood quality, com¬
munity growth, land values, tax influences, where people live, open spaces,
barrier effects of highway traffic — all are important parts of our environment
that must be considered in highway design.

Compatible natural landscape development is so much a function of today’s
highway design that it is inaccurate to think of roads as an independent factor
of the total landscape plan, but must be an integral part of the use of land in
the country and city where we reside.

States that have taken action to protect scenic development include Massa¬
chusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin and Hawaii. These states are
well aware of their diminishing natural environment and are trying to preserve
and develop effective use of remaining natural land areas.

Colorado’s open range and mountainous terrain is diminishing and can no
longer be treated as an expendable and inexhaustible resource. Colorado’s tourist
appeal is based almost entirely upon automobile travel and therefore is virtually
dependent on the quality of Colorado’s roads. By 1971 Colorado’s tourist industry
is expected to approach, or surpass a billion dollars annually making tourism
Colorado’s number one industry. The anticipated population increase in Colo¬
rado is directly related to the way in which Colorado develops its roads and
utilizes its natural landscape.

^Length of this article and the need for continuing variety in this small publication neces¬
sitates printing the final, but shorter, installment in the next issue of The Green Thumb.

New York State’s scenic parkways (pioneered in 1913) integrated the
landscape with curved roads and wide, natural, scenic, corridors. Effective use
of natural and created views and protective screen planting increases the beauty
and community value of these parkways and contributes to the livability of the
urban areas as well as providing substantial tax return and are now a priceless
asset to state and local community.

A special California legislation has emphasized the importance of scenery
and property preservation. The Counties are authorized to develop local systems
of scenic roads that complement the other main state highway system. The
“complete highway’’ concept emphasizes safety, utility, economy of construction,
maintenance, and scenic beauty with special emphasis on maintaining and pro¬
tecting adjacent physical land and visual values.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Many of the costly scars of our Colorado highway landscape could have
been avoided by proper evaluation of natural landscape prior to route selection
and engineering right of way limitations. Considering drainage, erosion, climate,
scenic quality, existing and future community values, is as important a part of
route selection as the geometry of the shortest distance between two points has
been overly emphasized as a guide line for Colorado highways of the past.

A complete environmental design team representing all design professions
would provide qualified assistance in route selection. They must have all available
information to review prior to design in order to be effective and anything that
has bearing on the potential choices must be made available to them. A planned

Citizens are now aware of the influence road design has on our communities
and way of life. An environmental design team within the highway department to
provide technical assistance would certainly provide a planned approach to
preservation of our natural environment and more awareness of our beautiful
State of Colorado.

MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN

In the mountains, proper complimentary, sensitive engineering design should
provide natural appearing, easy flowing, alignment of roads, bridges and short
tunnels to leave hillside, mountain streams and canyons unmarred. These natural
amenities and wonders of Colorado are what tourists and local citizens drive the
highways to see and they must be saved to be enjoyed. This creative concept and
design approach to mountain driving is used in Hawaii with very dramatic and
effective results.

Cut and fill construction used wisely is no more costly as a tool for revealing
beauty and hiding scars than leveling vertical alignments.

vines - ground

cover

small shrubs or trees

planted on levels

Landscape design can reduce continuing maintenance costs as initial con¬
struction costs, if applied during the early planning phases.

Advance consideration given to ground forms, embankments, plant pockets
and terracing can provide erosion control and water-holding capacity on a slope
— providing a continuous reduction in maintenance costs for the full life of the
highway right of way. Slopes can be designed to reduce water run-off and reduce
erosion to a minimum by absorbing the moisture and stopping mud from being
washed onto the road surface.

Check dams can also be used to promote growth to the surrounding land
and prevent, or retain, the fast overflow that occurs after an unusually heavy
rainstorm.

Our beautiful Colorado should be kept beautiful. We have so many native
materials and natural landscape plants to work with and they should be used in
the road design and development.

ROADS ARE PART OF OUR LANDSCAPE

How well roads fit into the natural landscape is closely related to how well
the structural qualities of the natural environment and the man-made qualities
are compatible. In Colorado yucca, sagebrush, cacti and other native varieties of
ground cover plants and rock can be combined to create a natural appearing
formation providing the natural continuity with surrounding areas. This is what
a road landscape design could do in reducing initial costs and reducing mainte¬
nance and replacements costs.

ground form - natural

rock outcropping and
plants compatible to
natural ecological
amenities

The use of native materials in an area can create an imaginative roadside
development and at the same time discourage vandalism.

Live wind and snow fences can be made with tree or shrub growth and
ground form to give a natural and highly scenic climate barrier for the life of
the road. Doing this when the initial route is designed helps control the selection
and cutting of "trees which act as a functional maintenance aid to the highway.

Sunlight is another factor in road selection; along with slope selection and
contouring of the ground with the type and character of planting considered. A
steep north slope will substantially shade the road causing freezing of any mois¬
ture on the road surface resulting in extremely hazardous driving conditions.
Proper design for sunlight control can eliminate such icy spots and also minimize
low-lying fog pockets, potential avalanche of rock slides and snow drifting. The
simple technique of carrying the shoulder out further and making the slope a
little flatter accomplishes a number of things: no shadow on the road, less soil
erosion on the slope, less snow drifting and a clear road for driving.

Sometimes cutting back high ridge on the outside of a curve will improve
the highway interest with safer driving and better view of the road at the same
time.

To be concluded in Spring issue

Focus

Pimenta

dioica

in the

Boettcher

Memorial

Conservatory

Peg Hayward

Pimenta dioica Merr., allspice, one
of the spicy myrtles ( Myrtaceae )
is an important economic plant included
in the Boettcher Memorial Conserva¬
tory collection. The crushed leaves,
pungent flowers and fruit have a scent
and flavor which seem to combine
those of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
and bestow on the tree the name of
allspice. This spice is usually known

as pimento outside the United States.
It was discovered in the Caribbean
Islands by the early Spanish explorers
in the sixteenth century, and because
the berries bear some resemblance in
shape and flavor to peppercorns (from
which black and white pepper are
ground), the Spaniards gave them the
name pimienta (pepper) a name later
corrupted and anglicized to pimento.

The former specific title, officinalis,
originally meant “of a workshop”; then
it signified use in the arts and in
medicine.

Pimenta dioica is a native of the
West Indies and Central America. It is
the only major spice grown on a com¬
mercial basis exclusively in the West¬
ern Hemisphere. Most allspice is grown
on the island of Jamaica, but it is also
produced in Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico, Brazil, and the Leeward Is¬
lands. Efforts have failed to introduce
allspice to other parts of the world.

Allspice is a medium-sized evergreen
tree, 25 to 40 feet tall, with a slender
upright trunk and smooth grayish bark,
which sometimes peels or is mottled
with whitish patches. The branches and
twigs are dotted with aromatic oil
glands. Leaves are opposite, leathery,
and usually thick. They are elliptic or
broadest toward the tip and 4 to 6
inches long. The blades are reddish
when young. Clusters of small, white
fragrant flowers are borne in the leaf
axils or on the tips of leafy shoots, but
they are not showy. The allspice or
pimento berries of commerce are nearly
round, ranging in size up to lA inch
in diameter and are crowned with the
remains of the calyx. The berries are
gathered as soon as they have attained
full size, but while unripe and green.
They are spread out and exposed to
the sun and air for some days. The
green color of the fresh fruit changes
to reddish brown when dry.

Pimento is usually grown from seed,
selected from well-developed fruiting
trees. The seeds are' extracted by
squeezing them with the fingers from
their pulpy covering. They must be

planted immediately to obtain a high
percentage of germination. In a mature
grove there are two kinds of fruiting
pimento trees; those commonly called
“female”; and the nonfruiting or barren
trees generally designated as “male.”
The so-called male trees occasionally
bear small quantities of fruit. Some of
the flowers of such trees are structurally
hermaphroditic, and the species is said
to be polygamo-dioecious. The fruitful
and unfruitful allspice trees are so simi¬
lar in appearance that the fertile trees
usually cannot be determined until
after flowering. Under favorable con¬
ditions the allspice tree begins to bear
at the age of seven or eight years but
is not in full bearing until the 15th year.

It may then bear for one hundred or
more years. Jamaican production sta- i
tistics for trees of all ages indicate an I
average yield of about 2Vz pounds of
dried pimento berries per tree.

Long before the Spaniards arrived in
Central America, the Mayan Indians
used allspice berries to embalm and
help preserve the bodies of important
leaders. From the seventeenth through
the nineteenth centuries the berries
were commonly used aboard ship to
preserve meat during long voyages.
This custom still exists in Scandinavia,
where the berries are used to preserve
fish in barrels en route from outlying
fishing areas to the coastal markets of
Norway, Finland, and Sweden.

Pimento is an aromatic stimulant
and carminative to the gastro-intestinal
tract, resembling cloves in its action.

It is employed as an addition to tonics
and purgatives and as a flavoring agent.
The chief use is as a spice and condi¬
ment and is sometimes employed in
perfuming soaps.

o p

o o m s

T>otanic Gardens Gift Shop has
blossomed into full flower in its
permanent setting, the entire south
room of the Conservatory complex. In
little more than six years it has de¬
veloped from a struggling seedling into
a significant flower.

Shortly after the Associates of Den¬
ver Botanic Gardens was organized in
September 1964 this fledgling service
group opened a gift shop in the foyer
of Botanic Gardens House. A borrowed
glass enclosed display case (6 feet
long) housed the entire operation.
Soon a peg board was installed behind
the case to hold a few books and small

wreaths. A Silver Tea in early Decem¬
ber brought a sprinkling of silver, wel¬
comed membership in both the Gardens
and the Associates and announced the
opening of the Shop. Craft items —
candle-rings, decorated match boxes,
bookmarks of pressed flowers, several
winter arrangements and a few hand¬
made ornaments were part of that sale.
Crafts from natural materials required
a minimum of expenditure but maxi¬
mum talent and originality. These items
earned the first dollars to establish an
inventory.

Planners agreed that gifts offered for
sale should relate to horticulture or
nature, in keeping with the Shop’s bo¬
tanical setting. Books, handcrafts and

floral arts (containers, mechanics and
accessories) were the three classes of
merchandise to be handled in the shop.
A $500 loan to enlarge the meager
inventory was repaid to the Board of
Trustees within the year. Since then
the Gift Shop has been self-sustaining.

The book department’s first offerings
were publications of Denver Botanic
Gardens: M. Walter Pesman’s Meet
the Natives and What Tree Is This?
by Charlotte Barbour and Earl Sinna-
mon. The Associates’ first publica¬
tions, Coloring Books by Suzanne Ash,
George Kelly’s Good Gardens in the
Sunshine States, publications by the
Denver Museum of Natural History
and a few books on floral arts com¬
prised the listings.

From the beginning handcrafted
items gave the Gift Shop a distinctive
personality. Many were keyed to the
seasons. Basic year-round items in¬
cluded the pressed flower bookmarks,
more decorated match boxes and the
nut figures, a project of Around the
Seasons Club.

With the opening of Boettcher Me¬
morial Conservatory the Shop moved
into a nook in the lobby of this new
facility. Display space there was lim¬
ited, however, and soon the borrowed
case was reactivated. As inventories
increased sales soared. Profits bought
more merchandise. In May 1968 the
Shop moved into the east portion of
the south room. Bookshelves were
added to enable visitors to browse
among the 125 titles stocked there.
Stationery, jewelry, statuary and fig¬
urines were shown to advantage in
lighted display cases.

Closing off the main entrance dur¬
ing construction of the Education
Building prompted another move, this
time into the west portion of the south
room. The Gift Shop Committee’s
theory that books almost sell them¬

selves when accessible to visitors
proved true and additional bookcases
were built. Now the book inventory
includes more than 350 titles on orna¬
mental horticulture, ecology, flower
arranging, birds, trees, houseplants
and related subjects. They range in
scope from children’s books to col¬
lege texts on wildflower identification.
Books account for one-fourth of total
sales. Last spring an autograph party
honored Ruth Nelson and Dorothy
Leake, author and illustrator of Hand¬
book of Rocky Mountain Plants. Ann
Zwinger, nationally prominent for her
recent volume, Beyond the Aspen
Grove, will autograph here the after¬
noon of March 25. The book depart¬
ment has contributed invaluably to the
prestige of the Shop.

Annual plant sales and pre-Christmas
sales give special impetus to Gift Shop
activities. Associates, friends, members
and employees of the Gardens patron¬
ize the Shop regularly. Tourists and
convention delegates as well as visitors
on city tour buses also contribute to
the Shop’s success. Mail orders have
been received from such distant places
as South America, England, and Ha¬
waii.

Last year 38 volunteers gave more
than 6,000 hours to staff the Shop
seven days a week. A committee of
six approves purchases of merchandise.
Garden hand tools, floral art supplies,
aspen leaf jewelry and Navajo juniper
berry beads, exotic containers and fig¬
urines, imported treasures, herbs and
the recent Herb Chart Bookmark, frag¬
rant sachets, potpourris and candles
have all become an integral part of a
gift shop that is naturally oriented to¬
ward nature.

Craft workshops at the Gardens and
in members’ homes continue to pro¬
duce original gifts — artistic wall hang¬
ings, table arrangements, pressed flower

pictures and bookmarks, candle-rings
and whimsical figures. Last year these
crafts, including A Pinch of Herbs pre¬
pared by Tussie Mussie Mesdames,
brought $5,000 in profits.

A gift from the Gardens is indeed
a gift to the Gardens. During the years
Associates have donated a 1 Vi -ton
truck, given $2,500 toward purchase
of a tractor, contributed $5,000 for
books and/or furniture for the Helen
Fowler Library in the new Education
Building, furnished permanent labels
for plants in the Conservatory and

provided numerous other neces¬
sities. Gifts during the past year were
a labeling machine, $6,000 in educa¬
tional equipment for the new building
and $1,000 for special plants in the
Conservatory. A $5,000 donation was
also made to the General Fund.

Plan to visit Botanic Gardens Gift
Shop, newly transplanted into a
uniquely beautiful container — the
jewel-like south room at 1005 York
Street.

Come, let’s continue to grow to¬
gether. B.E.P.

May 7 and 8, 9:30 to 5:30

COME GROW WITH US!!

AFRICAN VI0LE1
PROPAGATION

PRIMER

Emma Lahr

Tf you’ve never had any luck grow-

ing African violets, follow these
simple directions. Plants which are
propagated in the same environment
in which they will live often do better.

Choose a medium size leaf which
looks healthy. The very large lower
leaves of a mature plant often take
longer to root, though they will pro¬
duce plantlets in time. A short stem
roots more quickly than a long stem.
Using a sharp edged knife or a razor
blade, make a diagonal cut leaving one
inch of stem above the cut, with the
shorter length at the front of the leaf.
Figure 1. The diagonal cut gives a
greater rooting surface, and also the
small plantlets will come up in front
of the leaf instead of hiding beneath it.

For a rooting medium use half
vermiculite and half loose potting soil
with chip charcoal added. As is true
of most cuttings, roots formed in water
have a different cell structure than
those roots formed in soil. Water roots
cannot be used by a cutting when

S TEN LENGTH

Lon6 Diagonal. Cot
Slanted on front of stem

Fig. 1

PLftCE. IN

ROOTING nEDlUW

Fig. 2

placed in soil; instead, the cutting must
grow new roots which nature designed
to take sustenance from the soil. Place
the leaf in the rooting medium with
half the length of the stem above the
soil and half below. Figure 2. Write the
name of the variety on a marking stick
and place the stick so it holds the
leaf upright. The small pot containing
the leaf may be set in or covered with
a small plastic bag for the first four
weeks. The added humidity of this
small greenhouse keeps the leaf healthy
and hastens the development of the
roots. Give the leaf the same light,
water and care as that required by a

plant. The leaf will root in three to
four weeks; the small plantlets will
appear in six weeks to six months. A
leaf will produce from one to twenty
or more plantlets.

When there are two pairs of leaves
on the small plantlets and the leaves
look healthy enough to sustain the
plant the mother leaf may be gently
pulled from the root ball which has
formed, or the mother leaf may be
broken off at soil level. Figure 3. The
roots may be left on the mother leaf
or a new cut may be made by removing
the old roots. It may be set to raise
another family. It is quite all right to
leave the mother leaf with the small
plantlets sometimes it will wither and
die, sometimes it will still be strong
and healthy and may be put to root
again when the small plantlets are sepa-

WHEM 2 PAIR OF LEAVES

Fig. 3

WHEN THERE ARE 3 PAIR OF LEPAJES- POT SEPARATELY

Fig. 4

rated and placed in pots of their own.

When the leaves of the small plant-
lets are the size of a quarter, or when
there are three pairs of leaves, the
plantlets may be gently pulled apart
and each set in its own pot, using a
loose porous potting soil. Figure 4. Be
sure that the plant is in the center of
the pot, that the crown of the plant is
above soil level, and that the soil re¬
mains about one-half inch from the

WORMS THAT
WORRY YOU

Wes Woodward

You can tell spring is coming by
the popping of poppies from the
wet ground, by the purple blossoming
of periwinkle, by the sudden unfolding
of chromatic crocus. But spring is really
here when you walk under the cherry
tree and come face to face with a little
green caterpillar hanging on a filmy
white strand.

top of the pot to give watering room.
Tamp the soil gently but firmly to re¬
move unnecessary air. When using clay
pots, before potting, cover the edge
with aluminum foil. This prevents
leaves or leaf stems from contacting
any salt accumulation in this area and
thus minimizing probable stem rot. A
small plant requires a small pot; a
2 Vi" pot is a good size for a baby
plant.

The leaf rollers have come!

These wiggly worms become more
plentiful and pestiferous each year. In
some gardens they destroy the leaves
of trees and roses and almost every¬
thing else in their downward path. They
have passed crab grass, slugs, mildew,
hail and Chinese elm sprouts in the race
to become the greatest pest of all. The
trouble is, you can’t get at them. You
don’t even know they are there until
you see the curled up leaves and they
have already armed themselves against
your sprays. The first encounter with
leaf rollers is probably too late.

After several seasons of futile battle
against these marauders — you can

squeeze the rolled leaves and make a
mess — I went to the books by experts
to find out who my enemy was.

The new Bulletin 472A, called “In¬
sect Pests of Landscape Plants,” issued
by Cooperative Extension Service of
Colorado State University in June 1970,
says that there are several species, two
of which we can expect to meet under
the cherry tree. There’s the fruit tree
leaf roller — Archips argyrospilus, and
the oblique-banded leaf roller —
Choristoneura rosaceana, which look
alike and are equally destructive. They
are the larvae of 3A inch brown moths
that don’t bother much, once they have
reached that stage.

The books says you spray them —
with Methoxychlor, Lindane, Sevin,
Diazinon, Malathion or Dieldrin. It
doesn’t say whether the spray will pene¬
trate the rolled up leaves. However, one
rose expert contends that if the spray
can be broken up into a fine mist and
applied with force — he had a gadget to
do this — it will reach the caterpillars.
I’ve sprayed with a garden hose attach¬
ment. Maybe I cut down the cater¬
pillar crop from ten thousand to seven
thousand.

Metcalf and Flint, in “Destructive
and Useful Insects” say that most effec¬
tive control is obtained by thoroughly
spraying dormant trees, on the warm
days of February and March, with good
commercial miscible oil or oil emul¬
sion. What you are trying to hit, and
to cover, are the masses of eggs, from
30 to 100 in a patch, plastered on the
twigs and branches, coated with a
brownish gray varnish-like material and
blending perfectly with the bark. You
probably can’t see the eggs but you
may, if you’re thorough, cover them
so that they won’t hatch. If you cover
them you’ve got them; there’s only one
generation a year.

ikebana

Elizabeth Wear

r> ased on the teachings of Confucius
and incorporating the three sym¬
bolic elements of heaven, man and
earth, ikebana — the art of Japanese
flower arranging — has created an in¬
ternational artistic link among people
all over the world.

Ikebana is at once more subtle, more
sensitive, and more sophisticated than
the usual Western methods of arranging
flowers. One reason is simply that
ikebana is an art, in the same sense
that painting and sculpture are. It has
a recorded history it has undergone a
coherent development; it has a tech¬
nical discipline; it is backed up by
articulate theories; and it is concerned
with creativity.

The Japanese have an age-old ten¬

dency to associate a wide range of
human emotions with flowers. In
classical Japanese poetry, the very
mention of a flower’s name is often
enough to evoke a whole series of ideas,
images and meanings. A cherry blos¬
som is not merely a beautiful flower,
it is also a symbol of manliness and
bravery. It blossoms briefly but glor¬
iously, then falls quickly before it has
withered. The grasses of autumn sug¬
gest the wanness of fading summer and
the sadness of growing old. To the great
majority of Japanese, each flower also
evokes a particular month of the year
and the feeling or mood appropriate
to that month. Thus each Japanese
flower arrangement is very meaning¬
ful. symbolizing the link between man

and nature and representing a mood
appropriate to the particular season
and even the particular occasion.

The original chapter of Ikebana In¬
ternational, an organization devoted to
the study of Japanese flower arranging,
was founded in Tokyo in 1956 by an
American military wife.

Denver’s chapter was established in
1962 and is one of 140 such organiza¬
tions located throughout the world
with over 10,000 members. The clubs
are linked by the motto: “Friendship
Through Flowers.”

Members of Ikebana International
clubs can qualify for various flower
arranging degrees through their own
teachers. The degrees, nine in all,
progress in Japanese style with ninth
lowest and the first as highest.

The Denver chapter is preparing for
its sixth exhibit of flower arrangements,
an annual event for Ikebana chapters
everywhere. A $1.00 donation is re¬
quested for admission. Proceeds from
the show will be given to the Denver
Botanic Gardens.

Chairman of the show is Mrs. Baxter
Lanius. Assisting her are Mrs. M. M.
Magruder, Mrs. Robert M. Stanley,
Mrs. James J. Waring, and Mrs.
William J. Burkhardt. Advisors are
Mrs. Alonzo Lilly and Mrs. Frank
McLister. Anyone interested in further
information should call the club’s presi¬
dent, Mrs. John F. Wear.

Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 24 and 25
Education Building
Denver Botanic Gardens

LECTURE SERIES

1971

The Education Committee of the Denver Botanic Gardens wishes to an¬
nounce its series of free lectures for the winter and spring of 1971. These lec¬
tures will be held in Horticulture Hall in the new Education Building at 1005
York St. They begin at 8:00 P.M., and free parking is provided just to the east
between York Street and Josephine Street.

The lecturers are all well recognized in the plant field and their talks will
be of interest both to professionals as well as lay plantsmen. The audience is
invited to participate in the question and answer period which follows each talk.

JANUARY 21, 1971 THURSDAY
Is there a Botanic Garden in your Future?

Civilized men have been building botanic gardens
throughout recorded history. Why has this been
so? Are they institutions with any “relevancy”
today? What can they contribute to bewildered
men and society in our times?

FEBRUARY 18, 1971 THURSDAY

Flowering Trees of the Tropics.

This region of the world contains more species
and the flowers are larger and more attractive than
those of the temperate zone. The talk will be illus¬
trated with color slides.

MARCH 18, 1971 THURSDAY

Colorado Wildflowers and Flower Interlude.

The program is in stereo with musical background
dwelling on blooming cycles in the five plant life
zones.

APRIL 22, 1971 THURSDAY

Response of Varieties of Woody Plants (Includ¬
ing Aspen) to Environmental Conditions.

How do plants react to changes in water condi¬
tions, intensity of light, biological conditions and
temperature? The talk will be illustrated with
slides.

Dr. Wm. Gambill, Director
of the Denver Botanic
Gardens.

F. L. S. O’Rourke, Profes¬
sor of Horticulture, Colo¬
rado State University.

Vernon and Lucille Tomp-
pert, well-known photog¬
raphers of nature subjects.

Dr. George Williams, De¬
partment of Biological
Sciences, University of
Denver.

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC,

A Non-Profit Organization

Officers

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

Staff

Dr. William G. Gambill, Director

Andrew R. Knauer, Assistant Director

Ernest A. Bibee, Conservatory Superintendent

David A. Blades, Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Beverly M. Pincoski, Botanist - Horticulturist

James M. Schell, Education Specialist

Solange Huggins, Librarian

Iris Nakagawa, Secretary

Betty Colmer, Secretary

Helen McClosky, Secretary

Dr. A. C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 2 1

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

Illustration Sources

Cover — Photos by Art Blanc, Montage by D. A. Blades

Page 5-7 — Drawings by Suzanne Ash

Page 9 — Photo by A. R. Knauer

Pages 14-20 — Sketches by G. F. Kessler

Page 21 — Drawing by Phil Hayward

Page 23 — Drawings by Ravia

Page 25 — Transparencies by D. A. Blades

Page 26-29 — Drawings by Polly Steele

Pages 30-31 — Title and art work by Phil Hayward

A Green limb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

DO NOT FOLD

RETURN REQUESTED

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-projit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary purpose of which
is the advancement and diffusion of botanical knowledge. This purpose may be
accomplished in a number of different ways with the particular placing of
emphasis on different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers around the
one important and essential problem of maintaining a collection of living plants,
both native and exotic, with the end purpose of acquisition and dissemination
of botanical knowledge.

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

THE COVER

Liberty Hyde Bailey award presented to Dr. A.C. Hildreth
November 4, 1970.

Photos by Robert W. Schott.

Arrangement by Phil Hayward.

♦

THE GREEN THUMB |

VOL. TWENTY-EIGHT, NUMBER TWO j

Editorial Committee (

Miss Margaret Sikes, Co-Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash .
Mrs. Alexander L. Barbour
Mrs. William H. Crisp :
Miss Lucy Crissey |
Dr. William G. Gambill j
Mrs. Phil Hayward ■
Dr. A.C. Hildreth j
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J.V. Petersen, Chairman, Co-Editor |

Mr. James M. Schell j
Dr. Moras L. Shubert !
Mrs. J.P. Steele, Jr.

Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner, Co-Editor i

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909
York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent
free to all members of the organization.
Regular membership, $5.00; Participating,
$10.00; Supporting, $25.00; Contributing, j
$50.00; Sustaining, $100.00.

te Green limb

MARGARET SIKES,

HELEN M. ZEINER and BERNICE E. PETERSEN, Co-Editors

SPRING 1971

CONTENTS

Title Page

Boettcher Memorial Center Ribbon Cutting —

Remarks by Cris Dobbins . 34

Directions for Growing Colorado Columbines —

Jess Fults . 36

Book Review , Ingenious Kingdom -

Helen Marsh Zeiner . 38

The Season of Flowers — Katharine Bruderlin Crisp . . 39

Exotics of Colorado — Snowdrop — Galanthus nivalis
Helen Marsh Zeiner . 43

The Rock Elm — S.R. DeBoer . 45

Mountain Maple Mites — William A. Weber . 46

New Books in the Library . 47

Dr. Hildreth Awarded the Liberty Hyde

Bailey Medal . 48

Tall Shrubs for Dry Land Gardens — A.C. Hildreth . . 49

Focus on — Staghorn Fern — Platy cerium bifurcatum -
Peg Hayward . 53

Plants for Landscaping at High Altitudes —

Compiled by George Kelly . 55

Aligning our Highway with Environmental

Landscape Design, II — Gerald F. Kessler . 60

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER . You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in the
Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colo. 80206, or call 297-2547.

BOETTCHER MEMORIAL CENTER

RIBBON CUTTING

MARCH 6, 1971

Remarks by Cris Dobbins,

Board Chairman of Boettcher Foundation*

“Accuse not nature, she has done her
part; Do thou but thine!” Certainly
nature did her part yesterday in the
surprise snowstorm and fierce blizzard.
How great it is to be in Colorado and in
Denver where after a miserable day of
blowing snow yesterday we have a beauti¬
ful blue sky and bright sunshine this
morning!

This is a happy occasion. It marks the
culmination of thought, planning and
hard work extending over a long period
of time. It is a special pleasure for me as
Chairman and on behalf of the Trustees
of the Boettcher Foundation to partici¬
pate in this ceremony. The outline I
received stated that I would make presen¬
tation of the new building and completed
Boettcher Memorial Center to the City
and County of Denver. That is an over¬
simplified statement of course.

Actually the interest of our Founda¬
tion . . . goes back to Claude K. Boet¬
tcher and his father Charles, who brought
the Foundation into being in 1937 as a
charitable institution whose beneficences
under its charter were and still are con¬
fined to the State of Colorado.

Both of the founding Boettchers had a
great love for the State of Colorado,
which had been good to them. Both of
them traveled extensively throughout
their lifetimes and, of course, could have
lived anywhere, but they all chose to
keep their homes and official residence
here. They contributed greatly to the

growth of the early economy of the State
in the fields of cattle and ranching,
agriculture, industry and finance.

It was their hope that through the
Boettcher Foundation constructive use of |
their wealth could be devoted within the |
State to educational, charitable, scientific j
and cultural purposes, and the present j
Board of Trustees is dedicated to achiev¬
ing these objectives.

Members of the present Board are Mrs.
Charles Boettcher, II, Judge Hatfield Chil-
son, C. B. Flick, Walter K. Koch, Hudson
Moore, Jr., E. Warren Willard and, of
course, myself. Another equally impor¬
tant one of our group, while not a
Trustee, is our Vice President and Execu¬
tive Director, John C. Mitchell.

Both the Senior Charles Boettcher and i
his son Claude K. Boettcher were interest¬
ed in the city parks in Denver, as well as
our mountain parks and in visiting gar¬
dens and conservatories at home and
abroad. They had urged and offered to
pay for certain arboretum and conserva¬
tory projects for the City of Denver, none
of which materialized.

It was only natural with that back- 1
ground, as the Botanic Gardens began to
take shape that our Trustees took a keen
interest in this venture. After a good deal
of study and discussion with the Trustees
of the Botanic Gardens and officials of
the City of Denver, the Boettcher Foun¬
dation made a grant of $1 million to
build the conservatory structure. In pre-

paring the concept and plans which were
produced by Architects Hornbein and
: White, it appeared that there was need
also for a horticulture hall and audito-

rium as part of the over-all design. The
; cost of the conservatory building itself
was $944,000, and our Trustees decided
to leave the $56,000 remaining out of the
►! $1 million grant as “seed money,” which
i would hopefully attract other contribu¬
tions for completion of the over-all con¬
cept. Ground was broken on January 4,
1964, for the conservatory building,
which was completed and dedicated in
v January of 1966. Thereafter a fund¬
raising drive was started to complete this
part of the building complex and there
were many contributions, some quite
substantial. It became apparent, however,
that the amount was falling far short of
that needed for the completion of both
v; the building complex and the reconstruc-
: tion of the Gardens, which together were
estimated to cost $850,000. Our Trustees
decided to make an additional grant of
' $500,000, which with the $56,000 from
w the conservatory grant amounted to

$556,000 for the Horticulture Hall Build¬
ing and $1,500,000 from Boettcher
Foundation to the Botanic Gardens to
date. It was hoped that this would cover
the cost of the buildings and give a good
lift at least toward the reconstruction of
the Gardens.

Since today marks the completion of
the complex, I am happy on behalf of the
Boettcher Foundation to make this
symbolic presentation of the new build¬
ing and of the whole building complex,
which the Board of the Botanic Gardens
has named “The Boettcher Memorial Cen¬
ter” to the City and County of Denver.
Of course, all of us should also give
recognition to those many others who
have contributed of their time, talent and
money to this greatly worthwhile under¬
taking. When the Gardens are completed
and these buildings are put into full use,
Denver will have one of the finest facili¬
ties of its kind anywhere.

*Ed. Note: Mr. Dobbins’ comments are
recorded here in order that members of Denver
Botanic Gardens may share in the activities of
this historically significant event.

Bill McNichols, Mayor; Cris Dobbins, Board Chairman, Boettcher
Foundation; and John C. Mitchell, President, Denver Botanic Gardens
Board of Trustees; cut ribbons as Mr. Dobbins sybolically presents
Boettcher Memorial Center to the City and County of Denver.

Directions for Growing
Colorado Columbines

(. Aquilegia caerula James)
Jess Fults*

Starting seedlings

Three different media may be used.
The best is milled and screened sphagnum
moss. Nearly as good is Jiffy Mix which
contains equal parts shredded sphagnum
peat moss and fine grade terra-lite-
zonolite-vermiculite plus just enough
nutrients to sustain initial plant growth
(up to 10 weeks). This is a product of the
Jiffy Pot Company, and is available from
Ball Seed Company. A third choice is a
greenhouse soil mixture of 1/3 sharp
sand, 1/3 screened peat moss and 1/3 clay
loam soil with a pH of not over 7.5. If

this mixture is used, it should be mixed
by volume and then steam pasturized for j
24 hours and allowed to cool. Before use !
it should be aged at least 30 days and |
thoroughly aerated. Do not use freshly I
pasturized greenhouse soil mix. It is often j
highly toxic to germinating columbine !
seeds.

Seed should be planted in 3-inch deep
flats in l-inch rows. It should be spaced
1/8 inch apart and planted Va inch deep, j
Rows can be made with a press-board to
which are fastened 3/16 inch dowel strips j
to mark the rows. The seed should be

*Weed Research Laboratory, Botany and Plant Pathology Department, Colorado State
University.

covered with planting medium lA inch
deep. The surface should then be firmed
with a flat press board. Flats should then
be watered and covered with clear plastic
sheeting until germination takes place,
then removed.

Initial watering, and until germination
occurs, is best done with a fog-nozzle
(Fogg-it Company). Each head contains 3
nozzles with holes 1mm in diameter. It is
attached directly to a hose. Best fogging
is secured with full water pressure. After
seedlings emerge an ordinary rose-spray
nozzle can be used.

Germination takes 21 to 28 days.
Seedlings emerge with two smooth-
margined cotyledonary leaves. Approxi¬
mately 40 days from planting, the first
true leaf appears. At about 45 days,
seedlings should be transplanted either to
2lA " x 2/4 "or 3 " x 3 "jiffy pots or to
3-inch clay pots— 1 plant per pot. Media
should be either Jiffy Mix or greenhouse
soil. For maximum seedling growth, illu¬
minate with grow-lux fluorescent lights
and reflectors set 18 inches above the
seedlings at least an extra 5 hours per day
during February and March. When seed¬
lings are 12 to 14 weeks old they are
ready for transplanting to where they are
to be grown. Space 18 inches apart for
mass plantings; space 36 inches apart for
maximum flower production.

Seed should be planted January 1 to
15. Transplants should be set out be¬
tween April 15 and May 1 for best
growth during the first year. They may be
planted as late as June 1 but early
plantings under cool early spring condi¬
tions produce best first year plants. Some
may flower the first year.

Pests

Mildew, aphids, mites, and mosaic
virus are the worst enemies of colum¬
bines. Aphids and mites are best con¬

trolled by use of a soil -incorporated, dry,
granular, systemic insecticide. The chemi¬
cal name is O-O, diethyl S-2-(ethyl thio)
ethyl phosphoro dithioate. Trade names
include Scope, Isotox Systemic Granules,
and Di-System [O-O-diethyl S-2-(ethyl-
thio) ethyl phosphorodithioate] . These
may be safely used according to manu¬
factures’ directions after plants are well
established beginning in the early spring
of the second growing season. They prob¬
ably should not be used on new seedling
transplants.

If a systemic insecticide is not used,
mites may be controlled by use of Kel-
thane [1-1 ,bis(chlorophenyl), 2-2-2 tri-
chloro ethanol] used at 1 teaspoon per
gallon water several times at 10-day inter¬
vals. Aphids, which attack flowers when
they are in the early bud stage may be
kept under control with nicotine sulfate
(. Black Leaf 40) used with soapy water at
a rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon. Don’t mix
Kelthane and Black Leaf 40.

Mosaic virus which appears during the
second year causing chlorotic leaves and
misshaped flowers and which persists
indefinitely in affected plants can be
brought under reasonable control by dig¬
ging and destroying affected plants as
soon as they appear. If affected plants are
not destroyed, the mosaic may spread to
all plants in the planting.

Mildew can be very serious on estab¬
lished plants beginning in midsummer of
the second year after planting. It is worst
during hot, dry weather and can almost
completely defoliate plants. It can be
minimized in its attack by use of
Karathane [di-nitro (1 -methyl heptyl)
phenyl crotonate] used at weekly inter¬
vals at a rate of 3/4 teaspoons per gallon
of water beginning at the first sign of the
white mildew powder on the older leaves
in conjunction with adequate irrigation
and nutrition.

Expected length of life of
established plants

About 50 percent of original plants
can be expected to live five years or
more. However, after the second year
plants drop large amounts of viable seed
which produce many volunteer seedlings
the third year. This often results in
maintenance of a full population of
plants but flower colors are almost cer¬
tain to be different than the original
plants. This partly explains why many
growers who sometimes transplant wild
blue-white types find that the colors
change after two or three years. In this
process, the blue-white types decrease or
disappear.

BOOK REVIEW

INGENIOUS KINGDOM: The Re-
markable World of Plants, Henry and
Rebecca Northen, Prentice-Hall, Inc.,
Englewood Cliffs, N.J., October 1970.

This book is the latest in the Prentice-
Hall series in nature and natural history.

The authors are by no means strangers
to many Green Thumb readers. Dr. Henry
Northen is professor of botany at the
University of Wyoming, and is the author
of Introductory Plant Science. Rebecca
Northen is an orchid specialist who has
written two books on orchids: Home
Orchid Growing and Orchids as House
Plants. The Northens are co-authors of
The Secret of the Green Thumb and The
Complete Book of Greenhouse
Gardening.

The Ingenious Kingdom , as a part of a
popular series in nature and natural his¬
tory, is directed toward the person inter¬
ested in plants but lacking technical
training.

To write such a book is difficult; one
must neither oversimplify nor talk over
the head of the reader. A tremendous
variety and bulk of material must be
touched upon in a limited number of
pages. The Northens, experienced writers,
have met the challenge of this monu¬
mental task very well.

The book begins with a chapter on the
origin and conditions for life on earth;
continues with brief glimpses at all the
major plant groups; touches on structure I
and physiology, including a chapter on 1
plant hormones and another on plant j
calendars and clocks. Adaptations to j
environment and an introduction to the |
major ecological formations of the world
are included. Basic botanical information,
ecology (with interactions of plants and
animals) and conservation are all a part of
the book.

Obviously a book of such broad scope
cannot be all-inclusive and there must of
necessity be generalizations. Nevertheless,
a surprising amount of good information,
sometimes in detail, is written in a very
readable manner. The portion on pollina¬
tion in the chapter on flowering plants is
a good example of this.

The book is well-illustrated with a
variety of good photographs. Among !
these might be mentioned photographs of j
pollen grains and an X-ray photograph of '
flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida L.). ;
The artistic drawings are attractive but do
not add to the book’s value for the
person wishing to increase his knowledge ;
of plants.

Helen Marsh Zeiner

“Spring, spring, spring of the year,” I
heard the robin sing today, yet by the
i calendar spring is still three weeks away.

1 Patches of green grass peeping through
the snow, buds swelling on the maples
and elms, all announce that soon the
j season of flowers will be here.

Now the longing to go in search of the
first easter daisy, to spot the first white
i sand lily or the first yellow johnny
jump-up is upon us. I know that on the
I warm hillsides the spring beauty is peep-
I ing through the leaf mold, the blue
pasque flower with its furry collar has
' arrived prepared to weather the chilly
; breeze, and the Oregon grape is making
bright yellow patches that hug tightly the
lichen covered rocks. April is here and the
season of flowers has begun.

Gradually, one by one, or in groups,
our friends return until by the first week
in June the landscape is ablaze with color.
Then we fully realize that here in Colo¬
rado with her blue skies, bright sunshine
and stimulating atmosphere is the real
land of flowers. Masses of color, all about

THE

SEASON

FLOWERS

Katharine Bruderlin Crisp*

make us gasp with delight. Here, there are
patches of chickweed, white as the driven
snow, there patches of golden yellow
wallflowers. Close at our feet is the
delicate blue flax, and farther away blue
mertensia, pink gilia and purple larkspur
are nodding in the breeze. Over yonder a
bright red spot calls our attention to the
paint brush.

To the botanist, Colorado offers an
unlimited field for study; to the nature
lover a paradise in which to revel. Even
the mere tourist cannot go away without
carrying a very definite impression of our
wild flower garden. A greater variety of
flowers is found here than in any other
state in the Union with the exception of

*Mrs. Crisp is a native Coloradan and one of
our early naturalists. The accompanying article
appeared in Municipal Facts, March-April 1926
and is found in the Western History room at the
Denver Public Library. The Green Thumb
Editorial Committee feels the material is as
appropriate for its readers now as it was 45
years ago despite the “encroachment of
civilization.”

the states of California and Texas. Tele¬
scoped into the space between the plains
and the arctic alpine zone on the highest
mountain peaks is a vegetation such as
one might find in a much longer journey
from northern Mexico to Labrador.

Starting out on a gorgeous June morn¬
ing for a day’s hike in the foothills of the
Mountain Parks near Denver, the inter¬
ested person can hope to find with ease
from one hundred to one hundred
seventy-five varieties of flowers in bloom.

Let us consider first, a few of the
white flowers. The chickweed belonging
to the pink family, is low, never more
than ten inches tall. The pretty, starry
white flowers measuring about half an
inch across are quite conspicuous. All
during the month of June, the chickweed
forms white masses on the hillsides.

Looking out across the plains, we see
along the roadside other patches of white.
On a closer investigation we recognize the
prickly poppy and the snow-on-the-
mountain. The prickly poppy is a large
handsome white flower, at least four
inches across, with a yellow center. The
leaves as the name implies, bear prickles,
and the stem when broken yields a yellow
sap. The snow-on-the-mountain is charac¬
terized by its unusual leaves. The flowers
are small and inconspicuous, but below
them are located foliage leaves bordered
in white. This gives the whole plant a
whitish aspect.

Another flower of the plains is the
evening primrose. The flowers are often
three inches across bearing four heart-
shaped petals. The pale green foliage,
reddish buds, white flowers and faded
crimson ones produce a fine color
scheme.

Perhaps one of the loveliest, if not the
loveliest, of the pale flowers is the mari-
posa lily. This grows on the dry open
hillsides. The leaves are grass-like, the

flowers tulip shaped. Mariposa, which
means “butterfly” in Spanish, is an ap¬
propriate name for the flower. With its
purplish black center it looks like a
butterfly that has just alighted on the
slender stem. |

Another member of the lily family is
the yucca, or Spanish bayonet. The plants

are large, bearing long daggerlike leaves. ,
The flowers, cream colored, about two
inches across are borne close together on
tall spikes which often reach a height of
three feet.

There are many flowers of bluish tint.
Among these we find the columbine,
pasque flower, mertensia, larkspur, hare¬
bell, flax, lupine, skull cap, penstemon
and spider lily.

The state flower of Colorado is the
blue columbine, belonging to the crow¬
foot family. The flower, often three
inches across, has five blue sepals resem¬
bling petals and five whitish petals with
conspicuous hollow spurs. Other mem¬
bers of this family are the purple larkspur
and the blue pasque flower. The latter is
often called the “anemone.”

The mertensia, commonly called lung¬
wort, bears graceful clusters of nodding
blue flowers.

The harebell is a true bluebell. The
plant grows from six inches to a foot in
height. The flowers are less than an inch

long, deep blue in color, and hang from
thread-like stems in a loose cluster.

The lupine forms large clumps bearing
spikes of pea-shaped flowers. It may be
easily recognized by its compound leaf.

The wild rose, beloved not only for its
beautiful pink color, but also for its
lovely fragrance, needs no description.
The gilia and wild geranium, are other
pink flowers. The monarda, or horse
mint, not a very positive flower when
found alone, forms beautiful patches of
reddish-purple when growing in masses.

The mountain, or wood lily, now very
rare near Denver, loves the shelter of the

aspen groves. This fiery-red lily resembles
the common tiger lily. Together with the
columbine, this flower needs our most
careful protection in order to prevent
extermination.

The season begins with yellow. The
Oregon grape, the stone crop, the Western
wall flower, the thermopsis and the blad¬
der pods, are the first arrivals. Then the
composites carry the color through the
summer and end the season in a long
glory of yellow. The gold of the aspen
gradually disappears, and thus ends the
glorious season of flowers.

. . . the first snowdrops pierce through the leaf-mulch
under the cottonwoods . . .

HAVE YOU VISITED THE GIFT SHOP RECENTLY?
WERE BIGGER AND BETTER, WITH MANY GIFTS

FOR GARDENERS

Exotics or Colorado...

Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis
Helen Marsh Zeiner

One of the very earliest flowers of
spring, the dainty little snowdrop has
been a garden favorite for many years.
Known to botanists as Galanthus nivalis
L., this little bulbous plant is a member
of the family Amaryllidaceae and there¬
fore related to such familiar flowers as
the amaryllis, daffodil, poet’s narcissus,
paper-white narcissus, and the century
plant or agave.

In Denver, snowdrops may bloom as
early as the latter part of January. This
year on January 28 I saw a beautiful
fully-opened snowdrop which had been
grown in an Englewood garden. How¬
ever, it is more usual for snowdrops -to
bloom during the last half of February
or even as late as the first of March. In
my south Denver garden, snowdrops
were just showing buds on February 15.
Exposure, of course, plays an important
role in determining the blooming time
for snowdrops.

Snowdrops are well named: they are
as white as snow, and the solitary
nodding flower before it is fully opened
looks, to the imaginative person, like a
long white drop just ready to fall.
Also, snowdrops may appear while the
ground is covered with snow, so that
they are surrounded by snow or even
come poking through the white cover.

In Great Britain, snowdrops are some¬
times called fair-maids-of-February,
Candlemas bells, or white ladies.

The botanical name, Galanthus ni¬
valis , alludes to the whiteness of the
flower. Galanthus is from the Greek and

literally means “milk flower” (gala-milk,
anthos- flower). Nivalis means snowy or
white.

A larger snowdrop known as giant
snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii Hook., is
sometimes grown but is not seen as
often as Galanthus nivalis. Galanthus
elwesii is named for a botanist, Elwes,
who collected it near Smyrna.

Each snowdrop flower is borne on a
leafless flower stalk or scape and is
subtended by papery bracts. The nod¬
ding bell-like flowers appear to have
three white petals enclosing a green-and-
white tube with six tips. If you look at
the flower closely, however, you will see
that in reality the three white “petals”
are sepals or the outer segments of the
perianth. The green-and-white “tube” is
made up of three inner perianth parts or
petals, each with a two-lobed tip. The
petals appear as a tube because they
overlap slightly, not because they are
united.

Members of the amaryllis family are
often mistaken for lilies, but they can
always be distinguished by the fact that
they have an inferior ovary in contrast
to the superior ovary of the lily. In
other words, because of the place of
attachment of perianth parts, the ovary
in Amaryllidaceae appears below the
perianth; in Liliaceae, above.

In the snowdrop, the globous inferior
ovary appears as a green ball below the
white sepals. As the ovary matures, it
develops into a somewhat fleshy three-
valved capsule.

Each snowdrop puts up two or three
dark green strapshaped leaves. They may
come with the flowers, but they do not
reach their full growth until later. The
leaves often die down in mid- or late
summer.

The bulbs are easy to establish and
the plants soon multiply either from
seeds or from offsets. In damp eastern
woods they may become naturalized.

Plant the bulbs from two to four
inches deep in early fall. Snowdrops like
to be moist, cool, and will tolerate some
shade. Once established, they need little
attention.

Galanthus nivalis is a native of damp
woods in England, Wales, central and
southern Europe and western Asia. It
has been planted in gardens from very
early times, and is said to have been

grown by the herbalist Gerarde in his
garden. On the other hand, Galanthus
elwesii, native to Asia Minor, was not
introduced until 1875. There are about
half a dozen natural species of Galan¬
thus known.

S. R. deBoer writes about the snow¬
drop in his book Around the Seasons.
He says that it is his favorite flower and
that he hopes to have it in his garden as
long as he lives. You will enjoy reading
the chapter “Earliest Flowers” for his
discussion of snowdrops and other very
early spring flowers. The drawing accom¬
panying this article was made by
Frances White Novitt, a member of the
editorial committee for The Green
Thumb , and was taken from this chapter
of Mr. deBoer’s book. We are grateful to
him for permitting us to use this
illustration.

OUR NEW EDITOR

With this issue, Margaret Sikes joins the staff of Denver Botanic g
Gardens as Editor of The Green Thumb. Miss Sikes received her 83
B.A. in botany and an M.A. in history from the University of Q
Denver. For the past ten years she has been affiliated with Temple g
Buell College, serving in a variety of positions. Presently she is
enrolled in further academic work in biological sciences.

ffl

The serious threat to the American
elm by an invasion of the Dutch elm
disease makes experimentation with new
varieties absolutely necessary. Some work
along that line was done years ago. The
English Elm ( U . campestris) was planted
in the east section of Cheesman Park at
Ninth Avenue. It is still there and seems
to be healthy. It was planted as a good
size tree donated by A1 Mauff, a florist. A
row of English elm planted on the south
side of Third Avenue from Downing to
Gilpin has been less successful— many
trees have died and all were attacked by
elm scale.

Among the many varieties of elms
which were tried, the rock elm ( Ulmus
thomasii* Sarg.), seemed the hardiest. It
withstood frosts and because of the corky
bark was not subject to elm scale. It,
however, is not the true cork elm which
has a thick layer of cork over the branch¬
es. It proved not to be hardy in the
Denver climate.

The rock elm is conical in shape and
not drooping like the American. It was
planted at various places. Those on Uni¬
versity Boulevard from Alameda to Expo¬
sition are hardy but the early frost of
1969 has damaged the tops. The trees on

the west side were well cared for and
suffered less. Those on the east side did
not get enough water. They suffered for a
long time and were damaged more by the
frost. The rock elm around Observatory
Park have been fine but have also suffered
some damage. Those at Sloans Lake Park
along Stuart Street stood up fairly well.

I believe that the rock elm is still one
of our most dependable trees and should
be planted in an arboretum and be
available for replacing the American elms
when needed. The Speer Boulevard tree
line is perhaps the most outstanding item
of beauty in the Denver plan. I hope it
can be saved, at any cost. In the mean¬
time Denver should have a place to grow
new trees. I have thought that the sixty
acres of the State Home might be used
that way. It has a water connection from
the city ditch.

There are several other varieties of
elms which should be tried. They come in
all shapes and colors. The drooping elm is
a unique variety which is small and fits a
small garden. It does however get the elm
scale and needs spraying.

*Ulmus racemosa Thomas, not Borkh.

MOUNTAIN MAPLE MITES

William A. Weber

Along about July of every summer,
the mountain maple, Acer glabrum Torr.,
takes on the aspect of premature autum¬
nal coloration. The leaves become splash¬
ed with great blotches of a brilliant red
color. That this is not just autumn colora¬
tion can be seen by taking a closer look
with a hand-lens. The leaf surface seems
to be covered by a myriad of minute,
inflated crimson globes. Many leaves of
the shrub are likely to be affected, and at
times there is considerable deformation
and curling of the leaves. One might be
tempted at first to think this might be
some type of rust fungus, or perhaps
clusters of tiny spider eggs, except that
the red globules have no stalks. Careful
dissection, however, shows that these
structures contain some of the smallest
arthropods known to biology, the erio-
phyid mites.

It is not easy to find much general
information about Colorado eriophyids.
In 1927, T.D.A. Cockerell, in his book,
Zoology of Colorado , wrote, “Trees and
shrubs are frequently observed to be
apparently diseased, the leaves being
blotched or curled, or the ends of the
branches distorted. Many years ago it was
supposed that these effects were pro¬
duced by microscopic fungi, but we now
know that most of them can be attrib¬
uted to excessively small elongated mites,
peculiar for having only four legs. The
mites set up irritation which results in the
formation of galls. They constitute a
family Eriophyidae , which of late years
has been intensively studied in Europe,

with the result of discovering a vast
number of species. No doubt similar
discoveries await any student in Colorado
who will seriously devote himself to the
subject. One of our commonest forms is
that which produces the bright red
blotches on leaves of mountain
maple . . .”

There are only a few specialists on
these particular mites in America, even
now, notably H. H. Keifer and Norton S.
Wilson. Since Cockerell did not give a
name for the maple mite, I sent speci¬
mens of them to Dr. Wilson, who kindly
identified it and furnished some com¬
ments, interesting because they serve to
emphasize how much work needs to be
done on almost any problem in natural
history in Colorado.

Cockerell did not give a name for this
little mite, probably because there was so
little known about them at the time and
because he had little or no experience
with them. In fact, the species was first
named, by Keifer, in 1952. Wilson writes:
“At this point, I should state that the
taxonomy of the eriophyid mites prior to
Keifer’s work (which started about 1938)
is practically non-existent. Most of the
earlier eriophyid papers contain descrip¬
tions which are inadequate from the
standpoint of our present knowledge of
eriophyid anatomy. Many of the species
names in these early papers will, I believe,
eventually have to be declared invalid.

^Professor of Natural History, University of
Colorado Museum

Although there are many references to
mites causing erineum on maple leaves, I
am basing my identification of the speci¬
mens I received from you, on Keifer’s
papers.

“Characters of these mites agree quite
closely with Keifer’s Aceria calaceris, and
I believe you would be safe in using this
name. I suspect, however, that these
erineum-producing mites on maple will
eventually be found to constitute a com¬
plex involving three or four different
species. Keifer’s description of A. cala¬
ceris is based on specimens from Cali¬
fornia; however, I have collected mites
similar to these on maple leaves in Wash¬
ington, Oregon, and in the Rocky Moun¬
tain National Park in Colorado.

NEW BOOKS IN

Leighton, Ann. Early American Gardens;
“for meate or medicine. ” Boston, Hough¬
ton Mifflin, 1970. $10.00

The intent of this book is to make the
gardens of the early settlers of New
England grow again— to discover what
they grew and how they cultivated their
crops for nourishment and medicine.

Garden plans are also explained in
detail with good illustrations. A bibliog¬
raphy and an alphabetical appendix of
the plants mentioned by explorers, set¬
tlers, underwriters and visitors as growing
in 17th century New England, native or
cultivated, complete this very interesting
and well written book.

Tyler, Hamilton. Organic Gardening With¬
out Poisons. New York, Van Nostran
Reinhold, 1970. $7.50

A complete guide to present day gar¬
dening without pesticides from within the
ground up. Well illustrated, clear direc¬
tions, applicable to this area.

Fox, Helen M. Adventure In My Garden.
New York, Crown, 1965. $2.98

Collecting these interesting mites and
their galls can be an interesting, ab¬
sorbing, and rewarding hobby for some¬
one who likes the outdoors and has a bit
of time on his hands. In this way,
amateurs can make lasting and productive
liasons with specialists who often are far
from the local scene “where the action
is” and appreciate receiving new and
often unknown material.

“From what I have seen of these mites
the damage to any individual tree is
usually negligible and should be dis¬
regarded. In extreme cases, I suppose that
one of the thiono-phosphate acaricides
could be used but I would not recom¬
mend this.”

THE LIBRARY

A journal of seasonal gardening activi¬
ties as experienced by the author at her
Westchester County home.

Although Mrs. Fox’s garden is in east¬
ern New York, the greenhouse cultivation
can be applied to indoor Colorado gar¬
dening as well as to the growing of more
hardy plants. Also of interest are com¬
posting information, color schemes, and
the propagation of annuals by division
from seed.

Zwinger, Ann. Beyond The Aspen Grove
with drawings by the author. New York,
Random House, 1970. $8.95

Mrs. Zwinger has written a beautiful
book. The line drawings complement the
simple, poetic prose describing an area
close to Colorado Springs. The forty acres
of woods, meadows, lakes and streams,
their flora and fauna are described,
sketched, and the balance of nature
throughout the seasons is carefully out¬
lined for our pleasure and instruction.
Editor’s Not e— Beyond The Aspen Grove was
reviewed more completely in the Autumn 1970
issue of The Green Thumb.

The American Horticultural Society
has awarded the Liberty Hyde Bailey
medal to Dr. Aubrey C. Hildreth, Direc¬
tor Emeritus of Denver Botanic Gardens.
The presentation was made on Novem¬
ber 4, 1970, at the annual meeting of
the Society in Miami Beach, Florida.
The citation reads, “A pioneer in devel¬
oping suitable horticultural techniques
for the Rocky Mountain States.”

The Liberty Hyde Bailey medal is the
highest honor that the American Horti¬
cultural Society bestows upon an individ¬
ual. Only one medal is awarded in any
calendar year, but it is not necessarily
awarded every year. Dr. Hildreth is the
twelfth recipient of the medal and the
first westerner to be granted this distinc¬
tion.

DR. HILDRETH
AWARDED THE
LIBERTY HYDE
BAILEY MEDAL

This is the second time that he has
been honored by this Society. The first
was a citation presented October 27,
1961, at Northampton, Massachusetts, in
recognition of his research on cold resist¬
ance in plants and his observations on
fruit and ornamental plants under cold
and drought conditions of the Great
Plains.

The American Horticultural Society
was founded in 1922 at Washington, D.C.
In June of 1926, it merged with a
somewhat older organization, The Na¬
tional Horticultural Society. The name
“American Horticultural Society” was
retained for the expanded organization.

In 1960 there was another merger, this
time with the American Horticultural
Council. Again the name “American Hor-

Please insert this
corrected copy
for pages 48 and 49
into your
Spring 1971 Issue

DR. HILDRETH
AWARDED THE
LIBERTY HYDE
BAILEY MEDAL

In 1960 there was another merger, this
time with the American Horticultural
Council. Again the name “American Hor-

ticultural Society” was retained and some
of tl\e activities of the discontinued
Council were adopted by the re¬
incorporated Society.

One such activity was the awarding of
the Liberty Hyde Bailey medal, which
was initiated by the American Horticul¬

tural Council in 1958, when the first
medal was presented to Dr. John C.
Wister of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Since the 1960 merger the American
Horticultural Society has awarded this
medal annually, except the year 1961,
when no award was made.

. 4# ;

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fSz.

TALL SHRUBS FOR DRY LAID GARDENS

A.C. Hildreth

General principles of gardening on the
semi-arid plains, without irrigation, were
presented in the Autumn 1969 issue of
The Green Thumb. A later article* treat¬
ed tree culture under dry land conditions.
In this article, drought-tolerant tall shrubs
for dry land gardens will be discussed.

Every gardener can tell his trees from
his shrubs. Yet the technical distinctions
are as difficult to define as are the words
“tree” and “shrub” themselves. Although
certain differences involving size, form
and growth habit distinguish trees from
shrubs in most cases, there are many
frustrating exceptions.

The usual concept of a tree is a tall
woody plant with a single stem or trunk,
and in horticultural literature a tree is
often so defined. The general concept of
a shrub is a woody plant of somewhat less
than tree size, which develops several
stems or trunks from the base.

But how does one classify the popular
multi-trunked trees, the banyan tree or a
tall shrub trimmed to a single trunk? And
what can be said of dwarfed timberline
trees or of tall shrubs that reach a height
about equal to that of well-known small

^Summer 1970 issue of The Green Thumb

ticultural Society” was retained and some
of tl^e activities of the discontinued
Council were adopted by the re¬
incorporated Society.

One such activity was the awarding of
the Liberty Hyde Bailey medal, which
was initiated by the American Horticul¬

TALL SHRUBS FOR DRY LAND GARDENS

A.C. Hildreth

^Summer 1970 issue of The Green Thumb

trees? Botanists often dodge this height
question simply by designating all woody
plants near the borderline between trees
and shrubs as “tall shrubs or small trees.”

Straightening out semantic difficulties
is beyond the scope of this discussion. As
we have seen, the words “tree” and
“shrub” are not very definitive. Neverthe¬
less, they serve a useful purpose in the
everyday language of horticulture.

The article on dry land tree culture
emphasized that there is no truly
drought-tolerant tree which is suffi¬
ciently cold-hardy to survive western
plains winters. At best, plains dry gar¬
deners must get along with trees that are
only moderately drought-tolerant. Fortu¬
nately, with shrubs the situation is quite
different. There are many shrubs that
are both drought-tolerant and cold-
tolerant.

Indeed, shrubs are the most cosmo¬
politan of all plant forms. They occur
naturally from the torrid to the frigid
zones, from the seashore to well above
timberline in high mountains, from des¬
erts to swamps, in acid peat bogs and in
highly alkaline and saline soils. Shrubs
range in height from miniature plants to
almost tree-size specimens.

With their wide natural distribution
and their adaptation to so many cli¬
mates and soils, it is not surprising that
shrubs have been found which are suit¬
able for dry land gardens on the semi-
arid plains.

Although plenty of thoroughly
drought-tolerant shrubs are available for
dry land plantings, a high degree of
either drought-tolerance or cold-
tolerance is not so important in shrubs
as in trees. A dry land tree which kills
to the ground occasionally never actual¬
ly becomes a tree.

On the other hand, certain kinds of
shrubs which are killed back now and

then, make satisfactory ornamentals for
dry land gardens. This is particularly
true of low and medium height shrubs.
Their occasional killing to the ground
serves as a rejuvenation pruning and new
tops soon develop.

Other shrubs, not thoroughly cold- or
drought-tolerant frequently have their
branches killed back part way. This
usually has about the same effect as a
moderate pruning. Ironically, such injury
(after the dead wood is cut off) may
improve the appearance of shrubs, espe¬
cially of those which bloom on wood
growth of the current year.

In this article the term “tall shrub” is
arbitrarily defined as a woody plant of
bushy habit which may be expected to
reach a height of more than six feet
under dry land conditions on the semi-
arid plains.

Dry land gardeners find several uses
for tall shrubs. They make good screens
for hiding unsightly objects, for cutting
off objectionable views and for secluding
private areas from the public gaze.

Grown in hedge form, either clipped
or informal, tall shrubs substitute for
fences and walls. Such hedges mark
property lines, divide grounds into differ¬
ent areas and prevent intrusion by the
general public, neighborhood children
and stray dogs. Such protective plantings
will be more effective if thorny species
are selected.

Tall shrubs make excellent wind¬
breaks for sheltering small areas from
wind. Properly located, such windbreaks
also prevent snowdrifts on walks and
driveways.

In a screen or protective planting the
shrubs are set in a row and spaced closer
together than in borders. On dry land it
is necessary to have a clean-cultivated
strip on each side of the shrub row to
provide space in which the roots can

range for moisture and nutrients without
competition from weeds.

Only thoroughly drought-tolerant and
cold-tolerant shrubs should be selected
for barriers and screens. Obviously, if
shrubs in such plantings kill back occa¬
sionally they cannot fully accomplish
their purpose.

Every screen, hedge and windbreak
should have a full stand of plants. Gaps
in such plantings nullify their effective¬
ness. Shrubs which fail to survive trans¬
planting would be replaced as soon as
possible.

Filling gaps in such dry land plantings
usually cannot be done successfully later
than two years after the original plant¬
ing. After that time, root competition
from the neighboring established shrubs
is usually so great that young bare-root
replacements cannot get started.
Container-grown replacement stock
would be good insurance against perma¬
nent gaps.

Tall shrubs make good background
plantings for borders of lower shrubs
and perennials. Some also are satisfac¬
tory as single specimens. Too many such
specimens should be avoided, however,
as they give the effect of an orchard
rather than of a well-designed orna¬
mental planting.

For tail-shrub screens and wind¬
breaks, evergreens are preferred as they
are fully effective the year around. In
the central plains climate deciduous
species are bare of foliage five or six
months of the year.

A few tall evergreen coniferous
shrubs are cold-tolerant but they have
not been adequately tested for drought-
tolerance. Several cone-bearing evergreen
trees have dwarf forms which are prop¬
erly called tall shrubs. Regretfully,
none of these has been sufficiently
tested for drought tolerance.

There are, however, three coniferous
evergreens which are classed as trees—
Pinon Pine ( Pinus edulis Engelm.). East¬
ern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.)
and Rocky Mountain Juniper ( Juniperus
scopulorum Sarg.). These are probably
the most drought-tolerant evergreens
that have been planted on the central
plains. When grown under dry land
conditions and spaced closely in a row,
as in a screen or windbreak, these
evergreens never reach more than tail-
shrub size. If left unpruned they take on
a bush-like form.

Only one tall broadleaf evergreen
shrub is suitable for dry land gardens—
Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany ( Cerco -
carpus ledifolius Nutt.), native in the
Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, its
leaves are so small and sparce that it is
little better than a deciduous shrub for
screens and protective plantings. It is
however, an interesting shrub for border
plantings.

From among the many tall deciduous
shrubs which are both cold- and
drought-tolerant, nine have been selected
as being specially suitable for dry land
gardens. These nine species represent
eight different plant families.

Acer glabrum Torr. Mountain Maple.
A neat, smooth-barked native shrub. The
buds are red in winter and the seed-
wings are pinkish.

Buddleia alternifolia Maxim. Fountain
Butterfly Bush. Arching branches are
covered in May or June with honey-
scented, purplish little flowers. The foli¬
age is an attractive gray green. Good in
borders and as specimens.

Caragana arborescens Lam. Siberian
Pea Shrub. Abundant yellow flowers in
spring resemble small sweet peas. They
are followed by interesting small pods.
Excellent for windbreaks and hedges.

Better adapted to the northern than to
the southern part of the central plains.

Forestiera neomexicana A. Gray. Wild
Olive. A native shrub similar to privet
with tiny blue-black fruits. Good for
hedges and windbreaks.

Primus pensylvanica L.f. Pin Cherry.
A native shrub good for border or
specimen planting. White flowers in late
spring are followed by bright red berry¬
like fruits.

Prunus virginiana melanocarpa A.
Nels. ‘Schubert’. Schubert Chokecherry.
A native shrub for borders or for speci¬
men planting. A strikingly different
chokecherry. The current season’s
growth has red foliage which contrasts
interestingly with the green leaves on
the older branches. A fine ornamental
shrub.

Rhamnus cathartica L. Common
Buckthorn. A spiny shrub with dense
foliage and clusters of black berries
which hang on all winter. Excellent for
screens, windbreaks and either clipped
or informal hedges.

Shepherdia argentea Nutt. Buffalo-
berry. A native shrub, somewhat thorny,
with silvery leaves and red or yellow
fruits, good for jelly making. Suitable
for screens, windbreaks and hedges.

Tamarix pentandra Pall. Often listed
as Tamarix amurensis Hort. in horticul¬
tural literature. The hardiest tamarisk.
Purplish branches, feathery foliage and
pinkish flowers in summer. Good for
windbreak and background plantings. Its
cultivars ‘Pink Cascade’ and ‘Summer
Glow’ are more ornamental than the
species type.

FOCUS

COMMON
STAGHORN FERN

Platycerium
_bifurcatum
in the

BOETTCHER

MEMORIAL

CONSERVATORY

Peg Hayward

The fern is a flowerless plant which
belongs to the third division of the plant
kingdom, pteridophytes. Ferns are among
the oldest known plants and were once
the dominant plants on land. Before
dinosaurs roamed the earth, ferns were
growing, reproducing, and decomposing
throughout the ages. Fossil remains in
rocks and coal record their past and relate
their grandeur.

In medieval times, mysticism sur¬
rounded the ferns. People questioned
how ferns could reproduce without
flowers. The life cycle of the fern is
fascinating. Although spores come from
ferns, fern leaves do not come directly
from spores. The fern reproduces by
means of spores which are borne in small,
brownish cases grouped in dots or lines

on the backs or sides of the leaves. When
the spores ripen, the cases burst open and
the spores fall to the ground or are
air-borne a few feet or perhaps over many
miles. With moisture and light, these tiny
single-celled organisms start to grow, the
first cells dividing and later new cells
dividing and redividing. Soon orderly
arrangements of cells form little green
heart-shaped plants or prothallia. As the
prothallia grow, rhizoids which function
as rootlets reach down for nourishment
and moisture. Antheridia, male organs,
and archegonia, female organs, develop
on the underside of the prothallia. At
maturity, with a drop of moisture as a
path between the opposite organs, motile
sperm cells, spermatozoids, swim to the
archegonia to fertilize the egg cell. The

egg cell then divides and redivides to form
a young sporophyte, the start of a new
generation. This process of reproduction
in the fern is called alternation of genera¬
tions.

Ferns have a wide geographical distri¬
bution. The 10,000 different species and
varieties have been found growing sparse¬
ly in the Arctic to varieties burgeoning in
the tropics.

The genus Platycerium, Polypodiaceae
family, comprises a large group com¬
monly known as the staghorn ferns. In
silhouette, the fertile leaves are uniquely
forked, giving a noble, antlerlike appear¬
ance. Platycerium is derived from the
Greek platys, broad, and keras, a horn, in
allusion to the broad flat fertile fronds.
These ferns are epiphytic in habit and
occur clasping to the trunks or branches
of trees. They have sufficient nutrients in
the humus they collect to live in¬
dependently.

Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr.,
native of Australia, is a bizarre, much
admired staghorn fern. The short rhizome
has two kinds of leaves. Shield-shaped
mantle leaves curl back and clasp the
stem. These round leaves with wavy
margins are the sterile leaves. In nature,

the shields assume nearly vertical posi¬
tions from tree trunks or crotches of
limbs. The outermost shields are green.
Older ones eventually become brown and
finally rot. Shields have a definite pur¬
pose of catching and storing moisture and
any organic material washed into them.
Fertile fronds radiate from the center of
the shields. They are 2 to 3 feet long and
2 to 3 times forked, narrow at the base,
widening out and branching into lobes
like a stag’s horn. These pendant fronds
are leathery and covered with fine hairs
on the lower side. Sporangia appear on
the underside of the “antlers” closely
spaced over the apical lobes. At maturity
they become confluent, giving the leaf a
brown, velvety surface.

P. bifurcatum is easy to cultivate and
makes an excellent house plant. Propa¬
gate by removing offsets at any time and
mount on a slab of rough wood or bark,
with a pocket of osmunda fiber to
contain the roots, and hang vertically to
give a natural setting. Best results require
a humid atmosphere and plenty of in¬
direct light.

Staghorn ferns are a curiosity among
the fern family and never fail to draw
attention.

# A color-key guide for the identification of Colorado wildflowers. W

f AVAILABLE IN THE GIFT SHOP

PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPING
AT HIGH ALTITUDES

Compiled by George Kelly

During the past decade year-round
living in mountainous areas has become
increasingly popular. In fact, the trend is
toward building complete sub-divisions of
mountain homes.

These high-country residents have
been seeking information on the types of
plant materials that will do well at their
altitudes and enhance their home land-
i! scaping. Unfortunately, little research has

' been done under these conditions. To

i date, most information available is based
f on casual observation and the experience
j of a few plantsmen.

“Although experience is probably the
best teacher in this case,” according to
Dr. James Feucht, area extension horti¬
culturist, “it is often difficult to translate
the experience of one person in one
location so that it will be applicable to
another location.

“As anyone who has tried to grow
plants in the mountains will know, much
more attention must be given to micro¬
climatic conditions. This is a complex
science in itself. So far, where plantings
of introduced materials have been suc¬
cessful, it has been the result of trial and
error or educated guesses.”

At a recent Colorado Nursery, Shade
Tree and Turfgrass Conference a panel
discussion considered “Plants for High
Altitude Landscaping.” Participants were
i Jerry Morris, Ruth Nelson, Henry Peder-
j son and Harry Swift, with George Kelly,
moderator. The accompanying list, com¬
piled by Mr. Kelly, suggests plants suit¬

able at various altitudes and is based upon
the experience of members of the panel.
This list is the most up-to-date available
but is subject to constant revision. As Mr.
Kelly points out, no attempt has been
made to classify these plants except by
altitude range and size category. Some
may require shade or a protected location
while others prefer a hot, dry situation.
Some may survive under average condi¬
tions, still others may need special protec¬
tion or special requirements. It is a good
policy to use those native plants which
normally grow under conditions similar
to those provided in the proposed site.

Any readers who have had experience
with plants other than those mentioned
here or whose experiences will substan¬
tiate the lists are invited to correspond
with members of the panel, with George
Kelly, McElmo Route, Cortez 81321 or
write to Dr. James Feucht, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colorado 80206.

PLANTS FOR USE AT HIGH

ALTITUDES IN COLORADO
6,000 TO 8,000 FEET

This might include such communities
as Colorado Springs, Idaho Springs, Estes
Park, Kremmling, Glenwood Springs, Wal-
senberg, Trinidad, Canon City, Golden,
Cedaredge, Salida, Alamosa, Steamboat
Springs, Meeker, Dillon, Craig, Gunnison,
(most of the hardier plants used at lower
altitudes will grow here under protected
conditions.)

EVERGREEN TREES, Native
Lodgepole Pin e, Pinus contorta latifolia
Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa
Pinion Pine, Pinus edulis
Bristlecone Pine, Pinus arista ta
Limber Pine, Pinus flexilis
Blue Spruce, Picea pungens
Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga taxifolia
White Fir, Abies concolor
Colorado Juniper, Juniperus scopulorum
Desert Juniper, Juniperus monosperma

EVERGREENS, Introduced
Blackballs Spruce, Picea glauca densata
Scotch Pine, Pinus sylvestris
Austrian Pine, Pinus nigra

DECIDUOUS TREES, Native
Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Plains Poplar, Populus sargentii
Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera
Lanceleaf Poplar, Populus acuminata
Narrowleaf Poplar, Populus angustifolia
Boxelder, Acer negundo
Western blackberry, Celtis occidentalis
Peachleaf Willow, Salix amygdaloides

DECIDUOUS TREES, Introduced
Silverleaf Poplar, Populus alba
Cutleaf Weeping Birch (and others),
Betula spp.

Honeylocust (and varieties),

Gleditsia triacanthos vars.
Russian-olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia
Green Ash,

Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata
Siberian Elm, Ulmus pumila
Lindens, Tilia spp.

Hardier Oaks, Quercus spp.

European Mountain-ash,

Sorbus aucuparia
Soft Maple, Acer saccharinum
Norway Maple, Acer platanoides
Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia
Russian and White Willows, Salix spp.

TALL SHRUBS (6 ft. and up), Native
Serviceberry, Amelanchier spp.

Silver Buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea
Pin Cherry , Prunus pennsylvanica
Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana demissa
American Plum, Prunus americana
American Elder, Sambucus canadensis
Rocky Mountain Maple, Acer glabrum
Mountain Alder, Alnus tenuifolia
False Indigo, Amorpha fruticosa
Water Birch, Betula occidentalis
Hoptree,

Ptelea trifoliata (or P. baldwini)
Western Mountain-ash, Sorbus scopulina
False Mockorange, Fendlera rupicola
Shrub Willows, Salix spp.

True Mountain mahogany,

Cerco carpus montanus
Curl-leaf Mountain mahogany,
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Rabbitbrush, Chry sothammus spp.

Scrub Oaks, Quercus spp.

New Mexico Locust,

Robinia neomexicana
Big Sage Brush, Artemisia tridentata
Smith Buckthorn, Rhamnus smithii
Mountain Privet, Forestiera neo-mexicana

TALL SHRUBS, Introduced
Nanny berry, Viburnum lentago
Snowball, Viburnum opulus rosea
Peking Cotoneaster,

Cotoneaster acutifolia
Common Lilac, Syringa vulgaris
Late or Canadian Lilacs, Syringa spp.
Hardy Mockorange, Philadelphus spp.
Siberian Peashrub, Carangana arborescens
Beautybush, Kolkwitzia amabilis
Bush Honeysuckles, Fonicera spp.

English Privet, Ligustrum vulgaris
Tamarisk, Tamarix spp.

Matrimony Vine, Lycium chinensis

MEDIUM SHRUBS (3-6 ft.), Native
Hazel, Corylus cornu ta
Involucred Honeysuckle,

Fonicera involucrata
Golden Currant, Ribes aureum

Russet Buffaloberry,

Shepherdia canadensis
Redtwig Dogwood,

Cornus stolonifera coloradense
Black Currant, Ribes americanum
Gooseberries, Ribes spp.

Wild Roses, Rosa spp.

Inland Ceanothus, Ceanothus ovatus
Apache Plumes, Fallugia paradoxa
Mountain Spray ,HoIodiscus dumosus
Cliff Jamesia, Jamesia americana
Sandcherry, Prunus besseyi
Antelope Brush, Purshia tridenta
Threeleaf Sumac, Rhus trilobata
Wax Currant, Ribes cereum
Thimbleberry, Rubus deliciosus
Bog Birch, Betula glandulosa
Bunchberry Elder, Sambucus microbotrys
Little Fendlerbush,

Fendlerella utahensis
Fernbush, Chamaebatiaria millefolium
Manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula

MEDIUM SHRUBS, Introduced
Pfitzer Juniper,

Juniperus chinensis ‘Pfitzer’

Bridal Wreath Spirea, Spiraea vanhouttei
Korean Spirea, Spiraea trichocarpa
Cotoneasters ,Cotoneaster spp.

Korean Barberry, Berberis koreana
Shrub Roses: Harison’s, Austrian Copper,
Persian Redleaf, Rosa spp.

LOW SHRUBS (under 3 ft.), Native
Low Juniper,

Juniperus communis montana
Mountain Lover, Pachystima myrsinites
Mountain Ninebark,

Physocarpus monogynus
Bush Cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa
Snowberries, Symphoricarpos spp.

Low False Indigo, Amorpha nana
Kinnikinnick, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Creeping Mahonia, Berberis repens
Fendler Ceanothus, Ceanothus fendleri
Snowbrush Ceanothus,

Ceanothus velu sinus
Cactus species
Rocky Mountain Sumac,

Rhus cismontana
Red Raspberry, Rubus strigosus
Soapweed, Yucca spp.

LOW SHRUBS, Introduced
Creeping Junipers,

Juniperis horizontalis
Named Cinquefoils,

Potentilla spp. & cvs.

Dwarf Caragana, Caragana pygmaea
Froebel Spirea, Spiraea bumalda ‘Froebel’
Snowberries, Symphoricarpos spp.

Alpine Currant, Ribes alpinum

VINES, Native
Rocky Mountain Clematis,

Clematis pseudo alpina

VINES, Introduced
Silverlace Vine
Hall’s Honeysuckle,

Lonicera japonica ‘Halls’

Englemann Ivy,

Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Clematis, Clematis spp. & vars.
Matrimony Vine, Lycium Chinensis

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, Native
Anemone, Anemone spp.

Aster, Aster spp.

Buckwheats, Eriogonum spp.

Blue Flax, Linum perenne
Buttercups, Ranunculus spp.

Butter & Eggs, Linaria vulgaris
Chiming Bells, Mertensia spp.
Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea
Coneflower, Ratibida columnifera
Desert Globemallow,

Sphaeralcea ambigua
False Solomon’s Seal,

Smilacena racemosa
Ferns, various genera
Frostweed, Helianthemum bicknelli
Gaillardia, Gaillardia spp.

Geranium, Geranium spp.

Goldenglow, Rudbeckia laciniata
Golden Smoke, Corydalis aurea
Goldenweed, Haplopappus gracilis
Harebells, Campanula spp.

Horse Mint, Monarda fistulosa
Iris, Iris missouriensis
Meadowrue, Thalictrum
Penstemons, Penstemon spp.

Phlox, Phlox spp.

Pussy toes, Antennaria spp.

Spiderwort, Tradescantia occidentalis
Strawberry (Wild), Fragaria spp.

Violets, Viola spp.

Yarrow, Achillea spp.

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, Introduced
Aconite, A conitum spp.

Baby’s Breath, Gypsophila paniculata
Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis

Columbine, Aquilegia spp. & vars.

Daisy (Shasta),

Chrysanthemum maximum
D aylily , Hemerocallis spp. & vars.
Delphinium, Delphinium spp. & vars.

Iris (German), Iris germanica & vars.
Peony, Paeonia officinalis & vars.

Phlox (perennial), Phlox spp.

Pinks, Dianthus spp.

Poppy, Pap aver spp.

Soapwort, Saponaria spp.

Statice, A rmeria spp.

Sweet Pea, Lathyrus spp.

Sweet William, Dianthus
Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare

8,000 to 10,000 feet

Here is the really difficult altitude. In¬
cludes such communities as Cripple
Creek, Fairplay, Central City, Walden,
Aspen, Vail, Crested Butte, Lake City,
Creede, Silverton, Telluride, Ouray, Lead-
ville.

EVERGREENS, Native
White Fir , Abies concolor
Blue Spruce, Picea pungens
Englemann Spruce, Picea englemannii
Douglasfir ,Pseudotsuga taxifolia
Alpine Fir, Abies lasiocarpa
Bristlecone Pine, Pinus aristata
Limber Pine, Pinus flexilis
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta
Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa

EVERGREENS, Introduced
Scotch Pine, Pinus sylvestris
Austrian Pine, Pinus nigra
Mugho Pine, Pinus mu go mugus

DECIDUOUS TREES, Native
Narrowleaf Cottonwood,

Populus angustifolia
Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera
Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Boxelder, Acer negundo
Western Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis

DECIDUOUS TREES, Introduced
Silver Poplar, Populus alba
Norway Maple, Acer platanoides
Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum
Mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia
Bolleana Poplar, Populus alba ‘Bolleana’
Many apples and crabapples, Malus spp.

TALL SHRUBS, Native
Rocky Mountain Maple, Acer glabrum
Rocky Mountain Alder, Alnus tenufolia
Rocky Mountain Birch, Betula occidentalis
Pin Cherry, Prunus pennsylvanica
Chokecherry,

Prunus virginiana demissa
Shrub Willows, Salix spp.

Blackbead Elder, Sambucus melanocarpa
Mountain-ash, Sorbus scopulina

TALL SHRUBS, Introduced
Shubert Redleaf Chokecherry, Prunus sp.
Peking Cotoneaster,

Cotoneaster acuti folia
Amur Maple, Acer ginnala
Golden Elder,

Sambucus canadensis ‘Golden’

Zabel Honeysuckle,

Lonicera korolkow ‘Zabel’

Common Lilac, Syringa vulgaris
Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina

MEDIUM SHRUBS, Native
Bog Birch, Betula glandulosa
Redtwig Dogwood,

Cornus stolonifera coloradense
Involucred Honeysuckle,

Lonicera involucrata
Azalea, Rhodendron albiflorum
Gooseberries, Ribes spp.

Currants, Ribes spp.

Wild Roses, Rosa spp.

Redberry Elder, Sambucus pubens
Russet Buffaloberry,

Shepherdia canadensis
Artie Willow, Salix arctica
Austrian Copper and Harison Roses,

Rosa spp.

Hanson Bush Cherry, Prunus besseyi var.

LOW SHRUBS, Native
Low Juniper, Juniperus communis
Mountain Lover, Pachystima myrsinites
Mountain Ninebark,

Physocarpos monogynus
Salmonberry, Rubus parviflorus
Mountain Snowberries,

Symphoricarpos spp.

Huckleberries, Vaccinium spp.
Few-flowered Viburnum,

V. pauciflorum

Bush Cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa
VINES, Native

White Clematis, Clematis ligusticifolia

VINES, Introduced

Yellow Clematis, Clematis orientalis
Woodbine,

Parthenocissus vitacea (quinque folia)
Wild Grape, Vitis spp.

Hopvine, Humulus lupulus

Hall’s Honeysuckle,/, on icera japonica

Silverlace Vine, Polygonum auberti

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, Native
Asters, Aster spp.

Chimingbells, Mertensia spp.
Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea and
A. saximontana
Harebells,

Campanula uniflora & others
Meadowrue, Thalictrum spp.
Penstemons, Penstemon spp.

Pipsissiwa, Chimaphila umbellata
Purple fringe, Phacelia sericea
Senecio, Senecio spp.

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon pulchellum
Violets, Viola spp.

Yarrow, Achillea millefolia

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, Introduced
Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis
Columbine, Aquilegia spp. & vars.
Delphinium , Delphinium hybrids
Peony, Paeonia officinalis
Phlox (perennial), Phlox spp.

Pinks, Dianthus (alpines are best )
Poppies, Papaver spp.

Aligning our Highway
with Environmental
Landscape Design, Part II

Gerald F. Kessler

Knowledge in selection of low maintenance native plants, location, placement,
recognizing surface drainage, and installation, offers a more economical and satisfying
solution to visual roadside beauty than the expensive water tank operation or
sprinkler system to support shrubbery that is not native to the region and is not
likely to survive.

Using drought resistant plants that possess a survival suitable to Colorado’s climate
is essential for the rugged, low maintenance planting.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR SAFETY

Variety is an important factor in safe driving. The tendency in the past toward
I long, straight, visually uninterrupted stretches of road proved to cause hypnosis and
I fatigue. Varying median strip widths and plantings now and then, use of local
I features for emphasis and contrast has proven to be essential to design and helps
| promote safety. Variety can often save on cost and save erosion problems; making a
highway a pleasing, rolling, piece of architecture is complementary to natural
| surroundings. This variety is used in other states but seldom has it been done in
I Colorado. A grassy width can discourage lane crossing and head on collisions, and is
I much more impressive than median fences.

When lack of space does not allow a wide median strip to be used, a fence or
other structure should be installed to screen the on-coming headlights of the
opposite lane. There should be a barrier low enough to see over but high enough to
cut the glare— this is particularly important on blind curves. Instead of the practice
of the past, of reducing the total right of way and median to asphalt and curbs, steel
fences (see 6th Avenue Highway 40— very ugly), or concrete barriers (the Boulder
i Turnpike— better); a wide median strip increases safety, interest, esthetics, and also
provides potential expansion space. Car position and awareness of traffic, apparent
| speed and orientation have been demonstrated to be factors of landscape design
I choices.

fence- wall-railing-screen
4' min. visual height to block headlights

CLIMATE CONTROL

We know that we can discriminate contrast in brightness better under full daylight
than at dusk. Landscape used effectively in the installed road system can control
sunlight, snow, ice, bright contrast, wind, fog and snow drifting. The drivers response
to where he is has been demonstrated to be the reaction to familiarity in visual
images. Carefully calculated use of landmarks, structure, scale relationships, and
plantings, are all factors of landscape design controlled by route selection, alignment,
contouring, planting and positive use of open space.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND COMMUNITY VALUES

The Highway Beautification Act of 1965 has brought to our attention that roads
are more than conduits or corridors of commerce and transportation. The good
intentions that created this program have degenerated tremendously. It has become
evident that good landscape design or cosmetic treatment takes more than fences and
scattered shrubs to blot out man’s ugliness, created blight and new visual eyesores
lining our highways.

Change of alignment and taking advantage of natural and man-made ground
forms, appropriately lowering or raising grades, and integrating planting systems will
add interest and variety to the roads by emphasizing distant or close by scenes and
significant landmarks giving pleasant and interesting glimpses or blacking out the
urban and rural environment.

I Information and directional highway signs must assist the driver without cluttering
i ithe landscape and taking their attention from driving.

Compare the relative community values of a strip of highway between walls of
concrete, brick, steel and glass building; and the same scene adjacent to a
well-conceived parkway system emphasizing the natural environment with designed
rights of way. This is a way to make a visual air-sound relief barrier for crowded
urban centers. The physical barrier of highways can be a social and economic asset
or liability.

WIDER - SAFER - BUFFERED - VISUAL
land values remain higher - physically compatible

r* ' "

1. Environmental landscape design and road-building are integral and insepai
able— roads are themselves a function of landscape design!

2. Community values, physical, social and economic, are closely affected by th
road quality, location, visual appeal and people considerations.

3. Far from being an added cosmetic frill, consideration of landscape design i
more likely to reduce both initial construction and ultimate maintenance cost thai
to increase it.

4. We are only beginning to understand the relationships between total roa<
environmental experience— route selection, alignment, corridor designation, visua
vistas, landscape design concepts, paving color and texture and safe driving.

In Appreciation

The Editorial Committee of The Green Thumb wishes to express
its appreciation to David A. Blades for his services as editor of The
Green Thumb. In the past two years he has served in a dual
capacity. The pressure of his duties in the Conservatory has
become so great, however, that he has asked to be relieved of his
editorship. His resignation has been accepted with regret.

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.

A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Director

Andrew R. Knauer, Assistant Director

Ernest A. Bibee, Conservatory Superintendent

David A. Blades, Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Beverly M. Pincoski, Botanist - Horticulturist

James M. Schell, Education Specialist

Solange Huggins, Librarian

Iris Nakagawa, Secretary

Betty Colmer, Secretary

Helen McCloskey, Secretary

Dr. A.C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover — Photos by Robert W. Schott, Arrangement by Phil Hayward

Page 35 - Photo by Warren Blanc

Page 36 — Photo courtesy Jess Fults

Pages 39, 41 — Photos by Charles M. Major

Page 40 — Photo by Charles Ott

Page 42 - Drawing by Frances White Novitt

Page 48 - Photo by Duane Howell

Page 49 - Photos by Robert W. Schott

Page 53 — Drawing by Phil Hayward

Pages 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 - Sketches by Gerald F. Kessler

lie Greeniimb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DO NOT FOLD

RETURN REQUESTED

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

THE COVER

Decorative waterway, a feature of the reconstruction of
the garden area at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Photo by Frank Barrett, Wright-McLaughlin Engineers

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-EIGHT, NUMBER THREE

Editorial Committee

Miss Margaret Sikes, Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. Alexander L. Barbour
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Miss Lucy Crissey
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A.C. Hildreth
Mrs. Solange Huggins
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt

Mrs. J.V. Petersen, Chairman
Mr. James M. Schell
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mrs. J.P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

The Green Thumb

MARGARET SIKES, Editor

SUMMER 1971

CONTENTS

Title Page

Progress in the Gardens — Andrew R. Knauer . 66

Staff Additions . 68

Let’s Plant Some Wee Bulbs — Sue Kelly . 70

Exotics of Colorado — Tribulus terrestria -

Puncture Vine — Helen Marsh Zeiner . 72

The Fauna in the Flora — Wes Woodward 74

Book Review, Bulbs for Summer Bloom -

Avalonne Kosanke . 75

Small Tropical Place — Esther Holtz . 76

Focus on - Terminalia catappa - Tropical

Almond — Peg Hayward . 78

Feather in His Cap — A. K. . 79

Comparative Toxicity of Some Pesticides —

James R. Feucht . 80

A New Romance, Tree Peonies —

G. E. "Casey” O'Donnell . 83

The “Rock -Breakers” et al. A Versatile Family —

Ernest H. Brunquist . 87

Trustees for Denver Botanic Gardens . 96

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in the
Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colo. 80206, or call 297-2547.

PROGRESS IN THE GARDENS

Andrew R. Knauer

The major step in reconstruction of the entire garden area at York
Street has now been taken. This first step was a contract for massive
earth moving construction of the decorative water system, and in¬
stallation of a complex plumbing system for irrigation and drinking
water distribution.

The supply for the decorative waterways originates from four tall
pylons in the upper lake uniquely designed with horizontal fins which
emphasize the cascading effect of the water as it falls 15 feet to the
lake surface. To the north and east of this lake is a large earthen pyramid
which forms an interesting architectural element and functionally will
serve as the major overlook for the gardens and a viewpoint toward the
mountains.

The course of the water, through a series of interconnected ponds
and lakes, creates a myriad of interesting effects such as turbulent rushing
waterfalls, silent sheet-like falls, rushing sluices, slow calm streams. All
of these elements are highlighted by jets of water provided by re¬
circulating pumps.

The water course changes abruptly below the lower lake; after
crashing over 6 foot waterfalls, it then follows a “natural” stream into
the Japanese Garden area where it meanders through quiet channels
between various islands. From this point the water flow increases,
progressing through a simulated mountain stream and into the pool at
the Gates Garden.

This latter pool exists much as in the past, but has been com¬
pletely rebuilt. This is the lowest point in the decorative water system;
from here the water flows into a pump house and is recirculated to the
pylon fountain heads.

The entire garden relates to this intricate water system; the visitor
in walking through the garden will never be entirely out of sight or sound
of water — certainly a pleasant experience in our arid country. The water
system has been called the “back bone” of the new garden development.
This certainly is true. Also the special treatments of the grading serve
as the “body”, giving form, spatial definition and separation of areas.

The “skeleton” of the garden is also evident now in a maze of what
are apparently depressed channels criss crossing the area. These “channels”
are beds for walks and roadways which now await a latter contract for
construction. These walks will serve a number of different purposes.
Obviously to move the visitor around and through the various plantings,
to additionally define areas, to protect plantings, to provide all weather
access, to transport elements of construction and to illustrate innovative
surfacing.

Not at all at a standstill, construction goes on in the gardens.
Currently the new entrance gateway is under construction. This is
designed by Hornbein & White, architects for the new Education
Building, with the work being done by Edward Tamminga. It includes
a pergola-like overhead structure, a shelter house for a guard and turn¬
stiles. These elements are incorporated with the existing masonry piers
and wrought iron gates.

Landscape planting has begun around the new Education Building
and plans call for completion this season.

Definitive planning for the Service Area west of the present green¬
houses is well underway and basic elements in this area should be under
construction by early autumn. The immediate necessity of construction
of this area is to provide a base of operations for future phased con¬
struction projects as well as serving the on-going maintenance programs.

Along with these various construction projects is the major job of
reconditioning the soil over the entire site. The first steps are being taken
now. This consists primarily of breaking up the massive clay lumps of
the soil, the structure of which had been totally destroyed, growing Sudan
grass and other “cover crops” on it, adding organic matter and working
it again to a manageable state.

The completed contract for waterways, grading and pipelines was
under the supervision of Wright-McLaughlin Engineers as well as the
Landscape Architects, Eckbo, Dean, Austin and Williams. Langfur Con¬
struction Company was the general contractor; Kesson & Sons Inc., sub¬
contractor for pipelines; John F. McCauley Co. Inc., mechanical con¬
tractor; Shelton Bros., Excavating, earth moving; Herbert Siddle, drainage;
Consolidated Engineering, electrical; and International Shotcrete, Gates
pool reconstruction. The total cost of this work was slightly in excess of
$280,000.

STAFF ADDITIONS

On January 1st, 1971 , Solange Huggins was appointed the first full-time librarian
of the Helen Fowler Library. Note of her appointment appeared in the Green
Thumb Newsletter, but without any details.

Mrs. Huggins’ qualifications include the B.S. degree from Annhurst College in
South Woodstock, Conn., with subject emphasis on Biology and Chemistry. She
also holds the M.S. degree in Medical Technology from Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C., and the M.A. in Librarianship from the University of Denver. She
has taken other separate courses, chiefly in Education. In addition to her experience
in the teaching of Biology and French, she has worked with periodicals in the Busi¬
ness Library of the University of Denver, and was most recently assistant in the
Arapahoe Regional Library.

With the expanded library hours made possible by the appointment of Mrs.
Huggins, and with the help of numerous volunteers she has recruited, the library has
already shown a gratifying increase in use, both circulation and reference, and in ad¬
ditions to the book and periodical collections.

Mrs. Huggins is assisted in the library by Mrs. Bruce Jackson, a part-time staff
member. Mrs. Jackson received her undergraduate degree from The College of
Wooster and her graduate degree in librarianship from the University of Denver. Her
primary interest has been in starting and developing the Junior collection. The Green
Thumb readers will also be delighted to know that Miss Lucy Crissey, who did so
much to establish the library, will continue her dedicated service as a volunteer.
Other volunteers also are contributing many hours in behalf of the library. Their
work is deeply appreciated.

James M. Schell joined the staff of the Denver Botanic Garden in mid-January,
1971 to take the newly-created position of Horticultural Education Specialist.

Jim is a native of Sterling, Colorado and graduated from Iliff High School, near
Sterling. He attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, earning the A.A. degree
in Agriculture. He then attended Colorado State University earning the B.S. degree in
Vocational Agriculture and Biology in 1966. In 1969, Jim received the M.S. degree in
Entomology and Plant Pathology also from C.S.U. He then completed one academic
year of work toward the Ph.D. degree at Oregon State University in Corvallis, concen¬
trating further in the areas of Entomology and Plant Pathology. During his graduate
study at both C.S.U. and O.S.U., Jim served as a graduate research assistant;
after earning the Bachelor’s degree he spent a year as a vocational agriculture instruc¬
tor in the high school at Wishek, North Dakota.

Jim tells us that his early life was spent on a farm in the Sterling area. There he
obtained much excellent experience in raising various crops under irrigation. Later on
he was engaged in renting and managing land on which he raised sugar beets and other
irrigated crops.

At Denver Botanic Gardens Jim supervises the various aspects of the developing
educational program. His responsibilities are widespread including arranging for tours
of the Conservatory in both winter and summer, supervising the scheduling and the use
of the rooms in the New Educational Building, planning and developing new phases of
the educational program, editing the Green Thumb Newsletter and handling arrange¬
ments for classes and lectures at the Botanic Gardens. Jim’s friendly personality and
easy manner in working with people, as well as his family and academic background,
combine to make him a very effective and well qualified person. Denver Botanic
Gardens is pleased to have a person of his caliber on its permanent staff.

James M. Schell

Solange Huggins

Let’s

Plant

Some

Wee

Bulbs

Sue Kelly

I often wonder why many people refrain from planting what we
know as the “minor” bulbs. These delightful little pixies are really a
joy from the moment of discovery in a rock garden or tiny, secluded
nook, or from reading and discovering their descriptions in various books
and catalogues. I’ve grown many, and intend to grow more, as soon as
we have a suitable spot for them. Just now, in our dry, sandy, hot
(mostly unshaded) areas, it is an impossibility. Of course, a lot of
planning and hard work will correct most of this!

In planning, read carefully and try to follow the instructions given
with the bulbs chosen. However, remember in most cases, these in¬
structions were written for the eastern and moist central and southern
parts of the United States. So — adapt them to your own situation.
Most of these bulbs may be purchased and planted in the fall of the year.
Don’t get so busy in September and early October that you forget to
order them from the catalogues (with which most of us are deluged) or
from your favorite garden supply stores. Then, when you have them,
BE SURE TO PLANT. This may sound silly, but often when you’re busy,
you’ll put them aside, intending to plant them later, and then forget all

about them until next spring. Planting as soon as possible after buying
is a very good habit. Most bulbs make a root growth in the fall and
winter, which brings you many dividends of bloom, and more bloom.

If possible, these tiny bulbs should have a fairly rich soil with
excellent drainage. If your garden has been over-worked (raising many
flowers without any nourishment being added from time to time) add
some bone meal and work it into the soil before planting. DON’T
plant too deeply. Water thoroughly, and mark with plant labels, so you’ll
not try to plant something over them.

We had a delightful spot in Littleton, shaded by big cottonwoods,
and we made an irrigation ditch into a winding stream that lent itself
to just the spot the wee ones loved. In it, we planted many of the minor
bulbs and other choice plants.

We chose with an eye to color, time of bloom, and space. Many
small plants will become lost in large scattered areas, so mark them
well until you learn their location! We chose and planted snowdrops,
Galanthus ; glory-of-the-snow, Chionodoxa; grape hyacinth, Muscari
(be sure to try the white ones); Dutch iris, Iris reticulata; jack-in-the-
pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum; mariposa lily, Calochortus ; Narcissi — these
include what we commonly call daffodils, jonquils, and narcissus. Also,
don’t forget the miniatures: the dainty petticoat daffodil, N. bulboco-
dium ; spider tulip, T. acuminata; candlestick tulip, T. clusiana; and a tiny
daffodil shaped with narrow tubular trumpets and reflexed petals,
N. cyclamineus. If you’ve never grown these, you should! Do try star-
of-Bethlehem, Ornithogalum umbellatum; Puschkinia scilloides — a dainty
scilla-like plant, scillas or squills; snakes-head or guinea flower, Fritillaria
meleagris; spring beauty, Qaytonia; wake-robin, (both white and maroon)
Trillium; trout lily, Erythronium (also called dogtooth violet); “species”
tulips, Tulipa spp; Crocus , both early spring and fall blooming; Colchicums;
winter aconite, Eranthis ; wand lily, Zygadenus; and Sternbergia — a fall
blooming yellow crocus that is extremely delightful. Dutchmans
Britches, Dicentra and Mertensia, while not little bulbs, are great foils
for some of these bulbs.

Most of these minor bulbs are hardy. If they are happy, they will
usually come up year after year to delight you. Some that must be
lifted every fall are worth the effort. We’ve planted fairy lilies, Zephyran-
thes, many colored tiny lilies that make you want to pet them; Oxalis;
wand flower, Sparaxis; and tuberoses, Polianthes. Each fall they are dug
and put in string bags in a dry cool place to be ready for the next spring.
Some we lose — but usually, there are enough left for color.

Perhaps this short list of bulbs we have grown successfully, will
whet your appetite to check further into the various little bulbs under
each heading. Many long hours of poring over library books and pages
in fall and spring commercial catalogues and magazines (so le issues of
1 970 Horticulture are loaded with named varieties) will so itrigue you
that you’ll renew an interest in them or create an interes which can
very well become a hobby!

Exotics of Colorado

Tribulus terrestris, Puncture Vine
Helen Marsh Zeiner

Many common weeds are exotics introduced into this country
accidentally. This is true of Tribulus terrestris L. or puncture vine.

Tribulus terrestris is native to southern Europe. It was brought
into the United States many years ago, perhaps by burs embedded in
the wool of imported sheep. The plant is now widespread in the western
part of the United States, particularly in the dry southwest where it is a
very common weed. It is also found, although less abundantly, in many
other parts of the United States.

Look for puncture vine on any disturbed soil, especially if it is
sandy. Railroad yards, railroad and highway right-of-ways, barnyards,
gravel pits, and cultivated fields are all likely spots. When Tribulus
terrestris is first found in an area, it is usually along railroad tracks or
highways where the seeds have fallen from trains or vehicles. The seeds
are known to be spread in hay, straw, and manure.

An annual, Tribulus terrestris spreads rapidly from seed and may
soon become an obnoxious weed in an area. The seeds are long-lived and
may remain in the ground to germinate long after they were first scattered.

Puncture vine is often found in Denver alleys. It is aptly named for
its fruits which are armed with sharp, stiff spines. They are a painful
nuisance to dogs and bare-footed children and are said to sometimes
puncture bicycle tires.

Other common names for Tribulus terrestris are Mexican sandbur,
ground burnut, bumut, land caltrop, bullhead, torrito.

Tribulus terrestris is a member of the family Zygophyllaceae, a small
family of herbs and shrubs of warm or dry regions. In Colorado, two
additional genera (Zygophyllum and Kallstroemia) are reported, with the
possibility that a third (Larrea) may be present. Several plants of the
desert or semi-arid regions of the southwest belong to this family.
Creosote bush ( Larrea divaricata Cav. ), which characterizes the Chihuahuan

desert of the southwest, is an important member of this family. Creosote
bush often grows in pure stands and may cover many square miles of
desert country.

Puncture vine is a prostrate plant with stems extending out in
every direction for distances of 1 to 6 feet. Thus it makes a low-growing,
clinging mat. The opposite leaves are pinnately compound with 10 to 14
entire leaflets. Stems and leaves bear silky hairs.

The flowers are borne singly in the axils of the leaves. They are
about Vi an inch across, five-petaled and regular, and varying from pale
yellow to orange-yellow in color.

Each flower produces a five-parted burlike fruit which breaks apart
at maturity into five hard “burs” or carpels. Each bur is armed with
two very stiff spines. The fruit is sometimes described as resembling a
Maltese cross. It is also likened to a caltrop, which is defined as “an
instrument with four iron points so disposed that, any three of them
being on the ground, the other projects upward.” The common name
caltrop comes from the resemblance of the fruit to this trap-like device.
This is also the common name for the family Zygophyllaceae, although
not all members of the family have armed fruits. Creosote bush, for
example, has round, fuzzy-white fruits.

If it were not for the wickedly-spined fruits we would probably find
puncture vine an attractive plant and not be concerned with eradication.
Since the spines are so vicious, however, it is fortunate that the home
gardener can control puncture vine by pulling the plant before the seeds

ripen.

CUT HERE

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206

I hereby apply for membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens □

I wish my membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens extended □

Enclosed is $

for my annual dues.

Class of Membership desired: (check one)

Regular

□ Participating

$ 5.00
$10.00

□ Supporting

□ Contributing

$25.00

$50.00

Sustaining

$100.00

Name

Add ress

City

State

Zip Code

c77zecFaa/2a

in the
Tlora

Wes Woodward

Being an organic gardener, I am always trying to get rid of the bugs
in my garden by some natural means. A couple of years ago I ordered a
cluster of praying mantis eggs, remembering the mantis monsters I had
seen on Guadalcanal. I put the eggs in the tall grass next to the Russian
olive and checked on them occasionally. Finally the eggs were gone and
I watched for little praying mantises. I never found any.

Last year I thought I had the answer. One of the neighbor’s cats
“treed” a snake in the top of the Oregon grape. The cat, on the ground
below it, made a few half-hearted passes at the snake and that serpent
bobbed its head a few times. I don’t know what kind of a snake it was,
but I was sure it was harmless. Nevertheless, I was also sure my wife
would stay out of the garden if she knew it was there, and I resolved to
say nothing about it. For a week or so I saw the snake, now and then — in
the clump of sumacs or under the peonies. And then it disappeared.
Well, that wasn’t the answer.

The answer arrived this spring in the form of a turtle about the size
of a saucer, wearing black and brown armor. It rested under a juniper
in the rock garden. My son Dave fed it hamburger and lettuce and we
thought it had come to stay. The next day it was gone, as mysteriously
as it had arrived.

The cats are always with us. Not our cats, but neighborhood cats.
It’s obvious why we have six or seven of them in our garden. The bushes
make shade, the flower beds are soft to lie in, and there is loose dirt to
dig in wherever I have been planting. Most of the other yards in our
block are bare concrete and lawn — not good for cat life. Now I like cats,
but they don’t really help the gardening. Besides digging up the newly-
planted seeds and mashing down tender young plants, they get the birds.

We have visiting dogs too. They don’t do a lot of damage but they
do tear through the flowers after the cats. We used to have a dog of our
own and he wore out the ivy on the side of the garage by rubbing
against it. I found that both the dogs and cats liked the odor of the
spray that is advertised as being repugnant to them.

Of all the animals that do damage to the garden, the worst are
nameless. I’ve never seen them. They must be large, heavy and agile,
judging by the evidence. As the tender spring flowers pop up in the
bulb bed, I find that spot suddenly trampled and bare. When the cherries

are ripe, these unknown visitors come when no one’s home and strip
the trees, leaving a number of broken branches. In the middle of the
summer large nesting places appear among the phlox, often containing
baseballs or tin cans. And in the fall, just as the grapes begin to ripen,
the vines are pulled down, the grapes disappear, and the arbor is broken.
Active animals they are, but not helpful in a garden.

I haven’t given up. This year I think I shall buy some lady bugs;
then we should have the right kind of fauna in the flora.

BULBS FOR SUMMER BLOOM

John Philip Baumgardt
Hawthorne Books, Inc., New York, 232 pp. $8.95

Here is an excellent new reference book on plants grown from bulbs, tubers,
corms, crowns and other similar root forms. It is written in terms the beginner may
comprehend, the grower can appreciate and the more serious student will applaud.

The name of Dr. John Philip Baumgardt is not new to horticulturists. He has
written another book on pruning, contributed to newspapers and his articles have ap¬
peared in many gardening magazines. He has also taught botany. This teaching back¬
ground becomes evident in the frequent use of botanical terms which lose their
strangeness as he explains them, often with line drawings.

Planting charts, temperature map, colored plates and the many black and white
photographs help the reader identify with the subject. A fleeting glimpse is given the
history of some bulbs, their botanical differences and something of the problems
which have faced the plant breeder developing better clones. Detailed chapters are
devoted to the gladiolus, dahlias, lilies and tuberous begonias. All other bulbs are in¬
cluded in the special “A to Z . . .” section and accompanied by helpful line drawings.

Dr. Baumgardt is supposed to have grown everything mentioned in the book. He
draws generously from this experience as he instructs in where to obtain bulbs, how to
prepare the soil, the special microclimate needed, feeding, pest and disease control,
storage and dormancy requirements. He even tosses in a little information on cutting
the bloom for indoor enjoyment and show competition.

The reader senses the author’s obvious appreciation for each bulb grown plant
and concludes with a feeling of having had a pleasant walk in Dr. Baumgardt’s garden
to observe it growing, plus a personal lesson in the botany, history and culture which
brought it to its present perfection of bloom.

— Avalonne Kosanke —

A small greenhouse is a pleasure and a fascinating hobby for anyone
interested in this indoor type of horticulture. My greenhouse is over 17
feet long and 5 feet wide. As our winters are severe it is a convenience
to have the greenhouse attached to one’s home. My greenhouse is a
lean-to on the south side of the house and has an entrance directly from
the dining area. There is also a door on the west end opening to the
garden. It is closed during the winter and temporary shelves are installed
to house various plants from the garden before the first frost.

The greenhouse is an easily erected pre-fabricated model, resting on
a cinder block foundation. Coarse gravel covers the floor; concrete inserts
are the walks. Benches are built of sturdy redwood and there are metal
trays to hold the pots. Some trays have holes in the bottom to facilitate
direct planting. Suspended shelving near the ceiling holds cacti and
succulents. Supplementary shelves are often added by using glass bricks
and redwood boards. Frosted fiberglass covers most of the greenhouse.
The ends are clear glass. With the frosted fiberglass there is never a
problem of the plants burning.

The greenhouse has no regulation heating system. It can be classed
as “on the cool side.” The door from the dining area is louvered glass and
during the winter the louvers are opened to heat the greenhouse. When
extra heat is needed, an electric heater controlled by a thermostat is
available. An automatic roof ventilator helps control the inside temperature
and permits me to be away a few days at a time.

A wide variety of plants from cacti and succulents to orchids are
my hobby. Cypripedium orchids have grown unusually well because they
thrive on cool temperatures. Many plants rest during the summer and
for this reason my greenhouse is usually more colorful during the winter
months.

I particularly enjoy azaleas, cyclamen, gloxinias, geraniums, rex
begonias, bougainvillea, and the cacti and succulents.

In addition to these plants and many others I have a few bonsai.
Most of them have been deciduous and evergreen specimens of various
sizes. In winter the large evergreen bonsai are put in a window-well on
the north side of the house and the pots are completely buried in
peatmoss.

The greenhouse is now ten years old and many of the plants in it
were given me by friends who encountered difficulty in growing them
in their homes.

Growing bedding plants for my garden is impractical because of

! uneven greenhouse heating. However, in the fall, it is satisfying to take
choice petunias, chrysanthemums and fuchsias from the yard and bring
them into the greenhouse.

FOCUS

TROPICAL
ALMOND

in the

Boettcher Memorial Conservator^

Peg Hayward

Terminalia catappa L.

Terminalia includes a group of trees and shrubs of the Combretum
family, Combretaceae. The name derived from terminus, end, alludes
to the leaves being borne upon the terminus of the shoot. About 250
species of Terminalia , pantropical genus, are recognized. T. catappa,
tropical or Indian almond, is well known in American horticulture, but
several other species are important in the Orient, principally for then-
fruits known as myrobalans.

Tropical almond, native of the seashores of Malaya, is a deciduous
or partially evergreen tree of stately appearance up to 80 feet in height.
The stout, smooth trunk with brownish grey bark is topped with a
wide spreading crown. Unrelated to, and unlike, the true almond,
Prunus amygdalus, this vigorous tree is most easily recognized by its
tiers of horizontal branches which grow in whorls at right angles to the
trunk. Tbe simple leaves are crowded toward ends of branchlets; they
are leathery, obovate, up to 1 foot long by 7 inches broad. Leaves are
glabrous above, very finely pubescent below, with venation slightly
raised on both surfaces but most prominent on underside. Leaves
assume exquisite shades of yellow, red, and purple twice a year before
they fall, soon to be replaced with new growth of shiny young leaves.

Slender spikes of small greenish-white flowers without petals are
hardly visable amid the foliage. Flower spikes up to 5 inches long are
ill-scented. Often all the flowers of a spike are males; sometimes most
are males and the few lowermost are females or are bisexual.

Fruits of the tropical almond are elliptic, 2 edged, flattened drupes
about 2 inches long, which become yellow slightly flushed with pink.
The thick outer skin covers a scant layer of flesh, sometimes eaten by
children, and a large seed with a corky husk which encloses a slender,
edible kernel. Often the dried seeds can be gathered from the ground

after the outer flesh has been removed by insects. The kernels are
eaten without roasting and are described as having a filbert-like flavor.
The kernels yield an oil of high quality resembling almond oil.

The wood of Terminalia is used for construction and boat building.
Bark and leaves of the tree furnish tannin and black ink or dye. In India,
the tasar silkworm feeds on the leaves.

Terminalia catappa has been widely planted in tropical countries
and in South Florida as a street tree. It is often used at the seashore
because due to resistance to salt spray, it is able to thrive within a few
feet of the shore line. Although a native of the tropics where storms are
usual, this tree never developed wood or foliage capable of resisting the
force of a hurricane. A severe storm will often tear the tree to pieces.

Visitors to the Boettcher Conservatory will see a magnificent
tropical almond located near the large water fall. Terminalia muelleri,
native to Queensland, is also in the Conservatory collection. It is a small
tree bearing narrowly obovate leaves up to 4 inches long and fruit 3/4
inch long and bluish.

FEATHER IN HIS CAP

Three times in less than a year a very high honor has been conferred on Dr.
Aubrey C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus, Denver Botanic Gardens. First came the
Arthur Hoyt Scott Garden and Horticulture Award. Second, while attending the
American Horticulture Congress, he received the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award. Now,
from the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., one of its highest awards,
THE SILVER SEAL!

At its 1971 Awards Banquet, Bal Harbour, Florida, National Council presented
this latest honor to Dr. Hildreth with the following statement: “The Silver Seal —
Awarded an individual, organization or institution other than garden club, for special
contribution toward the advancement of the work of garden clubs. Throughout his
career, Dr. Hildreth has been exploring the ‘hows and whys’ of the plant world.
Through his columns and his membership in organizations dedicated to science and
research, he has made a very definite contribution in the field of horticulture.”

To this, the garden clubs of Colorado add, “For actively advancing the work
of the garden clubs, for educating our members, for constantly promoting coopera¬
tion between the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Colorado Federation of Garden
Clubs and for patiently improving many of the plants we now grow in our landscapes,
we thank you, Dr. Hildreth. Congratulations from us all!”

EXCUSE US PLEASE

We regret that the printer transposed parts of the article about
Dr. Hildreth (Pages 48 & 49, Spring, 1971). We offer our sincere
apologies to Dr. Hildreth and to our readers.

Comparative Toxi<

(expressed in L

= Milligrams of toxicant per
animals. If the toxicant is givei
LD50; if applied to the skin

10 30

i i ' i — i — i — i — 1 — r

50 70 90 no 200

300

Acute LD

: Some Pesticides

a I and dermal )

i of bodyweight which will kill 50% of the test
lin in one dose it is referred to as the acute
ose it is called acute dermal LD^.

IrjT 940

NOTE : The longer the bar, the

less toxic the pesticide.

Wjr^rjTJWJrM, IOOO

I 1070

Acute oral LD_^

Acute dermal LD^

900

2510

4 000

1040

10,200*

IIOO

M 1230
IHB 1370

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 1500

li.ooo

rA 6,000 4- I

- *

■n — i — i — i — r*H — i — i — r— r — i — i — i — i — i — ri*- r m-i — i — i — i —

900 1 OO O 1,5 00 2000 3.500 5,000 10,000

| (mg/kg) of Body Weight

James R. Feucht

USING PESTICIDE TOXICITY CHART

The pesticide toxicity chart is based on a statistical estimate of the
amount of pure chemical, applied orally or dermally, to kill 50% of a
large population of test animals, usually rats. One should use care in

interpreting this chart because it can be misleading.

In the first place, observe that the longer the bar the less toxic the
pesticide,, Because of space limitations, the LD50 scale, which is expressed
in milligrams of chemical per kilogram of body weight, is considerably
condensed and any bar that is longer than an LD50 of 120 should
actually be longer than the chart shows. The chart, however, can be
used for comparative purposes.

To determine the real value as it would affect man, take the LD50
value of a given chemical, multiply it by 0.003, and this will give you
the number of ounces of undiluted chemical required to kill 50% of a
population of men weighing 187 pounds, providing the chemical is taken
all at one time. Most chemicals on the market are not available in the
pure state but rather in percentage formulations. A good example is
Malathion, which is usually sold at the 50-57% concentration. The oral
LD50 is 1370 or requiring about 4.1 ounces to kill a 187 pound man.
Malathion, as sold in the stores, would require 8 or more ounces taken
orally.

It is also easy to draw conclusions and condemn a chemical on the
basis of the chart unless you make a complete comparison. Note,
for example, that Carbofuran has an oral LD50 somewhat more toxic
than Parathion (about 0.03 ounces) taken orally to kill a 187 pound
man. There is, however, considerable difference in the dermal toxicity
of these two. Parathion is readily absorbed through the skin as are most
organic phosphates. The dermal toxicity, therefore, is quite high (low
in number on chart) or approximately 0.06 ounces. But Carbofuran
would require almost 2 pounds dermally applied to cause death. Carbo¬
furan is sold as a 10% granular, so the actual material as marketed would
require almost 20 pounds applied dermally to cause death. Similar
comparisons can be made with other insecticides listed on the chart.

One should also consider the persistence of the pesticides along
with toxicity. These are really two different things. Take, for example,
DDT, which would require more than 1/2 ounce of the 50% wettable
powder taken orally to cause death. Yet it is considered a less desirable
pesticide from the standpoint of the environment than even more toxic
chemicals such as Diazinon and Vapona simply because it does not
break down readily. Looking at it another way, Methoxychlor has a
much safer oral and dermal toxicity than Malathion. Yet, from the
standpoint of wildlife, use of Malathion would be more desirable because
of its very short persistence.

G, Iflew Romance, TREE PEONIES

G. E. “Casey” O’Donnell

These extremely hardy small shrubs, from 2 to 5 feet tall at ma¬
turity (15 to 25 years), have very decorative foliage, produce blooms
from 3 to 12 inches in diameter, are available in a rainbow of colors
from clear light yellow through blends and shades of yellow, pink,
salmon, coral, crimson, scarlet, maroon, black-red, lavender, purple,
white, and in-between tints which must be seen to be believed.

Culture is easy. Well-drained, average, good garden soil (wet feet is
the number one no no for all Peonies), shelter from strong winds, little
or no fertilizing, occasional deep irrigation, not too much competition
from nearby (8-10 feet) shrubs or trees, and shallow cultivation are the
simple essentials.

Insects and disease are so infrequent that for all practical purposes
they may be ignored.

Remove spent bloom, keep the planting free of weeds and grass,
remove and burn fallen leaves, relax and enjoy an almost carefree garden
subject.

Named varieties of the Japanese Moutans, and the Saunders and
Gratwick-Daphnis Lutea hybrids are much more desirable types than are
the Chinese or European kinds whose stems do not hold the heavy
blooms erect and above the foliage. They are available from a number of
growers, importers, and at times can be found in local nurseries.

Prices may be quite modest for two or three-year-old grafts, or
rather steep for “specimen” plants and the less readily obtainable
Saunders and Gra t wick-Dap hnis Lutea hybrids. To those avid gardeners
who class tree peonies among the necessities of life, a good plant of a
desirable variety is a bargain at almost any price. In most cases the plant
is a permanent investment, increasing in size and floriferousness for 30 to
50 years.

Probably the best approach to establishing a new tree peony planting
is the purchase of the two- to three-year size. These small grafts (all
named varieties are propagated by scion grafting to herbaceous peony
roots), usually become established quickly, and some, but not all, will
produce a bloom or two the first year after planting, grow fairly rapidly,
and generally are blooming well by the third or fourth year.

The more expensive “specimen” plants are from five to ten years old,
usually bloom fairly well the first season after planting, have passed
through the critical “go” or “no go” stage after grafting under the know¬
ing care of an expert grower and are almost sure to survive the shock of
digging and transplanting.

However, as would be expected, they are much more expensive, and
beyond the third or fourth year after planting are usually no larger than
the small graft planted at the same time and given the same care.

The varieties listed below all have a proven history of excellent
performance in the Denver area.

MOUTAN - JAPANESE TYPE

TAMA FUYO — “Jeweled Lotus”

The bloom is a light shell pink with a hint of coral. Grows
rapidly and blooms well on young plants. A three-year plant
in my garden produced eleven eight-inch blooms this spring.

HINODE SEKAI — “World at sunrise”

Glowing pink-red. An eleven-year-old plant decorated with
forty-four ten-inch blossoms was the garden eyecatcher for
ten days in late May.

TAIYO — “Emperor”

A light, bright red bloom of medium size on a vigorous, well-
branched plant.

GO DAI SHU - “Globe like”

A medium-large clear-white, whose several rows of large, firm
petals retain a rounded, cup-shaped form for several days.

GESSAKAI - “Moon world”

A large, airy-app earing double having an unusual crested
appearance. Almost translucent white. Vigorous plant. Free
bloom. Very fine.

RIMPO - “Bird of Rimpo”

One of the tallest and most vigorous of the Moutans. The
medium-large blooms are quite double, and are deep purple with
brown-maroon shading. One of my favorites.

LUTEA HYBRIDS

AMBER MOON — (Saunders)

Two to three rows of firm, rounded petals, warm amber yellow
flushed and shaded bright rose at the petal tips. Excellent
stems, and a vigorous, husky plant. Scarce, but well worth
looking for.

CHINESE DRAGON - (Saunders)

A beautiful, vigorous plant having almost lacy deep green
foliage, turning to brilliant scarlet after the first frost. The
large blooms have at least two rows of petals, are yellow with
a red overlay, and are held well erect on good stems. One of
the most decorative of the Luteas.

AGE OF GOLD - (Saunders)

The bloom is a soft, mellow, gold rosette having many rows
of ruffled petals held well out of the foliage. The plant is
medium in height, about three feet, is well branched and quite
sturdy.

SOUVENIER de MAXIME CORNU and ALICE HARDING are two
of the better, older Lutea hybrids. Both have well shaped, very
heavy, full double blooms of excellent color, and are vigorous,
hardy plants. However, both are plagued by a common fault:
stems too weak to hold the large blooms erect and above the
foliage.

The blooms may be cut in the bud stage and floated for days
on end in glass or silver containers indoors. Their virtues are
wonderful color, ready availability, ease of culture (not that
others are difficult, but these two are especially easy,) and
moderate price.

SOUVENIER de MAXIME CORNU - (Henry - 1919)

The bloom is full double, bright yellow shaded rose (almost a
peace rose-colored tree peony), and a vigorous, many -stemmed
plant of medium height.

ALICE HARDING — (Victor and Emile Lemoine — 1935)

This is a full double, ball-shaped, clear, sulfur yellow bloom
having a marvelous fragrance, on a stocky, vigorous plant.
The period beginning September 1st, and ending about October
15th, is the most favorable for peony planting in the Denver
area. Secure catalogs now, order plants, specify delivery date,
plant promptly on arrival, and join the progressive gardeners’
parade.

SOURCES

♦Correctly labeled plants may be obtained from the growers listed below. A price and variety list
or catalog may be obtained by letter or postcard.

MISSION GARDENS, TECHNY, ILL. 60082

BEN GILBERTSON, KINDRED, NO. DAK. 58051

SILVA SAUNDERS, CLINTON, N. Y. 13323

WILLIAM GRATWICK TREE PEONIES, PAVILION, N. Y. 14525

The “ROCKBREAKERS” et al

A VERSATILE FAMILY

Ernest H. Brunquist *

“The saxifrages are among the jewels of the mountain
flowers. I think of the cluster of dainty dotted saxifrage
by a crystal pool in a high pass , of the fringed Parnassia
lighting up dark corners in shaded mountain valleys, and
the exquisite purple one.”

(Boykinia), — Ruth Ashton Nelson

Amateur botanists interested in wildflowers for the sheer pleasure
of it are likely to be partial to certain plant families. This article suggests
that Saxifragaceae, the saxifrage family, is particularly worthy of con-

PURPLE SAXIFRAGE

Telesonix jamesii

SNOWBALL SAXIFRAGE
Saxifraga rhomboidea

* Denver Museum of Natural History

sideration. The name, of Latin derivation, means “rock-breakers.”
Many of the species, but by no means all, are intimately associated
with rocks.

The earliest reference to members of the family seems to have been
that of Dioscorides, a Greek medical writer of the first century A.D.
The queer “doctrine of signatures” was prevalent, and the Romans
concluded that because saxifrages “split rocks,” extracts of the plant
would be effective for breaking up kidney and bladder stones!

The family is cosmopolitan in distribution but preponderantly of the
north temperate zone, with many arctic and alpine species (some are
circumpolar,) and some xerophytes. Worldwide there are said to be about
1200 species in 80 genera. It is an extremely variable family with little
rule-of-thumb consistency in structural detail of petals, stamens, ovaries
and leaves. The ovary, for example, varies from being inferior in some
cases, half inferior, or even quite superior. Taxonomists have found it
difficult to separate from other families, especially Rosaceae. On the
whole, Colorado species show a preference either for rocky situations —
ledges, crevices, and the like — or for damp or boggy places with the soil
rich in humus.

AMATEUR-BOTANIST EXPERIENCE

Botanists, new and veteran, are attracted to the family for a variety
of reasons. Asked why they feel as they do, they have given answers
such as the following:

— “Because of the beautiful detail of the tiny flowers revealed
by a hand lens.” Mitrewort and alumroot are cited. Of
course this is true of practically any plant family,

— “Bright green, scalloped leaves are strikingly beautiful.” e.g.,
alumroot, and brook saxifrage.

— “Some species have an adventurous air about them, unable to
decide what genus to join.” For example, purple saxifrage,
once a member of Boykinia, and then of Saxifraga, is now in
the genus Telesonix.

— One student regretted that there weren’t classifiers (taxonomists)
around “during the millions of years plants were evolving. Then
we would be better able to decide who belongs to what family.”

With such reactions in mind, what typical examples of the family
may be cited for oncoming amateurs who would like an introduction to
the family? A selection of fairly common wild species is given below
as representative of six of Colorado’s genera. This is by way of an
introduction to the more complete descriptions of H. D. Harrington
(‘64), William Ac Weber (‘67), and Ruth Ashton Nelson (’69, ‘70).
Beginners are urged to learn to identify plants for themselves by the
use of the keys to be found in these books. Many have found it a

rewarding and fascinating procedure (they call it a “game” sometimes),
and incidentally a short-cut to familiarity with the terminology of
botany and details of flower and plant structure.

It is virtually impossible to describe the family in a condensed and
meaningful way for an amateur. Using keys to families, one comes to
Saxifragaceae 5 times when using Harrington’s coverage for all of Colo¬
rado, and 3 times when Weber’s coverage for a part of the state is used.

References are given to illustrations of some species. Pictures are
sometimes more effective than many words for preparing a student to
recognize characteristics of a genus or species.

This article follows Weber, one of the professional botanists
who exclude the woody genera which are sometimes included in the
family. Thus the genus Ribes (currants and gooseberries) is assigned
to Grossulariaceae, and the genus Jamesia (waxflower, or cliffbush)
is assigned to Hydrangeaceae.

The following summary of major differences between the six
genera selected for this introduction is essentially that of Harrington
as simplified by Ruth Ashton Nelson (‘69).

A. Stamens 1 0; flowers white, yellow, or rose to purple

a. Leaves entire, lobed or toothed, never dissected

i. Flowers white or yellow: Saxifraga (Saxifrage)

ii. Flowers deep rose to purple: Teles onix (James
or purple saxifrage: Boykinia)

b„ Leaves and petals dissected; flowers white or pinkish:
Lithophragma (woodland-star, or fringecup)

B. Stamens 4 or 5; flowers white or greenish

a. Flowers relatively large, one to a stem; clusters of gland-
tipped filaments alternate with the fertile stamens:
Parnassia (grass-of-pamassus)

b. Flowers in elongated clusters; no gland-tipped sterile
stamens

i. Petals lobed or dissected; flowers few; inflores¬
cence a raceme: mitella (mitrewort, bishops cap)

ii. Petals entire; flowers many; inflorescence pani¬
culate, sometimes diffusely branched, sometimes
narrow and spikelike: Heuchera (alumroot)

Heuchera (Alumroot)

Worldwide the genus has about 30 species. At least 5 have been
found in Colorado, all of them rock-cohabiting. They occur more
abundantly than species of the other genera, at least in central Colorado.
The name, alumroot, refers to the astringent taste of the root.

The leaves are mostly basal and long-petioled; more or less orbicular
in shape, and shallowly lobed as well as toothed. For four of our species
the width of the blade varies from less than 1/2 inch to somewhat over

2 inches. The flowering stems are especially characteristic of the
genus. They are conspicuous because the leaves are chiefly basal. Among
our five Colorado species stem length varies from about 4 inches to 2 feet.
Inflorescences vary from paniculate to spikelike and narrowly cylindrical.
They are strongly one-sided (secund) in common alumroot (see below).
The white or greenish petals are tiny and entire; often more or less
clawed (i.e., narrow at the base). The ovary is partly inferior, with the
calyx tube fused to its lower portion. It develops into a 2-horned capsule.

Illustrations: (1) H. parvifolia; Weber ‘67, p.278 and Clements & Clements,
p.197. (2 ) H. bracteata: Roberts & Nelson, p.24. (3 ) H. hallii: Nelson ‘69, p. 152,
and Clements & Clements p. 197.

The following are two particularly common species of the genus.

Common Alumroot (Heuchera parvifolia). Common in rocky
situations but also found growing in woods. It ranges from the plains
into the alpine zone. The teeth of the 5-to 9-lobed leaves are relatively
blunt. The flowers are flat-campanulate, and the sepals only slightly
exceed the flat hypanthium (see diagrams, pp. 12-13, Weber ‘67.) Stamens
do not protude . Flowers occur in separated clusters on stalks 10 inches
to 2 feet long.

Bracted Alumroot (Heuchera bracteata). The plants are mostly
confined to rocky situations, and range from the plains to the subalpine
zone. Leaves are bright green, with 5 to 7 lobes which are sharply
toothed. Flowers are small and greenish, in clusters along one side of
the scaly but leafless stalks, which are 4 to 8 inches tall, and thus
shorter than the average in common alumroot. In mature flowers the
stamens are longer than the petals, and protrude.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga)

This is the largest genus of the family in number of species. World¬
wide there are close to 300, of which about 16 occur in Colorado. In
some species the stems are leafy, in others the leaves are all basal. The
smallish flowers are perfect, and are either solitary or occur in cymes
or panicles. The 5 petals are sometimes clawed, sometimes clawless.
10 stamens. The ovary varies from superior to partly inferior.

The following is a condensation of the major distinguishing features
of 8 species selected as representative of the genus. They may be divided
into three main groups: (1) Species with yellow petals; (2) Species with
white petals and all of the leaves basal; (3) Species with white petals
and some small stem leaves in addition to larger basal ones.

A. Petals yellow

Golden , Yellow Alpine, Fairy , or Goldbloom Saxifrage ( Saxifraga
serpy Hi folia. Formerly Saxifraga chrysantha )

Illustrations: (1) Nelson ‘69, p.155; (2) Nelson ‘70, p.76; (3) Willard &
Harris, p.22; (4) Pesman ‘59, p.31; (5) Clements & Clements, p. 190.

Tiny smooth alpine plants with rosettes of small basal leaves (less
than 1/2 inch long). Stems often 1 to 3 inches tall, with smaller leaves.

The golden-yellow flowers (1 to 3 to a stem) are “relatively large.”
The petals average about a quarter of an inch long, are short-clawed,
and are often speckled with orange spots. Plants of rocky and gravelly
places.

Whiplash, or Stoloniferous Saxifrage (Scocifraga flagellaris)

Illustrations: (1) Willard & Harris, p.22; (2) Nelson ‘70, p.76; (3) Clements
& Clements, p.190.

The plants are very glandular-pubescent, with definitely leafy stems
which are likely to be 2 to 6 inches tall. Rosettes are formed by oblong-
spatulate leaves which are glandular-hairy on the edges. Runners extend
I from the base of the plant and take root to form satellite rosettes.
Petals are “relatively large” (up to about 1/3 inch long) short-clawed
and yellow. Often in rocky places; subalpine and alpine.

B. Petals white and all the leaves basal.

Snowball, or Diamond leaf Saxifrage (Saxifraga rhomboidea)

Illustrations: (1) Nelson ‘69, p.154; (2) Willard & Harris, p.ll; (3) Craighead
and Craighead, p.76; (4) Pesman ‘59, p. 1 35; (5) Roberts & Roberts, p.27; (6) Nelson
‘70, p.76.

Stout leafless flower stalks rise flat rosettes of short-petioled leaves
! (rhomboid in shape) which are often 1 to 2 inches long, and are shallowly
toothed. The white flowers are in terminal clusters, tightly packed at
first. The plant occurs in a variety of soils and ranges from plains into
the alpine zone. It is an early-spring bloomer.

Brook Saxifrage (Saxifraga odontoloma. Formerly S. arguta)

Illustrations: (1) Weber ‘67, p.280; (2) Nelson ‘69, p.154; (3) Craighead
& Craighead, p.75; (4) Clements & Clements, p.190.

This, our tallest species (up to about 20 inches) is a plant of moist
places, often streamside. The blades of the long-petioled basal leaves are
nearly round; shining-green; coarsely toothed; and cordate at the base.
The small white flowers are borne in a loose, bushy panicle; sepals are
reflexed; and stamens prominent. The plant ranges from montane to
, subalpine. “An all-around charming plant.”

C. Petals white and there are smaller stem leaves in addition to
larger basal ones.

Dotted, or Spotted Saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis)

Illustrations: (1) Nelson ‘69, p.154; (2) Weber ‘67, p.281 ; (3) Nelson ‘70, p.76;
(4) Craighead & Craighead, p.75; (5) Clements & Clements, p.190.

If you find matted plants: (a) with flower stalks which rise from
compact rosettes of rigid, awl-shaped leaves which are spine-tipped and
spine-edged; (b) with smallish white flowers in loose, few blossomed
panicles; and (c) with petals usually with tiny purple or orange spots,
you may be certain that you have this species. The basal leaves average
a little over 1 /2 an inch in length and the stems (averaging about 4 inches
tall) have a few smallish leaves. The species range from foothills to above
timberline, and is found in coniferous forests as well as rocky places.

Nodding Saxifrage (Saxifraga cernua) The most prominent featun
are the occurrence of small reddish bulbs in the axils of stem leaves, ar
a single white, relatively large terminal blossom. The rather long-petiole ;
lower leaves are broadly kidney-shaped; palmately 5- to 7-lobed. Plan 1
not mat-forming. It is a rock-loving species and is described as “frequei i
along snow-runoff rivulets, alpine and subalpine” (Weber). (Hopeful (
there will be an illustration in the next edition of one of the abovi
mentioned books.)

Matted, Tufted, or Alpine Saxifrage (Saxifraga caespitosa)

Illustration: Clements & Clements, p.197.

Here again is a tiny and exclusively alpine mat-forming specie
Deeply and narrowly 3-cleft basal leaves are practically diagnostic. Sten
vary from about an inch to 3 inches tall, with 1 or 2 stem leaves. Flowei
— 1 to 4 to a stem — are small and white, with petals about 1/8 inch Ion]

Pygmy or Weak-stemmed Saxifrage (Saxifraga debilis)

Illustration: Clements & Clements, p. 197 II

The thin, conspicuous 3-lobed leaves are diagnostic. The inflorescenc |
is an open cyme of 2 to 5 moderately small flowers. The leafy sterr jy
average about 4 inches in length, and the plants are loosely tuftec
Found in rocky situations, commonly in the shelter of boulders; subalpin !]
and alpine. “A delicate, fragile-looking plant.”

James, or Purple Saxifrage ; Boykinia (Telesonix jamesii)

Illustrations: (1) Nelson ‘69, p.155; (2) Craighead and Craighead, plate 8
(3) Pesman ‘59, p.68; (4) Clements & Clements, p. 191 (colored)

This species was formerly assigned to Saxifraga or to Boykinic
The rather large rose-red to purple petals (the longest about 3/8 inch
are particularly distinctive. Their long claws are so slender that there ar
conspicuous spaces between their bases. Brightly green leaves (basal a ;
well as stem leaves) are long-petioled and the roundish blades are 1 to
inches wide and coarsely toothed. Stems are likely to be at least 4 to i
inches tall. The inflorescence is described as “a crowded paniculatt
cyme” (Harrington) and “an oblong cluster of flowers” (Clements <!
Clements). Weber (‘67) states that the plant is abundant along the coj
railway near Windy Point on Pikes Peak and at one locality in Rock;
Mountain National Park.

Woodland Star, or Starflower ( Lithophragma)

Illustrations: (1) Nelson, ‘69, p.l 51 ; (2) Craighead & Craighead, plate 8
(3) Clements & Clements, p.197.

Three species have been described for Colorado, two of which hav
been described by Weber ‘67 and Nelson ‘69, ‘70. Distinguishin \
features are 10 stamens and dissected leaves and petals. Flowers ar
white or pinkish. Stems are from 4 to 12 inches, and are leafy, althougl
most of the leaves are basal. Leaves are petioled, with blades which

are suborbicular or reniform in shape, palmately lobed or cleft. Flowers
are borne in mostly few-flowered racemes. The petals, 5 in number,
are deeply and somewhat irregularly cleft into 3 to 7 slender, pointed
divisions. One species, Lithophragma glabrum, rather rare, is distinguished
by having some of the flowers replaced by purple bulblets, and the entire
plant is sometimes tinged with purple. Subalpine.

Grass-of-Parnassus (Pamassia)

Illustrations: (1) Weber, ‘67, p.279; (2) Nelson ‘69, p. 15 1 ; (3) Craighead
& Craighead, plate 8; (4) Pesman ‘59, p.93; (5) Clements & Clements, p.197.

Colorado has 2 of the approximately 44 species of the world. The
species are plants “of marshes and wetmossy places” (Nelson). The
orbicular or oval leaves are entire (that is, neither lobed nor toothed), and
all are long-petioled and basal except for a small single one on each
flower stalk. The 5 anther- bearing fertile stamens alternate with clusters of
gland-tipped staminoidea. Each stem bears a single white flower. The
petals of the more common species, Fringed Pamassia ( Pamassia fimbriata)
are rounded, clawed, and fringed at the sides. Flowers are about an
inch in diameter. “A striking and unique species.”

Mitre wort, or Bishops Cap ( Mitella )

Colorado has 3 of the 12 species reported for the world. There is
exceptional variability within the genus. Even among our species, the
stamens are either opposite to the petals and alternate to the calyx lobes
or vice versa; the calyx lobes are either greenish or white; and the petals
! are pinnatifid, 3-cleft, 3-toothed, or (rarely) entire. Some authors have
taken our three species from Mitella and put each one into one or the
other of two other genera!

Illustrations: By far the best, in fineness of detail, is that of Nelson ‘69, p.152
(Mitella pentandra.) The same species is illustrated in Clements & Clements, p.197.

Our commonest species is alpine bishops cap (Mitella pentandra).
i“It is common in deep shade in forests, subalpine,” according to Weber.
Mrs. Nelson (’69) calls it “a plant of moist, shaded forest banks . . .
usually found around springs or seepage areas . . . often growing in
moss along with the tiny Twayblades and 1 -Leaved Bog-Orchid.” The
round-cordate leaves (all basal and in a rosette) are shallowly 3-lobed
and toothed. The leafless flower stalk ends in an elongated raceme of
rather widely separated small green flowers. The petals are pinnatifid,
“Imagine finding petals mimicking snowflakes!”

Annotated Bibliography

1. Clements, Edith S. Flowers of Mountain and Plain, 1915. The first edition
consisted of the 25 color plates (of paintings) from the book Rocky Mountain
Flowers by Gements & Clements (see below), representing 175 species. A
simple text description of the species was added in the second edition. The
last of several reprintings was published in 1955, and the book is currently
available.

2. Gements, Frederic Edward & Gements, Edith Schwartz, Rocky Mountain
Flowers: An illustrated guide for plant-lovers and plant-users. 1914. There
are 25 plates in color and 22 plates in black and white. With few exceptions
the illustrations in color were painted in the field; the line drawings were largely
from herbarium material. Dr. Clements was Associate in Ecology, Carnegie
Institution of Washington, D.C. and Director of the Pikes Peak Alpine Labora¬
tory, where he and his wife were associates in field studies and research. There
are keys for identification purposes and a detailed description of families and |
genera. A flower chart to show evolutionary plant-family relations was added
to the third edition in 1928, and the third reprinting of this is still available in
book stores.

3. Core, Earl L., Plant Taxonomy, 1955. Particularly valuable for data regarding
world families, genera and species, and their distribution.

4. Craighead, John Craighead, Frank C., Jr. & Davis, Ray A Field Guide to
Rocky Mountain Wildflowers from Northern Arizona and New Mexico to Brit¬
ish Columbia, 1963. The first named is professor of Zoology and Forestry at
Montana State University and leader of the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Re¬
search Unit, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the second is a Wildlife Research
Consultant with the National Geographic Society and a Research Associate at
Montana State University. Ray J. Davis is professor of Botany at Idaho State
University. The color plates (photographs) are by the authors, and the draw¬
ings by Grant O. Hagen and Edwardo Salgado. There are no keys. The book
is definitely selective; thus only certain species of 3 genera of the Mustard Fam¬
ily are described and 10 species of the Saxifrage Family. Plant descriptions are
often extensive and exceptionally interesting.

5. Harrington, Harold D. Manual of the Plants of Colorado, 1954. This large vol¬
ume is the only manual which included all of the species known for the state in
1954. Ferns and their allies, and Gymnosperms are included to make a total of
117 families, 693 genera, and 2794 species, all but 242 species of which are de¬
scribed in detail. There are extensive keys, but no illustrations. There is an 8-
page description of “Vegetation Zones in Colorado” by David F. Costello. Dr. ]
Harrington was for many years a member of the faculty of Colorado State |
University and curator of the Herbarium. Many a botanist has said “This is I
our bible!”

6. Nelson, Ruth Ashton, Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants, 1969. Drawings
are by Dorothy V. Leake. The region covered includes parts of Colorado,
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, including 1 1 Nation- ;
al Parks and Monuments. The keys are especially tailored for amateurs. Illustra¬
tions include 362 line drawings of individual plants, photographs in color of 76
species, and many diagrams illustrative of details of flower structure. Considera¬
ble attention is given to the ecological aspects of the zonal distribution of the

flora. The book is dedicated to Aven Nelson, “inspiring teacher, faithful friend,
and beloved companion.” Mrs. Nelson keeps in touch with the point of view
of the amateur.

Nelson, Ruth Ashton, Plants of the Rocky Mountain National Park, 1970 is a
publication of the Rocky Mountain Nature Association in cooperation with the
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Earlier editions, the first
in 1933, were published directly by the Government. About 850 species of
plants are described; specimens of most of them are in the herbarium of Rocky
Mountain National Park. There are 174 reproductions of photographs, most of
them in color. Considerable attention is given to a variety of ecological situa¬
tions. The glossary is illustrated with line drawings, and there is a topographic
map with an index of major localities of the Park.

Pesman, M. Walter, Meet the Natives, 1967 (7th edition.) This continues to be
the favorite book of many beginners, and is currently available. The author, a
landscape architect, was long prominently active in the Colorado Forestry As¬
sociation and the Denver Botanic Gardens. He was a leader in planning and ex¬
ecuting the landscaping of Denver public school buildings. The Mt. Goliath al-
pine-subalpine trail of the U.S. Forest Service and Denver Botanic Gardens bears
his name.

Roberts, Harold D. and Roberts, Rhoda N., Some Common Colorado Wild
Flowers, 1953. Pictorial //8, Denver Museum of Natural History. The trans¬
mountain Harold D. Roberts Tunnel is named in honor of this Denver attorney
who was a specialist in the field of water rights and resources. The booklet has
photographs of 50 plant species reproduced in color, each with a half-page de¬
scription partly botanical and partly a record of personal experience and reac¬
tions. There are pictures illustrative of the plant zones of Colorado and also
diagrams of details of leaf and flower structure.

Roberts, Rhoda N. & Nelson, Ruth Ashton, Mountain Wild Flowers of Colo¬
rado, 1957. This Pictorial #13, Denver Museum of Natural History, is dedica¬
ted to the memory of Harold D. Roberts. There are reproductions of the
colored photographs of 50 species, each with a half-page of descriptive material,
botanical and delightfully personal. There is also a series of pictures of forest
types and zonal vegetations.

Weber, William A., Rocky Mountain Flora: A field guide for the identification
of the Ferns, Conifers and Flowering Plants of the Southern Rocky Mountains
from Pikes Peak to Rocky Mountain National Park and from the plains to the
Continental Divide, 1967. This is a revised and illustrated version of the
author’s Handbook of Plants of the Colorado Front Range, published by the
University of Colorado Press in 1953 and revised in 1961. The illustrations are
by Dr. Charles F. Yocum of Humboldt State College, California. We are in¬
formed that about 1,400 species of plants, or almost one-half of the total num¬
ber found in Colorado, occur in the Front Range. The area of the Rocky
Mountains, says Dr. Weber, “is an intricate mosaic of altitudes, slopes, expo¬
sures, microclimates and ecological gradients of all sorts and the distribution of
plants mirror this complexity.” The book is generously illustrated with black-
and-white drawings of species which are often more helpful for identification
purposes than photographs. The glossary has many diagrams and sketches. Keys
plus the illustrations make the manual the best we have for the portion of Colo¬
rado which it covers. Dr. Weber is professor of Natural History and curator of
the Herbarium, University of Colorado.

12. Willard, Bettie and Harris, Chester O. Alpine Wildflowers of Rocky Mountain
National Park, 1969. This, now in a 5th printing, is another publication of
the Rocky Mountain Nature Association in cooperation with the U.S. National
Park Service. Fifty species are shown in full color in their natural settings.
The pamphlet is the first of its kind on alpine plants of the United States. It is
an adventure in high altitude ecology and is to a large degree the product of Dr.
Willard’s personal research and appreciation.

TRUSTEES FOR
DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

1971

Mrs. Alexander L. Barbour
Mr. Clinton Bowman
Mr. Alfred J. Bromfield
Mrs. Brown W. Cannon
Mr. George M. Canon
Mr. Edward P. Conners
Mr. Raymond B. Crowley
Dr. John R. Durrance
Mrs. George H. Garrey
Mrs. Jess Gibson
Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr.
Mrs. Edward H. Honnen
Mr. William H. Hornby
Mr. Richard A. Kirk
Mrs. Robert M. Kosanke

Mr. Lawrence A. Long
Mrs. Frank McLister
Mr. John C. Mitchell
Mr. Hudson Moore, Jr.
Mrs. Graham B. Morrison
Mr. Charles C. Nicola
Mr. James C. Owen, Jr.
Dr. Robert B. Perry
Mr. W. B. Ross
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Dr. Robert Stearns
Mrs. James J. Waring
Mr. Kenneth G. Wilmore
Mrs. Erving Wolf

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Dr. Kenneth Brink, Colorado State University

Mr. Joe Ciancio, Jr., Manager, Denver Department Parks and Recreation
Mrs. Walter Freudenberg, President, Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs, l
Mr. Willard N. Greim, President, Denver Zoological Foundation
Dr. A. C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus

Dr. John C. Johnson, President, Plains Conservation Center, Inc.

The Hon. W. H. McNichols, Jr., Mayor, City and County of Denver
Mr. Allan R. Phipps, President, Museum of Natural History

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.

A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr., Director

Andrew R. Knauer, Assistant Director

Ernest A. Bibee, Conservatory Superintendent

David A. Blades, Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Beverly M. Pincoski, Botanist — Horticulturist

James M. Schell, Education Specialist

Solange Huggins, Librarian

Iris Rose O’Connor, Secretary

Betty Colmer, Secretary

Helen McCloskey, Secretary

Dr. A. C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover - Photo by Frank Barrett, Wright -McLaughlin Engineers

Pages 66, 67 - Photos by Frank Barrett, Wright -McLaughhn Engineers

Page 69 — Photos from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Page 70 - Photo courtesy of Edward Gottlieb & Associates

Pages 72, 73 - Drawings by Polly Steele

Pages 74, 75 — Drawings by Polly Steele

Pages 76, 77 - Photos by Bernice E. Petersen

Page 78 - Drawing by Phil Hayward

Pages 80, 81 - Chart by James R. Feucht

Pages 83, 84, 86 - Photos courtesy Nassos Daphnis-Gratwick

Page 87 - Photos from Pesman’s Meet the Natives

The GreeiiThumb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DO NOT FOLD

RETURN REQUESTED

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

AUTUMN 1971

THE COVER

Aechmea x Red Wing

Drawing by Sandra Blizard

THE GREEN THUMB

YOL. TWENTY-EIGHT, NUMBER FOUR

Editorial Committee
Miss Margaret Sikes, Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. Alexander L. Barbour
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Miss Lucy Crissey
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. Solan ge Huggins
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Mr. James M. Schell
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Copyriyh t 1971 by Denver Botanic Gardens, Inc.

ihe Green it limb

MARGARET SIKES, Editor
AUTUMN 1971

CONTENTS

Title Page

The Bromeliads — Sandra Blizard . 98

Exotics of Colorado — Ginnala Maple —

Acer ginnala - Helen Marsh Zeiner . 103

Award Winners of 1972 — All-American Rose

Selections — Beverly M. Pincoski . 104

Selection of a Home Site — John Dillavou . 106

Composting — James R. Feucht . 107

Focus on — Ravenala madagascariensis -

T ravelers T ree — Peg Hay ward . 110

From Our Files . Ill

Emma Armstrong Ervin — Katharine Bruderlin

Crisp . 112

Trees in the Desert — Lee Chambers . 114

International Rock Garden Plant Conference —

Marion I. Alexander . 117

Clay vs. Plastic Pots . 118

Shady Gardens — Evelyn F. Johnson . 119

Book Review, Natural Dyes and Dyeing, S.H. .... 123

Medium-Sized Shrubs for Dry Land

Gardens — A. C. Hildreth . 124

Subject Index, 1971 . 126

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

Billbergia x Catherine Wilson

THE

BROMELIADS

Sandra Blizard

The Bromeliacae form a large family of plants from the tropical and
sub-tropical Americas. Although they are cultivated all over the world,
bromeliads are originally from the gulf coast regions of North America
south through Mexico, Central and South America to half way down Ar¬
gentina. The Andean area is said to have mothered the family. The only
non-American species of brom is found on the west coast of Africa. It is
of the genus Pitcaimia.

Some, like the pineapple genus {Ananas), are terrestrial, and relatives
such as Spanish moss ( Tillandsia usneoides) are epiphytes that can live en¬
tirely without soil, deriving moisture from fog and rain and nourishment
from animals and blowing debris. Epiphytic bromeliads get nothing from
the trees, rocks, or cacti on which they sometimes live except a foot-hold
on which to grow. They are epiphytes not parasites.

The life cycle is also somewhat unique. Bromeliads reproduce from
seeds and by offsets, the babies that form at the base or in the leaf axils.
The time necessary to reach maturity, depending on the species, varies
from about one year to an estimated 1 50 years. Upon maturing the plant
blooms and eventually the mother plant will die. The individual brom
plants only bloom once. There are a very few exceptions to this rule. In
their favor is the fact that the blooming coloration of the plant may last
up to ten months, depending on the species. All bromeliad flowers have
three petals.

Different species have adapted to various types of climates. Some
adapt to the windy, cool mountains while others enjoy the humid rain
forest of the lower Amazon basin. Many species that grow in the more
moist areas have leaves forming rosettes with the central part making a
cup which holds water. Other things can be found in the cups such as in¬
sects, frogs, snakes and algae. Many of these tenants spend their whole
life cycles in the same clump of broms.

Broms that grow in less moist and shaded places have thicker and
tougher leaves. Many have scales on their leaves to retain moisture and
food and to insulate them from the sun and wind.

Bromeliads are sub-divided into three sub-families. The first is the
Pitcaimioideae which includes the genera Dyckia, Hechtia, Puya and
Pitcaimia. Of these Dyckia and the small types of Hechtia are most often
used in the home or home greenhouse.

Dyckias are rather small, spiny plants that grow well with cacti and
succulents in a bright window. Their natural home is the sunny areas of
Brazil, Argentina and the neighboring countries. They have frosty looking
scales on their rather tough daggerlike leaves. The orange or yellow flow¬
ers bloom on a tall spike a few at a time.

Hechtias enjoy growing among rocks in the sun. They also form a
spiny rosette and in good strong light the gray scaled leaves take on rosy-
bronze coloring. Their tall flower spikes produce small white flowers.

The Pitcaimia is generally a grassy-leaved plant with some species
having beautiful inflorescences.

Puya has a few species small enough to cultivate indoors. However,
the really remarkable Puyas are the large types (to 30'). They have
been called the “Dinosaurs of Plants”, as they live to an estimated 150
years, in which time they bloom, reproduce and die. They are becoming
extinct, as they are found only in a limited area in Peru and one place
in Bolivia.

Sub-family number two is the Tillandsioideae. Genera in this sub¬
family include Tillandsia, Vriesea, Guz mania, and Catopsis.

Tillandsia, the largest genus of all with over 400 species, has some of
the most unusual forms. Many do not look real, some weird, and some of
great beauty.

The smallest has leaves Va inch long (Tillandsia tricholepsis) and
others like T. grandis whose leaves are up to 6 feet in length, and whose
inflorescence is 10 to 12 feet tall. The T. tricolepsis and most other 777-
landsias, are epiphytic but the T. grandis and some others are saxicolous

Tillandsia juncea Tillandsia seleriana

All members of this group have spineless, smooth edges on the
leaves. The leaves may be smooth and flat or round and fuzzy. The laven¬
der-purple to blue flowers and pink to hot pink flower bracts form quite
a striking combination. One of the exceptions is T. xiphioides , a small
charmer with open, ruffled, white flowers that are fragrant.

Seeds of the Tillandsias have little silky feather-like parachutes which
are carried by the air.

Many of the dryer-growing Tillandsias have no basal leaf water reser¬
voirs so they are covered with gray peltate scales. This type is very good
for home growing as they adapt to home conditions well. They are best
mounted on tree fern (hapu) or tree limbs. Some Tillandsias that are in¬
teresting and easy to grow are T. ionantha, T. seleriana, T. juncea, with
T. streptophylla being an all time favorite of many people.

The leaves of most Vrieseas are thin, shiny and spineless. All have
leaf reservoirs for holding water. They prefer some shade and most are
epiphytic. The flowers are either white or yellow with a tubular shape.
Each individual flower lasts a day or two. Many times the colorful flower
bracts hold their color for several months. They will adapt to pot culture
if the potting medium is loose and drains well.

Guzmanias are similar to the soft-leaved Tillandsias and the Vrieseas.
They are mostly epiphytic and can be treated as the papery leaved Vriese¬
as. The flowers are yellow or white, borne in unusual red bracts held above
the foliage. Although Guzmanias are from high-altitude areas they re¬
quire more humidity than is normal in the Denver area. If this need can
be filled, the unusual flowerheads and shiny, colorful foliage of many
types would be of interest for the homegrower.

Sub-family three is the Bromelioideae which includes the greatest
number of genera and has more different forms represented than the other
two. In this group the Aechmea, Billbergia, and Portea are generally
epiphytic. Also in this sub-family are the terrestrial types: Ananas , Bro-
melia, Cryptanthus, Neoregelia, and Orthophytum. There is an interest¬
ing monotypic genus called A canthostachys in the group.

Billbergias and Aechmeas are probably the best known genera and
are usually the first to come to people’s attention.

The tubular shaped Billbergia plant can be grown easily in a well
drained mixture by almost anyone. The offsets are produced readily in
most species and mature and bloom in a year or so. Leaf color ranges
from plain green to bronze tones to rose-red with spots or bands of con¬
trasting color. Many have bands of silvery-white scales to beautify them.
The nodding scape bracts are usually hot-pink to red, framing blue tipped
green to yellow flowers. The influorescence lasts between one and two
weeks.

Aechmeas are the back-bone of any collection of broms. More di¬
versified in plant form and flowerhead types, they hold scape color for
months. After they bloom the berries set, if fertile, and go through
changes of color over a period of time. Aechmeas and Billbergias are good
subjects for people who grow plants under fluorescent lights.

100

Cryp tan thus, the small “earth stars” are available in many colors al¬
though the little white flowers are not spectacular. The form is different
from other types and the thick texture of crypts, like C. fosteriana, with
their burgundy-brown color and silvery scales making wavy bands across
the leaves will endear them to all those who see them. They are terres¬
trial and work well in terrariums and dish gardens. Light from the north
window will usually be enough to keep their color.

Ananas comosus is the name of the commercial pineapple. This
plant grows fairly large for the home, but one, Ananas ananasoides var.
nana, is small and would be suitable. It will take three to four years for
A. comosus to mature and it requires good light to bloom and set fruit.

For those who live in south Texas and southern California, Bromelia
is a genus to grow outside. The plant is large and the leaves look like
swords with huge curved spines that go in different directions. In its na¬
tive habitat it is sometimes planted in place of fences as nothing can go
through it. When Bromelia balansae blooms it is quite unforgettable. The
normally dark green leaves turn bright red in the center giving it its name
“Heart of Flame”. The compact, woolly, 2 foot flower head has rose
flowers margined in white. If you have enough room and bright sun it
might be worth the try in this area.

Acanthostachys strobilacea is an epiphyte with long, slender, whip¬
like leaves. The flower head looks like a tiny pinecone or pineapple. The
flowers are yellow and the bracts are orange in good light. The flower-
head shape lasts for a very long time after color fades. Again, this species
adapts well to pot culture as long as there is excellent drainage.

Considering the natural habitat helps one to understand the require¬
ments of certain bromeliads for use as houseplants. It has been said that
life forms grow in strata as uniform as those in rocks, and this is exempli¬
fied by the broms that grow in three or four stories in the jungle. In the
densely shaded areas on the ground floor are the Neoregelias, Nidulariums,
and Canistrums. They require moisture and shade and are less adapt¬
able to abrupt changes of temperature and light than the broms that grow

101

farther up. The lower types usually grow terrestrially.

It is noted that the lower the brom grows the less spectacular the
bloom is and they are often formed in the cup as opposed to having a
spike. The plant may color up or have pseudo leaves or bracts to attract
the insect pollinater. Using these types in the home one can usually de¬
pend on them to hold their color for a long while.

In the next strata of the jungle, small trees form the second story.
Many species of Billbergia, Aechmea, and Vriesea grow here. These types
need more light than the ground floor types do, and they do not depend
on the intense moisture either. This type can adapt itself to home or
greenhouse culture quite well.

Up in the third floor the tougher types of Aechmea dominate but
there will be found Tillandsias and Vrieseas also. This area, among the
great limbs of the towering forest trees is beautifully described by Mul-
ford and Racine Foster in Brazil , Orchid of the Tropics. The following
sentences are adapted from their writings: In southern Bahia in a pri¬
meval forest, we discovered giant plants completely at ease fastened se¬
curely in their high positions on limbs almost as large as ordinary trees, 80
feet up from the ground. The trees in which they live are often 8 to 10
feet in diameter. It took from one to two hours to reach those plants and
loosen them from their secure quarters. Lowering them with ropes, it was
discovered the plants with several offshoots would weigh from 100 to
125 pounds. In this mass plenty of other life forms could be found, in¬
cluding frogs, snakes, and beetles, aquatic mosses and algae, as well as
1 or 2 gallons of water.

The fourth story is open and exposed to drying by sun and wind.
The few broms that live here are stiff-leaved and resemble plants grow¬
ing in arid regions. Although the annual rainfall is large, the time be¬
tween rains is sometimes long, and moisture from the soil is not avail¬
able to the epiphytic broms as it is to the terrestrial plants.

In the last several years Bromeliads have been grown by the com¬
mercial growers more and more. Types that used to be very difficult to
acquire are found in the catalogues more often.

Twenty-one years ago the Bromeliad Society, Inc. was formed. Since
then people all over the world have become interested in the family, and
affiliated societies have been busily forming. Since February, 1971, when
the organizational meeting was held, there has been a new and growing
Rocky Mountain Bromeliad Society. The R.M.B.S. was started to pro¬
vide a forum to encourage interest in bromeliads. Programs and activities
include presentations of cultural information helpful to the first-timer or
advanced grower, acquisition of plants for members, shows and exhibits,
and a discussion of mutual problems. The R.M.B.S. publishes a monthly
bulletin and regularly scheduled jnonthly meetings are held at the Den¬
ver Botanic Garden on the first Sunday of the month at 2:00 PM-. For
further information contact Sandra Blizard, 364 West Fremont Ave.,
Littleton, Colorado, 80120.

102

Amur or ginnala maple, Acer ginnala Maxim., is a shrubby maple
grown primarily for its beautiful fall color. Its bright red leaves can be
seen in many places in Denver in the autumn.

Ginnala maple is classed as a large shrub (over 6 feet tall) or a small
tree growing to 20 feet in height. Graceful when young, this slow-growing
maple may become open and somewhat scraggly with age. It is frequent¬
ly suggested for tall, informal hedges. It is also used as a specimen plant
or it can be planted in clumps for screening purposes and for display of
fall color.

Ginnala maple is a native of Manchuria, northern China, and Japan.
It was introduced into the horticultural world about 1860 and has become
a well-known and popular cultivated maple because of its size and its at¬
tractive leaves.

It clearly shows its relationship to our North American maples and
to other familiar cultivated maples not native to this country. All maples
are members of the genus Acer, the largest and most important genus in
the maple family, Aceraceae. Aceraceae is a comparatively small family
consisting of only two genera and about 120 species, mostly trees but
with a few shrubby representatives. Acer is the classical Latin name for
maples; ginnala is the common name given to this particular maple in its
native habitat.

Maples are characterized by long-petioled opposite leaves, usually
simple and palmately lobed with three to seven lobes. An exception to
the simple leaf is the box elder, Acer negundo L., which has opposite pin-
nately compound leaves.

103

' The leaves of ginnala maple vary from 1 to 4 inches long, and are
three-lobed with the central lobe much longer than the lateral lobes. This
elongated terminal lobe is a good identifying characteristic for ginnala
maple, and will always distinguish it from our native Rocky Mountain or
dwarf maple, Acer glabrum Torr., another small maple sometimes planted
as an ornamental.

Leaves of ginnala maple are doubly serrate, glabrous, dark green
above and a lighter green on the under surface. Attractive during the sum¬
mer when green, the leaves are outstanding in their autumn scarlet.

Maple fruits are very characteristic and are commonly known as
“keys”. Each “key” is a pair of one-winged samaras loosely joined at the
base. The degree of divergence of the elongated, one-sided wings is a
species characteristic. In ginnala maple the wings are nearly parallel. As
they mature, the fruits of ginnala maple may (but do not always) take on
a red or yellow color.

The flowers of ginnala maple are small, yellowish, fragrant, and
borne in long-stalked panicles. Each flower produces one “key”.

Ginnala maple’s value is as an ornamental. Other maples are also
planted as ornamentals and are desirable large shade or street trees. In
addition to their use as ornamentals, the large maples are also valuable in
other ways. One example is the sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marsh.,
which is an important source of high-grade lumber for building, for fur¬
niture, and for miscellaneous uses. The sap of sugar maple is the source of
maple syrup and maple sugar, an important contribution to the economy
of some of our northeastern states. Sugar maple is also interesting eco¬
logically for its role in the beech-maple forests of the northeastern
United States.

✓

AWARD WINNERS OF 1971

/Hi- /4me%cc<ut 1R<Me SeiectouU

Beverly M. Pincoski

All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is a non-profit organization
whose sole function is to test new rose originations and to give recogni¬
tion in the form of an All-America award to the roses which have proved
outstanding in the trials. There are 24 official test gardens in the United
States, one of which is located at Denver Botanic Gardens. Roses, en¬
tered by number only, are trial grown under actual garden conditions for
two years. During this period they are judged on foliage, bud and flower
form, opening bloom color, finishing bloom color, floriferousness, sub¬
stance, fragrance, stem, growth habit, vigor, hardiness and disease resis¬
tance. Only a very few roses pass this rigorous test and are named All-
America Rose Selections.

Of all the fine new rose hybrids entered into the stringent two-year
trials, only two emerged as 1972 winners of the coveted awards. Plants
will be offered for sale next spring.

104

Apollo Portrait

APOLLO is a hybrid tea rose of soft sunrise yellow gradually deep¬
ening to a canary yellow. The flowers are usually borne individually on
long stems quite free of thorns. The fragrant blooms, usually of 30-35
petals, are large, often attaining a diameter of 5 inches. Apollo will pro¬
duce superb buds and blooms for exhibition purposes.

The foliage of this rose is a dark rich green, disease resistant, and
covers the plant well thus producing a fine background to set off the
gorgeous blooms.

This award winner is the result of a cross between High Time and
Imperial Gold by David Armstrong.

For the first time in the 32 years that the AARS has been making
awards, an amateur has invaded the sacred precinct of the professionals
and won an honor that has hitherto been' exclusively theirs. Carl Meyer,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, a pipe-fitter by trade, hybridized PORTRAIT. His
success should encourage every amateur rose hybridizer in the country.

Portrait is a distinctive, colorful, warm, radiant pink hybrid tea rose.
The urn shaped, deep pink buds open to a soft almost creamy white
bloom, edged with a deep satiny blush pink.

The fragrant flowers are borne on sturdy stems of medium length
and last for long periods when cut or on the bush.

The plants grow tall and strong with vigorous upright canes, branch¬
ing freely and loaded with pink blooms. The more-than-usual vigor of the
plant produces continuous quantities of roses all season.

To produce Portrait, Carl Meyer used Pink Parfait and Pink Peace
and considers his hybrid superior to both. In Pink Parfait he had a “moth¬
er” with unusual bud form, a range of pink shadings and a floriferous
handsome bush. Pink Peace was a vigorous “father” with outstanding
fragrance, deep even color and abundant resistant and hardy foliage.
Other ancestors of this rose are Charlotte Armstrong, Peace and Crimson
Glory.

105

John Dillavou

In choosing a home site, look for a locality close to the places
you commonly go, such as work, shopping, parks, schools and churches.
Travel to and from these locations should use as little time as possible. Use
a freeway, major or collector street and if possible, public transportation.

Choose an attractive neighborhood, where there are newer or older
well kept homes. Manicured lawns are a good sign of community pride.
Trees are a definite asset and if you are building or buying an older home
it may be worth $1 ,000— $2,000 extra for a lot with good shade trees.
Watch for smoke, soot, dust, business areas, and other possible annoyances.
Proper zoning should prevent these intrusions.

You will want the services of electricity, telephone, mail delivery,
fire and police protection, street lights, garbage and trash pickup, water
and sewer services, and gas. In many areas, especially suburban, not all
of these services are available. Obtaining them will mean higher taxes
until the area has grown to where many people will be sharing this tax
load. Check on streets and sidewalks to see if they are in good repair
or need improvement.

Before you invest, check with various lending organizations to see
if they will make loans in the area in which you are interested. Be sure to
check for any outstanding taxes or special assessments levied against the
property. With these factors weighed, you can more easily choose. a lot
in that neighborhood.

If you are building, or planning the purchase of an older home, the
selection of the lot is important. It must be big enough to accommodate
your family’s needs. Will it accommodate a two car garage, driveway,
lawn area and room for outdoor living with its existing style and shape?

A huge lot is not necessary. It can be expensive to buy and costly
to maintain if internal arrangement is not properly planned. A 60'
frontage is minimum while 75-90' would be better. The depth should be
a minimum of 100' deep, 125-135' of depth is good. An average lot
today in a newer Denver subdivision is 80' by 125'. Lots in southeast
Denver presently sell for $8,500. With underground utilities, services to
the lot and street improvements, one can cost up to $15,000.

Curving street patterns create attractive lots but rectangular ones
may be easier to work with. On long narrow lots it may be best to find
a house that is situated the long way on the lot with the end toward the
street. Corner lots may be difficult, creating big front yards but leaving
little room for play and outdoor living areas. Assessments are usually

higher since you have to pay for two streets and additional sidewalks.

The house should sit at least 12" higher than the elevation at the
corner of the lot to provide good drainage away from the house. When
water can flow away, the need for drain tile is eliminated and sewage
disposal is easier. You can be held responsible for run off onto other
property.

Such features as wooded areas, large trees, water, and rock out¬
croppings, will add interest to your lot. Always have soil tests made
before and after construction. This will determine the amount of fertilizer
needed for starting lawns and installing plant materials. Good vistas are
an asset. Your outdoor living areas, as well as those in your home, should
face the south or east since you can obtain more year-round use from
them in this way. Northern and western exposures are cooler, and the
late afternoon sun a nuisance in summer.

Check into zoning regulations, deed restrictions, marketable title,
taxes, and get legal advice. Cost is most important. The cheap lot is not
necessarily a good lot — -more is required of a home site than a place just
to build or buy a house. Every lot will have some disadvantages, but
careful planning can overcome undesirable problems that might arise.

COMPOSTING

James R, Feucht

Soil condition is the key to success in every home garden, regardless
of whether the garden is used to grow bedding plants, perennial flowers,
vegetables, turfgrass or trees and shrubs.

Most soils in Colorado are low in organic matter and many may be
too heavy (clayey) or too light (sandy).

Organic matter, such as compost, improves soil tilth by improving
aeration and drainage. It also increases the water holding capacity of
lighter soils and helps solve the physical and structural problems of both
heavy and light soils.

Organic matter helps to improve the availability of mineral nutri¬
ents; however, it should be considered more as a soil amendment than as
a fertilizer. Most organic materials, such as leaf mold, peat and barnyard
manure, are relatively low in actual plant nutrients.

Commercial sources of barnyard manure, peat moss and other or¬
ganic by-products often are either not readily available or too expensive
for the home gardener. Consequently, composting to produce organic
matter is a question of economics and convenience.

Composting also is a way to utilize and recycle waste material which
often is otherwise hauled to the dump.

107

Building A Compost Pile

There are many ways to build a compost pile. The method selected
should depend on the equipment available and the experience of the
gardener.

Usually, plant refuse is accumulated in a bin or fenced-off area. One
of the most convenient composting structures is a bin made of loosely
fitted boards and designed so that one side can be removed.

Another composting structure can be built of chicken wire with a

Two types of compost bins: left, a wooden bin with a removable end; right, a simple enclosure
using chicken wire and a gate opening at one end. The height need be only 3 feet, and the
length and width are variable, depending on space available.

A compost pile can be started at any time of the year. The best
time, however, is in the fall when flower beds are being cleaned and the
yard raked. If properly done, the compost will be ready for use by the
following fall.

Layer Method

The most common method of constructing a compost pile is by
alternating layers of plant refuse and garden soil. The soil provides
the micro organisms needed for the decay process.

A small amount of commercially available nitrogen should be added
to the soil. Add about a half cup of ammonium nitrate to each 10 square
feet of surface per soil layer.

Layers of plant refuse should be about 6 inches deep. The soil
layers only need to be about 1 inch deep. If the plant refuse is dry,
add water to each layer. The last layer (top) should be garden soil and
should be slightly lower in the center than on the side to help hold rain
water.

Concave top

Construction of a compost pile by layering. Layers of plant are about 6 inches in depth;
soil layer from 1 to 2 inches. Note concave top to trap rain water.

108

Shredding

To speed up decomposition, leaves, plant stems and other debris
should be shredded. This can be done with either a home-type shredding
machine or with a rotary mower.

If a rotary mower is used, the shredding should be done on a level
spot that is free of sticks, rocks and other foreign material. Shredding
with a rotary mower can best be done by two people. One person spreads
a thin layer of plant refuse on a level site while the other moves the mower
back and forth over the material.

Never put hands near the mower housing. Stay on the opposite side
of the mower housing from the side where the grass chute is located.

Turning Compost

A more rapid decomposition and uniform compost mixture will
result if the pile is turned every four to six weeks. This is more easily
done with a spading fork than with a shovel. Add water if dry spots are
noted when the pile is turned.

Types of Refuse

Most vegetative matter — such as tree leaves, green stems of plants,
grass clippings and small twigs — makes good compost. Certain types of
household garbage also can be put into the pile. Such animal by-products
as meat scraps and fat should not be used. These items are a food source
and a breeding site for flies. They also will cause the compost pile to
have a bad odor.

Weeds of all types can be used in composting. However, since some
weed seeds will survive for several years in a compost pile, it is best to
include weeds before they have gone to seed or else to cut off seed heads.

Woody twigs more than 1/4 inch in diameter will not readily
break down in a compost pile. They also make it difficult to turn the pile
and spread the compost. Com stalks will cause the same problems unless
they are broken into small sections.

Grass clippings are excellent refuse for composting. They should not
be put in the pile in layers of more than 1 inch thick. Thicker layers
of clippings mat and form a barrier to the movement of air and moisture.

Leaves of cottonwood trees tend to mat and turn rubbery if put into
the compost pile in thick layers. Shredding of semidry leaves eliminates
this problem.

Use

When the compost is ready to use, it is usually a dark brown color.
When removed from the pile, it should be lightly sifted with either a
spading fork or through a galvanized wire screen of 3/4 inch mesh
mounted on a sloping frame. Material that is not well decomposed
should be returned to the compost pile.

Compost should be spread about 2 inches deep on the garden
and spaded into the soil each fall.

Reprint from Service in Action leaflet, Colorado State University.

109

FOCUS

TRAVELERS

TREE

in the

Boettcher Memorial Conservatory
Peg Hayward

Raven a la
madagascariensis

Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn., travelers tree, frequently called
travelers palm, is not a palm but belongs to the banana family, Musaceae.
The genus Ravenala has only two species with an unusual natural distri¬
bution, one species native to Madagascar and the other to the Guianas and
Brazil. R. madagascariensis is the better known.

Ravenala , a Latinized version of the native Madagascan name for the
tree, which means “leaf of the forest”, may infer the large number of this
tree on its native island. The common name of this unique plant is de¬
rived from the fact that it is a welcome sight in its native habitat, where
water is often very scarce, because the sheaths of the leafstalks store a pal¬
atable watery fluid often used to refresh the thirsty traveler. A natural
cavity, or cistern, is found at the base of each leafstalk above its union
with the stem. Water collected on the broad surface of the leaf flows
down a groove on the stalk into this reservoir. At least a quart of water
may be stored in each petiole. This great amount of liquid is also impor¬
tant for the plant. The rather shallow root system and the enormous sur¬
face of the leaves would otherwise not give enough balance in heavy
storms. The leafstalks filled with water make the plant more steadfast.

The stout, palm-like trunk may rise 20 to 30 feet above the ground.
At the top of the trunk immense, paddle-shaped leaves grow out in two
rows, distichus, on long stalks arranged in one plane like an enormous
fan. The concave bases of the over-lapping leaf stems form a basket-like
pattern. There may be 20 or more leaves on a single tree, the stalk of
each leaf being 6 to 8 feet long and the leaf itself 4 to 6 feet more. Al¬
though the leaves do not naturally divide, they are usually more or less
shredded by wind action.

110

White flowers similar to those of its cousin, Strelitzia nicolai Regel.,
white bird of paradise, arise from the leaf axils. They are supported by
large boat-shaped bracts about 7 inches long. Seeds borne in hard, wood¬
en pods are covered with a feathery, bright blue substance. The seeds are
edible and yield an essential oil.

In Madagascar the Ravenala is used in building. Its leaves form the
thatch of the houses; the leaf-stems form the partitions and sometimes
the sides of the houses; and the hard outside bark, after being flattened,
is laid for flooring.

The travelers tree is cultivated for ornamental use because of its
picturesque habit of growth. It usually suckers profusely and the suckers
may be used for propagation.

Hobart, Tasmania is a long way from Denver Botanic Gardens. Yet
we are officially represented in Hobart. Our “man” is a lady. In addition,
she claims only amateur standing for her interest in botany. It is just
a hobby. However, reviewing her letters since February 1967, the date
our representative moved from Denver to Tasmania, reveals otherwise.
We’ll let you be the judge after you share in some of her accomplishments.

The following books have been added to the Helen Fowler Library
from Hobart: New Zealand Flowers and Plants in Colour by J. T.
Salmon; Queensland Flowering Plants, Student Flora of Tasmania in
three volumes by Dr. Winifred Curtis; Native Orchids of Tasmania
by Firth. Numerous pamphlets and maps which further increase our
knowledge of the flora and ecology of ‘down-under,’ have also been
sent along.

Contributions to our plant accessions have not been ignored. The
first shipment in 1967 contained the following seed: Callistemon
lanceolatus, Gian thus puniceus albus, Leucospermum bolusii, Arthro-
podium candidum, Xeronema spp., Sophora tetraptera and bulbs of
Lachenalia pearsoni.

Subsequent shipments have brought many interesting new seeds for
us to try. Currently, our lady is trying to determine how to obtain and
ship some native Tasmanian orchids.

As a member of the Hobart Walking Club, she goes on field trips
with the Tasmanian Field Naturalists and visits the Winter Gardens in
Auckland, the Otari Native Plant Museum at Wellington and the new
National Park at Rocky Cape, Tasmania. Each time she encounters new
plant challenges to test on port-of-entry officials. Her travels have made
new friends for her and for us among nursery companies and botanic
gardens.

Do these briefs from her correspondence identify an amateur?

And speaking of identity, our representative may be known by close
friends here as the Medical Librarian in the Charles Denison M.D. Memorial
Library at the University of Colorado Medical Center. After retirement
from the Medical Center, she decided to make a new life for herself. She
chose Tasmania. She now is on the staff of the Faculty of Medicine,
University of Tasmania. Her next vacation to the United States and
Denver is scheduled for 1973.

We know she would enjoy hearing from her friends and members of
the Denver Botanic Gardens. Her address is: P.O. Box 497 E, G.P.O.,
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001.

Her name? Miss Esther Holt.

Ill

emma

anmstnonq

GITVin

Katharine Bruderlin Crisp

Many of The Green Thumb readers have inquired about Emma
Ervin, the artist whose sketches of Colorado wild flowers have often ap¬
peared on the cover or as illustrations in the magazine.

Emma Armstrong Ervin (1874-1957) was born in Georgetown, Ohio
and educated in the schools there and later in Cincinnati Art Academy.
She came to Colorado in 1895 and was married to Frank Ervin in 1896.
Later they became interested in a cabin site in Estes Park on land owned
by Enos Mills. Mr. Mills deeded land south of Longs Peak to them. A
staunch friendship developed between the Mills and the Ervins. Enos
Mills, a well known naturalist, would bring specimens for Emma to paint.
She, herself, was unable to do the strenuous climbing required to collect
the plants.

The Ervins spent many weeks during each summer at their cabin and
never failed to take a friend or two along to enjoy the beauty of the re¬
gion.

Mrs. Ervin and her husband were for several years active members of
the Colorado Mountain Club and were interested in the preservation of
wild flowers. Emma was chairman of the Nature Protection Committee
in 1917. She illustrated various articles for the magazine Trail and Tim¬
berline. The themes expressed in these drawings are evidence of her
interest in wild flowers and animal life.

About 1914, Mrs. Ervin began her water colors of Colorado wild
flowers. During the next 20 years, the collection grew to more than 175
paintings. The drawings of flowers fresh from the field, are life size and
accurately drawn and colored. The painstaking detail is most impressive.
It was her ambition to prepare an illustrated flora of the wild flowers of
Colorado; however, the printing of colored illustrations was an expensive
process and a publisher could not be found at that time.

112

In 1935, Mr. Ervin died and her failing health forced her to give up
her beloved cabin in Estes Park. She settled in Denver and continued her
artistic efforts until her death in 1 957.

A few years before her death, the collection of water colors was
brought to the attention of the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture As¬
sociation by Mrs. Henry F. Brooks. Through the generosity of Mrs. John
Evans, it was purchased for the Association. The five volumes entitled
Colorado Wild Flowers were prepared by several persons who devoted
much time, money and energy to the project. Mrs. Alexander L. Bar¬
bour donated the album covers and the plastic sleeves; Mrs. Marjorie
Shepherd acted as general supervisor. The work was done by Mrs. Jackson
C. Thode, ably assisted by Mrs. Russell Cookson and all the members of
the Morning Belles Garden Club. Dr. William A. Weber, Professor of
Natural History, Curator of the Herbarium, University of Colorado,
helped in completing the names on the specimens.

More information on the life of Emma Ervin is available in the
Helen Fowler Library as are the water colors themselves. Certainly, the
readers who have not had the opportunity to study and examine the
originals will find a visit well worth their time.

113

What’s all this fuss about caring for your trees in winter? “Every¬
one” knows that all trees are dead in the winter. “Everyone” knows that
the sap comes up in the spring and brings them to life again. Well . . .
maybe not “everyone.” I don’t know it. In fact, trees are very much
alive in the winter and very beautiful too if properly cared for.

Okay, so trees don’t die in the winter. So what? So their first need
is water throughout the winter season. The sap doesn’t “rise” in the
spring. It’s there all of the time, or that part of the tree where there is no
sap dries out and dies. The result is called “die-back” or “winter-kill.”
Often the upper parts of a tree will not leaf out in spring because of a
warm, dry winter. Think back! How often in December, January, or Feb¬
ruary have you been able to play golf, dig in the garden, or take part in
some other outdoor activity in your shirt sleeves?

So the answer to winter-kill or die-back is simply to provide water.
How? I recommend a general soaking of the root area around the tree —
not just around the trunk, but all the way out past the drip line. If one
has the usual trees and shrubbery, the best thing is to “water” the whole
yard and garden. It surely won’t hurt the lawn, and it will help the woody
plants to stay healthy. How often? Well, the best answer is, “whenever
it needs it.” Hmmm, not much help, is it? Okay, about once a month
would be a good rule of thumb. Like most rules of thumb, this one needs
to be tempered with reason. Of course, if it rains or snows a lot, you
don’t need to add water. But! Watch those Chinook winds! These are
the winds that come down off the mountains. Dry from losing their mois¬
ture on the upwind side of the hills, and warmed by compression coming
down this side, they can evaporate several inches of snow and leave the
ground as dry and dusty as it was just before it snowed. And, what is
worse, they also suck the moisture from trees and shrubs, especially the
evergreens. So, if the winds are westerly, you will need to water more
often than if they are easterly. One needs only to look at or to feel the
ground to determine if it is dry or not.

Let’s face facts. We live in a desert — less than 14 inches of annual

114

rainfall! Most of it falls from March through July. In order to see what
our area would look like if left to Mother Nature, one needs only to take
a drive a few miles in any direction to find an unfarmed area — short
grasses, yucca and cacti, no trees except a few cottonwoods and box
elders along usually dry stream beds. All of our trees, shrubs, and ever¬
greens are “exotic plants” unable to survive naturally in Denver. Ever¬
greens — including the beautiful blue spruce, concolor fir, Douglas fir,
junipers from large upright scopulorums through pfitzers, tammys, and
down to low-creeping andoras — all are more or less active during the
warmer, winter days, so they are extremely sensitive to winter dryness.

Winter is also the best time to inspect one’s trees and shrubs. At this
time the absence of foliage enables one to spot troubles of many kinds —
overly long branches that will bend or break from their own weight, snow,
or wind; diseased areas that need to be removed; dead branches; and,
perhaps the most insidious of all problems, anything (string, wire, rope)
that is tight around a branch or trunk. (Many times I have had to explain
that the reason the whole top of a tree, planted only a few years ago,
broke off was because the soft, copper wire that held on the name tag had
not been removed.)

Also some insect problems are more easily seen when the leaves are
absent. Scale is one of these — oystershell scale, elm scale, cottony-maple
scale are just a few of them. Boring insects can be noticed by the “saw
dust” they produce, or by irregularities in the surface of the bark.

One of the best measures to control scale is the application of a dor¬
mant-oil spray. Since this is applied during the dormant or leafless
period, and since it must be applied at temperatures above 40°F., it is im¬
portant that your order be placed early in the fall to give the commercial
sprayer ample leeway in scheduling the work. We usually have plenty of
days that are suitable for dormant spraying, but their occurrence is a bit
unpredictable. As for the control of borers, there are several methods to
use, but most are summertime treatments.

Wintertime is the best time for most pruning. An experienced oper¬
ator has no trouble distinguishing dead and live wood. Even you can do
it with your eyes closed. Take a twig or small branch that you know is
dead and a similar one that you know is alive, and feel the difference.
It’s obvious which is which even by touch alone. Also with the leaves gone
one can study the structural components of a tree and pick and choose
those branches to remove that will result in a well-shaped and structurally
sound tree.

A tree is a thing of beauty, or it should be. A tree should not be
pruned in such a way that it is obvious it has been pruned. It should look
as though it had just grown that way. The stubbed-off branches and
dense, compact, even outline usually denote a job done by a “handy¬
man”, not a tree surgeon. Take a good look at some trees in the winter.
It’s not hard to find a graceful, well-shaped tree, nor is it difficult to spot
trees with all of the grace and beauty of a worn-out whisk broom. Which
would you rather have in your yard?

115

There are few, if any, hard and fast rules when one deals with living
things. What may be the accepted practice in New England may not work
in Denver at all. To grow fruit in an orchard is one thing, but quite some¬
thing else in one’s back yard. What’s right when pruning a tree on a city
boulevard may not be too good for the specimen tree in front of your
home.

Some of the most frequent questions and my answers are: When is
the best time to plant, and why? — Probably the best time to install
woody plants is in the middle of spring, because the plant will suffer less
transplanting shock at this time. I do not recommend fall planting for
the same reasons mentioned above about watering. A tree or shrub that
has had most of its root structure removed, as in transplanting, obviously
has lessened ability to replace water lost through normal respiration. It,
therefore, is more apt to dry out and die through several months of win¬
ter than it would during the spring and summer when more water is
available to it.

What about wrapping tree trunks? — Most young, transplantable
trees would benefit by having their trunks (and maybe even the main
branches) wrapped during the dormant season. The purpose of wrapping
is twofold: It cuts down on moisture loss by creating a microclimate
near the trunk by cutting down on the flow of air around the tree’s sur¬
face. Secondly, it also provides protection from the low winter sun and,
therefore, ameliorates the up and down temperature of the bark. This
helps to lessen the dying of the cambium under the overheated bark —
often referred to as sunscald. Yet another possible benefit is a deter¬
rent to many insects that attack the lower parts of woody plants.

When should you prune flowering shrubs? — If the flower buds are
cut off, of course they can’t bloom, so the time to prune is before those
desirable buds form. They form during the growing season after the plant
has blossomed. Therefore, the time to prune flowering shrubs is just after
they have flowered. The plant proper will not be harmed by pruning at
any time, but the flowers for the next blooming may suffer.

How much should one prune? — That’s a hard one. I’ll fall back on a
rule of thumb — about 1/3 of the leaf-bearing surface. Some trees
thrive even when pollarded, but I think they are hideous. By taking only
a third, one can control the size and still maintain a natural appearance.

So, winter IS the time to care for your trees. Water thoroughly when
they need it. Look them over for any problems that have developed. And
prune them to enhance their appearance and health.

For Your Information ....

Some of our readers might be interested in the Arizona Highways
issue of August 1971. The whole magazine is devoted to wild flowers,
many of which are also common to Colorado. The photography, as
always, is excellent and the plants are described in a most interesting manner.

116

—

INTERNATIONAL ROCK PARPEN

PLANT CONFERENCE

Marion I. Alexander

The Fourth International Rock Garden Plant Conference was held
at Harrogate, in Yorkshire, England, this past April. Some Coloradoans
may be interested in a brief account of the meetings as rock gardening is
a ‘"natural” for this state — though there are only some half dozen mem¬
bers of the American Rock Garden Society in Colorado.

Garden tours for five days before and three days after the Harrogate
meetings were arranged primarily for overseas visitors. There were so
many registrations for these that two buses, with thirty in each, were nec¬
essary. More than a half dozen countries were represented on our bus,
with some visitors from as far away as New Zealand and Australia.
Among those on our bus were Albert Sutton, editor of the American
Rock Garden Society Bulletin, and his wife.

Our guides for these tours were distinguished British rock gardeners
— J. K. Hulme, Director of the Ness Gardens of the University of Liver¬
pool for the first five days, and for the last three days, Mrs. L. C. Boyd-
Harvey, Secretary of the Scottish Rock Garden Club.

We visited many large public and estate gardens in England and Scot¬
land, as well as several smaller private gardens. Outstanding were the
Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park, with its fields of small, hoop petti¬
coat narcissi, and the Ness Gardens, with its great expanses of heather
beds and rhododendrons. The great rock gardens at Wisley, of the Royal
Horticultural Society, and at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, were
overwhelming. Each garden, private or. public, had much to offer. The
English and Scottish are great gardeners, though they must admit that
they do have a very favorable climate for gardening.

About four hundred people were at Harrogate for the Conference
meetings from April 21 through April 25. Enthusiastic gardeners with

117

first-hand experience in the field discussed and showed pictures of their
favorite rock garden plants, often alpines, from Switzerland, Spain, the
Himalayas, New Zealand, America, and elsewhere. Specialists presented
techniques of rock garden construction, information about new plants
(both new introductions and new horticultural varieties), and special in¬
structions for handling different groups.

For me it was exciting to see and hear persons whose names had pre¬
viously meant to me only authors of books or articles on rock gardening.
Such persons were A. Correvon, grandson of the author of my oldest
book on rock garden plants; E. B. Anderson, whose Penguin Handbook
Rock Gardens in my library is now well worn; Will Ingwersen; R. C. El¬
liott, editor of the Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society; Anna Griffiths;
Lincoln Foster; and many others.

The meetings coincided with the Harrogate Great Spring Flower
Show, and there we saw what the British mean about growing rock gar¬
den plants in pots. This show was a real treat for a gardener dealing with
many unknowns.

At the meetings we gathered many new ideas, met many friendly
people with common interests, and came home determined to do a better
job in our rock garden and learn more about Rocky Mountain alpines
and how they may be introduced into cultivation.

CLAY VS. PLASTIC POTS

Many readers have asked which are better: clay or plastic pots?
Both are used by amateurs and professional growers alike but generally
clay is prefered. Some of the advantages of both are as follows: Clay
pots are heavier, thus are less inclined to tip over. Less chance for over¬
watering (root suffocation) with clay pots because of water absorption
through the sides. Clay also keeps roots cooler than plastic since the walls
are porous.

Plastic pots require less frequent watering since soil does not dry out
as quickly as in clay pots. However, home gardeners and amateur green¬
house owners must learn to water plastic pots carefully since roots may
suffocate from over- watering. This happens often not only with plastic
but also with glazed or metal containers. Plastic is lighter and cheaper and
seldom breaks, although it will crack.

Tests show that soil temperature in a plastic pot is higher than in a
clay pot. A thermometer inserted into the soil ball (halfway) in a plastic
pot showed a reading of 101°F., whereas the soil temperature in a
clay pot was only 90°F. Just what effect this higher temperature
has is not understood but work with some ornamentals has indicated that
soil temperatures above 90° F, might adversely affect plant growth.

Reprinted courtesy of Lord & Burnham.

118

#SHADY#

GARDENS

Evelyn F. Johnson

People who have large trees and shrubs often think that they cannot
have a pleasing flower garden. It is true that many of the brightest, most
colorful flowers such as roses, poppies and many other perennials require
sunlight most of the day. Too, most, if not all of the annuals, such as
marigolds and petunias do best in sunny areas.

But you may be surprised to find that you are able to grow a lovely
and satisfying garden in considerable shade and that it can have plants
blooming from earliest spring until autumn.

The shady garden has its advantages. Such a garden presents many
varying pictures of light and color all day long because of the constantly
changing patches of sunlight and shadow cast by the trees. This may be
more interesting and restful than the more spectacular display of sun-lov¬
ing flowers that require incessant light much of the day.

There is a surprising number of plants that do well in more or less
shade. No plants will do well in densely shaded areas never reached by the
sun; but there are few such places, even under big trees.

The soil of the shady bed requires extra attention and should have
compost or peat moss and if possible, well rotted manure added to it.
Clay soils should be lightened with sand as the soil should be loose.

Roots of small trees can be restrained by the use of metal strips sunk
into the ground and the bed can be built up with an extra amount of hu¬
mus. Lower branches of big trees can sometimes be trimmed to let in
more sun and air. Big roots that push up to the surface can often be safe¬
ly covered over with even as much as a foot of soil.

Some shade-loving plants require more acidity — often difficult to
provide and maintain in our alkaline soils. In addition to adding peat
moss and compost, the beds should be dusted with iron sulfate or agricul¬
tural sulfur. Sulfate of ammonia is especially good for this purpose.
Plants already growing may be sprayed with a solution of sulfuric or
phosphoric acid; this will not harm them.

In early February, “the darkest and saddest time of the year,” I can
sometimes pick flowers for an arrangement from one of my shady beds.
These are the lovely white Christmas roses ( Helleborus niger) which some¬
times, but only rarely, open in time for Christmas. They are followed a
little later by the purple Lenten roses (77. orientalis). If you are inter-

119

ested in making a collection of green flowers, you may want to plant H .
foe tidies, an interesting plant which attracts much attention. Often, too,
as the white and purple hellebores age, they turn a pale green.

A nice thing about the hellebores is that they are evergreen and do
not disappear after flowering as so many early bloomers do. They remain
in attractive green clumps all summer long until they begin to set buds
again in October and November.

Another evergreen to plant as a ground cover among the hellebores,
is quite familiar to most gardeners. Vinca minor which was called “joy-
of-the-ground” in days of long ago, is now called periwinkle or myrtle.
Vinca, ‘Bowles Variety’ has the deepest blue flowers. Another vinca, V.
major, has larger leaves and its variegated form helps to lighten a dark
corner.

The golden buttercups of winter aconite ( Eranthis ) brighten the bed
of Christmas roses. These may be accompanied by the blossoms of many
of the species bulbs such as the winter-flowering crocuses, snowdrops,
scillas, and chionodoxas. All of these build sizeable colonies if left undis¬
turbed over the years.

Sweet woodruff ( Asperula odorata ) is a nice subdued ground cover
under trees and bushes and among bulbs. It has dark green foliage and
small white flowers. These have a pleasant odor if touched or cut and
dried.

Lysimachia nummularia, anoth¬
er ground cover, must have great
popularity judging by all the pet
names it has been given: creeping-
Jenny, creeping-Char lie, money-wort,
yellow myrtle, loosestrife, wandering
sailor, and down-the-hill-of-life, to
name a few. By midsummer, if has
shining round leaves and bright yel¬
low buttercups. If it has plenty of
moisture, it will grow under trees
where grass will not. It is quite a
traveler and may be considered a
pest but is too attractive and useful
to do without in the shady garden.

Another plant in this class is
Aegop odium, bishops weed or snow-
on-the-mountain. Its green and
white leaves make an attractive bor¬
der. Another nickname, garden
plague, warns that it may have to
be restrained.

The Virginia blue bells (Mertensia virginica) are a joy to lovers of
blue flowers. This plant grows into clumps that are loaded with blue
bells. It is another early bloomer that disappears during the summer so

120

remember to mark the spot!

There are two spring anemones that should be in everyone’s garden
as they do so well here in Colorado. The pasque flower ( Anemone pul-
satilld) is called Easter flower because at that season our hillsides may be
covered with its silky blossoms. These are followed by fluffy seed pods
that are very attractive. This, or a closely related variety, is the state
flower of South Dakota.

The snowdrop anemone ( Anemone sylvestris ) has pure white fragrant
flowers in the garden in May. This is a long-lived perennial that spreads
from seed in a shady spot.

There are two anchusas that do well in light shade. One is Anchusa
my osotidiflora (also listed as Brunnera macrophylla). This blooms in
April and May with tiny star-like blue flowers accounting for the common
name, Siberian forget-me-not. It grows in foot high clumps with large
heart shaped leaves and is long-lived and reproduces from seed. The plant
may also be divided.

A new variety of anchusa ‘Dropmore’ has recently come from Eng¬
land. It is called Loddon Royalist and makes a shapely plant 2 or
3 feet tall. It bears a multitude of brilliant purple-blue flowers over a
long period and reseeds with no trouble. The foliage of both the anchusas
is large and coarse but that can be forgiven since their flowers give some
of the best blues known in the garden.

The bleeding hearts need at least partial shade and a rich mellow
soil with plenty of moisture. The dwarf Dicentra eximia grows about a
foot tall and bears pink flowers for most of the summer. Dicentra spec-
tabilis, a taller plant, blooms in May and June and usually disappears in
late summer. The sprays of deep pink or red hearts are very beautiful.

Primroses with dwarf campanulas and hardy geraniums are good
companions in a partly shaded bed. Again, the soil should be light and
loose and enriched with peat moss or compost. New varieties of the poly¬
anthus primroses are available in many rich colors: orange, bronze, bright
crimson and flame shades. There is a gold laced variety which is dark red
and edged with gold. The true blue acaulis primrose called ‘Blue Beauties’
is most outstanding. A packet of this seed will give many shades of blue
from sky-blue to deep blue.

Some of the dwarf campanulas provide beautiful blue or pure white
colors after the primroses are finished. These low growing campanulas
such as C. carpatica, C. muralis and C. garganica are all easy to grow and
make shapely, long blooming mats.

Euphorbia poly chroma or epithymoides, as it is sometimes called, is
a distant relative of the poinsettia of Christmas time. Like the poinsettia,
the true blossoms are small and hidden in highly colored leaves which are
often mistaken for the flowers. In this hardy garden variety, however,
the colored leaves are not red but a brilliant chartreuse yellow. It remains
attractive for a long time with brown seed pods appearing in the center.
The foliage of the whole plant turns dark red in the fall.

The Hostas (plantain lilies) need partial shade. The large ornamental

121

foliage makes a wonderful edging for driveways and foundation plantings.
The flowers on tall stems, may be blue or white depending on the variety.
Some are very fragrant. Hosta glauca or sieboldiana has blue-green leaves
and white flowers while the foliage of ‘Honeybells’ is yellow-green and the
flowers are lavender. ‘Honeybells’ is especially fragrant. ‘Thomas Hogg’
makes a 2 foot compact plant with silver and green variegated leaves
and dark blue blossoms.

The Thalictrums or meadow rue are tall background plants, provid¬
ing contrast with their ferny leaves; T. glaucum has fluffy yellow blos¬
soms and the variety T. rochebrunianum is lilac in color.

Most of the veronicas tolerate shade. The low-growing V. rupestris
is a favorite because of its brilliant blue flowers and neat spreading habit.
The variety V. incana with silvery foliage, sends up 12 inch spikes of
lavender flowers, while V. spicata, another low clump, is blue. Taller ver¬
onicas are V. amethystina, ‘Royal Blue5 and ‘Icicle’ with white blossoms.
An interesting veronica that I have only recently acquired is V. genti-
anoides. The plants grow in low mats with shining green leaves. In early
summer, they bear 12-inch spikes of dainty bells of a most unusual
pale blue color — “the color of skimmed milk” according to Louise Beebe
Wilder. This plant likes light shade and leafy soil. The mats spread but
do not become a nuisance.

The biennial foxgloves ( Digitalis ) do well only in shady spots where
they reseed themselves generously. The tall purple blossoms are most
welcome in the summer. The yellow foxglove D. ambigua seems to be
truly perennial and long-lived in the shade of trees.

The Rocky Mountain columbine
must have somewhat acid soil and
light shade to keep its true blue
color. The hybrid variety called
‘Mrs. Nichols’ seems to maintain the
color better than the species in our
altitude.

A few useful herbs that will grow
in a shady corner are lemon balm,
chives and all of the mints. Parsley
makes an excellent border for such
a bed.

There are many other plants suit¬
able for use in shady gardens. Some
demand shade such as ferns, lily-of-
the valley and most of the lilies.
Many others will grow and make a
good showing in either sun or shade.

With such a wide field to choose
from, no one need despair of having
an attractive garden even in the
shade.

122

Adrosko, Rita J. Natural Dyes and Dyeing.

New York, Dover, 1971 . $2.00

During the revolutionary period and later years, because of wars,
lack of manufacturers’ standardization and funds,, many people were in¬
volved in home dyeing using the available natural dyestuffs. Their results
were more or less good depending on practice, expertise and materials
used but there was one general complaint — the lack of consistency in col¬
ors produced. Home dyeing has enjoyed a renewed popularity for this
very reason — the search for individuality. What was the bane of yester¬
year is the boon of the present. The fact that one batch of dye will rarely
be exactly like the next or like the one done by a neighbor appeals to the
strong individualistic streak common in all strata of today’s society as well
as to the do-it-yourself enthusiast.

This book will help. It is well organized. Part One gives the histori¬
cal background on each color and Part Two is a revised guide to home
dyeing with natural dyes. This section begins with the scientific explana¬
tion of coloration, color viewing, mixing and variation in home dyed tex¬
tiles, the limitation of color range with natural dyes and the dyeing of
fibers, yarns and pieces of cloth.

This is followed by the how-to section: equipment required, proce¬
dures to follow and tested dye recipes. Although all the required mate¬
rials are not naturally available in our area, many are, such as sunflowers
(gold color), zinnias (light yellow or greenish yellow, depending on mor¬
dant used), dahlias (orange), apple bark (dark yellow-tan), marigold flow¬
ers (brass color). Kinds of materials which can be used, the making of
mordants, exact quantities and timing are all clearly given in a recipe book
manner followed by the method.

In order to obtain a specific hue, top dyeing is sometimes necessary.
This involves the use of two dye baths. A chart explaining the matter to
be dyed (wool or cotton) lists the mordant, the first dye and directions to
be followed, and the second dye with the methods for its use.

The text completed, there follows a general bibliography, a list of
dye manuals printed in America before 1870, excerpts from early 19th
century writings giving methods, sources of dyes and recipes for obtaining
specific colors.

Whether or not you are particularly interested in trying this your¬
self, the book is worth examining and reading. It is also not too late to
collect some of the ingredients. Since this book is lucidly written, the
recipes use current weights and measures, and the methods are clearly
explained giving exact timing, this manual could be used in school pro¬
jects or individual scout badge earning endeavors or just for the fun of
trying it.

Natural Dyes and Dyeing is available in the gift shop and in circu¬
lation in the Helen Fowler Library of the Denver Botanic Gardens. S.H.

123

Medium-sized Shruhs lor Dry Land Gardens

A. C. Hildreth

This is the fourth of a series of articles on gardening under dry land
conditions on the central Great Plains. The three previous articles of this
series published in The Green Thumb were: Dry Land Gardening on the
Plains, autumn 1969, Selection and Care of Dry Land Trees, summer
1970, and Tall Shrubs for Dry Land Gardens, spring 1971.

The article on tall shrubs (spring 1971) emphasized that there are
plenty of shrubs which are both cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant. They
come in different sizes — tall, medium-sized and low. The group of me¬
dium-sized shrubs contains the most species0

The same article also arbitrarily set the minimum height of tall
shrubs at over 6 feet. This automatically established the maximum
height of middle-sized shrubs at 6 feet. For the purposes of this discus¬
sion, the minimum height of the medium-sized group is arbitrarily set at
3 feet. Thus, medium-sized shrubs are considered as ranging in height
from 3 to 6 feet.

Shrubs on dry land grow slowly and never reach the height attained
by the same species or cultivars when grown under irrigation or in more
humid climates. For this reason many shrubs classified in horticultural
literature as “tall” are regarded by dry land gardeners as “medium-sized”
and must be treated as such in dry land plantings.

There is a good deal of difference between mere survival and grow¬
ing into an acceptable garden subject. From among the many middle-
sized shrubs that endure dry land conditions on the central Great Plains,
a dozen have been selected for special consideration. These are not only
well adapted to plains soil and climate but they are especially suitable for
use in landscaping dry land gardens.

Amorpha fruticosa angustifolia Pursh. var. False Indigo or Indigo
Bush. This native of the western plains is a summer bloomer. The small
flowers are violet-purple, borne on spikes clustered at the ends of the
branches. When the bushes grow scraggly from old age or neglect, they
should be cut back to the ground and allowed to develop new tops. This
shrub is resistant to attacks by grasshoppers.

Caragana microphylla Lam. Littleleaf Pea Tree. This native of
Siberia and north China is similar in general appearance to the familiar
tall Caragana arbor escens Lam., but the C. microphylla bush is smaller,
and neater and has larger flowers. This is a good shrub for border plant¬
ings and for hedges, either clipped or informal.

Caragana microphylla ‘Tidy’ is a cultivar of C. microphylla, devel¬
oped in Canada. This cultivar has long, narrow leaflets which give the
shrub a feathery appearance. It is excellent as a specimen shrub.

Cercocarpus montanus Raf. Mountain Mahogany. A native of the
Rocky Mountains and of steep rocky places on the western plains. The
leaves are dark green on the upper surface, and lighter green and some-

124

what woolly underneath. The flowers are not showy, but the twisted
“fuzzy tails” attached to the seeds are interesting in late summer and
early fall. This is a good shrub for border plantings and for hedges, either
sheared or informal.

Cotoneaster acutifolia Truez. Peking Cotoneaster. A native of
China. The glossy green leaves take on a deep red color in autumn. The
black berries hang on the branches all winter. This shrub is suitable for
border plantings. It is much used for sheared hedges in climates too cold
for privets.

Cotoneaster integerrima Med. European Cotoneaster. This is per-
i haps the hardiest of the cotoneasters. The foliage is bluish-green. The
flowers are not showy, but the abundant small red berries in late summer
and fall make these shrubs attractive as specimens, in informal hedges and
in borders.

Perovskia atriplici. folia Benth. Russian Sage. An interesting member
of the mint family, native in central Asia. The foliage is silvery gray and
powder-blue flowers are borne in long airy panicles at the ends of the
branches. The flowers are easily dried for use in dry arrangements. These
shrubs are among the latest to bloom in the fall. The leaves, either fresh
or dried are good for flavoring soups and stews. This is a potent condi¬
ment and cooks should be careful not to over-season foods with it.

Primus tomentosa Thunb. Nanking or Manchu Cherry. A compact
bush with densely hairy leaves. It blooms very early in spring and the
flowers, either pink or white, usually open before the leaves. The fruits,
either red or yellow, ripen very early and are quite edible. They are good
for pies, preserves and jams.

Ptelea baldwinii Torr. Hop Tree or Wafer Ash. This is a very
drought resistant shrub native from Colorado southward into Mexico.
The leaves are dark green in color and in shape resemble those of our com¬
mon green ash. The creamy white flowers are borne in drooping clusters.
The fruits are light brown colored discs similar to those of Siberian elm.
They hang on the bush all summer.

Ribes leptanthum Gray. Trumpet Gooseberry. This is a little-
known shrub of the Rocky Mountains from Montana' to New Mexico
and Arizona. The dark green leaves appear very early in spring. Neither
the whitish trumpet-shaped flowers nor the blackish fruits are conspicu¬
ous. The sharp spines on the branches make this an excellent shrub for
barrier plantings.

Rosa rubrifolia Vill. Redleaf Rose. This hardy shrub from the
mountains of Europe is grown chiefly for its red foliage. The flowers are
red, small and single and the blossoming season is short. The fruits are
abundant and attractive. They are bright red and hang on the shrub all
winter, making a cheery spot of color in the winter landscape.

Tamarix hispida Willd. Kashgar Tamarisk. A handsome shrub from
Asia with feathery blue-green foliage. The small pink flowers are borne
in plumy clusters on the ends of the branches during late summer and
early autumn.

125

Subject

Index,

1971

All-American Rose Selections

Award Winners of 1972 - All-American :
Rose Selections, Beverly M. Pincoski, Au¬
tumn, P. 104

Awards

Dr. Hildreth Awarded the Liberty Hyde
Bailey Medal, Spring, P. 48

Feather in His Cap, A. K. Summer, P. 79

Books

Book Review, Helen Marsh Zeiner, (In¬
genious Kingdom: The Remarkable World
of Plants, Henry and Rebecca Northen),
Spring, P. 38

Book Review, Avalonne Kosanke, (Bulbs
for Summer Bloom. John Philip Baum-
gardt), Summer, P. 75

Book Review, S. H. (Natural Dyes and
Dyeing. Rita J. Adrosko), Autumn, P. 123
New Books in the Library, (Early Ameri¬
can Gardens “for meate or medicine.” Ann
Leighton), (Organic Gardening Without Poi¬
sons. Hamilton Tyler), (Adventure in my
Garden. Helen M. Fox), (Beyond the Aspen
Grove. Ann Zwinger), Spring, P. 47

Bromeliads

The Bromeliads, Sandra Blizard, Autumn,

P. 98

Composting

Composting, James R. Feucht, Autumn,

P. 107

Denver Botanic Gardens

Boettcher Memorial Center Ribbon Cut¬
ting, Cris Dobbins, Spring, P. 34

Gift Shop Blooms, B. E. P., Winter, P. 23

i Introducing the Education Building, W. G.
Gambill, Jr., Winter, P. 2

Progress in the Gardens, Andrew R. Knauer,
Summer, P. 66

Trustees for Denver Botanic Gardens, Sum¬
mer, P. 96

Exotics of Colorado, Helen Marsh Zeiner

Acer ginnala, Ginnala Maple, Autumn, P.
103

Galanthus nivalis, Snowdrop, Spring, P. 43
Pinus sylvestris, Scotch Pine, Winter, P. 9

Tribulus terrestris, Puncture Vine, Summer,
P.72

Flower Arranging

Ikebana, Elizabeth Wear, Winter, P. 30

Focus On, Peg Hayward

Pimento dioica, Winter, P. 21
Platycerium bifurcatum. Spring, P. 53
Ravenala madagascariensis, Autumn, P. 110
Terminalia catappa. Summer, P. 78

Gardening

A New Romance, Tree Peonies, G. E.
“Casey” O’Donnell, Summer, P. 83

The Fauna in the Flora, Wes Woodward,
Summer, P. 74

International Rock Garden Plant Confer¬
ence, Marion I. Alexander, Autumn, P. 117

Let’s Plant Some Wee Bulbs, Sue Kelly,
Summer, P. 70

Plants for Landscaping at High Altitudes,
George Kelly, Spring, P. 55
Shady Gardens, Evelyn F. Johnson, Au¬
tumn, P. 119

Tall Shrubs for Dry Land Gardens, A. C.
Hildreth, Spring, P. 49

Grass

Turfgrass Varieties for Colorado, Dave
Boyle, Winter, P. 11

Indoor Gardening

African Violet Propagation Primer, Emma
Lahr, Winter, P. 26

Bottle Gardens, Helen D. Stanley, Winter,
P. 5

Clay vs. Plastic Pots, Autumn, P. 118
Small Tropical Place, Esther Holtz, Sum¬
mer, P. 76

Landscaping

Aligning Our Highway with Environmental
Landscape Design, Part I, Gerald F. Kessler,
Winter, P. 13

Aligning Our Highway with Environmental
Landscape Design, Part II, Gerald F.Kessler,
Spring, P. 60

Selection of a Home Site, John Dillavou,
Autumn, P. 106

Lecture Series

Lecture Series, 1971, Winter, P. 32

Native Plants

Directions for Growing Colorado Colum¬
bines, Jess Fults, Spring, P. 36

Medium-Sized Shrubs for Dry Land Gar¬
dens, A. C. Hildreth, Autumn, P. 124

Plants for Landscaping at High Altitudes,
George Kelly, Spring, P. 55

The Season of Flowers, Katharine Bru-
derlin Crisp, Spring, P. 39
Tall Shrubs for Dry Land Gardens, A. C.-
Hildreth, Spring, P. 49

People

Emma Armstrong Ervin, Katharine Bruder-
lin Crisp, Autumn, P. 112

From Our Files, Autumn, P. 11 1
Staff Additions, Summer, P. 68

Pesticides

Comparative Toxicity of Some Pesticides,
James R. Feucht, Summer, P. 80

Pests

Mountain Maple Mites, William A. Weber,
Spring, P. 46

Worms that Worry You, Wes Woodward,
Winter, P. 28

Roses

Award Winners of 1972 - All-American
Rose Selections, Beverly M. Pincoski, Au¬
tumn, P. 104

Shrubs

Medium-Sized Shrubs for Dry Land Gar¬
dens, A. C. Hildreth, Autumn, P. 124

Plants for Landscaping at High Altitudes,
George Kelly, Spring, P. 55
Tall Shrubs for Dry Land Gardens, A. C.
Hildreth, Spring, P. 49

Subject Index

Subject Index, Autumn, P. 126

Trees

Plants for Landscaping at High Altitudes,
George Kelly, Spring, P. 55
The Rock Elm, S. R. DeBoer, Spring, P. 45
Trees in the Desert, Lee Chambers, Autumn,
P. 114

Wildflowers

Directions for Growing Colorado Colum¬
bines, Jess Fults, Spring, P. 36
The “Rock Breakers” et al. A Versatile
Family, Ernest H. Brunquist, Summer, P. 87
The Season of Flowers, Katharine Bruder-
lin Crisp, Spring, P. 39

127

AUTHOR INDEX, 1971

Author

Page(s)

Alexander, Marion I .

. 117

Blizard, Sandra .

. 98

Boyle, Dave .

Brunquist, Ernest H .

. 87

Chambers, Lee ....

Crisp, Katharine Bruderlin.

. . . 39, 112

DeBoer, S. R .

Dillavou, John . .

Dobbins, Cris .

Feucht, James R. ...

. . 80, 107

Fults, Jess .

Gambill, W. G. ...

Hayward, Peg . 21,53,78,110

Hildreth, A. C .

Holtz, Esther .

Huggins, Solange .

Author Page(s)

Johnson, Evelyn F . 119

Kelly, George . 55

Kelly, Sue . 70

Kessler, Gerald F . 13, 60

Knauer, Andrew R . 66

Kosanke, Avalonne . 75, 79

Lahr, Emma . 26

O’Donnell, G. E. “Casey” . 83

Petersen, B. E . 23

Pincoski , Beverly M . 1 04

Stanley, Helen D . 5

Wear, Elizabeth . 30

Weber, William A . 46

Woodward, Wes . 28, 74

Zeiner, Helen Marsh . . 9, 38, 43, 72, 103

128

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.

A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . . . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr., Director

Mr. Andrew R. Knauer, Assistant Director

Mr. Ernest A. Bibee, Conservatory Superintendent

Mr. David A. Blades, Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Miss Beverly M. Pincoski, Botanist — Horticulturist

Mr. James M. Schell, Education Specialist

Mrs. Solange Huggins, Librarian

Dr. A. C. Hildreth, Director Emeritus

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover - Drawing by Sandra Blizard

Pages 98, 99, 101 - Drawings by Sandra Blizard

Page 103 - Drawing by Suzanne Ash

Page 105 - Photos courtesy George E. Rose

Page 108 - Drawings courtesy Colorado State University

Page 1 1 0 - Drawing by Phil Hayward

Page 112 - Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Page 113 - Drawing by Emma Ervin

Page 1 14 - Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Page 117 - Photos by Gordon Alexander

Pages 120, 122 - Drawings by Polly Steele

The Greeuihml)

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

DO NOT FOLD

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

..A

°T°~3 .‘.JSAtffed

'S^gt-c

mmti i v fty«

is«s«

:••-

:■:

THE COVER

Begonia Angel wing

Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-NINE, NUMBER ONE

Editorial Committee
Miss Margaret Sikes, Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Miss Lucy Crissey
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. Solange Huggins
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909
York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent
free to all members of the organization.
Junior membership $2.50, Regular $7.50,
Participating $15.00, Supporting $25.00,
Contributing $50.00. Business and Edu¬
cation Institutional $100.00.

Tile Creel) Thumb

MARGARET SIKES, Editor
WINTER 1972

CONTENTS

Title Page

Begonias for the Indoor Garden— Helen Marsh Zeiner . 2

Consumer Protection from the State Level -Ken Wilmore . 9

Children’s Garden Program 1971— Beverly Pincoski . 10

Visiting the Habitat of some of the Conservatory Plants-

Richard R. Inglis . 12

Disaster in Denver— Wes Woodward . 13

A Catalog of Rock Plants and Ground Covers-

Suzanne Ash, Bernice Petersen . 15

Book Review—

The Compleat Naturalist; a Life of Linnaeus- S.H. ... 23

For Your Information . 23

Focus on—

Euphorbia pulcherrima-?eg Hayward . 24

Thanks to Bern Neil— LMC, BEP . 25

Exotics of Colorado-European Weeping Birch

Betula pendula- Helen Marsh Zeiner . 26

Landscaping for Denver Technological Center—

Russ Rountree . 78

Meet the Dwarfs (Iris, that is) -Jack Riley . 30

Lecture Series, 1971T972 . 32

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York
Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

Helen Marsh Zeiner

Begonias offer infinite variety to the indoor gardener, for there are
about 1,200 species plus an endless number of hybrids and horticultural
varieties.

Some begonias are grown primarily for their flowers, others for
their foliage. All begonias will bloom if conditions are right. A begonia
in bloom is always of interest because there are two distinct kinds of
flowers to be found on the same plant. The female flowers have
interesting “corkscrew” stigmas, while the male flowers have clusters
of pollen-producing stamens. Some begonias are among the easiest to
grow of all house plants; others are difficult enough to be challenging.

Credit for the discovery of the begonia goes to Charles Plumier,
a Franciscan monk and a botanist. While on a botanical expedition to
the West Indies about 1690, Plumier found six species of a new plant
growing in Santa Domingo and sent herbarium specimens to Europe.
The botanist Tournefort, in 1700, named the genus Begonia in honor
of Michel Begon, a French botanist who was governor of Santa Domingo
and who had helped Plumier in his search for new plants.

The genus Begonia is the largest and most important genus in the
family Begoniaceae. Begonias are native to Mexico, Central and South
America, Asia and South Africa. They are found in greatest numbers and
luxuriance in the damp shady forests of Brazil and the Andes, and
are also very numerous in the Himalayan rain forests and the Malay
Archipelago.

Although the naming of the genus in 1700 officially marked the
discovery of the genus Begonia , other early explorers in Mexico and I
Jamaica found plants that were probably begonias, but they were not
named or brought back for cultivation. For example, Rerum Mediacorum
Novae Hispanae Thesaurus, a work by Father Hernandes published in
1649, pictures a Mexican plant which is undoubtedly a begonia.

The first living begonia is said to have been introduced into England
in 1777. It was Begonia nitida Dry., discovered in Jamaica by Dr.
William Brown.

Interest in this new genus developed rapidly, and by 1850 more than
300 species had been described. Many of these were herbarium specimens
rather than living plants. Nevertheless, growers were hybridizing begonias
as early as 1840.

In such a large group of plants you would expect to find great
diversity, and it is difficult to set forth general rules for the care of
begonias because there are so many different kinds with different

requirements. However, there are a few very general rules which are
applicable to the group as a whole.

Keep in mind that begonias are mostly tropical in origin and like
humid, warm growing conditions. The soil should be porous with good
drainage, and should contain a fairly high percentage of peat or leaf
mold. For most begonias, filtered or diffuse sun will be satisfactory.
The wax begonias will tolerate the most sun, the rex begonias the least.
Most begonias grown as house plants are fibrous rooted and should be
kept evenly moist but not water soaked. The fine fibrous roots can be
damaged quickly by either too much or too little water.

The botanist divides begonias into two groups: the fibrous rooted
begonias, to which most of our house plants belong; and the tuberous
rooted, to which the beautiful summer-blooming begonias of the shady
garden belong.

Some horticulturists divide begonias further, classing together as
rhizomatous begonias those with thick, root-like rhizomes which root
when they come in contact with the soil. The rex begonias, complex
hybrids with beautiful leaves, are also recognized as a separate group by
some horticulturists.

I Among the begonias popular for the beauty of their bloom would
be the well known and deservedly popular wax begonia; its double form,
the rose begonia; the calla lilly begonia, a variegated form of wax begonia
with upper leaves which resemble small calla lilies; and the beautiful
Christmas begonias.

I Among the begonias prized for their foliage are the rex begonias,
beefsteak begonias, ricinifolia begonias, angel wing begonias, and the
beautiful and comparatively new iron cross begonia.

Some begonias grown primarily for their foliage will bloom readily.
The angel wing begonias and the ricinifolias are examples of begonias
prized for both flowers and foliage.

Begonias vary greatly in size. The wax begonias, for example, are

f basically small and can easily be kept to a size suitable for a window sill.

Others, such as ricinifolia, become very large and are suitable only for
: large rooms.

Discussion of a few of the many known begonia varieties and
specific instruction for their care follows:

: WAX BEGONIAS

Wax begonia, Begonia
I semperflorens Link & Otto, is
one of the easiest to grow and
most satisfactory of all house
plants. It is an excellent
choice for the beginning in¬
door gardener. A well-grown
begonia will bloom almost con¬
stantly, and the plants will
begin to bloom while they
are very young.

Many varieties of Begonia semperflorens are available. Flowers may
be white or various shades of pink or red. Although each flower is
small, the blooms are showy because several flowers are borne in a cluster.

Wax begonias are named for their waxy leaves. In most varieties
the slightly fleshy, oval leaves are a bright, shiny green. In others the
leaves are reddish brown or bronze in color.

The succulent stems tend to branch freely, forming bushy plants.
A well-shaped plant can be maintained with a minimum of pruning.

Some sun is necessary to produce blooms and good leaf color. On
the other hand, too much sun will bleach the leaves until they are almost
colorless. If this happens, move the plant to a more suitable location
or put a sheer glass curtain between the plant and the window glass.

Too much heat through a window may actually burn tender leaves.
Again, the solution is to move the plant farther from the window or
protect it with a glass curtain.

Wax begonias are not fussy as to soil — any standard potting mix
will do. Good drainage in the pot is a necessity.

When watering a wax begonia, soak it thoroughly and then let it
dry out before watering again. Never let the plant become dry enough
to wilt. An application of very dilute plant food about once a month
will keep the wax begonia in good condition. Do not overfeed.

Wax begonias can be readily propagated by cuttings. Take cuttings
of good, strong growth at the base of the plant. Root in moist sand
or vermiculite, or if you prefer, in water. If you use the water method,
be sure to pot the cutting when the roots are about an inch long.

Wax begonias are often used for bedding plants in the summer.
Cuttings may be taken from these plants late in the summer to provide
young house plants for winter use. Small bedding begonias may be dug
and potted for indoor use. The top must be cut back heavily to make up
for root damage incurred in digging the plant.

A double variety of wax begonia known as rose begonia or rosebud
begonia is a lovely flowering house plant. The very double flowers
really do resemble miniature roses. Rose begonias are not quite as easy
to grow as the standard wax begonia. They prefer cool temperatures.
If the room is too warm, they simply will not succeed.

The calla lily begonia is a novel variety of wax begonia. It is called
calla lily begonia because the youngest leaves at the ends of shoots are
white and somewhat rolled so that they look a little like the flower of
a calla lily. Because no food is made in the white parts of leaves, these
plants are less sturdy than those with all green leaves. Be sure, when
making cuttings, to have more green leaves than white on the cutting.
Otherwise, the cutting may not root satisfactorily. Too much heat is the
worst enemy of the calla lily begonia, with too much water a close second.

REX BEGONIAS

Rex begonias are considered by many to be the most beautiful of
all begonias; they are also considered to be the most difficult of all
begonias to grow successfully.

Rex begonias are grown for their beautiful leaves which are often

brightly colored with interesting textures, shapes and markings. They
are hybrids developed from the original Begonia rex Putz. or king’s
begonia, discovered in Assam, India in 1856. The original plant was
sent from Assam to Belgium, where hybridizing began.

The authoritative house plant book Exotica pictures and describes
approximately 100 varieties of rex begonias, each one prized for its
beautiful — and different — foliage.

Many rex begonias are unsatisfactory as house plants because their
normal period of growth is during the summer, and it is their nature to
drop their leaves and rest during the winter. These varieties can be used
as summer garden plants in warm, humid parts of the country.

However, a number of varieties do continue to grow during the
winter, and these can be used as house plants if the conditions necessary
for their growth can be met. Varieties handled by florists are likely to
be winter-growing varieties. > i>

The original rex begonias grew in nature under trees and other
plants where they were shaded from the sun. It was a warm, moist
habitat and the air was very humid. Soil was loose, with much organic
matter in the form of leaf mold and partially decayed leaves. To grow
these plants successfully, we must try to duplicate these conditions.

Temperature is not a problem since rex begonias like to be warm,
but the warmth must be accompanied by high humidity.

Anything that you can do to increase humidity will benefit a rex
begonia. Frequent spraying of the leaves with a fine mist or a gentle
rinse under an open faucet is beneficial. Use water that is room tempera¬
ture or barely lukewarm — never cold. Grow the plant on a pebble tray,
or near open containers of water which can evaporate into the air near
the plant. A very large brandy snifter can house a rex begonia.

Rex begonias require the least light of the begonia group, in part
because they are plants of the shady forest, in part because we are
interested in their leaves rather than their flowers. They should never
be exposed to the sun.

Keep the soil evenly moist at all times, but be sure that the pot
has good drainage so that the delicate roots do not decay from standing
in water.

There are as many different rex begonia soils as there are rex begonia
growers, but they are all loose with a high proportion of leaf mold or
other humus. Coarse sand will help to lighten the soil and provide good
drainage.

. During the growing period, feed a rex begonia about every two
weeks with plant food mixed to half the recommended strength.

Keep the plant out of drafts and protect it from sudden temperature
changes.

Rex begonias are usually propagated by leaf cuttings. Any good
house plant book will give detailed instructions for this method of
propagation.

It is not easy to grow a rex begonia in the average home, but it
can be done. Remember that it is a plant of the tropics and that it
needs warmth, humidity, and protection.

ANGEL WING AND RICINIFOLIA BEGONIAS

Two large begonias which have been favorites for many years are
the angel wing and ricinifolia begonias. Both of these begonias are
valued for their attractive leaves as well as for their beautiful flowers.

Neither is difficult to grow, but they do become very large, particu¬
larly the ricinifolias. When these plants become too large, new plants
can be started from cuttings and the old plant discarded or, hopefully,
passed along to a friend whose house can accommodate a very large
begonia.

Angel wing begonias have oblique leaves which are rather long and
narrow. Because of their shape and arrangement on the stem, they are
thought to resemble the wings of angels in medieval paintings — hence
the common name. The stems are thick and bamboo-like or cane-like.
The internodes between the leaves are long so that the leaves are spaced
rather far apart.

The original angel wing begonia, Begonia coccinea Hook., had dark
green leaves and scarlet red flowers. Many varieties have since been
developed. Some have leaves with silvery spots which make them very
attractive. Flowers, which occur in drooping axillary clusters, may be
red, pink, or white.

Because angel wing begonias naturally grow tall, it is necessary to
prune them for shape and to control their height. When a plant has
reached a fairly large size, it is advisable to prune out old hard, woody
stems after flowering. The plant will put out new growth to replace
the old stems.

Angel wing begonias should be rested after the flowering period is
over. Keep the soil dry — but never to the point of wilting. Resume
normal watering when signs of new growth appear.

When watering an angel wing begonia, allow the soil to dry to the
touch between waterings. If the soil is kept too wet, the plant will
drop its leaves. The soil should be light and porous so that excess water
drains away, but it should contain enough humus so that some moisture
will be held.

Although easy to grow, angel wing begonias cannot stand drafts or
sudden changes in temperature. If the air is too dry, leaf edges will dry
and turn brown. Some sun is necessary if the angel wing is to bloom.
6

Begonia ricinifolia, Begonia ricinifolia A. Dietr., is a very old hybrid
resulting from a cross made in England in 1847. It has very large leaves
on long hairy leaf stalks. The leaves resemble castor bean or Ricinus
leaves in shape, and this is the reason for the name ricinifolia. If you
are not familiar with the leaf of the castor bean, the leaves are lobed
somewhat like maple leaves.

Ricinifolia and its varieties are always attractive because of the
leaves and their hairy stems, which have conspicuous red hairs in rings
around the stem.

When in bloom, ricinifolias are truly lovely. The flowers are pro¬
duced in very large drooping clusters and are red or pink. Normal
blooming time is late winter or early spring, and the flowers last a
long time.

The leaves arise from a thick, somewhat erect rhizome or rootstock
which becomes prostrate in age. In an old plant, the rhizome may be
long and barren. A plant in this state should be rerooted.

BEEFSTEAK, IRON CROSS, CLEOPATRA, AND
LADY MAC BEGONIAS

No discussion on begonias for the indoor garden would be complete
without at least a brief mention of an old-time favorite, the beefsteak
begonia; a comparative newcomer, the iron cross begonia; the dainty
, Cleopatra begonia; and the gorgeous Lady Mac Christmas begonia.

Beefsteak begonia resulted from a cross made in 1847. At that
time it was given the name Begonia ery throphylla K. G. Neumann. It
is now often listed as Begonia feastii Hort. Several varieties are known.

Beefsteak begonia was at the height of its popularity a generation
ago, but it is still a favorite plant of many indoor gardeners.

It has large, round leaves often described as resembling pond lily
leaves. They are shiny and dark green above and red beneath. Because
of the shape and color, one can imagine a resemblance of the underside
of a leaf to a slice of round steak. Perhaps this is the reason for the not
too appealing common name.

Beefsteak begonias are rhizomatous begonias. In culture, the
rhizome should grow on top of the soil in the pot, sending roots down
into the soil. The plant is shallow-rooted, so that a shallow pot is
most suitable.

In late winter or early spring, pink flowers are produced in large
clusters. Some sun is necessary if the plant is to bloom. Beefsteak
begonia is easy to grow and will tolerate much abuse. Keep the soil
on the dry side. Wash the leaves often to keep them shiny, beautiful ,
and healthy.

Beefsteak begonias become very large with age, but young plants
of a suitable size can be kept by starting new plants from rhizome cuttings
or from leaf cuttings.

Iron cross begonia, Begonia masoniana Irmsch., is a large foliage
begonia with a conspicuous cross-like pattern in the center of the leaf.
The leaf is basically light green; the cross is reddish-brown.

Iron cross begonia is considered moderately easy to grow. It needs
humidity, and if the air is too dry the edges of the leaves may dry and
discolor. Be sure that the iron cross begonia is in a pot with good
drainage. Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry before watering again.
Never permit the plant to wilt or the leaves will be damaged.

Begonia ‘Cleopatra’ is a dainty, free-flowering hybrid quite popular
at the present time. It is a medium sized begonia with long stemmed
maple-like leaves variegated with brownish-red. Delicate pale pink
flowers are borne in clusters.

Cleopatra is often recommended for use in hanging baskets, and
can be used this way on the patio if the basket is protected from the
wind. There is some danger in a hanging basket of the roots becoming
too dry.

A humidity lover, Cleopatra begonia may fail if the air is too dry.
Spray or rinse the leaves frequently. Some sun is necessary to produce
flowers.

The beautiful Christmas begonia, Begonia ‘Lady Mac,’ is currently
a popular gift plant at the Christmas season. Lady Mac begonias are not
as well adapted to house culture as many other begonias, and it is often
best to discard them after blooming.

However, if you can’t bear to throw away this lovely plant, cut
it back severely after blooming. The plant will put up new growth by
summer, when the pot should be sunk outdoors in partial shade and left
until early September. Make cuttings from the parts you pruned off
and start new plants. New shoots which appear at the base of the plant
are very good to root as cuttings.

Lady Mac begonias need some sun but not full exposure; moderate
watering; moist atmosphere and cool location.

m iwb m ■ m. 'wqfcrii'^a>y ai a a a a

Ae» Wilmore UTG Stctt£ l^WBl

It is one of those beautiful spring days, a day that makes you feel
like doing some planting in your yard. Throughout the long winter
months you and your wife have discussed what you will need to enhance
your landscaping and now the day is here.

You load the family in the car and are off to your favorite nursery
where you select a lilac to fill that void across the back fence; the new
All-American rose is a must and you also order a nice pinon pine to
block the view of the trash can from your patio.

All you have to worry about now is that with a little tender care,
these items will grow and bring you the satisfaction you expect.

What you don’t realize however, is the protection you have had
from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. This assures you that
the nursery stock you bought is alive and in growing condition, properly
graded, free of disease, and meets all of the quality standards set forth
in one of the finest nursery laws in America.

Some years ago Colorado was known as a dumping ground for
“trash” nursery stock from all over the country. The homeowner was
fair game for the unscrupulous nurseryman, tree peddler, and con man.

Colorado was in trouble in those days for it was trying to get along
with an antiquated law with very few provisions for consumer protection.
Everyone was in the business then and often the quality of nursery stock
offered by retail outlets was unbelievably poor.

Willard Snyder, now retired, was chief of the Plant Industry
Division of the Department of Agriculture and realizing the problems
facing the legitimate nurseryman and consuming public, called in people
representing every phase of the nursery industry for consultation in
writing a new law. The result was the Colorado Nursery Act of 1965
that was soon passed by the Legislature. It has had several minor
revisions since that time and Colorado now has one of the most effective
nursery laws in America.

Most nursery stock sold in Colorado is grown by out of state
nurseries. This stock is not only inspected at the local nursery, but
must have a certificate of inspection from the point of origin. Also
every wholesale and retail nursery shipping into the State must be
licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

All Colorado nurseries and nursery dealers must be licensed and
are subject to periodic inspections by the Department of Agriculture.
If any infractions of the law are detected the material is condemned
and put on stop-sale immediately. This procedure has had immediate
and far reaching results and has been accepted with enthusiasm by the
legitimate nursery dealers in Colorado.

The data listed will show how effective this program has been in
the past three years.

An interesting side note is that of the total number of condemned
stock indicated below, less than 1% was from the professional nurserymen
(members of the Colorado Nurserymens Association.)

1968-1969

1969-1970

1970-1971

ACTUAL

Number of dealer inspections

732

598

623

Number of nursery inspections

105

136

Number of plants inspected

Evergreens

99,465

131,803

141,781

Shade Trees

15,043

31,360

22,344

Fruit Trees

8,412

17,965

15,427

Ornamental Trees

5,014

14,734

1 1,1 12

Shrubs

62,589

88,762

65,528

Roses

87,734

75,568

82,452

Vines

3.082

4.976

2,992

TOTAL Inspected

281,339

365,168

341,636

Number of plants condemned

Evergreens

6,184

4,305

2,257

Shade Trees

812

2,162

1,218

Fruit Trees

705

823

302

Ornamental Trees

203

1,662

386

Shrubs

2,781

10,232

1,527

Roses

4,594

4,992

2,038

Vines

285

TOTAL Condemned

15,264

24,461

7,755

CHILDREN*! CARDEN PROCRAM

Beverly Pincoski

1971

The “big day” was September 1 1 — the day of the Garden Fair and
Graduation, the culmination of a full summer of work and fun. The
Fair was colorful with long rows of tables lined with plates of vegetables
including beets, tomatoes, turnips, beans, carrots, cabbages, onions,
cucumbers, squash, bouquets of marigolds and zinnias and, of course,
the gigantic sunflowers. Some had blue ribbons attached showing that
they were the best of their group. The graduation ceremony was a
special event. All of the children who completed the program were
presented certificates and those select six that had the best gardens were
given trophies. Parents, relatives and friends were on hand to join with
the children on their special day. As they say “a good time was had
by all.”

It all began last April. The beginner gardeners, those children who
were new to the program, were given class instruction to acquaint them
with gardening procedures — planting seeds, transplanting, cultivating,
weeding, thinning, watering and the use of tools. Each child designed
his or her own 10' x 10' plot. No two gardens were alike. The ad¬
vanced gardeners, children who participated in last year’s program,
had one class session to review important points and to work on their
garden plot designs.

Actual outdoor gardening work was started in mid-May. Have you
ever seen 128 children brandishing hoes, shovels and rakes? Things
were calmer in a few weeks after the seeds were put in the ground and
the little plants of tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant and broccoli
were transplanted.

Lectures were held throughout the summer on various topics that
pertained to gardening. Dr. James Feucht, Area Horticulturist for
Colorado State University, led off with an informative talk about
ecology. The second lecture was about library books and was presented
to the children by Mrs. Marshall of the Park Hill Library. As we have a
children’s section in our own library we encourage the children to do
some summertime reading. Insects, a topic which is always interesting
to the children, followed on the lecture schedule. This was given by
James Schell of the Denver Botanic Gardens staff. Herb Gundell,
County Extension Agent, was the next speaker and he answered general
and varied questions that the children had about gardening. As in
previous years the last lecture was about preparing vegetables and flower
displays for the Garden Fair. This was given by Mrs. Ralph Claiborne,
Colorado Federated Garden Club judge.

Have you ever eaten Louisiana eggplant casserole, carrot cookies
or had Chinese spinach soup? These and many more interesting dishes
were served at the summer potlucks. This function began several years
ago and has gained increasing popularity. The potluck lunches were
held in June and August. The children bring dishes prepared totally or
in part with vegetables from the garden. The July potluck was a variation
on the theme and was called Dip Night. Raw vegetables were served
with numerous and different flavored dips.

During the summer the gardens were judged three times on the
following items: weeding, thinning, harvesting, variety of vegetables
planted, use of space, replanting, cultivating and overall appearance.
Final winners were — Beginner: 1st — Pat Jezek, 2nd — Dix Baines,
3rd — Drew Hamrick; Advanced - 1st - Terry Ruby, 2nd - David
Vittetoe and 3rd — Scott Ruby.

The gardening season came to an abrupt halt with the 15" mid-
September snowstorm, so clean-up day came a little sooner than ex¬
pected. It was sad to see the sunflower stalks broken or lying flat on
the ground. They had been so tall and majestic and throughout the
summer were always a symbol that marked the place where the children
did their gardening. The children will be back next year and so will
the sunflowers.

Richard R. Inglis

Our Conservatory and Gardens
should give many plant lovers a desire
to get more involved with the great
riches of the plant kingdom. One
direction that a person might choose
is to see some of these plants in
their natural habitat. Since Florida has much the same climate that is
maintained inside of the Boettcher Memorial Conservatory, the horticul¬
tural gardens of Florida are a logical place to pursue further study.
Such gardens are numerous and beautiful and not only are the plants
more natural, but it is always interesting to run across an old friend first
discovered in the Denver conservatory.

The glamour of the plant explorer — of searching around the world
for beneficial plants — can be found in Florida. The Fairchild Tropical
Gardens is one of these exotic collections near Miami. The estate
belonged to Colonel Robert Montgomery who especially fancied palms.
There are 500 kinds of palms and cycads found in a beautiful setting.
Over 2500 species of plants are grown there including many unusual
varieties.

A lesser known plant explorer was Henry Nehrling whose gardens,
formerly called the Caribbean Gardens and now more popularly known
as Jungle Larry’s Safari, are located at Naples. A small zoo is the
incentive to attract the tourist but many of Dr. Nehrling’s botanical
curiosities that he started importing in 1918 are still to be found.
The collections of 3,000 bromeliads and 10,000 orchids (epiphytes or
air plants) are outstanding.

The Edison estate at Fort Meyers, now operated by the city, is
another wonderland of the subtropical environment. Mrs. Edison loved
gardens and was instrumental in starting many garden clubs. Harvey
Firestone brought a banyan fig to her in 1925; with all of its drooping
roots, the tree now measures 200 feet wide.

South of Miami near Homestead is the Orchid Jungle, also known
as the Fennel Orchid Company. They claim to have over 4,000 hybrids
and species of orchids as well as many other exotic plants. This family
has innovated many things in orchid raising. They claim to have the
largest outdoor orchid collection in the United States and perhaps the
largest variety of orchids in the world.

Another type of Florida’s horticultural displays are the beautiful
formal gardens on some of the great estates. At Vizcaya there are 10
acres of Italian style gardens designed by Diego Suarez. This James
Deering estate in Miami, with its magnificent art treasures, is one of
the outstanding show places in the state.

The Ringling estate in Sarasota represents what can be done with
wealth and the attractive climate of a warm, humid environment.
Busch Gardens in Tampa are particularly famous for the zoological
gardens, but the subtropical plantings help make this an outstanding

■ m

isitmg

the habitat
of some of
the conservatory
plants

tourist attraction. The Japanese Gardens on Watson Island in Miami
are unique, for here subtropical plants are used to create the effect
that traditional temperate climate plants commonly give this kind of
landscape architecture.

One of the most famous tourist attractions of Florida is Cypress
Gardens. The water skiing show has made this area a national attraction
but a plant lover would probably find the gardens even more appealing.
I found myself thinking that it was great to have the water skiing
attraction to help pay for the huge staff needed to take care of the plant
paradise. Here a sink hole lake in the limestone substrate had a cypress
swamp on one side. R. D. Pope had the foresight to see what a beautiful
spot a murky, impenetrable bog could become.

Much of the more common vegetation in Florida is lovely also.
The camellias and azaleas in bloom from January to March, help add
to the grandeur of the winter and spring season in our most southern
continental state.

After looking at all of these beautiful gardens, a conservatory
becomes even more interesting for it brings far away places, represented
by the plant world, to our own door step.

At the beginning of October 1969 the weather was warm, the sun
shone every day, flowers bloomed luxuriously, the trees, in full leaf,
were beginning to turn to red and gold, and Denver was entering another
of its famous Indian summers. Then, on October 4th, came the snow -
a heavy wet snow, clinging to the trees and bushes. Limbs bent, and
broke, came crashing down. The flowers were buried and destroyed.
Scarcely a tree or bush escaped severe damage. One week later there
was another storm, a heavier snow, and trees, already weakened, broke
again and again.

Disaster enough, but the extent of the damage was not realized
at first. On October 4, the temperature dropped spectacularly from
80° to near zero. That hadn’t happened before and it was a while
before we recognized that the temperature drop was the real destroyer.
The trees and bushes were full of sap and had not begun to harden off

for winter. They froze — literally froze. Many of them died at once.
Others leafed out in the spring, struggled briefly, and gave up in the
summer heat. The extent of that damage is still being felt, two years
later. Trees and parts of trees are still dying, and others are weakened,
although still surviving.

As if this was not enough, the dread Dutch Elm Disease arrived
in Denver at about this time. The broken and lifeless elm limbs pre¬
sented an ideal hatching place fo the elm bark beetles which carried
the disease. For two years, now, the disease has been spreading rapidly
and there has been a desperate campaign to get the dead elm wood out
of the trees and wood piles and into the dumps and fires. Some experts
feel that it is a hopeless campaign, that Denver will lose all of its estimated
185,000 elm trees. Others are hopeful that some cure will be discovered
before all the elms are gone, or that the disease destruction can be
stalled long enough to get different and disease-immune trees established
in the city before it is left treeless and barren.

The snow damage of 1969 had been mostly repaired; the freeze
damage had nearly run its course; and the disease damage had been
accepted and provided for, as best we could, when Denver entered
another of those pleasant autumns in September, 1971.

You know what happened. Here came another big, unseasonable |
snow. The tree branches sagged, snapped and broke. The next phase
of the progressive disaster had come. All of it, together, seems like
just too much.

It seems to me that nature has forcefully reminded us that trees
don’t grow naturally on this high prairie. Mostly because we don’t have
the water, but partly because of the sudden changes in temperature and
weather. When early explorers traveled through the Platte-Cherry Creek
area 125 years ago, they called this treeless country the Great American
Desert. The newspapers and the Chamber of Commerce have, ever since,
been indignant about this vile slur. The people who love trees and flowers
and everything that grows, have been practical — they accepted the
desert for what it is and have gone cheerfully about creating an oasis.
The horticulturists, professional and amateur, have been so successful
that newcomers are hardly aware of the true nature of the high plains,
and the rest of us often forget.

But the continuing tree disaster has revealed another thing about
the people of Denver. Most of them are not much concerned about what
happens to our trees and shrubs, or our flowers either. They are so
involved with automobiles and television and their finances that they
hardly notice what is happening to the oasis. “Why do you try to grow
all those things?” they ask. “I don’t have them and I don’t need them.”
That, I think, is sad. It tells us that most Americans have been conditioned
by a technical, scientific society to the point where they no longer are
related to the earth, its plants and animals, and its beauty. A hundred
years ago our books, our poems, our art were full of the appreciation
of nature. That world is gone. It was, I think, a far richer and more
satisfying world than the concrete-plastic-asphalt mechanical world we
live in. It is sad that most people gave up so much for so little.

AND

i A CATALOG OF
ROCK PLANTS
GROUND COVERS

Suzanne Ash & Bernice Petersen

Give a man the secure possession of a bleak rock and he will turn it
into a garden; give him a nine years’ lease of a garden and he will convert
it into a desert — Arthur Young.

During the past 8 years members of the plant sale committee at
Denver Botanic Gardens have been striving to deter that man with the
9-year lease; more specifically, those who dispense rock plants and ground
covers there have been offering guidance to him with the bleak rock.

Here along the Front Range rock gardening is a natural with rocks
naturally close by and hundreds of homes situated on natural slopes.
Rock gardening is one of the most esthetic approaches to landscape design
and plant appreciation. Even a postage stamp garden, with rocks and
plants in proper scale, can delight the most discriminating plant hobbyist.
Some, reasoning if a little is good a lot is better, are “doing what
comes naturalee,” building a garden on half an acre or more with rocks
carefully chosen and skillfully (?) placed.

With urban sprawl, attempts to build replicas of gardens found in
our nearby mountains or gardens of the Southwest desert have become
increasingly popular. To conserve water, time and energy ground covers
(with or without crushed rock) have been substituted for lawns. Provid¬
ing a variety of plants that will adapt or thrive under these extreme
conditions has been the pleasure of those managing the rock garden booth
| at the annual plant sale. Over the years this list has grown to more than
100 kinds of plants: choice, perhaps tender, hardy or robust. True rock
plants are mostly perennials. Although a wide assortment of plant
varieties in a garden is fascinating and desirable, restraint is actually
difficult and necessary.

. Following is a catalog of plants offered mainly at the Rock Garden
and Ground Cover Booth. Not all have been available in a given year.
A few are found at the Herb Booth while others are handled in Perennials.
Many plants have been grown especially for the Plant Sale at Denver
Botanic Gardens, traditionally preceding Mother’s Day. Descriptions and
cultural hints have been assembled primarily as aids to the volunteers in
Rock Gardens and posted for information of its customers. Novice
gardeners as well as seasoned hobbyists have found them helpful, even
educational.

New to the collection of plants this year will be two natives:

Dodecatheon pulchellum. Western shooting star. Clusters of bright
pink flowers with dark colored anthers grow on leafless stalks. (Ex¬
clamation points in living color.) The plant has basal rosettes of bright
green leaves. It likes moisture, rich loamy soil and good drainage.

Townsendia exscapa. Easter daisy. A mass of white or pinkish
flower heads nestle in a dense tuft of narrow greyish leaves. Once estab¬
lished in the garden, in average soil with average moisture, this little gem
thrives, even reseeds. As the common name implies, bloom is usually in
April and into May.

Aethionema pulchellum. Persian candytuft. Bluish-green year-round
foliage. Heads of soft pink flowers on a tiny shrublet about 6 inches high
and 6 inches across. Thrives in sun, stands drought. Happy in walls and
will reseed. Blooms mid-May to June.

Ajuga rep tans. Bugle weed. Foliage: green, purplish or variegated.
Flowers: blue, pink or white. Excellent ground cover in sun or shade,
creeping, can be troublesome.

Alyssum montanum. More ground hug¬
ging than A. saxatile known as basket-of-gold.

Lemon-yellow fragrant flowers above compact
and spreading grey foliage. Stands heat and
drought. Common in the Alps. A. saxatile
compactum, a dwarf strain of basket-of-gold,
is neat in pavement planting and an effective
edging plant.

Androsace spp. Rock jasmines. Short
stemmed rose or white flowers in early May
from rosettes of tiny leaves. Like moisture
and light shade. Mulching during winter
months might be helpful.

Anemone patens. Our native pasque
flower. Furry buds produce lavender blos¬
soms in late April and May. The feathery
seed heads are equally attractive. Plant in
open in average well-drained soil.

A. sylvestris. Snowdrop windflower.

Satiny white cup-shaped flowers up to 1 Vi
inches across bloom in early May. Likes
light shade. Reseeds. Easy.

ANEMONE

Antennaria spp. Native pussytoes. Silvery-grey ground cover with
May flowers in white or pink resembling little catspaws. Grow in average
soil, prefer good drainage. Leaves remain all winter. Excellent between
flagstones, even on a south exposure.

Aquilegia caerulea. Colorado columbine. Prefers part shade, rich
soil. Will hybridize with other colors if they are nearby.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Native kinnikinick. Broadleafed, trailing
evergreen ground cover with dainty urn-shaped pink and white flowers
followed by scarlet berries. Prefers good drainage and light shade. If
planted in bright sunlight provide some light winter mulch.

Arenaria montana. Sandwort. Moss-like foliage with white flowers
larger than our native. Grows in partial shade. Good between flagstones.

Armeria laucheana. Sea pink or thrift. Rose flowers, on 4-inch
stems above grassy, tufted foliage, bloom in May or June. Sun or light
shade. Protect in winter from drought and sunburn.

Artemisia schmidtiana nana.

Silver Mound. Low, soft silvery
foliage forms broad attractive
mounds. Will grow in full sun,
sandy soil. Prune or cut back
vigorously in spring.

Asperula odorata. Sweet
woodruff. Excellent plant for
shaded areas. Interesting whorled
leaves with little white star-like
flowers. A perennial herb, dried
foliage is fragrant.

Aster alpinus. Purple, blue,
white or pink blossoms with
bright yellow centers in May and
June. Sun and average soil.

Aster spp. Goliath Blue,

Dark Beauty, Warburg Star.

Hardy fall asters bloom when
few other flowers blossom.

Brunner a macro pylia
(Anchusa myoso tidi flora).

Dainty blue forget-me-not flow¬
ers on 1 2 inch plants. Fragrant.

Shade.

Cactuses. Most are appro¬
priate in many shapes and sizes.

Campanula carpatica
turbinata. Flowers larger than
C. carpatica , white or blue. Plant
grows 4 to 6 inches high. CAMPANULA

. C. cochlearifolia. Fairies’ thimbles. Small rambling plant with tiny
hanging bells in lavender or white. 2 to 3 inches high.

C. garganica. Excellent plant. From a rosette of small ivy-shaped
leaves grow many flowering sprays bearing starry-blue flowers with white
eyes. Blooms in mid-June. Prefers light shade and good soil. Foliage
evergreen.

C. portenschlagiana (muralis). Light blue-purple bell-shaped flowers.
Likes moisture and well-drained soil, part shade or east exposure. One of
the best.

C. poscharkyana. Larger than C. garganica. About 6 inches high
with long trailing stems. Masses of large wide-open violet-blue stars in
May and June. Easy in well-drained soil; might be too vigorous in rich
soil.

Carlina acaulis. Stemless thistle of the Alps. Dwarf perennial with
silky white flower heads about 2 inches across, which dry beautifully.

Convallaria majalis. Lily-of-the-valley. Good ground cover in diffi¬
cult shady areas. Prized for its fragrant, delicately scented, white bell¬
shaped flowers. Can be invasive.

Cotoneaster dammeri. White flowers followed with bright red ber¬
ries. Lustrous evergreen leaves on this prostrate shrub. A possible
substitute for kinnikinick.

Dianthus caesius. Tiny, sweet-
scented rose-pink carnations bloom
in May on low cushions of glaucous
leaves.

D. deltoides. Flashing Light.

One of the maiden pinks. Good winter
foliage, useful in walls. Use sparingly
in small garden.

D. plumarius. Grass pink. Bluish-
grey foliage, flowers rose-pink to pur¬
plish or white, some variegated colors.

An old garden favorite.

D. ‘ Tiny Rubies. ’ Miniature red
carnations on tufted green foliage.

Plant in average soil with average
moisture.

Dicentra eximia. Fringed bleeding heart. Flowers nodding, pink.
Good in shade. Can spread.

Draba repens. Yellow flowers cover bright green foliage on this low
growing plant. Likes gritty soil and full sun. Might endure shade. May
flowering.

Eriogonum spp. Native sulphur flowers. Mat-like covering good on
slopes. Foliage remains ever green or ever grey. Cream, yellow or deep
yellow flowers in umbels. Poor to average soil. Little water.

Euonymus fortunei colorata. Good evergreen ground cover. Low
creeping species, about 6 inches tall, spreads rapidly and has excellent
18

DIANTHUS

purple fall color which lasts most of the winter. Thrives in shade but
endures sun.

Euphorbia epithymoides (poly chroma). Spurge. Conspicuous char¬
treuse-yellow bracts, incorrectly termed flowers, appear on 8 to 12 inch
stems in early May. Foliage turns crimson in autumn. Grows easily in full
sun and in well-drained soil.

Festuca glauca. Blue fescue grass. Silvery-blue tufts form interesting
clumps. Divide or replace every 3 to 4 years. Average soil and moisture.
Effective edging plant.

Fragaria spp. Runnerless strawberries, Baron von Solemacher (red)
and Alpine (yellow) delight the eye as well as the palate. Eight to 12
inch clumps also useful as edgings. Wild strawberry, F. ovalis, bears
delicious fruit and covers difficult areas.

Geum borisi. Avens. Yellow-orange flowers on 8-inch stems. Light
green crinkly leaves about 4 inches across are almost as pretty as the
flowers. Plant in sun in light soil.

G. ‘Scarlet Gem.’ Introduced last year. Taller than above with red
flowers.

G. triflorum Pink plumes. Native. Urn-shaped blossoms, usually
3 on a stalk, with yellow or whitish petals protruding. Fruit is com¬
posed of silky- rose colored plumes. Light shade or open sun with
adequate moisture and good drainage.

Globularia cordifolia. Globe daisy. Lilac-blue globes about half
inch across on 3-inch stems. Light shade and well-drained soil. Different.

Gypsophila repens. Dwarf babys breath. Low creeping bluish-green
leaves profusely covered with small white or pinkish flowers. G. repens
rosea is a pink variety. Good in walls or rocks, will endure sun and little
moisture.

Helianthemum nummularium. Sun rose or rock rose. This little
shrublet likes our alkaline soil, has deep green foliage that remains all
winter. The bright single or double rose-like flowers are white, pink,
rose, yellow or apricot. Prefers a sunny position and good drainage.
Should be cut back after flowering to bloom again in the fall.

Helleborus spp. Christmas roses and Lenten roses. Bloom when
little else in flower, December to March. Flowers white to greenish to
deep purple. Excellent evergreen foliage. Successful in deep, rich loam,
well-drained and in half shade. Slow to establish but sometimes reseed.

Heuchera sanguinea and splendens. Alumroot or coralbells. Hand¬
some rosettes of scalloped leaves with numerous red, pink, white or
coral flowers on elegant spikes. Hummingbirds find the bright red
blossoms attractive. Plant in full sun or partial shade.

Hypericum reptans. St. Johns-wort. Trailing species. During July
and August bears very large soft yellow flowers with conspicuous reddish
stamens. Full sun.

Iberis sempervirens. Candytuft. Evergreen foliage covered in May
with heads of white flowers. Little Gem is an exceedingly dwarf variety.

Linum flavum. Golden flax. L. narbonnense and perenne have sky-
blue flowers. Narbonnense has white eye and lasts throughout the day.
All 1-2 feet high and grow in poor to average soil.

Mahonia repens. Native hollygrape. Good in sun or shade, drought
or average moisture. Will grow 12-15 inches high but stands vigorous
pruning. Yellow clusters of flowers in early spring are followed by blue
berries attractive to birds and delicious in jelly.

Nepeta mussini. Catmint. Blue flowers on grey foliage about a foot
high. Bees like it and it likes a hot, dry location.

Oenothera coronopifolia. Cut-leaf evening-primrose. White flowered
species found along roadsides in foothills and lower montane zones. A
charming plant in hot dry areas.

O. missouriensis. Immense yellow blooms over a long flowering
season.

Papaver nadicaule. Iceland poppy. Sweet-scented, delicate flowers
about 2 inches across in satiny colors ranging through white, yellow,
orange and red. P. alpinum is more delicate and shorter stemmed.
Planted in a sunny position in well-drained soil, both bloom over long
periods.

Penstemon alpinus. Native blue
flower on 6 to 10 inch spikes.

P. barbatus. Red blossoms on
spikes 1 8 inches or taller.

P. crandalli. Native creeper
blooms in early May on hot dry
slopes. Blue flowers.

P. pinifolius. Native to New
Mexico, Arizona and adjacent Mexico.

Dark green needle-like leaves, resem¬
bling tiny junipers, form mats up to
30 inches across and when in bloom
are densely covered with vermillion
red spikes 6 to 8 inches tall. In
winter the foliage assumes a bronzy
hue.

Phlox divaricata. Wild sweet william. Attractive blue flowers appear
in early May. Native in eastern North America. Prefers rich soil and
partial shade. Plants about a foot tall.

P. subulata. Ground pink, actually phlox. Its mats of evergreen
needle-like leaves are densely covered in May with white, pink, blue,
magenta or red flowers. Stands full sun, prefers light mulch in winter to
prevent burning. Transplants or divides readily after blooming.

Polemonium humile. Jacobs ladder. Blue flowers in clusters on
interesting foliage. Blossoms in May in partial shade.

Potentilla aurea vema. Small golden-yellow flowers on low growing
plants with strawberry-like foliage. P. tonguei blooms a little later. Both
thrive with average care and bloom in May.

P. nepalensis. Rasp berry -pink flowers on 12-inch stems blossom in

July.

Primula acaulis and P. polyanthus. Primroses. Some of the best
shade plants in bright rich colors. Loose, humusy soil.

PENSTEMON

Santolina chamaecyparissus. Lavender cotton. Aromatic shrublet
with evergrey foliage. S. verm has bright green foliage. Both have yellow
button flowers, stand shearing and are useful for formal hedging. Plants
grow 12-15 inches across, start readily from cuttings made in late August.

Saponaria ocymoides. Soapwort. Creeping or trailing evergreen
plants with bright pink blossoms. Good for sunny places in the rockery
or on a wall. No special care.

Saxifraga bronchialis. Tiny evergreen rosettes (about an inch across)
with slight crusting on edge of leaves. Two-inch stems bear umbels of
waxy-white flowers. Although it has been propagated for the annual
plant sale this native is seldom commercially available. Grows in sun or
light shade in average soil without too much water. A jewel!

S. cotyledon. Evergreen rosettes with silver crusted leaves and
panicles of white flowers on 12-inch stems. The “rock breakers” prefer
to be planted next to rocks or even in the crevises of rock walls.

S. umbrosa. London Pride. Scalloped leaves form neat evergreen
rosettes with pink starry blossoms.

Scabiosa alpina.

Dwarf pincushion. Small
oval evergreen basal leaves
deeply cut. Lavender-blue
blossoms, miniatures of
the old-fashioned pin
cushion plant, flower on
3 inch stems. Light
loamy soil, sun or light
shade. June and July.

Sometimes reseeds. SCABIOSA

Sedum spp. Stonecrop. Succulents, more than 700 named species.
Although most are appropriate the dwarf or creeping forms seem more
suitable for the rockery. Mostly perennial and evergreen, their little
star-shaped flowers, in terminal clusters, appear from early spring to
autumn, depending on variety. Colors are usually white, pink, yellow
and red. Foliage may be green, grey, variegated, or dark red. Most thrive
in hot, dry positions, but S. sieboldi prefers some shade. Most propagate
readily and are seldom pests since they have shallow roots.

Sempervivum spp. Hen and chix or houseleeks. Evergreen rosettes
with various colored thick leaves. Primarily foliage plants they are found
in greens, greys, reds and combinations of these colors, some are covered
with cobwebs. Most bloom in summer and are propagated easily from
offsets. They dislike rich soil or too much moisture. More delicate ones
like partial shade. Many are winter hardy. Two or three planted in a
crevice will multiply and form a filigree of rosettes. The column of
flowers and “hen” dies after blooming but the surrounding chix carry on.

Silene acaulis. Dainty pink flowers of our high mountains. This
moss-like plant needs gravelly soil, ample moisture and light shade.

S. zawadski. Deep green foliage that remains all year. Adaptable in
full sun or part shade. Petals notched and white flowers are wheel-like

on 4 to 8 inch stems. From Austrian Alps.

Sisyrinchium brachypus. Tiny iris with grassy foliage. Plant in
light, rather moist soil. Needs sunlight to blossom. Yellow blue-eyed
grass?

S. montanum is our native blue-eyed grass. It requires well-drained
soil, moisture and some sun to bloom.

Stomatium fulleri. One of the few hardy members of the Iceplant
family (Mesembryanthemaceae). A succulent from Africa, the plant
resembles a living rock. Its bright yellow flowers composed of numerous
stamen-like petals are large in relation to the plant. Sunlight “turns them
on,” they open in mid-afternoon, flower all summer and until late fall
(this season to mid-November). Plant in full sun with little water. Charm¬
ing, a good subject for strawberry jars.

Teucrium chamaedrys. Germander. Shrubby perennial about a foot
high with shiny, almost evergreen foliage. Flowers reddish-purple, less
impressive than the foliage. Stands shearing, starts easily from cuttings.
Sun or shade.

Thymus aureus. Golden thyme. Should have part shade, not as
golden in full sun. T. argentea, silver thyme; T. citriodorus , lemon thyme;
T. lanuginosus , T. serpyllum and others. All thrive in sun, moderate
water, make excellent ground covers, good between stepping stones.
Many are useful herbs in cookery.

Verbascum hybridum. Although related to mullein it resembles
dwarf delphinium. Spikes of white, pink or maroon flowers about 8
inches tall. It succeeds in poor soil, requires little moisture, brightens
barren corners or sandy slopes.

Veronica allionni. Evergreen foliage, low spreading mound covered
with deep blue 2-inch spikes in late May and early June. Excellent under
average conditions.

V. gentianoides. Deep green foliage (evergreen and gentian-like).
Spikes of porcelain-blue flowers veined with darker blue. Good in rockery
or used as border.

V. incana. Eight-inch spikes of deep blue flowers with grey year-
round foliage. Other varieties (usually sold in Perennials at the plant
sale) have white or pink blossoms.

V pectinata. Hairy mat-like foliage, evergreen, with deep magenta
flowers. Excellent in difficult places yet pleasing plant. Will stand full
sun and drought. Quick spreading.

V rupestris. Evergreen carpet similar to V. allionni. Some varieties
have pink or white spikes 2-3 inches.

Yucca spp. Many sizes to be selected according to scale. Y.
harrimanni is probably the smallest used in cultivation. Y. glauca is
our native soap wort with greyish swordlike leaves and ivory tinged-pink
blossoms. Y. filamentosa has taller stems and the most flexible leaves.
Y. baccata , perhaps the largest grown in this area, has decorative curls
along the leaf blades. Leaves can be dangerous (a common name, Spanish
bayonet is indicative), but yuccas have an important place in horticulture
in the Southwest. Blossoms should be sprayed with Malathion in June to
rid them of aphis.

book review _

Blunt, Wilfrid. The Compleat Naturalist; a Life of Linnaeus. New
York, Viking, 1971. 256 p. $14.95.

This recently published biography enriches the already numerous
collection of books on the prince of botanists, Carl Linnaeus.

The book is divided into three sections: Part One, The years of
struggle, 1707-1735; Part Two, In search of fame, 1 735-1738; Part Three,
The prince of botanists, 1738-1778. Each part deals with a particular
phase of the naturalist’s life; the largest portion is allotted to his adult
life, the productive time during which he developed the Linnaean classi¬
fication and during which he published most of his works. The emphasis
is on his accomplishments as a scientist although the reader is kept
informed on the personal life of the subject. The author delves into his
character to a great degree, even to the point of having Linnaeus’ hand¬
writing analyzed.

The serious student as well as the novice will enjoy this book.
The former for enrichment and the latter as a well written, accurate
introduction to the man and his impact. The book mirrors eighteenth
century life, its character, its people and the development of the arts
and sciences to this time.

Mr. Blunt quotes liberally from the works of Linnaeus and also
from the writings of other biographers. He provides a bibliography, an
appendix written by William T. Stearn, a leading authority on Linnaeus,
of the Natural History Museum in London. This appendix is a short
course on Linnaean classification, nomenclature ^nd method.

Mr. Stearn provides locations of the Linnaeus collections. This
would be particularly useful if one were contemplating a trip to Europe.

There is also a chronological list of the principal works of Linnaeus,
with place of publication and those of which recent facsimiles have been
made.

One’s first impulse on seeing the volume is to look at the profuse
illustrations, almost every page is illustrated, many with several drawings
or pictures. There are 32 full page color plates. Also all the illustrations
are identified and refer to the material within the immediate text. The
author’s style is clear to the point that it may seem repetitive. The print
is somewhat small but on very good quality paper.

The book is available for circulation at the Helen Fowler Library.

S. H.

Our readers will be sorry to learn that James M. Schell, Horticultural
Education Specialist has resigned from the Denver Botanic Gardens. He
has accepted a position with Chemagro, a division of Baychem Company.
There he will serve as Technical Service Representative and do field
research in developing a practical and safe way of controlling weeds,
insects and plant diseases by chemical means. This position will enable
him to complete his requirements for the Ph.D. degree at Kansas State
University at Manhattan. Our good wishes go with him.

for

your

information

FOCUS

EUPHORBIA
PULCHERRIMA

in the

Boettcher Memorial Conservatory
Peg Hayward

The flamboyant poinsettia has become a symbol of Christmas, as
no other plant exhibits such a brilliant display during the holiday season.
It is not the flowers, but the bright red leaves or bracts that attract our
attention. Golden cups in the center of these bracts are the flowers.

Of the vast genus Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae family, with about 1600
species of latex-bearing plants growing in warm temperate and tropical
regions, the most widely known member is probably the poinsettia,
Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., native to the moist, shaded parts of
southern Mexico and Central America. The poinsettia was introduced
to the world via the United States in 1828 bv Joel R. Poinsett of
Charleston, South Carolina, who was then United States Minister to
Mexico. This monarch of the holiday season was named in his honor.
The genus name and its family come from the Greek physician Euphorbus,
and the species is from the Latin adjective pulcher , meaning beautiful
or handsome.

E. pulcherrima has succulent, tender new growth which matures to a
woody, shrublike structure. The plant may grow 10 or more feet high in
its native habitat. Coarse, evergreen leaves produced on smooth, upright
canes are variously lobed or entire and somewhat hairy underneath.

On close inspection, the flowers reveal a peculiar structural plan,
one of extreme degeneration of the individual flower. The bright
colored bracts surrounding the flower clusters serve to attract insects
as pollinators. The bulky “flowers” with a lateral nectar gland may
be mistaken for a single flower, but are complicated flower clusters.
Less than a half inch across, each cluster is on a separate short stem and
almost enclosed by green or yellow bracts, properly called an involucre.
They protect a single short pedicel bearing a rudimentary three-lobed
calyx and a pistil, and 4 or 5 more pedicels each with a single short
stamen. The pistil has a three-lobed ovary and three styles, each cleft
at the tip. This extremely modified flower cluster is characteristic of
many Euphorbiaceae family members. Also common to the family is

the presence of milky juice, which is poisonous in varying degrees.
The leaves of the poinsettia are very poisonous when eaten.

The poinsettia is a “short day” bloomer, that is, its blooming
period is conditioned by the length of time it receives daylight. This
accounts for the great regularity of its blooming period during the winter
months, when the hours of the day are right for its appearance. It is
known that brilliant street lights which prolong the lighted period have
postponed the blooming period.

Horticulturists have concentrated on developing many variations of
the scarlet poinsettia. As a result, there are now double forms and
varieties where the red bracts are replaced with pink, white, and yellow
in varying shades, as well as some with variegated leaves. The new hybrid
Mikklesen variety makes a useful, long-lasting house plant.

For poinsettia care refer to article by Helen Marsh Zeiner in The
Green Thumb , December, 1962.

hanks to Bern Neil

In 1957 with membership in Colorado Forestry and Horticulture
Association already in hand, Bern Neil, an enthusiastic herb gardener,
arrived in Denver from Ohio. In November 1971 she moved on to
California, leaving behind an impressive array of Garden-related accom¬
plishments and a host of friends and admirers.

An exhibit of herbs at the first Colorado Garden Show, held a few
months after her arrival, signaled the beginning of her volunteer activities
in the Denver area — she had been active in The Herb Society of America
for many years. With the formation of Around the Seasons Club in
1961, she began her volunteer service at Denver Botanic Gardens. In¬
troducing herbs to the Botanic Gardens Guild was her privilege and it is
probable that the present status of Denver Botanic Gardens among herb
gardens in the United States is a direct result of this introduction. In
sharing a zest for herbs she generously gave the recipe now used by
the Guild for production of herb vinegar. She is a member of The Tussie
Mussie Mesdames, a group who in 1 969 published a pinch of herbs , a
charming and practical little recipe book. This was sold for the benefit
of the Associates.

Bern Neil’s second — or should it be first? — preoccupation is with
books. She is an avid collector for her personal library and shared this
interest as well as some of her own books with the Helen Fowler Library.
Appointed to the Library Committee in 1 963, she has served continuously
there and as a regular volunteer library assistant.

With the establishment of Associates of Denver Botanic Gardens
she took on management of the book section of the Gift Shop. In more
recent months she initiated and arranged two successful autograph parties
for the benefit of the Shop and the Library. She also served as vice-
president, two years as president and was a member of the Associates’
board at the time of her resignation.

To round out this report, as a member of Around the Seasons she
served as secretary, vice-president and president and with the transfor¬
mation of the annual plant sale from an annual auction she was again
involved.

And this brings us back to the original theme, “Thanks to Bern
Neil.” Thanks for her shared experience, her fresh ideas, her generosity
and her loyalty to Denver Botanic Gardens.

May the best of everything be hers. lmc; BEP

uxotics

°/ COLORADO

European Weeping Birch,
Betula pendula . . .

Helen Marsh Zeiner

White-barked birches have long been popular as ornamental trees;
of these, the European weeping birch, Betula pendula Roth., and its
cut-leaved varieties are most often seen.

The white trunks are beautiful at any time of year, but they are
most outstanding in winter when they are not masked by the leaves.
The clean, chalky-white of the bark makes a nice contrast with evergreens.

Betula is the ancient Latin name for the birch. Pendula refers to
the drooping or pendulous branches. Although the main branches are
upright, the slender side branches are pendulous. The common name
“weeping birch” is given to the tree because of these drooping or
“weeping” branches. A graceful tree, weeping birch is the “lady of the
woods” of English poetry; this is a common name sometimes used in
Great Britain.

All birches have prominent lenticels or breathing pores in the bark
which permit an exchange of gases with the atmosphere. In Betula
pendula , the lenticels appear as elongated horizontal marks. Old trunks
may have black clefts and large black marking which are conspicuous
against the white bark. The bark is thin and papery and may sometimes
peel, but this is not a pronounced feature as it is in the paper birch.

The slender, drooping branches and small leaves together with the
white bark give a light, airy effect. The tree is medium sized and gives
moderate shade.

Leaves of weeping birch are smooth, long-stalked, triangular, from
1 to 2Vi inches long, long-pointed, doubly toothed, often straight or
wedge-shaped at the base. In the commonly cultivated varieties they
are also deeply lobed or “cut-leaved.”

Birches are catkin-bearing trees. Male and female catkins are borne
on the same tree. The female or pistillate catkins are about an inch
long, narrow, slender-s talked, and cone-like in appearance at maturity,
The fruit is a tiny winged nutlet. Female catkins disintegrate readily
when the seeds are ripe, releasing the winged fruits to be carried by the
wind far from the parent tree.

Male or staminate catkins, small and slender, are formed in the fall

and can be seen on the trees all winter. In the spring they elongate
rapidly and shed quantities of yellow pollen. Birch twigs with male
catkins are favorite twigs for forcing indoors.

Unfortunately, Betula pendula is a short-lived tree with a life
expectancy estimated at 25 to 35 years. Weeping birch is subject to
insect (particularly beetle) damage and the bronze birch borer is a
serious enemy. Betula pendula prefers moist soil and is not drought
resistant, nor is it frost-hardy on dry soil sites. Irrigation is indicated
for this tree to ensure that it does not suffer drought damage. It is
hard to transplant, and young trees are subject to sunscald.

These faults limit the usefulness of weeping birch, but with all its
shortcomings, it remains popular because it is such a beautiful tree.

Betula pendula is a member of the birch family, Betulaceae. In
addition to birches, the alders, hazelnuts, and hornbeams belong to this
family. In Colorado, we have three native birches: Betula papyrifera
Marsh., paper birch, which has a very limited distribution in Boulder
county; Betula glandulosa Michx., bog birch, a shrubby high altitude
birch noted for its brilliant autumn color; and Betula occidentalis Hook.,
river birch, a very common small tree with cherry-like bark found along
streams from the foothills well into the montane zone. Our native
alder, Alnus tenuifolia Nutt., is also a small tree common along streams
where it often grows with river birch. Colorado also has a native hazelnut,
Corylus cornuta Marsh., a shrub sometimes found along streams in the
foothills of the eastern slope.

Betula pendula is native to Europe and Asia Minor to Japan. In
its native habitats, it is a tree of many uses.

Books written in 700 B.C. were reputedly written on birch bark.
From earliest times, the slender, flexible branches have been used to tie
bundles of faggots for easy carrying. They have also been used as switches
to punish recalcitrant children — “Spare the rod and spoil the child”
often meant a birch rod.

In northern Europe, the weeping birch furnishes wood for fuel to
heat homes. Charcoal is made from it. Hoops for binding casks were
also made from birch.

A poor peasant, wearing birch wood shoes, might live in a humble
home roofed with birch bark shingles and heated with a birch wood fire.
His furniture might be made of birch wood, and he might sweep the
floor with a broom made of birch twigs. He might sit at a birch wood
table eating a simple meal with a birch wood spoon. If he was very poor,
he might strip the inner bark from a birch, grind it, and mix it with
meal for bread. In the spring, he might collect birch sap to make mead
and wine.

Russian leather is said to owe its characteristic color and odor to
tannin, a yellow dye, and an oil, all derived from birch bark.

The numerous tiny seeds are food for birds such as the ptarmigan
in Lapland when other food is covered with snow.

Perhaps the most unique use of all for Betula pendula was, that in
the days of powdered wigs, a powdery white material obtained from old
bark was used to dust and whiten wigs!

The Denver Technological Center, south of Denver along Interstate
25, is rapidly earning a national reputation as an attractive headquarters
center for large companies. Started in 1962 with 40 acres of farmland,
and a thoughtful master plan, DTC has expanded to 850 acres and is
host to more than 60 companies.

The success of the center is due in large part to a policy established
early by its president, George M. Wallace. Landscaping was not to be
treated as a luxury or nuisance, but as an absolute necessity. Bricks,
boards and machines were to serve in a secondary role to people and
plants. The basic plan for DTC is rigid in its insistence on a landscaping
budget and staff three times that of most development projects.

Landscaping came first and plans for the placement, design and
color of buildings followed, with strict codes that emphasize the im¬
portance of plant life and open spaces. Access streets into the complex
are divided parkways, routed to keep traffic at a minimum and away
from people. Divided intersections, with islands of trees, shrubbery
and ground cover, allow traffic to flow smoothly and safely, and it is
seldom that a pedestrian must cross a street or intersection. Sidewalks
do not follow the streets. Parking areas are lined with trees and shrubs
or are built into the buildings and there is no need for parking on or
adjacent to the greets.

All utilities are underground — under the planted parkways.

The attention to landscaping is not a whim, but the result of sound
economic planning. The park-like environment of the center is quiet,
relaxing and conducive to creative work. Executives and all who work
there are encouraged to enjoy the open spaces; to walk, exercise or
picnic at any time, and many do. There are many kinds and varieties
of plants to enjoy casually or selectively. The abundance of vegetation
and the absence of traffic attracts birds and even rabbits. It is an
environment that eases tensions and relieves the pressures of the business
world.

In addition, there are more direct economic advantages. Buildings
begin to deteriorate as soon as construction is complete, and they
depreciate in value. Much of the money invested is lost over a period
of years. During the same period, thoughtfully prepared, well maintained
landscaped areas grow in beauty and desirability, and the value of open

areas appreciates. The land values increase as building values decrease.

The criteria for landscaping was established by Carl Worthington
and Associates, consulting architects for Denver Technological Center.

In 1962, the DTC area was open and vulnerable to wind, storms
and drought. Consequently the choice of trees, shrubbery and ground
cover was from the more hardy plants. At the same time, material was
chosen for seasonal color and for compatibility in mass planting forms
to develop the character of the area.

The trees chosen included thornless honey locust, green ash and
seedless ash, cottonwood, poplar, Russian olive, several varieties of
flowering crabapple, ponderosa pine and Austrian pine.

Planting conformed to earth forms rather than strict geometric
lines and patterns, on parkways and in building areas. The curving
streets have the look and feel of colorful country lanes.

Shrubbery includes several different varieties of juniper and dog¬
wood to blend well with sumac, golden elder and euonymus, offering
color changes through the seasons.

Ground cover on parkways and in mass planting areas features a
great deal of sedum, requiring little water or maintenance. Boston
and Engelmann ivy, and vinca minor are also used near rock and planted
areas close to buildings. Planted in bold, simple patterns, the ground
cover tends to tie one area to the next.

Open spaces, near the developed portions of the 850-acre complex,
are planted to park blue grass, and sprinklers have been installed. But
there are still large portions of land awaiting development. These areas
too receive attention and are not allowed to become rank weed patches.
All trash has been removed and crested wheat and buffalo grass have
been planted. Mowing through the summer months encourages the
hardy grass and keeps weeds under control to present a clean, pleasant
appearance until more colorful landscaping can be extended.

The original enthusiasm for extensive landscaping at DTC has not
dwindled in nearly ten years; if anything it has grown. On other company
land, 4 miles south of the center, a tree farm is planned. Initially a 30-
acre plot will be planted to many different kinds and varieties of trees
yet to be determined. The dual purpose plan makes use of barren,
non-productive land, and at the same time enhances its appearance
and value. Trees raised on this farm will be used for future landscaping
at DTC and at the company’s future Rampart Range development.

Planting at DTC is not limited to the ground level. Many of the
same trees and plants seen on the parkways and other ground areas are
also growing in special outside planting areas and in large wooden tubs
on second and third story building plazas. An abundance of interior
plants decorate offices, lobbies and hallways.

Plants and trees used in landscaping at the Denver Technological
Center are hardy rather than exotic, and it is not the purpose of this
report to claim special botanical skill. Instead, the purpose is to encourage
others to consider the economic as well as the aesthetic advantages of
thoughtful landscaping — environmental appreciation on two counts,
and the long range results are pleasant to contemplate.

Almost all of us are familiar with the tall bearded iris, which usually
bloom in a height range of from 32 to 36 inches, often about Decoration
Day weekend in Denver. Ordinarily the tall bearded blooming period
lasts about two weeks, depending upon weather conditions.

Many gardeners are loath to give much space to these plants due
to the comparatively short flowering season. However, the iris period
can be greatly extended, and this is where the dwarfs enter upon the
scene.

First, a descriptive word about earlier iris. Below are names of the
various kinds, which are listed in blooming progression.

Miniature dwarfs ranging from 3V2 to no more than 9 inches
Standard dwarfs ranging from 10 to 14 inches
Miniature tall bearded ranging from 15 to 24 inches
Intermediates ranging from 1 5 to 28 inches
Border bearded ranging from 1 5 to 28 inches

In the Denver area, miniature dwarfs will begin to bloom anywhere
from mid-March to the first of April, depending upon the end of the
winter season. For example, in my own garden the first dwarf flower
came on March 16, 1970, while it was on April 1 last year. Miniatures
begin with little fellows standing only 3l/i to 4 inches high. These are
followed a little later by other miniatures ranging from 5 to 8 inches.
Then as the miniatures cease, the standard dwarfs begin their bloom.
The principal difference between miniatures and standards is that the
miniatures actually have no stem; the blossom is borne on the perianth
tube, which resembles a very short stem. Miniatures do not branch and
have only one or two terminal buds to a stem. Standards have a true
stem or stalk and in many cases have small branches. Standards should
never have less than three buds per stalk, while four or five buds are
considered desirable.

The intermediates follow the standard dwarfs closely in their bloom
period. You will note that the general height range of the intermediates
and borders is the same; however, their big difference is that they have a
separate blooming season. Only the borders flower at the same time as
the tall bearded iris. Hence, it naturally follows that the bloom season
is a yardstick for deciding the classification of these two groups. Miniature
tall beardeds are truly what the name implies for they must be perfect

miniatures in every respect. The stalk never exceeds the size of a pencil
in diameter. Their flower is never larger than 3 inches in width and
height combined. The miniature bloom season overlaps that of the
intermediates and the borders. Actually, the most desirable height range
for the miniature tails is from 20 to 22 inches.

But let us return to the dwarfs. They work splendidly in rock
garden plantings. It is desirable to plant them where they will have an
opportunity to multiply and grow into clumps. Clumps ranging from
6 to 12 inches in diameter will give vivid spots of color very early in the
season. The color range is wide with many yellows and blues. Many of
the yellows have very attractive brown spots on the falls. There are
reddish miniatures and just recently some that border on pink have been
introduced. There are many variations in purple and also in white
shades which range from very light yellows to pale creams. The same
color ranges extend throughout the standard dwarfs, a group of plants
perfect for border planting. Again it is desirable to give enough space
so that clumps develop. Details concerning the intermediates, the
miniature tall beardeds and the borders are not being given here, for
we are primarily concerned with dwarfs.

The culture of dwarfs is indeed simple. As with all iris, they like
good drainage. It has been pointed out that miniatures work splendidly
in rock gardens, and this implies that it is unnecessary to give considera¬
tion to lifting and dividing at frequent intervals. Never plant the dwarfs,
or any iris for that matter, with the rhizome more than 1 inch below the
surface of the ground. When planting dwarfs, see that they are solidly in
the ground and give them a good watering. Repeat the watering again in
5 or 6 days. The ideal time for planting all irises in the Denver area
is in July and August. I like to plant or transplant early, to give them
an opportunity to become well established before winter arrives. You
may have read or heard that dwarfs often heave out of the ground near
the end of winter and with the beginning of spring, when the ground
alternately thaws and freezes. I have seldom had any difficulty with
heaving and feel sure that it is due to this habit of planting early in
the season.

You may have also read or heard at one time or another that no
iris needs to be fertilized. This is truly a false statement, for there are
few plants that do not need plant food or fertilization. Dwarfs, or any
iris, for that matter, do not need a special fertilizer. Any good garden
fertilizer is quite satisfactory. One that will not burn makes application
much easier.

If you are not familiar with dwarf iris, may I extend an invitation
to visit my own dwarf garden, located at 4284 Hooker Street, Denver,
almost any time after the first of April. Of course, you may see the little
dwarf blooms tufted with a recent snow, but that is to be expected when
blossoms come so early in the year. Dwarf bloom is quite hardy - it
takes a really severe freeze to damage it.

When winter has been long and you are tired of snow and ice,
early dwarf iris is a marvelous spring tonic. Why not try a few in your
garden soon?

lecture Series 1971-72

OCTOBER 6, 1971 - Wednesday

Wildflowers — Getting to Know Them
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner . Botanist

NOVEMBER 11, 1971 - Thursday

A Garden Tour in Britain

Dr. Gordon Alexander . Emeritus Professor of Biology,

University of Colorado
Mrs. Gordon Alexander . Well-known lecturer to garden clubs

DECEMBER 9, 1971 - Thursday

Approaches to Insect Control

Dr. J. W. Brewer . Assistant Professor of Entomology,

Colorado State University

JANUARY 20, 1972 - Thursday

The Environment of Colorado — What is Happening to it.

Mr. Edward P. Connors . Board Member,

Denver Botanic Gardens

FEBRUARY 23, 1972 - Wednesday

Alpine Botanic Gardens in Europe

Dr. Beatrice Willard . Vice-President

Thorne Ecological Institute

MARCH 16, 1972 - Thursday

Iris — The Lazy Man’s Flower

Dr. Carl Jorgensen . Department of Horticulture,

Colorado State University

APRIL 20, 1972 - Thursday

Ornamental Plants

Mr. George Kelly . Horticulturist

MAY 18, 1972 — Thursday

The Use of Native Plants in Landscape Design

Dr. William Klein . Department of Botany,

Colorado State University

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.
A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr . Director

Mr. Andrew R. Knauer . Assistant Director

Mr. Ernest A. Bibee . Conservatory Superintendent

Mr. David A. Blades .... Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Miss Beverly M. Pincoski . Botanist -Horticulturist

Miss Margaret Sikes . Education Specialist

Mrs. Solange Huggins . Librarian

Dr. A. C. Hildreth . Director Emeritus

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover - Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Pages 3, 5, 7, 8 - Drawings by Polly Steele

Page 10 — Photos from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Page 13 - Drawing by Polly Steele

Pages 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 - Drawings by Suzanne Ash

Page 24 — Drawing by Phil Hayward

Page 26 - Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

Page 28 — Photo courtesy Denver Technological Center

Page 30 - Photo from files of Denver Botanic Gardens

lie GreeMhmb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

♦

DO NOT FOLD

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

ISSUE

ANNUAL REPORT

THE COVER

Cypripedium calceolus

Photo by Carol L. Radetsky

Editorial Committee
Miss Margaret Sikes, Editor
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Miss Lucy Crissey
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. Solange Huggins
, Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent free to
all members of the organization. Junior membership $2.50, Regular $7.50, Participating $15.00,
Supporting $25.00, Contributing $50.00. Business and Educational Institutional $100.00.

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER, You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York Street,
Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

VOL. TWENTY-NINE, NUMBER TWO SPRING 1972

MARGARET SIKES, Editor

Bird and Bush — George R. Shier - Page 34

Improving Urban Man’s Environment Through Engineering
Ken Wright, Doug Sovem and Frank Barrett - Page 38

Charlotte A. Barbour — M. L. S. - Page 40

A Delicate Beauty — Carol L. Radetsky - Page 41

Exotics of Colorado-Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis - Helen Marsh Zeiner - Page 42

Vivariums — Helen D. Stanley - Page 44

Trying Tomatoes in a Home Garden — Norman LeMay - Page 46

Annotations — S. H. - Page 48

Approaches to Insect Control — J. W. Brewer - Page 49

Focus On Datura Arborea - Peg Hayward - Page 55

The City and County of Denver — Page 56

Bonsai— An Ancient Art - Edna S. Webster - Page 57

Trustees for Denver Botanic Gardens — Page 60

List of Volunteers — Page 62

The Annual Report for 1971 — Page [1 ]

The Report of President of the Board of Trustees — Page [2]
The Report of the Director — Page [3]

The Financial Report — Page [11]

George R. Shier

Shrubs and trees have definite personalities that have specific appeal
to particular species of birds. The Van Bibber Creek Water Gap in which
we have lived for 20 years has a natural wealth of native shrubbery and
some trees, many of which attract birds as well as being suitable for land¬
scape plantings. We have used most of these native shrubs about our
buildings and have come to value some of them for their special ornitho¬
logical appeal.

First among the native shrubs, we prize the hawthorn, Crataegus
succulenta , or its close relatives. This genus is irresistible to a wide variety
of birds for protection, for food, and for nesting. The hawthorn becomes
a small tree with numerous thickly twigged branches that bear attractive
clusters of whitish flowers, followed by numerous clusters of tiny red
apples in the fall. The leaves color with the frosts and are borne on attrac¬
tive, dark, smooth twigs that have charm during the winter. For most
warblers, hawthorn has no peer at our place. During spring migration,
we look to hawthorn for the unusual warbler migrants, for the early
kinglets and gnatcatchers. The fruit-eating birds throng amid its branches
in the fall and during the winter it shelters the juncos and sparrows;
our occasional mockingbirds prefer the hawthorn for nesting. Crataegus
is a must for the bird garden. It is tolerant to a variety of soils and
locations and should grow most places below the lodgepole elevations.

For those who have ample space for larger shrubs and trees, I must
mention the box elder, Acer negundo. As a landscape tree, it is generally
unloved by the property owner, but to the birds, it provides a local
paradise. A mature box elder with its dense foliage, insect populations,
hollow trunks, and its protruding dead limbs, will serve more species and
numbers of birds than almost any other tree. We have two ancient box
elders plus some younger ones in the Gap. Flickers, Sparrow Hawks,
Lewis’ Woodpeckers, House Wrens and probably other birds have nested
in the hollow trunks. The major and minor branches always support nests.
Warblers, vireos, and kinglets of every recorded species feed high and low
in these box elders. The box elder should grow throughout the cotton¬
wood belt and up the canyons.

For the small yard, there are three very desirable shrubs with attrac¬
tive flowers, fruits, and fragrance, all adored by birds. These are the
thimbleberry, Rubus deliciosus (named by Dr. James who was the first
white man to ascend Pikes Peak in 1 820 when the Long Expedition passed
34

Rubus

deliciosus

Ribes

aureum

that way), the golden currant, Ribes aureum and the chokecherry, Primus
melanocarpa.

Planted close to our buildings, the thimbleberry is a favorite nesting
shrub for the Lazuli Bunting. It is a lovely white-f lowered shrub with
sweet, edible fruits and graceful spreading branches which look nice during
the winter. It does not enjoy crowding. If watered, it makes a rapid initial
growth up to about 4 feet high and a bit wider.

The golden currant lives up to its name with masses of fragrant yellow
flowers, followed by yellowish currants of excellent flavor. It can be
planted in mass or singly in the open where it assumes a graceful drooping
stance about 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. The small birds seek its shelter
all through the year, and towhees steal its fruits.

Unlike the first two, the chokecherry is very upright and will stretch
to 8 or 10 feet tall if favored with soil or water, or even make a small tree
of 4 inches or more diameter at the end of many years. It stands pruning,
and if cut back, quickly sends up new shoots. It provides an excellent
screen or hedge without trimming, in sun or shade. Although most of our
birds make use of the chokecherry, it is the favorite of Evening and
Black-headed Grosbeaks. They come for the berries long before they
are ripe. Berries that survive to dark ripeness make fine jelly if they escape
the thrush family, or the towhees. The chokecherry bloom clusters are
very fragrant and attract butterflies.

Around stone walls and foundations, we plant the common native
gooseberries, Ribes inerme. It has many virtues. It is the first shrub to leaf
in the spring and one of the last to color and drop in the fall. In between,
its deep shade shelters the House Wren and other small birds. The towhees
love the sweet dark berries. Half bush and half vine, it can be trained both
ways with delightful effects. Few weeds can compete with its early growth
and deep shade. On poor soils it will relish some fertilizer and help cover
barren spots. We constantly find new uses for this gooseberry.

There are three more shrubs that are hard to resist if one has the
space, and they do not need very much. These three are the service berry,
Amelanchier alnifolia ; the ninebark, Physocarpus monogynus\ and the
waxflower, Jamesia americana.

In the wild, the serviceberry is often a ragged bush, perhaps because
it is a favorite browse shrub for large and small mammals. But when
given a chance, it grows upright into a small tree of graceful proportions.

Its cloud of white bloom comes early and is followed in the summer by
soft, dark, sweet pulpy little fruits. The fruits make fine jelly and jam,
and were often used in pemmican. The summer birds make quick work
of these tasty fruits. The twigs have a very pleasing winter appearance.
The serviceberry will grow at most elevations in sun or shade. Good soil
and water produce rapid growth, as with most shrubs. It is a shrub you
will enjoy if you have room after some of the foregoing list.

The ninebark, the second of these three, is a graceful shrub with
spreading, thickly set foliage that has an attractive fall color. It requires
a little less space than the golden currant, is perhaps a bit more showy in
bloom with its mass of cream-colored umbels, but lacks the edible fruits.
It makes a good choice to interspace with the golden currant and is a
good foundation shrub. We have had a lazuli nesting in it, and it has the
desirable style loved by the warblers. Its fall color lasts longer than the
golden currant.

Jamesia

The waxflower, the third of the group, is in a class by itself. In
growth, it needs about the same space as the golden currant, but has more
attractive upright winter stance without losing a neat appearance about j
its base. The light colored twigs have a rustic appearance. In the spring, a
mass of sweet-scented, cream-colored blooms attract a daylong swarm of I
insects. The numerous small leaves have a sculptured contour, and they
turn a most attractive purplish red and hang on a long time in the fall.
For the birds, the waxflower, or Jamesia as I prefer to call it, is another
shrub offering thick cover at all seasons. Mixed with other shrubs, it adds
a pleasant note of style to the garden, in either shade or partial sun.

Another shrub that can often be used is the threeleaf sumac, Rhus
trilobata , although it has a very late leafing time in the spring, so that grass
and weeds often come up before it is in leaf. This does offer an opportun¬
ity for bulbs around its edges. This shrub is aromatic, and some of the
shrubs bear a scattering of scarlet drupes in late summer. Like other
sumacs, it has fine coloring in the fall, but unlike other sumacs, it forms a

dense spread of branches and twigs about twice as wide as high and very
attractive, in a rounded growth which in time reach 4 to 6 feet in height.
It is very hardy, and will grow on hot, dry banks if given a start. Next to
the hawthorn, it seems to have an especial attraction for birds. In banding,
my nets set near trilobata have caught specimens of most of the smaller
lower-level birds except the flycatchers, for which it is probably too dense.
If trilobata is used, it is best to give it ample room, and while it is small,
plant early flowering bulbs and perennials around its perimeter. But if
you have the room, it will be a favorite with its steady stream of bird
visitors. Perhaps the Rufous-sided Towhee will nest under it on the
ground, if you live in its narrow, foothill nesting belt.

Lastly, there are two willows that should be mentioned. First there
is the mountain willow, Salix monticola, common in the canyons. It likes
water and if it gets water, it produces a splendid specimen plant when
given ample room. It may grow as much as 10 to 15 feet in diameter both
vertically and horizontally. When not crowded, it fills out at ground level
to the full diameter. Almost all of the lower-level birds including the small
flycatchers love this species and some of its similar relatives. I consider
it the most attractive of the shrubby willows, and if you have space and
moisture for it, you will enjoy many an exciting moment with its bird
guests.

The other willow, the peach-leaf willow, Salix amygdaloides , devel¬
ops into a medium-sized tree, usually with a number of trunks of rather
equal size, but some times only one trunk develops. This is a stream-valley
tree of the cottonwood belt. Like the box elder, it may become ragged
in its mature years, but new growth springs up around the old. This is a
tree of no special beauty, but apparently the birds, including the upper-
level warblers, find it irresistible, as it has presented us with a number of
rare finds such as the Black-and-white, Black-poll, Black-throated Blue,
Parula, and Yellow-throated Warblers. Its foliage is thin, providing easy
visibility.

There are many other species of shrubs and small trees, including the
cultivated fruits, that are attractive to some species of birds, but my
intention has been to list the native plants that have virtues for either
birds or landscaping and usually both. These native plants are less de¬
manding in their culture and most of them, once started, will manage
by themselves with occasional pruning and watering. They won’t die if
neglected, and the birds will continue to appreciate their food and shelter.

Sometimes these species of plants are common and easily obtained
locally. Occasionally, there is a nursery that can furnish most of them, as
is the case with the Western Nursery, 14201 West 44th Ave., Golden,
Colorado, 80401. This nursery has many other native plants. Most of the
shrubs and trees that I have mentioned have considerable range in altitude.
They are listed in Pesman’s book, Meet the Natives , according to their
natural habitat and will be found in more than one elevation range. All of
them do best when not crowded; then they can fill out and be most pro¬
ductive for attracting birds. For the many families that have some acreage,
these native plants offer many rewards in birds and landscaping.

Reprint courtesy — Colorado Field Ornithology

The role of an engineer is often that of transferring a concept into
reality in an economical and lucid manner. He can accomplish this with
a set of specifications and drawings to guide a contractor in the creation
of the reality, inspecting the contractor’s work to ensure that the original
concept is preserved and that the intended high quality of the work is
maintained. In short, the engineer takes an idea or concept and makes it
work.

At Denver Botanic Gardens, the work of Wright -McLaughlin Engineers
went beyond this. It included detailed explanations and word pictures to
further convey the architect’s intent and final objective to the craftsmen
assigned to this project.

The concept and site layout were developed by the Gardens’ land¬
scape architectural firm, Eckbo, Dean, Austin, and Williams of San
Francisco. Tim Downey, as an experienced and sensitive Project Architect,
emphasized that maximum utilization of the 16 acre site could best be
realized by creating a series of natural “rooms” featuring different forms,
scale and botanic themes, connected by “corridors.” Thus a viewer could
experience several unique atmospheres within the available space.

The pools, lakes, waterfalls, pylons and fountains each serve as
features in a particular “room,” while the narrower chutes and channels,
often paralleled by walkways, serve as “corridors.”

Wright-McLaughlin provided the engineering planning, design, and
construction supervision for the hydraulic (water-related) features such
as the pylons, waterfalls, fountains, and channels, as well as the more
mundane and almost invisible systems — the irrigation lines, water
recycling pump system, sub-surface drains and storm drainage facilities.
In addition, other firms assisting as subcontractors on specialty services
were: Hornbein and White, architects; Jorgensen and Hendrickson, Inc.,
structural engineers; Rice-Marek-Harral & Associates, electrical engineers;
and Chen & Associates, Inc., soils engineers.

For the engineers in Wright-McLaughlin, this was a chance to help
create something stimulating, both aesthetically and technically. The
waterfalls and chute in particular are both visually and audially exciting
as well as being unique outside an engineering laboratory. The water
begins its journey atop the 15 foot pylons in the upper lake, continuing
over a semi-circular waterfall especially designed to accentuate the sound
of tumbling water, through a cobblestone sided channel to a second
waterfall accentuated by standing waves. The flow is then accelerated
along a narrow, shallow chute and lifted by a flipbucket (sort of a concrete
ski-jump) to splash onto blocks at the upstream end of the lower lake.
Near the stepping stones, water races over a 7 foot high waterfall, thunder¬
ing into a rocky pool before meandering through the Japanese Gardens in
a natural channel. After it arrives at the Gates Pool, the end of its visual
journey, water flows to the pumphouse, almost hidden at the west end
of the site, where it is lifted back up to the pylons at the rate of a 1000
gallons per minute.

While in operation, the decorative waterways contain 600,000 gallons
of water, supplied via two buried meter vaults from City of Denver mains.
A daily 3% replenishment with fresh water was planned to prevent exces¬
sive algae growth with minimum power and water waste. Year-round
operation is provided-for with minimum maintenance.

The hidden portions of the project are equally as important as those
we can see.

For instance, the 9000 feet of irrigation lines can distribute water
throughout the gardens in patterns to accomodate various plant require¬
ments, while a separate 2100 foot potable water system will satisfy thirsty
visitors. Sub-surface drainage from beneath the waterways and critical
planting areas is directed to the storm drainage system, having 3900 feet
of underground piping with site grading integrating the landscape archi¬
tect’s design. This system actually retains some storm water runoff during
storms, allowing discharge rates to be kept lower than normal to prevent
overloading downstream while providing for natural irrigation and improve¬
ment of the quality of the water eventually discharged.

Construction, begun in October 1970 by Langfur Construction
Corporation, was completed in August, 1971 at a total cost of $280,000 ;
the waterways are expected to be operated continually upon completion
of the sidewalks currently being installed. Final landscaping will be
accomplished in the future.

As engineers, this project has been for us a memorable opportunity
to use our abilities in service to both man and nature. The entire project
is an effort to improve the social and physical environment of urban
dwellers. As our contribution to the expansion moved towards reality,
we’ve enjoyed working with Eckbo, Dean, Austin & Williams and with
the Denver Botanic Gardens Directors and staff; now we too, must wait
until nature provides the final touch.

Editor’s Note: The Wright-McLaughlin Engineers design for the Denver Botanic
Gardens has won the first place award in the Engineer’s Excellence Contest sponsored
by the Consulting Engineer’s Council of Colorado.

Charlotte A. Barbour, born Charlotte A. Berger, daughter of Charles Bart Berger
and the granddaughter of Senator and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hill, spent her early years in
Denver. Her father died bel'ore she was born. Summers were spent with her Grand¬
mother Berger at Estabrook. Later in life after she had returned from the East, she
built a small cabin on some of the Estabrook land, showing her love for the area that
had afforded her so much pleasure in childhood.

Charlotte completed her undergraduate work in Paris and later received a degree
in journalism from Columbia University. She was a literary agent in New York City.

She was married to Alexander L. Barbour in 1917 and they divided their time
between New York City and a farm in Lisbon, New Hampshire. When the snow was
deep, they would spend time in Concord. Being an energetic person, Charlotte took
courses at the University in Forestry, did research and wrote articles for various
magazines in New England.

After the death of Mr. Barbour in 1945, she returned to Denver and put her
energies to use here. During the years that followed, she belonged to a number of
organizations and was a member of the board of several. Two of these were Denver
Botanic Gardens and Denver Dumb Friends League and to these in particular she
devoted much time and energy.

Mrs. Barbour was City Forester for a time with Earl Sinnamon as assistant.
Then reversing positions, she devoted her time to Publicity and Junior Education.
Her car often contained an assortment of tree branches and other horticultural
specimens.

In connection with their work in the Forestry office, Mrs. Barbour and Mr.
Sinnamon did the text for a pamphlet published by the city with illustrations by
M. Walter Pesman, called What Tree Is This? The booklet was not reprinted by the
city and in 1965 Denver Botanic Gardens received permission for a new printing.
It is sold only at Botanic Gardens Gift Shop. Any proceeds are turned over to the
Helen A. Fowler Library.

By 1948 The Green Thumb listed Mrs. A. L. Barbour on the Publications and
Publicity Committee for the then called “Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Asso¬
ciation.” One issue that year has an article Orchids to Mrs. Charlotte A. Barbour.
It commends the work done on the magazine and mentions particularly soliciting for
advertising. This interest continued through the years and she was on the editorial
staff and contributed much to the magazine.

In 1949, Mrs. Barbour was elected to the Board of Directors and was listed as
Secretary as well as on some committees. She was a member of the Board continuous¬
ly until her death and always active on several committees until ill health made it
impossible.

After the death of Mrs. Helen Fowler in 1960 and the removal of the organiza¬
tion to the house at 909 York Street, the library needed help and Charlotte adopted
it for her special interest. She made it possible to have a part time professional
librarian in the person of Mrs. Hellriegel. Aided by a retired librarian, Miss Lucy
Crissey, and willing volunteers, the library was restored to order. Among the special
things done for the library were: supplying funds for materials to mount the Emma
Armstrong Ervin watercolors in albums; having a case made for rare books; setting up
a monthly payment for books; depositing money with the Trustees for moving the
library to the new building.

Several years ago, Botanic Gardens Library was given quite a number of books
from Mrs. Barbour’s personal library. Since her death, Mrs. Prentiss Andrews, her
daughter, has donated the remaining books that could be used in the Library.

Mrs. Barbour has been missed these last years when she could no longer be active.
However, she showed great pleasure when callers could tell her about affairs of the
Gardens, so her interest never waned. M , e

These are the things I prize,

And hold of dearest worth;

Light of the sapphire skies,

Peace of the silent hills,

Shelter of the forest,

Comforts of the grass,

Music of birds, murmur of little rills,
Shadows of clouds, that swiftly pass.
And after showers the smell of flowers
And of good brown earth,

And best of all along the way
Friendship and mirth .

- Henry Van Dyke

Carol L. Radetsky

The majesty and vastness of the Colorado Rockies always overwhelms
me with their beauty and massive size; yet their gentleness and invitation
to warmth and perennial growth is everlasting. Size seems incongruous to
the mountains; this is a land of dramatic contrast producing large conifer
trees and tiny alpine flowers. The vastness of the forest is sovereign as it
watches over the miniature world below. The ladys slipper is part of this
world, my world.

For Thoreau there was Walden. For me there is also Walden and my
speck of the world above Evergreen. Seldom does a week go by when I
don’t make the opportunity to relish the miracles on this particular land.
There are quaking aspen trees, numerous conifers, wild roses, daisies,
fantastic lichen and juniper berries. Even the decaying tree stumps have
their special beauty. The birds are plentiful and the chipmunks scamper
around claiming their own territory. When you look up you can revel in
soft white cumulus and cirrus clouds weaving their way through the sky.

Two years ago while enjoying a walk I almost literally stumbled over
the remarkable ladys slipper. My immediate reaction was surprise and
wonderment: “Wow, that’s beautiful, what is it?!” It was gorgeous and I
remember smiling and thinking — it looks like an orchid but orchids grow
wild only in Hawaii! Initially it was identified through word of mouth by
a friend. I waited an entire year to get a look at my discovery again. This
year joyfully, 1 took a roll of film and smiled with each snap of my camera.
How fortunate I am for God to share this exquisite beauty with me. As
there were no other slippers in the area I went strolling on.

The beautiful bright yellow slipper is formed by one of three petals.
The other two petals extend almost vertically to it taking on a brownish
color and becoming twisted as they extend. The slipper itself is sac-like
shaped with magenta colored streaks running throughout its base; it is
about 2-3 inches long. A member of the Orchidaceae family, the herba¬
ceous plant is about 10 inches high. The leaves look like spears taking
on a ovate-lanceolate shape and are approximately 8 inches long. Sheath¬
ing tapers to a slender point at the base of the plant in an acuminate
manner. The twisted petals unite at the apex of the stem.

About 30 species belonging to the genus Cypripedium have been
discovered. The rare, C. calceolus L., yellow ladys slipper is almost ex¬
tinct in Colorado. My special slipper was growing with a large quartz
crystal as its shelter and it was nestled among the kinnikinick; its vibrant
yellow color complimenting the sun. It stood proudly and with exquisite
beauty. I discovered these ladys slippers above Evergreen in Clear Creek
County. The altitude there is 8300 feet into the montane zone between
the subalpine and foothill zones of the life zones. The slippers shared
their habitat with kinnikinick ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi , L. Spreng) and
the golden banner ( Thermopsis divaricarpa, A. Nels.). Growing on the
south side of the mountain the C. calceolus was found the last week of
June and the first two weeks of July. In 1971, the climate was relatively
dry. The recorded precipitation was only .02 inch during this time.
Temperature ranged from 36-88°F. The soil pH is surmised to be acid
because of the abundance of conifer trees and kinnikinick in the general
area.

The world is filled with exciting and provocative stimuli to enjoy.
We are increasingly aware of our environment and the minimal effort it
takes to interrupt its delicate homeostatic balance. I feel it is our respon¬
sibility as curious and nature seeking people to cultivate an enjoyment
of our environment and to protect its sensitive balance. We too, are part j
of this dynamic equilibrium. In so doing more people will be able to enjoy i
the ladys slipper as well as other plants and animals nearing extinction, j

jXOtlCS

COLORADO

Hyacinth, Hyacinthus orientalis

Helen Marsh Zeiner

Hyacinths are such a familiar part of spring that we accept and enjoy
them without giving a thought to how we came to have them.

Our common hyacinths are hybrids and horticultural varieties of
Hyacinthus orientalis L., found growing wild from Greece to Syria and
Asia Minor. Present day hyacinths are quite different from their Eurasian
ancestors. Hyacinthus orientalis is slender and graceful in contrast to its i
twentieth century descendants which are rather formal flowers with stout 1
stalks and large blooms borne in heavy, straight spikes.

Some gardeners feel that hyacinths are too stiff and formal for many
gardens — they have even been called “obese” and “overstuffed.”
Hyacinths are a part of the garden scene for such a short time, however,
that most gardeners do not mind the formal appearance. Whether or not
we find the habit of growth pleasing, we can all enjoy the colorful and
fragrant blossoms. In any case, hyacinths tend, if they become natural¬
ized in a garden, to revert to a more slender and graceful habit of growth.

Hyacinths are one of the best bulbs for forcing for the indoor garden.
Here the stiff habit of growth is no disadvantage.

Hyacinths were cultivated by the ancient Greeks, whose selection,
whether intentional or not, improved the strain. These early gardeners
simply chose and preserved the hyacinths that appealed to them most,
and thus they perpetuated desirable varieties. Hyacinths were introduced
from Constantinople to Renaissance Europe in 1560. Their beauty and
sweet scent made them immediate favorites and they became prime mater¬
ial for hyacinth fanciers to develop and improve. Much of the modern
bulb selection and breeding has been done in Holland, and the bulbs are
sold as Dutch hybrids.

The original wild hyacinth is believed to have been a light blue-
lavender. By the sixteenth century, writers were describing hyacinths in
blue, pink, and white and in both single and double forms. Today, there
are many shades from pure white to cream or yellow; palest pink to deep
rose-red; and light blue to purple.

Hyacinths are members of the lily family, Liliaceae. They are some¬
times described as “bunch- flowered lilies.” Examination of the 6-segment-
ed flower clearly shows the relationship to the lilies. There are about 30
species of hyacinths known, all native to the Mediterranean region, but
only Hyacinthus orientalis is widely cultivated.

Hyacinthus is the ancient Greek name for this plant. As with many
plants of such ancient origin, the hyacinth played a part in mythology.
It is said that Hyacinthus was a handsome Greek boy. Zephyrus, god of
the winds, and Apollo, the sun god, both loved Hyacinthus. The boy,
however, preferred Apollo and plainly showed his preference, making
Zephyrus extremely jealous. When Apollo challenged Hyacinthus to a
game of quoits (in which a discus is pitched at a fixed target), Zephyrus
hid in the nearby woods, watching and plotting revenge. When Apollo
hurled his discus, Zephyrus deflected it so that it struck Hyacinthus in
the forehead and instantly killed him. The grieving Apollo declared that
the beauty of Hyacinthus should not be lost, but should be preserved in
the beauty of a flower. He then summoned the hyacinth out of the earth
in remembrance of his young friend. Thus the hyacinth came to signify
remembrance, and it has been sculptured on tombs and headstones for
this reason.

It is also said that Venus, to make herself more beautiful, bathed in
the dew formed on hyacinths; and that the beds of Jove and Hera and
Adam and Eve were made of hyacinths.

Helen D. Stanley

Small living creatures whose ancestors roamed the world millions of
years ago can make their home happily in a glass garden. Tiny critters j
such as turtles, lizards, salamanders, worms, snails, frogs and chameleons |
thrive in this environment. They make a terrarium a living thing and offer
an opportunity for a nature study both of plants and animals, especially
for children. For shut-ins or apartment bound people, a vivarium is a
pleasant thing to have around. It is fun to make and to observe and as
a group project for children, there is nothing more exciting.

A fish aquarium is the best container for a vivarium although others
can be used. The larger the better so the creatures will have room to
wander. Lizards and animals of this type live better in a desert type land¬
scape and others in a humid atmosphere. It is best to study each applicant
for tenancy and find out what it likes best in the way of climate, food
and water. It is thoughtful to have two of a kind in your garden so they
won’t get lonesome. Brochures may be purchased in pet shops on various
small pets or books may be found in your library.

Prepare your container as you would a terrarium, with sterilized soil
and small gravel on the bottom. Place the gravel in a sieve and pour
boiling water over it and allow to dry. Next comes a layer of charcoal
over the gravel with a layer of clean fine sand and over this, your soil
mixture composed of a third each of peat moss, loam and sand, 3 or 4
inches in depth. The landscape should be uneven with hills and valleys and
the plants in varying heights, types and colors. (The same plants men¬
tioned in an article entitled “Bottle Gardens” in the Winter Issue of The
Green Thumb , 1971, are excellent for a humid vivarium.) For a desert
garden use the same base with more sand added to the soil and the top
covered with the sand. Use small cactus for the plants. Beautiful rocks
placed around add much to the decor of any garden and give the pets a
place to hide.

Turtles need supplemental feeding such as lettuce and watercress.
Chameleons enjoy drops of honey, bits of bananas and grains of sugar
placed on a leaf. They can go for days without feeding. Turtles, frogs and
snails and suchlike a tiny dish of clean water embedded in the soil to drink
and cavort in. The health of the animals is the responsibility of the land¬
lord and it is necessary to study their habits and needs before attempting
to make a vivarium. A cover of some sort should be added to the con¬
tainer, either wire mesh or a glass top, allowing some air to circulate.

The summer of 1970 will well be remembered by those who partici¬
pated in the Children’s Gardens for a class on how to make vivariums. It
was held in July and the children were told to bring the critters. There
was an embarrassment of riches and the garage took on the appearance of
a weird pet emporium, alive and jumping with tiny things that either
crawled or swam. The animals were displayed for inspection and two
gardens were made so the children could see how it was done. There were
frogs, snakes, snails, turtles, worms, lizards and a Texas horned toad whose
appearance had not changed much in a million years. The frogs were the
jumping variety and “did their thing” by leaping in all different directions,
trying no doubt to find their way back to Cherry Creek where the kids had
found them. Little boys and girls were down on the floor of the garage on
their hands and knees scooping them up and returning them to their
containers.

The vivarium with two tiny turtles as occupants was the most popular
and later was displayed in the summer house of the Children’s Gardens for
the remainder of the season with the children caring for it. A contest was
held to name the animals and the two turtles won by a large majority.
They were named Bonnie and Clyde. Ten prizes were given in the contest
and the names submitted were charming and imaginative as well as funny.

peat moss
Sar\dL

^-Charcoal*

Norman LeMay

TRYING

For the past 35 years I’ve been engaged in the growing of vegetables;
the last 20 years have been here in Denver. My overall plan has always
been the same: to select 2 or more varieties of a given vegetable and grow
them together for comparison. Tomatoes have been my favorite.

I’ve entitled this article “trying” instead of “testing” because no
actual measuring of plants, weighing of individual fruits, or of combined
fruits per plants per year, was done. What I did do was study many
catalogues, buy seeds from many sources, then grow from 1 to one-half
dozen plants of each variety, and from 1 to 35 varieties per summer. Since
1 haven’t the space or time to try every variety 1 see pictured and described
in the seed catalogues, 1 choose carefully.

In picking tomatoes to try, I’ve stayed away from the commercial ,
varieties with reputed good shipping qualities; this generally means a hard, I
tough tomato. When breeders of commercial varieties are developing new 1
ones they use “drop tests” to determine whether a new variety or strain
will ship well. Drop tests are carefully controlled experiments where
tomatoes from certain plants, of the same degree of ripeness, are dropped
from a definite point onto concrete. If they don’t break, they are consid¬
ered to be shippable.

However most home gardeners want tomatoes that taste good. The
gardener should try a number of varieties (or ask many questions over the
back fence), study seed catalogues, and sift through information to get
that certain quality in flavor and texture, that balance of acid and sugar,
that makes for a great tomato taste.

I have decided from my experience that garden varieties are improv¬
ing for the production per plant is going up and the disease resistance is
also up. However, certain ones seem to have changed over the years.
Rutgers seems to be getting smoother and better looking but smaller.
Earliana seems to be getting rougher and smaller. Ponderosa seems
to be getting much smaller. Still memory can play tricks and many factors
like soil and weather can enter in.

Often the initials V. or V.F. or V.F.N. are listed after the names in
the American seed catalogues. This means that the variety has a measure
of resistance, called triple resistance to one or all of the main enemies of
tomatoes, verticellium, fusarium wilt and nematode. The nematodes
are microscopic worms generally found in warmer climates. Look for
these varieties for preventing disease is better than trying to stop it after
plants start dying.

To start plants of a particular variety, say F-l Terrific V.F.N. and
F-l Burpee V.F. look in the classified ads in the newspaper at planting
time to find the growers then call them to see if they have started the
46

INA

HOME

GARDEN

variety you want. Never buy plants that don’t carry a variety name.
Because of the short growing season in Denver we need early varieties.
Tomato breeders are continuing to develop plants which mature early
and have good eating quality. The varieties listed below are quite new
and I think they are great.

F-l Spring Giant
F-l Small Fry
Fire Ball

F-l Spring Set V.F.

F-l Burpee Big Early
F-l Red Boy
F-l Sun Up

(However, the late varieties have the better taste and if anyone wants to
gamble on the weather, he should try some of them.)

I’m certain in my own mind that you could save a few seeds from a
tomato that you thought was a good one, start them in your own house
in a south window 6 weeks before Memorial Day and end up with a better
crop than if you just bought a box marked “tomatoes.” However I don’t
recommend it. Pick a good variety of seed from a catalog (not from seed
packets in super markets or nurseries. Although their seed is fresh, you’re
limited to just a few old varieties). Start them 6 weeks before Memorial
Day, then transplant them outside on Memorial Day. An easier way of
course, is to buy from a grower. Good plants started in a green house in
2” or 3” peat pots will cost about $2.00 or $3.00 per dozen. Be sure the
plants look strong and have a dark green color. The very expensive plants
that are grown in a large container probably won’t gain you a thing
because the smaller plants will catch up.

Put the new plants out as soon as you get them home. Pick a place
in the garden where they will get the most sunlight possible and plant
them in good rich soil with good drainage. Spacing, will depend on the
variety and on whether you want to stake to a single stem, to 2 or 3
stems or let them spread on the ground. There are advantages to each of
these methods of growing tomatoes. The largest tomatoes are grown when
you stake to a single stem. However, you need to buy 2 or 3 times as
many plants for a given area if you stake singly. Staking is more work.
Total production by total weight is only slightly increased by staking
but the fruit is cleaner, bigger and looks better.

Watering tomatoes can be a big problem in Denver. My first serious
attempt at tomato trials was on sandy Cherry Creek bottom land. I got
in the habit of watering heavily and had good luck with tomatoes. Next

I gardened a few years on rich heavy clay in West Denver. Here I had
trouble adjusting to less frequent watering. Now I’m gardening on the rich
sandy loam of Platte River bottom land. I had success in sand and sandy
loam but I believe if I’d known how to water on clay I could have grown
my best tomatoes there.

TO SUM UP: Pick varieties from seed catalogs or growers that have a
reputation for being good; lean towards the F-l or V.F. varieties; choose
early varieties to counter our short season; transplant around Memorial
Day; give all sun possible; mulch; water deep about once a week on sand
or sandy loam and about every ten days to two weeks on clay.

Sutton, S. B. Charles Sprague Sargent and the Arnold Arboretum. Cambridge,
Harvard University Press. 1970. $10.00

Arnold Arboretum is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Mrs. Sutton’s
book is a tribute to the people who were most closely associated with the institution.
Two men devoted their careers to the development of Arnold Arboretum: Charles
Sprague Sargent whose botanical research field encompassed North America, and
Ernest H. Wilson of whom Alfred Rehder in 1930 said: “He succeeded in collecting
and introducing into cultivation a greater number of plants than any other collector.”
There are many familiar names to be met in this history — Gray, Bailey, Rehder,
Faxon, Hooker, Olmsted. Mrs. Sutton draws the parallel between the development
of Arnold Arboretum and the advancement of botanical research in the U.S. This
well researched book is entertaining reading.

The Helen Fowler Library has been acquiring the Time-Life Encyclopedia of
Gardening. There are 6 volumes: Landscape Gardening , Roses , Annuals , Flowering
House Plants, Lawns and Ground Covers, and Evergreens. The illustrations are
beautiful and numerous. There are also good indexes and charts denoting particular
local requirements. One can note in the acknowledgements in the Annuals volume
that Dr. Hildreth served as regional consultant.

The complete set of the Audubon Nature Encyclopedia has been received. This
is in the juvenile reference collection but can certainly be used by anyone desiring
basic information. Each entry begins with common names, followed by the scientific
name and the family. The range and habitat, description of leaf, bark, flower and
fruit complete the text on a particular plant. Each article has a bibliography of
recommended reading. The illustrations are numerous and many are in color but they
are not of the superior quality of the Time-Life Encyclopedia. The volumes are
sturdily bound and should provide good reference material for all our patrons.

S.H.

J. W. Brewer

Prior to the discovery of chemical pesticides man waged a constant,
and frequently unsuccessful, battle against his insect enemies. Except
for picking off the offending insects there was little early man could do
to protect his plants. Perhaps early commercial approaches to control
were based on magic, encantations, or witchcraft. If so, these methods
were probably of little benefit except to the witch doctor who may have
received some fee for his services. Sometime later, in the Asiatic countries,
it was discovered that Pyrethrum flowers had insecticidal properties.
Powder made from these flowers killed insects, and was not toxic to man,
so it could be used against human lice. The powder was very expensive,
supposedly equal in value to gold on an ounce for ounce basis. Obviously,
then, this material was too expensive for control of plant insects. What
could the farmers of the day do to protect their plants? Probably not
much in the way of direct insect control. However, we find that many
cultural practices adhered to because of tradition, actually do much to
decrease insect problems.

Chemical control began on a practical basis with the use of arsenicals,
like Paris green, but it wasn’t until the early 1940’s when DDT was dis¬
covered that this approach really came into its own. DDT was so effective,
inexpensive and long lasting that it seemed insect control probleihs had
been solved. Later, other chemicals supplemented DDT and in many
situations non-chemical approaches to insect control were dropped.!, Some
workers began to feel chemicals were the complete solution to insect pest
problems. Recently, however, researchers have become increasingly aware
of the possibilities that some pesticides and their residues may cause
damage to our environment. The possibilities of such damage have en¬
couraged many workers to reevaluate insect problems and to consider
non-chemical control methods in an attempt to reduce pesticide contam¬
ination of the environment.

What are the means by which such contamination can be reduced?
I think one reasonable answer will be a reduction in the amounts of persis-

tent, toxic pesticides used and, where chemicals are necessary, the substi¬
tution of safer, non-persistent materials. There are various ways of doing
this. Let’s look at some of them.

SOLUTION #1 - Legislative action banning use of selected, or all,
pesticides.

You are perhaps aware of Colorado Senate Bill 27 introduced last
year which was to prohibit the sale, use, and manufacture of organ o-
chlorine pesticides. Therefore, you may realize that this solution is more
than just a possibility. Senate Bill 27 was withdrawn, but I am sure we can
expect more of the same and eventually something of this nature will be
passed. Workers in the insecticide industry feel certain that such legislation
will be enacted. They also think that DDT and related organ ochlorine
pesticides will be the first of a long line of prohibited materials. Needless
to say, this industry is interested in other approaches to pest control as
well as in less persistent and less toxic chemicals.

National legislation is currently being considered (Senate Bill 1021)
that would essentially require classification of all pesticides into use
categories. Only pesticides placed in a general use category could be
applied by the home owner. This category will probably include
Malathion, Diazinon, Pyrethrins, etc. To apply other materials in the
restricted use category will most likely require a license. This does not
mean though that householders, farmers and gardeners, cannot get a
license. This bill has been recently approved by the appropriate Senate
committee and probably will be approved by both houses.

SOLUTION #2 - Restrict the uses of pesticides to the so-called essential
uses (agricultural crop protection and disease control). What areas may
not be considered essential? Protection of ornamental plants and shrubs
seems a good guess to me, especially in metropolitan areas. Why?

First of all, the major contributors of pesticides into the environment
are not farm areas as you might expect, but rather large, metropolitan
areas. The evidence is such that there is little doubt that cities are putting
great quantities of pesticides into the environment. Why is this so?

The farmer generally operates on a relatively small margin of profit.
If 4 ounces of an insecticide will give control of a pest, he cannot afford
to put on 5 ounces. He is careful on a per acre basis because of the large
acreages and cost involved. Home owners, on the other hand, are not
putting material on large acreages, but generally speaking they do put on
greater quantities on a per acre basis. The cost of the material is not an
important factor to the home owner because of the small “acreages”
involved. Other contributors to the metropolitan problem are the spray
applicators who come into a yard on a routine basis and spray all plants
whether infested or not. Certainly, unnecessary spraying on a large scale
is a great factor in environmental contamination. On the other hand, if
the spray applicators came into your yard, found no reason to spray (no
insects) and left without unrolling the hose, they wouldn’t get 50 feet
down the street before their phone would be ringing. Even if they take
the time to explain to the customer that spraying isn’t necessary, they
50

have problems because the customer then wants a reduction in his bill.
This then becomes a problem of public relations. I think the only answer
is to reeducate the customer to the fact that spray applicators are selling a
service, pest control and not spray material. The customer has to learn
that spraying when no pests are present may be more of a problem than
the pest itself.

A second reason for restricting use of pesticides in urban areas is
that fairly good arguments can be made for the needs of pesticides on
agricultural crops and disease control. The expanding world population
certainly needs an ever increasing amount of food and the loss of agri¬
cultural chemicals would seriously reduce our food production capabil¬
ities. Pesticides are also an important weapon against disease carrying
insects in many countries. Certainly the decrease in deaths due to malaria
is direct evidence for the value of chemical control. It is much more
difficult, however, to demonstrate the need for absolute insect control
for landscape plants. Certainly the aesthetic value of a plant is impaired
by insect damage, and this is important to the homeowner. However,
there is considerable doubt in my mind as to whether or not the aesthetic
value of a perfect plant justifies the quantities of pesticides used in urban
areas. I believe that uses of pesticides in landscape situations will be the
first area to be seriously restricted and that we must consider other con¬
trol methods to protect these plants.

SOLUTION #3 - Use of other approaches to insect control.

As I have suggested above, the very first approach to insect control
was probably to pick the offending bug off the plant. We call this the
mechanical method of control and in its place it is very effective. It is
most practical on the home owner level (that is for the home owner to do
it) especially where only a few plants are involved. Mechanical control
can be very effective. For example, the only good control for a pinyon
pine borer, that I know of, is purely mechanical. It is necessary to dig the
insect out of its burrow in the tree trunk with a knife. This is slow,
and tedious, but effective. Webworms and tent caterpillars can also be
controlled by simple removal: in fact, chemical control may be difficult
because of the protective web. Control of the spruce gall aphid may be
obtained by removing the new galls in the spring. Removing old galls
also improves appearance of the tree but has no effect on the insects,
which by then have gone. Light spittlebug infestations on ornamentals
can generally be controlled with pruning shears. Mite and aphid popula¬
tions can frequently be reduced by hosing the plants down with water.
Trimming off dead or infested branches is still another effective mechani¬
cal control method. I think you will agree that some insect problems can
be controlled, or at least reduced, by the home owner using the mechani¬
cal approach.

Another basic approach to pest management is called cultural control.
This includes any practice that maintains plant health and thus reduces
insect attack indirectly. The best prevention against attack by borers and
bark beetles is to keep the plants in a healthy condition. As a general rule
these pests attack only declining or dead trees. Proper spacing of plants

to reduce dense shading and humidity will do much to reduce slug prob¬
lems. Cultivation under trees and shrubs in the fall will reduce the number
of overwintering insects to a great extent. Just removing plant debris
during winter will reduce overwintering sites of insects and will lower
pest populations.

The use of insect resistant plants is another important cultural means
of controlling insects. There are insect resistant varieties of several orna¬
mental plants and it is useful to consider these when selecting plants. An
example is the various varieties of honey locust. Insect resistance ranges
from the very susceptible Sunburst variety to the resistant Morraine.

One of the most popular approaches to insect control, other than
chemical, is biological. Biological control may be nothing more than the
encouragement of naturally occurring control organisms (enemiec>k of the
pest. If we are going to rely on biological control organisms, however, we
will have to re-orient our thinking somewhat regarding the necessary level
of control. Naturally occurring biological control methods cannot result
in complete or absolute control because of the basic nature of the control
mechanism. You can see that a successful, naturally occurring parasite
or predator cannot afford to be too devastating because if so, it will
completely destroy its food source. Therefore, biological control
organisms cannot be too effective at their job, for the sake of their own
survival. In most cases, a delicate balance lias evolved between the host
and predator (or parasite) such that both can exist in nature at the same
time. Of course, when a pest (host) population becomes large, the preda¬
tor (or parasite) may become very destructive and destroy 90-95% of the
pest population but it will not completely eliminate it. On the other hand,
control agents introduced from other countries, or areas, may be better
control agents because they usually have not evolved the delicate relation¬
ships of the naturally occurring predators. Frequently, the introduction
of a foreign predator will result in complete control of the pest organism.
The predator then dies, of course, for lack of food. The problem here is
that you have to keep reintroducing your biological control agent. You
cannot establish it in most cases, and expect it to maintain itself because
it does too good a job. It destroys its own environment (which may
sound familiar).

A successful example, of biological control is the Vedalia lady bird
beetle introduced from Australia. This insect gives excellent control of
cottony cushion scale in the citrus growing regions of California. Once
introduced, the beetle maintained itself and did not have to be reintro¬
duced, at least until the advent of chemical control.

Biological control organisms fall into three large groups. These are:
predators, parasites and pathogens.

Predators capture and eat smaller, weaker, or less intelligent insects,
often at a very high rate. They generally feed on a variety of insects and
so may be effective against a wide variety of plant pests. Some common
predators include the following:

Lady Bird Beetles. Both the adults and larvae feed on aphids, scales,
mealy bugs, and insect eggs. They may be purchased in large quantities
from several California firms. However, the beetles may disperse rapidly
upon being released and may not be as effective as we might hope.

Syrphid Flies or Hover Flies. These insects are predaceous only in
the larval stage. The adults feed only on nectar and probably do some
pollinating. Many aphid colonies will contain one or several of these
slug-like, tan or green maggots. The maggots grab the aphids with their
mouth hooks, raise them in the air and suck out the body juices. Each
larva will eat one aphid per minute for long periods of time. The adults
lay the small white eggs in colonies of aphids, usually only one per colony.

Lacewings. Because of their feeding habits, lacewing larvae are fre¬
quently called aphid lions. The adults are generally not predaceous but
the larvae feed on most soft bodied insects. They are so predaceous that
they may even eat each other. Apparently to prevent this the eggs are
laid on stalks so the first to hatch doesn’t eat the other eggs. Lacewings
(pupae) are commercially available.

Praying Mantids. Mantids are large insects with grasping front legs.
Those legs are used to capture prey and hold it while it is being eaten.
Although these insects are beneficial they probably are not as valuable as
some of those mentioned above. Mantid egg cases may be purchased
from various biological supply houses.

Parasites feed on insects also — as do predators, but frequently live
inside the host as an internal parasite. Parasites are probably more effec-

tive at reducing populations of pest insects than predators. However,
most parasites have a narrow host range so their effectiveness is restricted
to one or at most a few pest species.

A part of my research program involves a needle gall on pinyon.
This deformation is produced by a mosquito-like insect called a midge.
This midge is controlled, in part, by a small wasp parasite, which develops
inside the midge and kills it. If we could develop means of encouraging
the parasite populations, chemical control measures might not be
necessary.

The elm leaf beetle has been the object of interest in several biological
control studies. A wasp parasite has now been established in California
and is apparently maintaining itself. This same parasite has not survived,
for some reason, in the eastern United States. A second parasite of the
beetle, a Tachinid fly, has also been established in California. Although
occasional defoliation still occurs in that area, the injury is not as general,
or destructive, as occurred prior to parasite introduction.

Attempts have also been made to establish parasites of European
elm scale and the smaller European elm bark beetle. Both have been
only moderately successful thus far.

Pathogens. Insect pathogens (diseases) offer another promising
means of biological control. A few insect pathogens have been developed
commercially and some are presently being considered for registration.
Pathogens are extremely susceptible to environmental conditions, however,
and the level of control obtained varies a great deal.

Insect diseases may be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. One
bacterial species has been used successfully for control of the Japanese
beetle in the eastern United States. Other species of bacteria have also
been used against various insect pests. Several fungi, including red, brown
and yellow species are said to give some control of white flies attacking
Florida citrus crops. Unfortunately, most fungal pathogens require high
humidity levels and so may not be very valuable here in Colorado. One
type of virus has been used commercially to control the alfalfa caterpillar
and other types are being tested against several insect pests.

Generally speaking, insect pathogens are quite specific in regard to
the insects they will attack. Therefore, it becomes necessary to know the
pest you are trying to control, otherwise your efforts may not be effec¬
tive. Many failures of biological control agents are a result of attempts to
control insects that are not hosts for the controlling agent.

The last type of control 1 want to mention — integrated control,
isn’t really a control method at all. Integrated control is merely the
combination of two or more of the methods previously discussed, in¬
cluding the use of chemicals, so that specific insect problems are attacked
in the most scientific way. If we keep these other control measures in
mind, and apply them whenever possible, we can drastically reduce the
amount of chemicals used without a great decrease in the level of insect
control obtained. I felt, therefore, that the homeowner can make a
substantial contribution to the reduction of chemical contamination of
our environment.

FOCUS

DATURA

ARBOREA

IN THE

BOETTCHER CONSERVATORY

Peg Hayward

Considerable confusion in nomenclature is evident concerning the
genus Datum. This confusion dates back several hundred years and no
taxonomist has attempted to clarify the contradictory descriptions of
the various species for the layman. Nevertheless, the plant in the Boett¬
cher Conservatory collection labeled Datura arborea L. attracts consider¬
able attention when almost covered with pearly-white, trumpet-shaped
flowers hanging like bells.

Datura arborea , angels trumpet, is a native of Peru. It is a member
of the nightshade family, Solanaceae , which ranks high on the list of plant
families that serve mankind. This family of dicot plants provides food
plants including potato, tomato, and eggplant; poisonous and medicinal
like deadly nightshade, henbane, and Jimson weed; several cherished
ornamentals such as the petunia; and the notorious “weed” tobacco.
The scientific name of the family is derived from the name of one of its
genera, Solarium , which comes from the Latin word solamen , meaning
quieting, alluding to the sedative properties of some of the species. Many
members of the family produce alkaloids, which have a quieting effect,
sometimes a permanent one. Possibly this is the answer to why the family
is commonly known as the nightshade family.

Datura, a genus of contrasts from smelly weeds to lovely ornamentals,
consists of 1 5 or more species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or
trees. The generic name comes from the Hindu dhatura or dhattura.
Dhat is the name of the poison derived from the plant, and the Dhatureas
were a gang of thugs who used the plant to stupefy or poison their intended
victims. Linnaeus, who adopted the name Datura , felt that he should
not use a barbaric name for a plant unless he could find a Latin root for
the word. He came up with dare , to give, because Datura is given to those
whose sexual powers are weakened.

Datura arbor ea is tree like as implied by the species name. It may
grow to a height of 15 feet and it has a stiff irregular branching habit.
The grayish-green leaves are 8 inches long, ovate-lanceolate, with entire
margin. The leaves are borne in pairs, one a third shorter than the other.
Immense trumpet-shaped flowers appear intermittently in spring, summer
and fall. The corolla is about 17 cm. long, the 5 lobes being separated by
a distinct sinus or gap.

Even though the leaves and seeds of the angels trumpet are poison¬
ous, these plants are grown in the warmer regions as ornamentals for their
attractive pendulous flowers which open at night filling the air with an
exotic musky scent.

Editor’s note: Mrs. Hayward who wrote about the poinsettia in the last Green Thumb
has received a report concerning current research on this plant. In this study one
hundred and sixty rats (141 females, 19 males) showed no signs of toxicity or any
apparent ill effects when given large doses of homogenates made from the leaves,
bracts, or flowers of the poinsettia. Preliminary experiments with samples from the
top and bottom of the plant, as well as dried material tests with doses as high as 50 g
per kg, gave zero mortality. Courtesy Ohio Florist’s Assn., Bulletin No. 505, Novem¬
ber, 1971.

Therefore, some reports on this subject indicate that the poinsettia is not poison¬
ous taken internally as had previously been alleged. Our thanks to Professor K. L.
Goldsberry of Colorado State University who called this information to our attention.

THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

Mayor — The Honorable William H. McNichols, Jr.
Manager, Department of Parks and Recreation — Joe Ciancio, Jr.

City Council

Paul A. Hentzell - President

Larry J. Perry
James J. Nolan
J. Ivanhoe Rosenberg
Kenneth M. Macintosh
Don Wyman

Eugene Di Manna
Robert Koch
William R. Roberts

Edward F. Burke, Jr.
Elvin R. Caldwell

Councilmen-at-large
Linden Blue and Irving S. Hook

ANCIENT

ART

Edna S. Webster

How would you like to grow a Colorado blue spruce tree on your
patio, or to have a Japanese maple, flowering shrub, pomegranate, or a
tropical such as an orange tree blooming in your living room? The
answer is bonsai — the art of maintaining in miniature form many types
of plant life. The technique requires some skill, and above all much
patience and perseverance. Dwarfing requires compression and control of
root structures with compensatory pruning of the plant itself, usually
daily watering, appropriate fertilization, and often controlled tempera¬
tures and light. Yet even an apartment-dweller can enjoy the growing of
bonsai if desired.

To see some local examples of this ancient skill, Denverites are
encouraged to visit the Second Annual Bonsai Show and Exhibit of the
Denver Senior and Junior Bonsai Clubs which will be held at Horticulture
Hall of the Denver Botanic Gardens on May 20 and 21 , 1972.

Bonsai is an art form using living plants. Bon means tray, and sai
means culture — or flat pot culture. Thus bonsai is a plant or tree cul¬
tured in a container. It is, therefore, small in size yet expressing the
beauty and volume of a tree grown in a natural environment. Bonsai
is essentially the art of choosing a plant having the necessary character,
strength, and shape. This is then planted in a harmonious container, and
grown with complete and constant love, and with affectionate care, so
that it blends with the container and thus expresses a natural beauty in
miniature. The illusion of space, of depth, and distance is thus created as
well as a feeling of quantity and age.

A closely related art is Bonkei: bon again meaning tray, and kei ,
landscape or scenery. In this art form, other things are used in addition
to one or more trees, such as rocks, gravel, moss, and so forth, to make
a small-scale landscape.

Since bonsai is a Japanese word, many people are surprised to learn
that tills science is still practiced by the Chinese, who were probably the
originators of this art. Nonkey T. Ishiyama, in his article Historical Notes
on Japanese Bonsai provides some interesting information about the origin
of the art of bonsai. When the. Buddhist religion was imported to Japan
from China about 1400 years ago, many earlier civilizations were imported
at the same time. The drawing of pictures in the Sumi-e style was one.
This style, which is still seen in Japanese drawings and done with only one
color (usually charcoal, Chinese ink, or juice), showed steep, sheer canyons
of rock, or rough, rocky places at the top of mountains where there were
few trees. The start of Japanese gardens was in copying these pictures and
making them come to life. The first Japanese bonsai were quite large,
planted in wooden boxes and kept out-of-doors in the garden, and called
hachi-no-ki or tree in pot. The name bonsai began after the Meiji period,
which started 104 years ago in 1868.

Yoji Yoshimura, instructor of Bonsai at the New York Botanical
Garden has said that the history of bonsai, both in China and Japan, may
have started a long time ago, but the progression to an art has been only
about 1 50 years. During the past 1 5 years, bonsai as an art has expanded
to places outside of Japan, including many places in America.

Now, what of bonsai in the Denver area? On January 1, 1954 a
group of Japanese friends were attending a New Year’s party at the home
of Shuichi Fukuhara. Everyone present was admiring his Japanese plum
tree which was blooming in all its glory. Mr. Fukuhara suggested that it
might be fun for them to meet together and learn more about bonsai.
Some ten of his friends were in hearty agreement. After several meetings,
this group decided to form a bonsai club and 32 charter members joined
together to form the Denver Senior ( Issei , or first generation) Bonsai Club.
Their first Bonsai Show was held at the Japanese Community Hall in 1 954.
A second show was held the following year at the Buddhist Church, and a
bonsai show has been held at some location in Denver for each of the past

17 years. The Issei club still has 25 active members and meets monthly at
various member’s homes. The oldest living member of this group, Roy
Suehiro, is 89 years young, and his vigor, spryness, and radiant smile are a
constant source of inspiration to those who are privileged to know him.

When the Senior Bonsai Club was holding its annual show at the
Simpson Methodist Church on November 19, 1969, one of the members of
this church, Leo Murakami, thought that some of his generation (Nisei, or
second) should be learning something about the bonsai art while the Issei
members were still alive and willing to teach them. He posted a paper at
the door on which anyone interested might sign his name and address.
There were 120 persons who signified their interest by signing the list,
and 60 of these attended the initial meeting. This meeting culminated in
the formation of the Denver Junior Bonsai Club with 35 charter members.
The group met monthly at the Simpson Methodist Church with George T.
Fukuma, a member of the Senior Club, serving as the sensei (teacher) to
instruct them in the basic principles of bonsai. With arrival of spring, the
members’ intense interest and overwhelming desire to start planting trees
of their own suggested the advisability of meeting twice each month. The
Junior Club has continued to meet on the first and third Tuesday of each
month since that time. Information about the Denver Junior Bonsai Club
may be obtained from Marthena Cavnar, 7202 W. Cedar Circle, Denver.
Colo. 80226 (233-0995).

The Junior Club admits it has a long way to go to catch up to the
Senior members, several of whom have 200 to 500 bonsai trees each.
One Issei member has a tree estimated to be 1000 years of age. The
enthusiasm and interest of all members continues to grow; each rejoices
with a success, and mourns every loss just as a parent mourns the death
of a child. Success in bonsai requires constant attention, care, and love —
affection as you would give your own child. Proper soil, adequate water,
necessary fertilizer, essential sunshine or shade, and periodic pruning,
wiring, and repotting are required for each and every plant. The need for
devotion to this art is quite apparent.

The Japanese regard their bonsai with great reverence, as the story of
the acquisition of the “Fudo”, after eight months of negotiation and
communication by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, will demonstrate. The
“Fudo” is a Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii) with an
estimated age of 600 to 1000 years — probably the oldest living plant
ever shipped to America — which was recently acquired by the Brooklyn

Botanic Garden from Kyuzo Murata’s Nursery of the Nine Mists in Omiya,
Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Mr. Murata is said to have desired to keep this
fine tree in his private collection as long as he lived. Nor was it easy for
the townspeople to see this prestigious specimen go to another land. But,
after months of thoughtful consideration of the increasingly harmful
effects of air pollution to trees in the garden, the immense value of having
Americans exposed to appreciation of this rare example of the bonsai art,
and the fine care it would be given by the staff of the Brooklyn Botanic
Garden, the owner finally decided that the people of the United States
should have the opportunity to enjoy this priceless tree. Mr. Murata is
alleged to have felt that he was giving his own daughter to an American to
be joined in marriage.

Trustees for Denver Botanic Gardens, 1972

Mr. Ralph Becker
Mr. Alfred J. Bromfield
Mrs. John Brooks, Jr.

Mrs. Brown W. Cannon
Mr. George M. Canon
Mr. Edward P. Connors
Mr. Raymond B. Crowley
Dr. John R. Durrance
Mrs. George H. Garrey
Mrs. Jess Gibson
Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr.
Mrs. Edward H. Honnen
Mr. William H. Hornby
Mr. Richard A. Kirk

Mr. Alexander L. Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Robert M. Kosanke
Mr. Lawrence A. Long
Mrs. Frank McLister
Mr. John C. Mitchell
Mrs. Graham B. Morrison
Mr. Charles C. Nicola
Mr. James C. Owen, Jr.

Mrs. Howard Rea
Mr. W. B. Ross
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Dr. Robert Stearns
Mrs. David S. Touff
Mrs. James J. Waring

Mr. Kenneth G. Wilmore

Life Trustee

Mr. Hudson Moore, Jr.

Ex Officio Members
Dr. Kenneth Brink
Colorado State University

Mr. Joe Ciancio, Jr.

Manager, Department of Parks and Recreation

Mr. Willard N. Greim
President, Denver Zoological Foundation

Mrs. Walter Freudenberg
President, Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs

Dr. John C. Johnson

President, Plains Conservation Center, Inc.

The Honorable W. H. McNichols, Jr.
Mayor, City and County of Denver

Mr. Allan R. Phipps
President, Museum of Natural History

IF THE SHOE FITS

WEAR it- - III PROUDLY.

m&FiK Y0y

Denver Botanic Gardens Volunteers

AROUND THE SEASONS CLUB OFFICERS

Mrs. F. 0. Brown
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Mrs. H. S. Glick ..
Mrs. Myron Nixon

. President

Vice-President

. Secretary

. Treasurer

ASSOCIATES OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Mrs. Norman Patrick
Mrs. Ted Washburne

Mrs. H. S. Glick .

Mr. Charles Wilkins .
Mrs. William Roberts

. President

. Vice-President

. Secretary

. Treasurer

Assistant-Treasurer

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS GUILD OFFICERS

Mrs. C. P. Smith .

Mrs. William Cook .

Mrs. Ronald Adams .

Mrs. Robert Whealen ...
Mrs. Michael Cherington
Mrs. George M. Canon
Mrs. Donald Rydstrom

. President

. Vice-President

. Recording Secretary

Corresponding Secretary

. Treasurer

. Program Chairman

. Publicity Chairman

Children’s Garden Committee

Mrs. James Layden, Chairman
Dr. John R. Durrance
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. Gus Nelson
Mrs. John Vittetoe
- Mrs. James J. Waring

Conservatory Guides

Miss Madeline Alston

Mrs. Lola Henson

Mrs. F. V. Altvater

Mrs. Ruth Johnson

Mrs. J. S. Avery

Mr. Frank Kepplemann

Mrs. John Braden

Mrs. H. Middleton

Mrs. John Bergkamp

Mrs. Marvin Owens

Mrs. William F. Clifford

Mrs. Norman Patrick

Mrs. M. C. Cohen

Mr. Charles Petersen

Mrs. William Collister

Mrs. Edward Safferd

Mrs. Richard Crain

Mrs. Helen Stanley

Miss Connie Crocker

Mrs. Henry W. Toll, Jr.

Mrs. H. S. Glick

Mr. Don Tyndall

Mrs. Harry Hahn

Mrs. Leo VanEtten

Mrs. Phil Hayward

Mrs. Theodore A. Wendell

Mrs. James Wolfe

Editorial Committee

Mrs. J. V.

Petersen, Chairman

Mrs. Walter Ash

Mrs. Robert M. Kosanke

Mrs. William H. Crisp

Mrs. Norton Novitt

Miss Lucy M. Crissey

Dr. Moras L. Shubert

Mrs. Phil Hayward

Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.

Dr. A. C. Hildreth

Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Gift Shop Volunteers

Mrs. E. A. Armstrong

Ms. Leah M. McCutchan

Mrs. Ross M. Bolt

Ms. Myrtle J. McDowell

Mr. & Mrs. H. J. Brunkhorst

Mrs. R. L. Mitton

Ms. Elsie K. Capella

Ms. Hazel M. Moore

Mrs. Ray Carlson

Ms. June B. Moore

Mrs. C. J. Christensen

Mrs. G. B. Morrison

Miss Bobbie Close

Ms. Helene Mueller

Mrs. Sam E. Cohen

Mrs. Donald Nolte

Mrs. J. C. Dawson

Mr. & Mrs. Charles V. Petersen

Mrs. John F. Falkenberg

Mrs. L. E. Pope

Ms. Mildred Foust

Mrs. Louise T. Pote

Mrs. Harry Gauss

Mrs. James A. Pratt

Ms. Florice Graham

Mrs. William N. Roberts

Mrs. L. E. Griswold

Ms. Christina Ross

Mrs. Clark Hillmeyer

Mrs. Mary A. Secrest

Mrs. Donald Hodgson

Mrs. Howard Sidwell

Mrs. N. W. Hyland

Mrs. Carmen Simon

Mrs. Philomena Johnson

Mrs. James C. Syner

Ms. Jean W. Kellogg

Mrs. Carl W. Tempel

Mrs. W. J. Kimbrough

Ms. Frances Tennant

Mrs. Colleen Knox

Mrs. T. D. Thompson

Mrs. Robert M. Kosanke

Ms. Margaret Watson

Mrs. E. M. Kullgren

Mrs. R. S. Welty

Mrs. Mark J. Lecker

Mrs. M. H. Wild

Mrs. Paul Locklin

Ms. Rose C. Zarit

Herbarium Volunteers & Herbarium Committee

Mrs. Fred Zeiner, Chairman
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. Calvin Fisher
Mrs. Samuel Heacock
Mrs. Marjorie Shepherd
Mrs. F. Richard Yeatts

Horticultural Advisory Committee

Mr. Kenneth G. Wilmore, Chairman
Mr. Ralph Becker
Mr. Alfred J. Bromfield
Dr. John R. Durrance
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mr. Chris Moritz
Mrs. Jane Silverstein Reis
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Mr. Harry Swift
Mr. Ken Watson

Library Committee

Miss Lucy M. Crissey, Chairman
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. G. B. Morrison
Mr. Henry J. Shearouse
Mrs. James White
Mrs. Earl Wilson

Library Volunteers

Mrs. Thelma Bowles
Miss Lucy M. Crissey
Mrs. Mary Jane Downing
Miss Geneva Eldridge
Mrs. Dale Foreman
Mrs. R. B. Frederick
Miss Rachael Hauck
Mrs. William Flolland
Mrs. Gordon Hollis

Mrs. Bruce Jackson
Mrs. Mary Lederer
Mrs. Richard Millard
Mrs. Peg Milroy
Sister Patience
Mrs. Margaret Polak
Mrs. John P. Warden
Mrs. James White
Mrs. Earl Wilson
Mrs. Robert H. Zeis

Lobby Court Committee

Mrs. J. Kernan Weckbaugh, President
Mrs. Donald C. Campbell
Mrs. Frank B. Freyer, II

Mrs. Harley G. Higbie, Jr.
Mrs. John C. Mitchell
Mrs. Willett S. Moore

Plant Sale Volunteers

Chairman: Mrs. Ted Washburne
Co-Chairman: Mrs. John F. Falkenberg

Annuals: Mrs. C. P. Smith
Berry Basket: Mr. Maynard Jacobson
Children’s Booth: Mrs. Axel Sjogren

Geraniums and Patio Plants: Mrs. Keith Robinson and Mrs. John Clifford
Herbs and Vegetables: Mrs. Joseph Broughton and Mrs. D. H. Rydstrom

Houseplants: Mrs. Robert Welty
Perennials: Mrs. Phil Hayward

Rock Garden and Ground Covers
Mrs. Walter Ash and Mrs. J. V. Petersen

African Violets
Ms. Sybil Bates

Shrubs and Trees: Mr. Kenneth G. Wilmore

Books: Miss Lucy M. Crissey
Cashiering: Mr. Charles Wilkins

Customer Service
Mrs. Alexander L. Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Robert LaMassena
Mr. Ralph Hargreaves

Gift Shop: Mrs. Mary A. Secrest

Gift Shop Annex
Mrs. G. B. Morrison
Mrs. Robert M. Kosanke

Information — Checkstands
Mrs. Campbell Robertson

Membership: Mrs. Loring Brock

Signs: Mrs. Robert Putsch

Terrace and Garden Tour

Mrs. Donald Robotham and Mrs. William Stanley

The Denver Botanic Gardens
ANNUAL REPORT

for

1971

comprising a separately paged part of
The Green Thumb magazine

1971

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Denver Botanic Gardens

It is a pleasure to report to the members of Denver Botanic Gardens on the
events and progress of the year 1971 . It has been a year of great activity at the Gardens
in the development of both program and physical facilities.

Appropriate it is, first, to mention the many people who have been involved
in this activity, including the Board of Trustees, the officers, the City Administration,
the staff, and the hundreds of devoted volunteers. The Trustees have acted with
interest and wisdom in their planning for the development of the Gardens and, of
course, have been very active in raising the necessary funds to accomplish these plans.
The City Administration not only has provided its moral backing but also has con¬
tinued its vital support in the form of the operating budget. The staff, under the
leadership of Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr., Director, and Mr. Andrew R. Knauer,
Assistant Director, have diligently executed the development plans as funds have be¬
come available and have put into effect the gradually expanding educational and
display programs. Other members of the staff working closely with them have shown
a high degree of support of our purposes.

The volunteers are in a class by themselves, and we would be far short of the
position we have reached if we had not had their great dedication assisting us along the
way. The countless hours of voluntary time devoted to Denver Botanic Gardens by
these groups, the Denver Botanic Gardens Associates, the Denver Botanic Gardens
Guild, the Around the Seasons Club, are greatly responsible for our progress. The
estimated 11,000 volunteer hours contributed in the operation of the Gift Shop, for
example, not only add to the attractions at the Gardens but also have contributed
substantial funds toward special projects and the general operating budget. A voluntary
committee, also, from the Garden Club of Denver has ably assisted in the changing
exhibits in the Lobby Court Garden, which provides such a beautiful entrance to the
Conservatory and to the Education Building.

A significant accomplishment during the past year has been the attainment of
the $850,000 goal of Phase II of the Development Fund. Through the efforts of a great
many people $855,000 has been contributed or pledged to this fund. An impressive
part of this amount, $242,430, has been contributed or pledged by the Board of
Trustees as a group, including every member during the past three years.

The long range plan for the development of the York Street Gardens is being put
into effect as funds are received from the Development Fund drive. Accomplished to
date have been the Master Plan, itself, for the development of the York Street Gardens
as prepared by Eckbo, Dean, Austin & Williams, the purchase of the LaJolla Apart¬
ments and additional property in the block to the north of the Boettcher Memorial
Center, the completion of virtually the entire water-oriented system this past fall, the
construction of the York Street gates and gatehouse, and a modest addition to the
Endowment Fund. In addition much of the furnishing of the Education Building has
been made possible. As more pledges are paid and, hopefully, additional contributions,
made, execution of the Master Plan will continue.

No one and no thing can escape the effects of the inflation which has gripped
this country in recent years. Cost estimates made three to four years ago for parts of
the Master Plan have proven inadequate in this situation, and it has become necessary
for the Board of Trustees to seek supplemental funds for remaining features. Most
important and primary at this time is the construction of the major paths, walkways
and roads throughout the Gardens to provide access to them and permit the resump¬
tion of planting of botanical material, hopefully later this year. Currently the board,
divided into three teams, is engaged in a friendly “War of the Roses” to raise an
[2]

additional $100,000 for this purpose. The goal is not yet in sight, but there have been
some encouraging developments. It is hoped that this construction can be completed
this spring. Other construction under way or expected to be accomplished at the same
time is a major part of the service area to the northwest of the Conservatory and the
completion of foundations and footings, to the extent of available funds, for the two
additional greenhouses in that same area. This work is being carried out through the
use of limited funds provided by the capital improvement budget of the City & County.

We record with sorrow the loss of two members of the Board of Trustees,
Mr. J. Clinton Bowman on October 27, 1971, and Mrs. Charlotte Barbour on December
29, 1971. We will miss their counsel and their association with us in accomplishing
projects in the planning of which they shared.

New trustees have been elected to the board as follows:

Mr. Ralph Becker
Mrs. John Brooks, Jr.

Mr. Alexander L. Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Howard Rea
Mrs. David S. Touff

Again my many thanks to the Mayor and Council of the City & County of
Denver, the officers, the trustees, the staff, and the volunteers for a most successful
1971.

Respectfully,

John C. Mitchell

President

1971

DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

Introduction

The year 1971 was unquestionably one of the busiest and most productive ones
in the history of the Denver Botanic Gardens. The opening of the Education Building
resulted immediately in a rapid expansion of the activities and educational program
sponsored by the Botanic Gardens. Substantial and consistent progress in the recon¬
struction of the outside gardens according to the Master Plan has brought the comple¬
tion of the new gardens closer to reality. Addition of new staff members helped the
Botanic Gardens move forward significantly in many aspects of its program. Numerous
improvements were carried out in the already existing facilities of the Botanic Gardens.
Memberships in the Botanic Gardens showed a very encouraging upswing. And exciting
new plans for the future were set in motion.

Staff

In 1971 a Director and an Assistant Director were at work together at the
Botanic Gardens for the first time in a number of years. Twenty-one permanent staff
members were on duty out of a total of 23 provided for in the table of organization of
positions funded by the City and County of Denver; 6 temporary, seasonal workers
paid by the City worked at the Gardens during the busiest part of the season. Nine
persons were hired as part-time employees by the Denver Botanic Gardens, Inc. These

[3]

positions included the secretary for the Development Fund and for publicity and
public relations, the operator of the label-engraving machine, the Instructor in the
Children’s Garden, the professionally trained Assistant Librarian, weekend clerks in the
Gift Shop, the Editor of The Green Thumb , and the custodial worker for the Botanic
Gardens House.

For the first time, the Botanic Gardens had the full-time services of an Educa¬
tional Director (Horticultural Education Specialist), a professional Librarian, and a
Grounds Foreman.

Attendance at the Gardens

After the opening of the Education Building in March, 1971, records show that
18,212 persons attended meetings held there by botanical, horticultural, conservation
and other groups. Classes held in the new building attracted 6,250 persons. Special
events, primarily plant shows, attracted 25,756 visitors to the new facilities offered in
the building. Nearly 210,000 persons passed through the counting turnstiles in the
foyer of the Conservatory, Meetings of plant and conservation-oriented groups in the
rooms of Botanic Gardens House attracted another 4,522 participants in 1971.

The Education Building

The doors of the Education Building, the newest addition to the Boettcher
Memorial Complex, were opened to the public in the first week of March, 1971. The
Education Building, as it is generally called, provides the following facilities for the
Botanic Gardens: Horticulture Hall, an auditorium with a stage at one end and with
seats for nearly 500; a Plant Preparations Room adjacent to Horticulture Hall; the
Helen Fowler Library; the Kathryn Kalmback Herbarium and the Herbarium Display
Area; the Lobby Court with its fountain, pool and display area surrounding the pool;
three rooms designated as Lecture Rooms or Classrooms; a Research Laboratory; a
Dark Room and storage rooms.

Lobby Court Displays

Opening with a stunning display of flowering hyacinths in three colors over¬
topped by young white birch trees at the time of dedication, the Lobby Court Garden
Area featured the following plant displays during the year: Succulents and cacti,
Easter lilies with flowering primulas, “Bonsai plants”, tuberous begonias, a colorful
fall display of chrysanthemums with fall fruits, orchids, poinsettias with white chry¬
santhemums, hanging baskets of various plants, groupings of tropical foliage plants,
and azaleas and rhododendrons. The Garden Club of Denver has provided generous
financial support for these displays, and a committee from that club has worked
closely with staff members of the Botanic Gardens in planning the displays.

Horticulture Hall

The availability of this handsome auditorium has made possible the scheduling of
numerous activities which are reflected in the following facts and figures. The follow¬
ing shows were held in Horticulture Hall in 1971 after its opening in early March, and
the estimated attendance at each is indicated: Rocky Mt. African Violet Show, 2,500;
Ikebana International Show, 3,000; Bonsai Clubs of Denver, 1,500; Iris Flower Show,
2,000; Colorado Water Color Exhibit, several thousand; Gloxinia Gesneriad Growers
Show, 2,000; Colorado Gladiolus Show, 3,000; Children’s Garden Fair and Graduation ,
500; Orchid Show, 2,000.

Various organizations have held regular or special meetings in Horticulture Hall
for large groups in 1971. Among them were the following: Colorado Nursery and
[4]

Shade Tree Conference, CSU Landscape Management Workshop, Denver Rose Society,
Dahlia Society, Iris Society, Rocky Mt. African Violet Council, Colorado Mountain
Club, Ikebana International, Sierra Club, Children’s Garden, Garden Club of Denver,
Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Plant Sale, Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Christmas
Sale, Bonsai Clubs of Denver, “We Care”, Colorado Mycological Society, Colorado
Gladiolus Society, Historic Denver, Rocky Mt. District Rose Judging School, Junior
League of Denver, National Junior Horticulture Association, Young Audiences.

Public Lecture Series

Free public lectures were scheduled in Horticulture Hall in the spring and autumn
months in 1971. The following persons were included on the 1971 lecture schedule.
February, Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr., “Is There a Botanic Garden in your Future?”;
March, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Tomppert, “Colorado Wild Flowers” and “Flower Inter¬
lude”; March, Mrs. Ann Zwinger, “Constant Friendship”; April, Dr. George Williams,
“Responses of Woody Plants (Including Aspen) to Environmental Conditions”; May,
Dr. F. L. S. O’Rourke, “Flowering Trees of the World”; June, Dr. James Feucht, “The
American Elm: A Plan for Survival”; October, Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner, “Wildflowers —
Getting to Know Them”; November, Dr. and Mrs. Gordon Alexander, “A Garden
Tour in Britain”; December, Dr. J. W. Brewer, “Approaches to Insect Control”.

Courses of Instruction Offered

Since one of the primary functions of a botanic garden in a large metropolitan
area is educational, the Denver Botanic Gardens made significant progress toward that
goal by offering several types of courses in 1971. The following courses were offered
for a ten-week period (approximately one academic quarter) by the staff member or
guest instructor indicated: “Tropical Plants for House and Garden”, Bibee, 3 qrs.;
“Home Landscape Design”, Knauer, 1 qr.; “Identification of Trees and Shrubs —
Gymnosperms”, Gambill, 1 qr.; “Spring Flora of Denver and Vicinity”, Gambill, 1 qr.;
“Flower Arrangement for Beginners”, Mrs. Robert Kosanke, 1 qr., also 5 weeks in
summer; “Bonsai for Beginners”, George Fukuma, 1 qr.

The Community College of Denver offered a course in the fall quarter entitled
“Floral Design Workshop”. Taught by Mr. Lee Ashley, the course offered 6 hours of
college credit, and approached the principles of floral design and the operation of a
flower shop from the vocational standpoint.

The Denver Public Schools again offered a summer botany course for high school
students, for credit, at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Entitled “Botany Seminar and
Field Study”, the course was taught by Mr. William Bollacker of the George Washington
High School faculty.

Numerous short courses lasting for a half-day or less were offered during the
year by staff members as follows: “Pruning of Trees and Shrubs”, Knauer; “Lawn
Care”, Knauer; “Hanging Baskets -Eye-Level Gardening”, Blades; “Suburban Vegeta¬
ble Gardening Techniques”, LeMay; “Annual Garden Flowers”, Pincoski; “Summer
Care of Roses”, Knauer; “Dividing and Transplanting Perennials”, Knauer; “Field
Trips in Identification of Woody Plants of the Denver Area”, Gambill; “Preparing
Garden Soil”, Knauer and Schell; “Preparing your Garden for Winter”, Knauer.

The Children’s Garden

One of the more successful educational projects of the Denver Botanic Gardens
is the Children’s Garden. In 1971 approximately 130 youngsters in ages from 9-15
took part in this program. Beginning with a series of instructional classes on a wide
variety of topics pertinent to preparing, planting and maintaining a garden, these
children planted and grew vegetables and flowers in individual plots of approximately

[5]

100 square feet. A Garden Fair for the public and “Graduation” ceremony climaxed
the successful season in September. Mrs. Irene Vittetoe serves as Instructor in the
program, and supervises the children’s work in the gardens with the aid of a number of
loyal volunteers, and, of course, the parents of the children. Beverly Pincoski is the
staff member who directs and correlates the Children’s Garden program.

Open Garden Day

Open Garden Day was held at the Botanic Gardens on Sunday, October 10,
from noon until 4 p.m. to permit visitors to inspect the progress that has been
made in the reconstruction of the outdoor gardens on York Street. Phase I of the
master plan was complete at that point. The 17 acres of the outdoor gardens has
been reshaped from a nearly flat surface into a succession of mounds, depressions
and partially enclosed areas. An extensive underground frost-free irrigation system
has been installed, and a very handsome surface ornamental waterway has been
completed featuring fountains, channels, sluices, spills and waterfalls, as well as four
15 -foot pylons from which the water gushes to start its way along the system. The
ornamental water system was turned on especially for the occasion. Volunteers,
Trustees and staff members guided over 5,000 visitors along a pathway marked with
brightly-colored ribbons and balloons, on a perfect “blue and gold” autumn day.
Visitors were also invited to inspect the Conservatory and the new Education
Building. The public came, saw, and appeared to be delighted by what they saw;
certainly those present had a much better understanding of what has been going on
behind fences and gates for so many months. Additional such occasions are planned
for 1972, to keep members, friends and new visitors informed of the progress being
made in building a magnificent new garden.

Wild Flower Field Trips

In cooperation with Dr. Brunquist, Curator of Botany at the Denver Museum of
Natural History, the Botanic Gardens offered biweekly field trips to various points in
the Denver area to study plants in the field, particularly wild flowers. These trips began
the first of March and were terminated at the end of September, and were very well
attended. Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner of the Denver Botanic Gardens volunteer staff
shared leadership of the trips with Dr. Brunquist, as did various other persons, on
occasion.

Memberships

As of January 1 , 1972, the total number of all memberships in the Denver Botan¬
ic Gardens stood at approximately 1700. This represented an increase of about 600
members in all categories during the calendar year of 1971. Although this increase is
gratifying, there is, almost certainly, a potential membership of several times that
number in the Denver Metropolitan Area. Plans are being laid to mount a special
membership campaign in 1972.

During the past year the Board of Trustees authorized an increase in the annual
dues for the regular membership from $5.00 to $7.50. This action was based on the
fact that generally increasing costs had brought the Botanic Gardens to the point at
which $5.00 was inadequate for maintaining an annual membership. As of January 1,
1972, new regular memberships were raised, therefore, to $7.50. Renewals of regular
memberships were to be raised to $7.50 as of April 1, 1972. Fees for other member¬
ships were set as follows: Participating Membership, raised from $10.00 to $15.00;
Supporting Membership remained at $25.00; Contributing Membership remained at
$50.00; and Sustaining Membership remained at $100.00.

[6]

Two new types of memberships were instituted as a result of Board of Trustees
action in 1971. The Junior Membership, for persons up to 16 years of age, was set at
$2.00 in 1971, and has been raised to $2.50 as of January 1, 1972. All those who
completed the Children’s Garden program in 1971 were awarded this membership,
and thus they became the first class of Junior Members. The membership is open to
ah young people of the age range indicated. A bimonthly newsletter for Junior mem¬
bers was initiated, and christened The Jolly Green Gardener following a contest among
the members.

A new membership for Business and Educational Institutions was set up at
$100.00 a year to permit business firms and educational institutions to help under¬
write and participate in the program of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

The Helen Fowler library

Under the capable direction of Mrs. Solange Huggins, Librarian, and with the
loyal cooperation of a volunteer committee headed by Miss Lucy M. Crissey, the Helen
Fowler Library achieved unparalleled growth and development during 1971. The
Library moved to its handsome new quarters in the Education Building in March, 1971.
Here it attracts many visitors and patrons, and. it is rapidly becoming one of the most
successful operations at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The Library is open to the
public a total of 52 hours per week, and seven days each week (Monday through
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. through 5 p.m.) In 1971 a total of 1866
books was circulated. The number of books added to the collection in the past year
was 441, of which 198 were purchased and 243 were gifts. Thirteen journals were
added in 1971, of which four were gifts. A total of 23,904 persons visited the library
in 1971, while the number of persons using the library was 6,953.

The James J. Waring Rare Book Room was completed and forms a very valuable
addition to the library facilities. Rare books from the Helen Fowler Library have been
placed in the room, which is provided with automatic temperature and humidity
controls. The Waring collection of rare botanical books is being moved to this facility.

A children’s collection was established in the Library in 1971. Books from the
general collection, of special interest to young gardeners were segregated and became
the nucleus of the collection to which more than forty new books were added.

Very welcome financial support was made available when the Associates of the
Denver Botanic Gardens pledged a contribution of $100.00 per month to the budget of
the Library, beginning in October, 1971. The Helen Fowler Library now contains
somewhat in excess of 3,500 books and 135 periodicals.

Publications

Beginning with the January, 1971 number of the Green Thumb Newsletter, the
editorship was transferred to the Education Specialist as a duty of that office. (Mrs.
J. V. Petersen, who had served as Editor so capably for a long period of time, asked,
earlier, to be relieved of her duties.) Mr. James Schell, who joined the Botanic
Gardens staff as the first person to occupy the position of Education Specialist,
served as Editor until he left the Botanic Gardens in October, 1971, to begin work on
his Ph.D. degree at Kansas State University. With the February number, the format of
the Newsletter was changed from a 2-page size to a 4-page size. This was necessitated
I primarily by the somewhat precipitate expansion of the monthly calendar of activities
at the Denver Botanic Gardens following the opening of the Education Building.

I At the end of 1971, with the appointment of Miss Margaret Sikes as the new Educa¬
tion Specialist, the editorship of the Green Thumb Newsletter became her responsibil¬
ity. With the July, 1971 issue, Dr. James Feucht, Metro Denver Area Horticulturist

[7]

on the staff of Colorado State University agreed to write the portion of the Newsletter
which offered the monthly “Gardening Tips”. His regular monthly contribution has
added a great deal to the Newsletter , and the Denver Botanic Gardens is grateful for
his assistance.

The Green Thumb , quarterly magazine of the Denver Botanic Gardens was
edited by David Blades, Assistant Superintendent of the Conservatory, until mid-May,
1971. At that time Mr. Blades asked to be relieved of the editorship because of the
pressure of his other duties. Miss Margaret Sikes was appointed as Editor, and took
over the position in late May with the Spring issue of the quarterly. Upon her
appointment as Education Specialist in December, she agreed to remain as Editor of
The Green Thumb until a replacement could be found. In 1971 the quality of the
contents of The Green Thumb was maintained at a very high level, despite the tribula¬
tions endured by the staff of the quarterly with a change in publisher.

The Conservatory Plant Guide was revised completely during the past year, and
the new edition appeared in August, 1971. The revision was not published as an issue
of The Green Thumb, as was the case with the original edition, but appeared as a
separate publication. Mrs. Phil H. Hayward served as Editor and chief contributor of
the new edition; Dr. A. C. Hildreth, Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner and Mrs. J. V. Petersen
were Editorial Assistants. Mr. Phil Hayward designed the very attractive cover and
also drew the plant illustrations in the book.

The Conservatory Guide lists the common name, botanical name and plant family
of 100 plants growing in the Botanic Gardens Conservatory. Characteristics useful in
the identification of each plant as well as a few facts of general interest to the layman
are also provided. A map is included showing the location of each plant in the
Conservatory, making it possible for the visitor to guide himself through the Conserva¬
tory. The Guide is available at the door of the Conservatory for 50 cents per copy.

Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium

The Kalmbach Herbarium was moved from Botanic Gardens House to spacious
new quarters in the Education Building in February, 1971. The size of the Herbarium
was doubled (it now stands at somewhat over 10,000 sheets) when the Herbarium of
Denver University consisting of more than 5,000 sheets was transferred to the Denver
Botanic Gardens and incorporated with the 5,000 sheets of the Kalmbach Herbarium.
Twelve herbarium cases are now used in housing the collections which continue to
grow in number and usefulness. An interesting addition to the Herbarium was the
arrival of a collection of 150 specimens from Denmark sent to Dr. William Gambill in
the form of an exchange by Dr. Jorgen Jensen of Copenhagen.

The Herbarium is open to the public one day each week, and can be used by
appointment on other days. Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner, as Chairman of the Herbarium
Committee, is in charge of the collections. The Herbarium Display Area, on the bal¬
cony outside the Herbarium room and overlooking the Lobby Court features a display
of named living plants of current interest, particularly plants which are currently in
bloom in the Denver area. This display is open to the public each day.

The Mycological Society of Colorado

The new Research Laboratory on the lower level of the Education Building, is
the center of activity in a long-range research project of the Colorado Mycological
Society. Heading the project, and serving as its chief researcher is Dr. D. H. Mitchel,
prominent Denver physician and coauthor of the publication, Mushrooms of Colorado
and Adjacent Areas with Mary Hallock Wells (published by Denver Museum of Natural
History). The laboratory is being used for detailed taxonomic studies on the fleshy
fungi and, more recently, the slime fungi of Colorado. The Herbarium of the Mycologi-

[8]

cal Society contains over 3,000 specimens of dried and documented fleshy fungi,
accompanied by color slides of most specimens, and is kept in a basement storeroom
adjacent to the research laboratory. This collection of fungi is by far the largest in the
State of Colorado, and represents a very valuable research and teaching tool. It is
hoped that a course in the taxonomy of the fungi of Colorado can be offered at the
Denver Botanic Gardens in the not too distant future.

Research on Woody Plants Suitable for Cultivation in Colorado

The construction of heated deep frames, cold frames, and nursery beds in recent
months at the Denver Botanic Gardens will make possible some experimentation with
woody plants whose suitability for growth as ornamentals in Colorado has not been
proven. This research is just beginning, since facilities for it have not been available
until now. Expansion of this project into one of the more important research contri¬
butions of the Denver Botanic Gardens is being planned, under the direction of Mr.
Andrew Knauer, Assistant Director.

Improvements to Buildings and Grounds during 1971

A large number of minor improvement projects in the buildings at the Botanic
Gardens and around the grounds were carried out during 1971. In some cases these
were done with the aid of funds from Botanic Gardens, Inc., and in others with funds
from the City Budget. Most of the projects were carried out by members of the staff
and work force of the Botanic Gardens. Certain others of a more comprehensive
nature were carried out as contract jobs. Following is a listing of the more important
projects which have resulted in making much better use of the space in the buildings,
or have improved the appearance and usability of portions of the grounds.

a. Botanic Gardens House

1. Rooms formerly occupied by Herbarium, CSU office, and Library
converted into attractive staff offices and Conference Room. Larger
room made available for CSU Horticulturist’s office and staff.

2. New carpeting installed on stairway, in upstairs hallway, and newly
donated carpeting in offices; new drapes in some rooms, repairing of
carpeting in living-room, recovering of some upholstered chairs.

3. New fluorescent light fixtures in some poorly-lighted offices. Large
basement room redecorated and equipped with better fighting;
addressograph equipment and label engraving machines moved there;
new treads on stairs to basement; restroom in basement redecorated
and revamped.

b. Conservatory Building

1. Extensive remodeling of Gift Shop following plans from Hornbein
and White, Architects, and contracted by Tamminga Construction
Co.; enlarging of Gift Shop permitting expansion into maximum area
available; construction of Gift Shop office; installation of attractive
carpeting, and new overhead lights; costs of over $7,000 funded by
proceeds from the Gift Shop.

2. Extensive renovation of Conservatory Garage area providing work
areas with fencing and security locks for general storage area, car¬
penter shop, maintenance shop and gardeners’ shop; four fenced and
locked tool compartments, with tools for each marked with identi¬
fication color.

[9]

3. Office for Horticultural Education Specialist provided by remodel¬
ing former Gift Shop storeroom, providing it with new lighting,
carpeting and furniture. Office space for secretary to Education
Specialist provided by revamping small area off the foyer and enclos¬
ing it with a “divider”.

4. Rewiring of portions of the Conservatory, contracted by Kennedy
Electric Co. with funds from City Budget. This represents the
first phase of relocation and replacement of portions of the Con¬
servatory wiring system.

c. Landscaping around Education Building

1. Planned by and executed under the supervision of the Horticultural
Advisory Committee, and with the aid of a generous grant from the
Associates of Denver Botanic Gardens in the amount of $5,000.00.

2. Attractive plantings utilizing the following plants were made: golden-
rain tree; “Skyline” thornless, podless honey locust; Shuber choke-
cherry; river-birch; bristle-cone pine; eastern white pine; pinyon
pine; “Tammy” juniper; evergreen mountain mahogany; compact
Oregon grape; “Koreanspice” viburnum; “Manhattan” euonymus;
“Wyatt” firethorn; “Katherine Dykes” potentilla; cranberry coton-
easter; spreading cotoneaster; cut-leaf sumac; bald cypress.

d. Deep Frames and Propagation Beds

1. Construction of five deep frames, both insulated and heated, to use
as hot frames in winter and moist frames in summer, along north
fence of Botanic Gardens, opposite Conservatory.

2. Construction of nine open nursery beds separated by paved paths
and with irrigation outlets to each bed, along north fence of
Botanic Gardens opposite Conservatory.

Acknowledgments

During the course of the year, the Director has worked closely with a large
number of volunteer helpers in addition to members of the staff. In an attempt
to recognize these persons individually, the names of volunteers are being printed
elsewhere in this report. If some names are inadvertently omitted, the Director will
appreciate having them called to his attention. Where so many persons are involved,
errors of omission may occur, and if this has happened we are very sorry. The Director
wishes to take this opportunity to express his deep gratitude for the fine cooperation
he has received during the past year from members of the Board of Trustees, Staff
members, and volunteers.

Special thanks are due also to Mr. Joe Ciancio, Manager, Department of Parks
and Recreation; Pat Gallavan, Director of Parks; David Thibault, Administration
Officer; and Norma Williams, Personnel Officer. These persons have been helpful in
many ways during the year, as have other members of the staff of Parks and Recreation.

[10]

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS FOUNDATION, INC.

909 York Street
Denver, Colorado

BALANCE SHEET

December 31, 1971

Cash Accounts:

Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Tax Reserve, Etc.

$ 8,148

97,721

1,822 $ 107,691

i Other Assets:

Real Estate

201,749

Conservatory

879,003

Education Building

861,454

Master Plan Development

386,617

Greenhouse

91,802

Deposited on Land (Restricted)

120,000

Equipment Owned

8,122

TOTAL

EQUITY ACCOUNTS

Liabilities:

Notes Payable 56,466

Rent Deposits _ 175

B Fund Accounts:

Represented by Cash 107,691

Represented by Other Assets 2,492,106

I TOTAL

2,548,747

$2,656,438

56,641

2,599,797

$2,656,438

ACCOUNTANT’S OPINION

We have examined the above balance sheet and related statements of cash
* receipts and disbursements and fund balances for the year ended December 31, 1971.
fli The examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
l and accordingly included such tests of the accounting records and such other pro¬
cedures as were considered necessary in the circumstances.

In my opinion, the accompanying balance sheet and statement of cash receipts
(and disbursements present fairly the financial position of the Denver Botanic Gardens
l Foundation, Inc. at December 31, 1971 and the related cash receipts and disbursements
■ j for the year then ended.

U J. D. Vander Ploeg

Certified Public Accountant

tin

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.
A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.

Mr. Andrew R. Knauer .

Mr. Ernest A. Bibee .

Mr. David A. Blades .

Miss Beverly M. Pincoski....

Miss Margaret Sikes .

Mrs. Solange Huggins .

Dr. A. C. Hildreth .

. Director

. Assistant Director

. Conservatory Superintendent

Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

. Botanist -Horticulturist

. Education Director

. Librarian

. Director Emeritus

TELEPHONES

Denver Botanic Gardens . . . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover — Photo by Carol L. Radetsky

Pages 35, 36 - Photos by R. J. Niedrach

Page 38 - Photo by Frank Barrett

Page 43 - Photo courtesy Gottlieb and Associates

Pages 44, 45 - Drawings by Suzanne Ash

Page 46 — Photo courtesy George J. Ball, Inc.

Pages 52, 53 - Drawings courtesy J. W. Brewer
Page 55 - Drawing by Phil Hayward
Pages 58, 59 - Photos by George Crouter
Page 61 - Drawing by Suzanne Ash

lie Green if] mb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

DO NOT FOLD

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER. COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

VOL. 29, NO. 3

SUMMER 1972

THE COVER

Gesneriad — Achimenes grandiflora

Photo by Miriam Denham

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-NINE, NUMBER THREE

Editorial Committee
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth
Mrs. Solange Huggins
Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Miss Margaret Sikes
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner
Mr. Wes Woodward, Editor

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent free to
all members of the organization. Junior membership $2.50, Regular $7.50, Participating $15.00,
Supporting $25.00, Contributing $50.00. Business and Educational Institutional $100.00. Single
Copies, 50^.

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York Street
Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

We miiwuinb

Wes Woodward-editor

SUMMER, 1972

THE PLANTS

Adventures of the Gesneriads— Miriam Denham . 67

Dahlia Growing— Edward J. Pankoski . 92

Exotics of Colorado - Crabgrass— Helen Marsh Zeiner . 88

Focus on Monstera Deliciosa-Peg Play ward . . 90

THE GARDEN

Colorado is Not Connecticut-George Kelly . 82

Gardening and the Law— Jacob V. Schaetzel . 78

REPORTS

Mushroom Poisoning— D. H. Mitchel . 73

Traveling with Trees and Flowers -Josephine Robertson . 86

Air Pollution and Plants -James Feucht . 81

The Work Goes On at Denver Botanic Gardens . 77

Mid-Summer Annual Garden Tour . 91

HELEN FOWLER LIBRARY

New Books— Solange Huggins . 95

EDITORIAL— Old Leisure-Wes Woodward . 98

* * *

Membership Roster-DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS - 1972 . 99

* * *

Co/umnea schiedeana
Epiphytic Gesneriad (on trees)

Native to southern and eastern Mexico

From Captain Bligh to Denver Show

ADVENTURES OF THE

GESNERIADS

Miriam Denham

Gesneriads are the members of the
plant family, Gesneriaceae, to which the
common African violet, flame violet (nei¬
ther of which is a violet), florist’s gloxinia,
and many less known but often spectacu¬
lar plants belong. Gesneriads have been
grown in botanic gardens and greenhouses
for little more than a 100 years and have
become popular as house plants only in
the past 20 years.

These tropical plants belong to a larger
group — the snapdragon order — which
includes the catalpas, trumpet vines, pent-
stemons (beard-tongues), broom-rapes,
and unicorn plants. Some gesneriads
grow in the lowlands in hot and humid
areas. Some grow in the rain forest. Many
grow in the cloud forests of the tropics in
steep and sometimes almost inacessible
areas. Many are epiphytes — perched
high on the trunks and branches of trees
seeking the sunlight along with orchids,
bromeliads, and tropical ferns and mosses.
Some of these epiphytes have large bril¬
liant red flowers to attract the humming
birds which pollinate them.

Stories of Plant Hunters

Roads are difficult to build and more
difficult to maintain in the areas which
are richest in gesneriads, and the stories
of the hardy plant hunters who brought
them into cultivation deserve some atten¬

tion. Because many gesneriads and or¬
chids grow together in nature and require
somewhat similar growing conditions (the
gesneriads are easier to grow and bloom
more frequently in the home), plant
hunters sent after orchids have
also collected gesneriads. It is only
since World War II that plant hunters
have gone looking primarily for gesneri¬
ads — and even some of these have come
home with orchids. The early plant hunt¬
ers sent home anything and everything of
interest.

While a few gesneriads have acquired
common English names — African violet,
flame violet, Temple Bells, lipstick plants,
Queen of the Abyss, Cape Primrose —
most have not. As T. H. Everett has
said about other plants lacking common
names, “They are neither common nor
English.” There are no “rules” as to the
pronunciation of scientific names. They
can be anglicized or given a Latin accent.
The purpose of names is communication
of ideas. If you try to pronounce a plant
name the way it is spelled and the person
to whom you are speaking knows which
plant you mean, that is all that is neces¬
sary. Most plant names are no more
difficult than Chrysanthemum and Poin-
settia. They only seem difficult because
they are unfamiliar.

Why Raise Them?

■Why do we raise exotic plants? Perhaps
the question should be, “Why do we raise
plants?” We could answer that plants are
essential in renewing the air we breathe,
but we are not conscious of this and most
of us grow plants for the pleasure they
give. The poorest indio with a flower
potted in a tin can receives the same
pleasure that a pampered orchid in a
greenhouse gives its owner. We are all
aware of the artistic miniature gardens
created in the orient in areas where peo¬
ple are crowded and land is scarce. The
mention of Anne Hathaway’s cottage
brings forth a picture of the cottage sur¬
rounded by a garden. Perhaps man has a
basic emotional need to be surrounded
by living (and hopefully decorative) plants.

How did exotic plants reach our home?
A complete survey of all that is known
about the introduction of plants around
the world would fill an encyclopedia. A
few journeys and a few gesneriads have
been chosen to illustrate the general pat¬
tern of early introductions.

The development of the printing press
coupled with the many journeys of ex¬
ploration bringing reports of intriguing
flowers, strange fruits, and weird animals
led among other thing? to a blooming of
the natural sciences and the development
of botany and horticulture.

The earliest account we have of a
gesneriad is one of the few nontropical
members of this family — that by John
Parkinson in 1629 of a plant called, “Blew
Beares Eares with Borage Leaves.” This
is Ramonda myconii and is known to
have been cultivated in English gardens
since 1731. R. myconii makes an inter¬
esting plant for the alpine garden. While
it is considered hardy in the northern
United States and we grew it in our rock
garden in Boulder for about two years, it
does need mid-winter moisture and we
believe that it succumbed to drought
rather than the cold. With the exception
of two other southern European plants,
the remainder of the gesneriads were intro¬
duced to English and United States gar¬
dens from overseas.

By the time of Linnaeus (1 753) about
a dozen plants were known which are to¬
day considered to be gesneriads. He listed
R. myconii as a Verba scum (related to
mullein). All of the others (two Gesneria,
three Besleria, two Columnea , one Glox¬
inia, etc.) were from the New World. How
did these plants travel? Picture the travel¬
ling conditions of that time:

The Old Ships

The ships were small and cramped.
Sails as a power source were dependent
upon the weather. Voyages of any dis¬
tance crossed a variety of climatic zones
and those of any duration a variety of
seasons. Salt spray blown by the wind
doused the ships except in the best of
weather. Humidity promoted the growth
of molds and mildew. Hammocks, cloth¬
ing and bread became moldy. Bread and
grains became infested with weevils.
Drinking water spoiled and even ran out
upon occasion (imagine the thoughts of
sailors as precious water was used in the
attempt to keep plants alive). Dried meats
became rancid and maggoty. Rats gnawed

Columnea hirta Gesneriad native to Costa Rica

at anything and everything. For extended
trips, even the captains and mates did not
have comfortable quarters, and those of
the crews were worse. Travellers going
out tried to return with dried specimens,
drawings, seeds and bulbs at first. The
dried specimens and drawings only in¬
creased the desire to acquire the living
plants. One estimate is that perhaps one
I plant in a thousand survived the ocean
trips.

Botanical travellers took the same risks
as other travellers — tropical diseases,
unfamiliar and sometimes spoiled foods,
\ sometimes unfriendly or even hostile
indiginous peoples. Botanists sometimes
{ ran additional perils because of lack of
comprehension as to what they were
I doing, hence their actions seemed sus¬
picious or antagonistic. Many plants were
| sent home by resident managers of coloni-
I al companies such as the Dutch and Brit-
j ish East India Companies.

: Kalu-Tali

The second earliest gesneriad for which
we have been able to trace its history is
Kalu-tali, a plant from India described by

Heinrich Adrian van Rheede tot Draake-
stein in 1 689. More than a century later,
in 1826, Karl Blume, Dutch physician re¬
siding in the Netherlands Indies, equated
Kalu-tali with a gesneriad from Java which
he was describing as Rhynchoglossum
obliquum (the oblique snout-tongue).
This same year, a Danish Superintendent
of the Botanic Garden at Calcutta de¬
scribed the plants from India also as
oblique-leaved. These plants were report¬
ed as growing like weeds in the hills of
India, Ceylon and Java and sometimes
used as vegetables. They were considered
weedy and of only botanical interest until
1896 when it was noted that under culti¬
vation the gentian-blue flowers increased
from 1/2 inch long to an inch and a half.
Because it is a non-hardy annual or bien¬
nial and somewhat difficult to cultivate,
Rhynchoglossum is little grown, but it is
of interest to note that this is the only
genus in the family Gesneriaceae to be
found in both the Old World and the
New World.

A recent book on Plant Hunters by
Kenneth Lemmon details the voyage
around the world of the Endeavour from

The Denhams breaking camp in
the mountains of Guatemala

1 768-1 77 1 . Captain Cook carried Joseph
Banks and nine assistants to collect natur¬
al curiosities and observe the transit of
Venus. One of these assistants was Daniel
Solander, a student of Linnaeus. Only
Banks, Solander, and two others of Banks
party survived the trip, but many collec¬
tions and drawings were returned. The
outfitting of his team was estimated to
have cost Banks ten thousand pounds.
Subsequently Banks enthusiastically sup¬
ported the sending out of paid plant
hunters by The Royal Society. Among
these was David Nelson who made a trip in
one of the ships of Captain Cook’s third
voyage to the South Seas and Alaska
(1771-1780). Many of the tropical plants
collected in the tropics were lost in the
search for a northern passage to the
Atlantic.

Plants on the Bounty

After this trip Nelson worked under
Aiton at Kew until recruited to accom¬
pany Captain Bligh on the Bounty to
collect living breadfruit plants in Tahiti
and transport them to the West Indies.
The captain’s Great Cabin had been con¬
verted into a greenhouse for these plants

after a specially-built ship was declared
top-heavy and unseaworthy. The Bounty
sailed from England in December 1787
and only after unsuccessfully attempting
to round Cape Horn did the ship turn and
sail around the Cape of Good Hope,
reaching Tahiti in October 1788 with the
log recording over 27,000 miles.

Six months were spent collecting the
breadfruit plants and readying them for
the trip in pots to the West Indies. In
April 1789 the Bounty sailed. Twenty-
four days later, Fletcher Christian led the
famous “Mutiny on the Bounty”, casting
Captain Bligh, David Nelson and 17 others
adrift in a small boat. Brown stayed
with the mutineers, but the potted bread¬
fruit plants were cast overboard. After
surviving the hazardous trip by small boat
to the Dutch Indies, Nelson died. Brown
was shot on Pitcairn in a land dispute.
Nelson’s journals were lost and we have
only second-hand accounts of his botani¬
cal searches.

The earliest form of protection for
travelling plants were boxes with hoops
that could be covered by canvas for pro¬
tection in bad weather. Although the
manufacture of glass dates back into
antiquity, greenhouses with glass were
first reported about 1730, but the idea
of adapting this to transport of plants
came much later. N. B. Ward in the late
1830’s had buried a butterfly chrysalis in
damp leaf mould and soil in a bottle and
sealed it.

When a fern plant and a grass seedling
sprouted, Ward maintained the sealed
bottle without addition of water for
several years until the cap rusted through.
This experience gave him the idea for
building sealed boxes tightly glazed with
glass so that plants could receive light and
did not need to be watered. Larger models
of Wardian Cases became popular for
raising ferns in the home. With this
method of transport, a much larger quan¬
tity of plant material was introduced
successfully into cultivation. Lemmon
credits the Wardian Cases with the success
of John Gibson in returning the “Queen
of Flowering Trees” (. Amherstia nobilis)

to England along with orchids and other
strange exotic plants.

The Beauty and the Splendour

Gibson’s work was facilitated by a let¬
ter of introduction to Dr. Wallich at
Calcutta. Dr. Wallich had described
several species of Aeschynanthus (a vin-
ing, epiphytic gesneriad with large, bright
orange flowers) and Gibson is believed to
have introduced some of these to English
greenhouses. Gibson said the Aeschynan¬
thus “do not yield in beauty and splen¬
dour to any other production”.

One last collector will be mentioned,
Theodor Hartweg, a German who was
hired by the Royal Horticultural Society
of London to travel in the higher regions
of Mexico to collect hardy and half-hardy
plants to be grown outdoors in England.
Arrangements were made to send his col¬
lections to England by Her Majesty’s
Mexican Packets, whenever room could
be found for them, without inconvenience
to the passengers. He sailed from England
in the fall of 1836, landing at Vera Cruz
two months later. He noted the rich
tropical vegetation of the lowlands, but
spent his time in the highlands according
to instructions until the French blockade
and other political difficulties caused the
Society to send him to Guatemala in the
summer of 1839. En route he spent some
time at Oaxaca waiting to travel into
Guatemala. While there he made several
side trips toward both coasts. Among
the gesneriadshe collected in this area was

Solenophora coccinea. This plant was
collected during a month-long trip to the
lowlands near Tuxtepec south of Vera
Cruz. (Today a lumbering road is cut
through much of this area and can be
driven within two days. We covered part
of this route, from Oaxaca and from
Tuxtepec in 1962, recollecting Soleno¬
phora coccinea. We had hoped to travel
40 miles off the road to Villa Alta for
other plants which Hartweg had collected,
only to discover that the road was still
passable only on horseback or by ox cart.)

Hartweg continued on horseback and
by mule to Guatemala by the high road
which is now the Pan American Highway,
collecting flowers along the way, includ¬
ing Achimenes species, a Drymonia,
Niphaea oblonga and a “ Gesnera ”.
After a relatively short stay in Guatemala,
the Society sent him to Peru where he
collected more Achimenes and Gesneras
(among many other plants) before return¬
ing to England in the summer of 1843.

As we read the diaries and letters which
detail in small measure some of the efforts
put forth by the men who first brought
these lovely plants into cultivation, we
can properly enjoy and cherish their
beauty.

* * *

Readers who are interested in seeing
some of these plants are invited to attend
the American Gloxinia and Gesneriad
Society Flower Show, June 30 — July 1,
at the Airport Holiday Inn, Denver.

Thioctic Acid as antidote?

MUSHROOM

POISONING

D. H. Mitchel

On June 22, 1971, The New York
Times printed a story of a dramatic re¬
covery from mushroom poisoning follow¬
ing the use of a new drug — a drug so rare
it was flown by jet from Naples to Phila¬
delphia to be given to a family critically
ill from mushroom poisoning. This was
the first time most Americans had heard
of thioctic acid, heralded as an antidote
for the dread poisoning of the mushroom
aptly called The Destroying Angel.

To many novice mushroom hunters,
this sounded like the panacea they had
long awaited, the cure-all antidote to rid
them of the fear of mistakenly picking the
wrong mushrooms for the table. No long¬
er would they be frustrated by the mycol¬
ogist specialist, who obstinately refused
to give them a simple rule of thumb for
telling the good mushroom from the
poisonous “toadstool”. Nor would they
even have to worry about whether the old
wives’ tales were true or not, whether the
silver spoon turned black, or whether the
cap of the mushroom peeled. Utopia for
the mycophagist, that peculiar breed of
gourmet who gets his kicks from eating
mushrooms, had arrived! Or had it?
Though almost a year has passed, this,
like many other Utopian dreams, still
evades us.

The Deadly Cousins

It is true that if thioctic acid proves to
be an effective antidote for the poisons
of the beautiful white Angel of Death,

known scientifically as Amanita verna,
then about 95% of the fatalities from
mushroom poisoning could theoretically
be avoided. This Destroying Angel and
her relatives, Amanita virosa and Amanita
bisporigera, that are so nearly identical
that even the experts cannot tell them
apart without a microscope, are responsi¬
ble for over 90% of the fatal mushroom
poisonings in this country. Her more
distant cousin, the greenish Death Cap,
Amanita phalloides, causes most of the
deaths in Europe, but is seldom, if ever,
found in the United States. Two other
cousins, Panther Cap, Amanita pantherina ,
and Amanita muscaria, the fly poison of
the Middle Ages, are plentiful in Colorado
and help bring the batting average of this
genus Amanita up to the impressive 95%.
So, if all of these lovely, but lethal amanita
produce the same poisons, and if the high¬
ly touted thioctic acid proves to be the
specific antidote for this poison, then
this dream might come true.

In fact, if this deadly genus were
avoided, eating mushrooms indiscrimin¬
ately might be as safe as the indiscrimin¬
ate use of other plants - smoking hemp or
cactus; chewing coca leaves or morning
glory seeds; or even drinking the ferment¬
ed juice of the grape! - and certainly as
safe as using the juice of the poppy! Not
that any of these ventures are without
harmful, or even lethal effects; I am only
trying to put things into perspective!

The Mycophiles were skeptical

The Magic Acid

As usual for Americans, there was a
minority group opinion more skeptical
about such an easy solution to the prob¬
lem of mushroom poisoning. To a few
biochemists, thioctic acid, originally called
lipoic acid, was anything but new. Dis¬
covered in 1952 it was tested for a time by
physiologists and nutritionists to deter¬
mine if it was another member of the
Vitamin B group of compounds. It was
found to enter into the chemical reactions
of the body in the metabolism of certain
foods, much as Vitamins Bj, B2, B^. But
it was soon shown that unlike the Vitamin
B complex, it was not essential to the diet,
since the body could manufacture it
readily. Considered useless, since it could
not be marketed for either baby’s formula
or as a health food, it was quickly forgot¬
ten. How then, asked the chemists, could
such an old hat get such a magic sparkle?

Another minority group expressed their
doubts. Eminent mycologists, including
Dr. A. H. Smith of the University of
Michigan, who has studied mushrooms
and mushroom poisoning for years, knew
that even the closely related amanita
caused different symptoms in their vic¬
tims. They also knew that analytical
chemists in the early 1 930’s had extracted
and identified at least five different poi¬
sons from the single species, Amanita
phalloides, the Death Cap of Europe.
Though the complicated chemical struc-
74

ture of these five poisons fell into two
basic chemical formulas, it seemed un¬
likely that one simple vitamin-like com¬
pound could render all five harmless.

Mycophile

Even the amateur mushroom students
were a bit skeptical; for once the Myco¬
phile scooped The New York Times by
almost a year! Let me quickly explain
that the Mycophile , loosely translated
“Mushroom Lover”, is the rather erratic
publication of the North American Myco-
logical Association, which the national
organization of amateur mycologists in
this country. At their national foray in
the summer of 1970, the successful use
of thioctic acid in amanita poisoning in
Europe was reported. One or two mem¬
bers researched the literature, all in Italian
or French, and made a brief report in the
Mycophile. The Toxicology Committee
of NAMA then further reviewed the
literature and advised against more pub¬
lication of the European reports without
further confirmation. They feared that
the novice would be more careless if he
thought a cure was readily available to
rescue him from a fatal mistake.

Another minority, though larger, it’s
true, failed to see any excitement in
mushroom poisoning generally, and in
thioctic acid in particular. This group
comprises the medical profession and
drug manufacturers. Many of us who
are interested in the study of mushrooms

Fifty Fatalities

are amazed at the lack of interest in, and
knowledge of, mushroom poisoning evi¬
denced by most physicians. We wonder
why mushroom poisoning is not included
as a reportable disease by the Public Health
people, and why pharmacology textbooks
skip over the whole topic in one or two
paragraphs of information, outdated 50
years ago. Before one condemns this
attitude, however, he must realize that
this is another area requiring perspective,
With over 50,000 automobile fatalities
annually in this country; with about 3,000
fatal poisonings; with over 100,000 nar¬
cotic addicts in New York City alone, no
one can get very excited over 50 fatalities
from mushroom poisoning.

How Many Poisonings?

The number 50 is only a rough esti¬
mate made in 1955 by extrapolation of
European figures and applying them to
the U.S. population. This is possibly a
high figure, since European people use
wild mushrooms much more frequently
than Americans, but by the same token,
most European collectors are familiar with
their local species and make fewer mis¬
takes.

No one really knows how many cases
of mushroom poisonings occur. Many
cases are so mild no medical attention is
sought. Many cases mimic, or are actual¬
ly, simple food poisoning, so common in
the summer months when mushrooms

fruit. Mushroom dishes can be spoiled or
infected by toxic bacteria the same as
any other food. Other cases are those of
simple allergy or indigestability that many
people may have with strawberries or
green apples. With these cases eliminated,
however, there are still many serious and a
few fatal cases each year - how many will
never be accurately known until there is a
better method of reporting them. Regard¬
less, the number is miniscule, compared to
the tremendous drug problem in this
country, and has not claimed the atten¬
tion of the national health organizations.

Drug manufacturers in this country
are certainly not interested in thioctic
acid or any other experimental drug
used in mushroom poisoning. The regula¬
tions of the Federal Drug Administration
are so stringent that expensive, exhaus¬
tive tests must be done on any drug
before it can be released for human use.
The demand would certainly never justi¬
fy this investment of time and money by
the pharmaceutical houses.

Course of the Poison

Then why was thioctic acid ever tried in
amanita poisoning? To understand this,
one needs to know the sequence of events
in this poisoning. Unlike simple food
poisoning or many milder types of mush¬
room poisoning, amanita poisoning is
very slow and insidious in its onset.
First of all, the amanitas taste great, as
death bed statements attest. There is no

bitter tangy taste to warn of the danger,

as there is in many other dangerous
species. Secondly, the first symptom may
not occur for 1 2 to 24 or even 48 hours
after the fatal meal. The victim may have
completely forgotten that he ate mush¬
rooms by that time.

The first symptoms are those of nausea,
vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea,
so common to food poisoning of any
sort. When these symptoms subside
after four to six hours, the individual may
feel better, though weak and dehydrated.
He usually assumes the worst is over and
doesn’t bother seeking medical care. Only
after this short reprieve, start the ominous
symptoms of increasing jaundice, head¬
ache, drowsiness, progressing into stupor,
occasionally confusion, or even delirium,
and finally coma and death.

Autopsies show damage to blood ves¬
sels throughout the body, but the most
devastating damage is to the liver, kidneys,
and brain. The liver may be almost en¬
tirely destroyed - more so than in the
most fulminating cases of hepatitis —
hence the deep yellow jaundice. The
kidneys may cease to function three or
four days before death, so that uremia
contributes to the terminal coma. The
swelling of the brain is thought to be the
primary cause of mental symptoms and
stupor.

Trials of the Cure

For years doctors have tried, with some
success, to protect the liver from damage,
either from heavy metal poisoning, or
from such poisons as carbon tetrachlor¬
ide, or virus infections, including the
virus of hepatitis, by the use of intraven¬
ous glucose and vitamins of the B-com-
plex. In Europe, where government

regulations are not so stringent, solutions
of purified thioctic acid were made, both
in Germany and Italy, for intravenous
use. Physicians in various countries tried
adding it to the other Vitamin B group of
drugs in treating hepatitis from any cause.

There were many logical reasons, based on
the biochemical reactions involved in the
functions of the liver, to warrant this trial.

In 1955 at a medical symposium in
Naples, good results were reported from
the use of thioctic acid in heavy metal
poisoning. In 1958 a Dr. Josef Herlinka
in Czechoslovakia published some results
that suggested this therapy was useful in
various liver disorders. In 1959 Dr. Jiri
Kublicka, working in Prague, began treat¬
ing cases of amanita poisoning with mas¬
sive doses of this drug. It was his glowing,
optimistic report, presented at a medical
meeting in Trebon, Czechoslovakia, in
1968, that led to the trial of thioctic acid
in the poisonings which occurred in Phila¬
delphia in 1971 .

Druing the past year, American toxi¬
cologists have cast more doubt on the
efficacy of this treatment. The various
species of amanita found in this country,
especially A. virosa and A. bisporigera
have very small amounts of the group of
toxins theoretically counteracted by thi¬
octic acid, but have, instead, large amounts
of the other lethal amanita poisons, for
which thioctic acid seems to be useless.

Once again we are back to the old
dictum: Know the mushroom before you
eat it! There is no simple test to tell
poisonous from nonpoisonous mush¬
rooms. Don’t risk your life for a few
cents worth of vegetables!

Top: Forming for New
Walks — Botanic
Gardens Improvements

Bottom: Steam sterilizing
Nursery Plots

W'Tk.

THE WORK GOES ON

Denver Botanic Gardens

GARDENING
AND THE LAW

From the time that Eve was told not
to eat of the fruit of the Garden of Eden,
down to the present time, we have had
our trials and troubles over what is thine
and what is mine in our gardens. These
problems have principally arisen between
neighbors. Many people have had pleas¬
ant relationships until something occured
in the garden to upset their Saturday
visits over the fence.

When we are spraying with the new
chemical, we must remember that this
may have a killing effect on broadleaved
plants. We would do well to consider how
hard the wind is blowing before we start
spraying with a lethal insecticide. If we
permit the spray to get on the neighbor’s
roses or other plants, we are sure to hear
from him and, of course, we are liable for
the damage. If damage does occur, be
sure not to argue over it but tell the
neighbor to replace the plant right away
and send you the bill.

Insist That Your Neighbor Spray?

We have had a lot of tree spraying

Jacob V. Schaetzel

around Denver. Some people spray and
some of them don’t. With infestation
spreading from one tree to the next,
the question often arises as to whether or
not a man can be held liable for damages
resulting from failure to spray his own
tree. Such a situation recently occured in
one of our western states.

The man with healthy trees complained
to his neighbor, who had a tree infested
with vermin, and asked him to have his
tree sprayed. He was told to mind his
own business. He then went into court
and actually secured an injunction. The
court said that a tree infested with vermin,
interfering with adjoining owners’ ordi¬
nary use of their property for occupancy,
may constitute a nuisance. The injunction
compelled the man with the infested tree
to have it taken care of. There is no longer
the nice friendly feeling that existed
between them, but the trees are healthier.

Trees that are growing on the dividing
lines between adjoining properties have
been the cause of expensive litigation for
more than a hundred years. The question

arises as to who owns these trees? Well, it
seems that sometimes one neighbor may
own them; the other may; or it might be
that both own them.

Two neighbors agreed on a sunny spring
morning that both of their properties
would be improved if they planted a row
of trees down the dividing line. After this
was done, differences arose between them.
Without saying anything about it, one
man, thinking he owned half of the trees,
removed every other tree from that long
row. The second man thought that he
would just take down his trees too. So
he proceeded to start chopping down
what he thought were his half of the
trees. That day an injunction was served
on him. The court, much to the surprise
and indignation of the defendant, held
that two wrongs would not make a right.
The first neighbor had no right to take
down every other tree because he only
owned an undivided interest in the trees.
The court ordered him to pay damages
and to leave the standing trees alone.

Branches Over The Line

Another gardening problem that often
gets into court results from overhanging
tree branches at or near the boundary
line. If the branches bear fruit on your
side, do you have a right to take off the
fruit? Can you cut off the branches? Can
the neighbor come over in your yard and
take off the fruit? In western Kansas, the
court said that if the tree stands on the
other fellow’s land, you cannot take the
fruit from any branches hanging over on
your property. If you do he can sue you
for the value of the fruit.

In another case the tree shaded the
neighbor’s property. He went into court
only to be told that while he was tech¬
nically correct, nevertheless the damage
was so small that the court wouldn’t
recognize it.

It is pretty well settled as a matter of
law that if an owner plants trees or shrubs
near or on the property line and you
object to it promptly, the courts will
protect you if the roots of the trees or
the branches extend over on your ground.

We gardeners have found out that the
roots of trees take up practically all of
the nutrients of the soil. We can’t raise
good flowers and vegetables 'close to large
trees. So if the roots do go over next
door and clog sewers or prevent the grow¬
ing of nice flowers, then I would suggest
that a good neighbor policy would demand
a compromise.

Some of us still have the idea that
when we own a piece of land, we own it
from the center of the earth to the top of
the sky. That is not always the law,
though. Here is one for “Believe it or
Not but It is the Law.” Two men in
Kentucky were living side by side. One
was on a hill above the other. A storm
came and removed the soil from the uphill
property by washing it down hill to the
other property. The down-hill man evi¬
dently thought that it was a gift from
heaven and he used this top soil. But, the
court said that the down-hill man could
have removed the soil which accumulated
on his lot and he was liable for its value
if he appropriated the soil for his own
use.

Whose Trees?

Nearly all of our courts have uniform¬
ly held that trees standing on the boundary
line between adjoining owners are com¬
mon property. Both owners are tenants in
common as to the trees. That should lead
us to the conclusion that if you don’t
like the branches over your land, you
can’t take them off without the consent
of your neighbor. He owns those branches
just as much as you do. You, in turn, have
ownership in the branches on his side of
the tree.

If a tree is growing in the next yard and
if it is not a “natural” or “volunteer”
tree, and if a branch of that tree accident¬
ally falls on your house, the accident not
being caused by what we lawyers call
“an act of God,” the neighbor on whose
ground the tree is growing would be
liable for the damage. There was a case
in our courts where the branch of a tree
extended over on the neighbor’s property.
The branch was on a “natural” tree. The
owner, wanting to do a kind act hired

a good tree surgeon to go on the neigh¬
bor’s property and, at his own expense,
remove a branch of the tree. Unfortun¬
ately, the branch fell and injured the roof
of the other fellow. The court, on re¬
ceiving the case, said that the neighbor
who was trying to remove the branch of
the tree had hired a good competent man
and he couldn’t be held responsible for
the negligence of the tree surgeon.

What Is The Law?

The law generally might be stated
about like this: A person is not permitted
to use his property in such a manner that
damage to his neighbor is a foreseeable
circumstance. If a prudent person could
have foreseen the result of a certain act,
or the result of not doing a certain act,
then he is going to be liable for the result
if injury is caused his neighbor.

Have you ever looked at the fine print
on a package of seeds? It states in sub¬
stance that the seed company is not liable
for any damage resulting from planting the

seed. They will only replace the seed.
If you buy pansy seeds and onions come
up you cannot hold the seed house liable.
Read your labels before you plant.

In Denver you can’t even build a fence
without securing a permit. The courts
will not allow the building of a spite fence
just to shut out unfriendly people.

Finally, my advice would be to try to
be the best neighbor possible. If your
neighbor wants to borrow anything from
you such as your favorite tool, let him
have it. If he fails to return it, don’t say
anything to him because he is sure to get
angry. See that your water stays on your
side of the fence. Don’t let your insecti¬
cides get on his flowers, and be sure to
control the roots from your trees in order
not to interfere with his planting. Try to
settle your differences in a friendly man¬
ner. If you can’t settle the problems
amicably, then at least find out the law
from your lawyer. Going to court is
like going to war; it should only be done
as a last resort!

- CUT here -

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206

I hereby apply for membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens □
I wish my membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens extended
Enclosed is $ _ for my annual dues.

Class of Membership desired: (check one)

□ Junior . — $ 2.50 □ Supporting . — $ 25.00

□ Regular ....— $ 7.50 □ Contributing . — $ 50.00

Participating . — $15.00 D Business & Education Institutional — $100.00

Name

Address

City State Zip Code

POLLUTION AND PLANTS

Dr. James R. Feucht reports on Pennsylvania Workshop

“Colorado needs more studies to deter¬
mine just how much damage air pollution
causes to our plants,” Dr. James Feucht
observed in a report on a national work¬
shop on environmental pollution as it
affects plants, held at Pennsylvania State
University. The report says:

From this workshop several conclu¬
sions have been made which apply to the
situation in Colorado. First of all, it is
obvious that air pollution damage to plants
cannot be determined beyond reasonable
doubt without adequate and sometimes
very sophisticated monitoring and analyti¬
cal equipment. Plant indicators are a
valuable tool, but used alone can lead to
erroneous diagnoses because of the mim¬
icking results often encountered from
other environmental influences such as
nutritional disorders and herbicide dam¬
age. A good case in point is the tip burn
in ponderosa pine, which was at first
thought to be caused by one or more air

pollutants. Studies by Drs. Staley and
Altman, however, showed conclusively
that the injury was from toxic levels of
chloride salt and of soil origin.

It would be difficult to estimate the
amount of damage to plants in Colorado
which is directly or even indirectly associ¬
ated with air pollution since most studies
in the past have been concerned more
with public health than the assessment of
plant injuries. Companion studies of
pollution injury to vegetation in key areas
of Colorado should, however, be conduct¬
ed since the highly urbanized locations are
experiencing sufficient air pollution in¬
cidents to cause economic losses. Some
greenhouse growers are already experienc¬
ing alleged air pollution losses. How much
effect air pollution has in weakening land¬
scape plants, causing them to succumb to
other causes (diseases, etc.) is also an
important and as yet unanswered question.

COLORADO

IS NOT

CONNECTICUT

George Kelly

Wc can still have good gardens in Colo¬
rado while using less water.

I have been preaching the idea that
“Rocky Mountain Horticulture is differ¬
ent” for some 40 years now. A few
people are beginning to get the idea and
find that they can have as good gardens
and parks here as any place in the world,
if they learn to design their gardens,
select the plants to construct them, and
learn how to maintain these plants, in a
way to fit Colorado’s distinctive climate.
So long as ample water seemed to be
available many continued to use the old
methods learned in the moister areas of
the east. Now, that the pinch of limited
water is beginning to be felt, unless we
can voluntarily adopt more of these
“different” practices, some regulations
must be made which will require everyone
to learn ways of maintaining a garden
with less water.

Alternates to Bluegrass

It has been estimated that at least half
of the water that the communities on the
eastern slope use as “domestic” water is
used to maintain bluegrass lawns. I cer¬
tainly appreciate the value of an appropri¬
ately designed bluegrass lawn, BUT, I
maintain that every square foot of “yard”
surface need not be planted in bluegrass
for a pleasing effect. Even more attractive
and useful grounds may be designed which
use other features that require less water.
Close to the house, especially the front of
the house, a small plot of well kept lawn
is most effective, but in more distant areas
where the area is not as conspicuous or
used as much, a lawn or ground cover
requiring much less water can be planned.
Groups of flowering shrubs might be
appropriate in other areas, dense screens
to block off undesirable views may take
up quite a little space, rock gardens of
desert plants may be used, or groves of
trees to give shade and privacy. Care¬
fully designed plantings in the front yard
even may be more distinctive and useful
than the plain, open bluegrass lawn. It is
possible to plan gravel areas or even col¬
ored aggregate, though the use of this
material has been much abused.

The fairway strain of the crested
wheatgrass can be planted at half the cost
and can be maintained with less than half
the water and mowing, though it- still gives
the feeling of a bluegrass lawn when seen
at a little distance. There are many low-
growing native plants which can be used
as ground covers on slopes or odd corners
that will give a pleasing effect and still
require less water and care. True, we can¬
not use many of the things so freely used
in California but we can develop many
plants that are adapted to our dry climate.

It is a curious habit of people moving
into a new area to consider all native
plants as weeds and try to grow all the
familiar ornamentals that they have known
as children. We have here many native
plants that have adapted themselves to
our dry climate and alkaline soil over the
centuries, but we have not learned to use
them. They are truly “different” but no
less beautiful. We can get all the land¬
scape effects found in eastern gardens by
using these native or adapted plants and
save much water.

Water Less Often

As we look over the state we find that
evergreens dominate our mountain forests
with few native deciduous trees. We find
that there are few broadleaf evergreen
plants and most of our shrubs have smaller
leaves and less conspicuously colored
bloom. Bare ground is not all automati¬
cally covered with grass as in the eastern,
moister areas. We should learn to accept
these “differences” and incorporate them
into our garden design.

Even with the traditional eastern kinds
of plants we can learn to use much less
water without affecting their growth. In
general a good rule is to “water less often
and more thoroughly.” Ornamental plants
have much deeper root systems than most
gardeners realize, and shallow, frequent
watering may keep them alive but they
can not grow vigorously without moist
soil around their roots. Shallow, frequent
watering wastes as much as fifty percent of
the water used. Hand watering is usually
wasted time and water. Automatic sprink¬
lers are often set to come on for a few

minutes EVERY day, which is most

wasteful. If they are set to soak thorough¬
ly and are only turned on again when the
ground starts to become dry they can be
efficient. On heavy soils and steep banks
often the only efficient way to water is
letting the sprinklers run until the water
begins to stand, then turn off for a while
and back on again to soak down deep.
Then, when thoroughly soaked this ground
can go for a week or even two weeks.
Putting the water down deep forces the
roots to go deep, and only deep rooted
plants can be vigorous and fool-proof
plants.

Prevent Loss of Water

More than half of the sprinklers used
commonly today are very inefficient. It
is nice to have those that throw a fine
mist high in the air, but we cannot afford
them, for often twenty percent of this
water never gets back to soak into the
soil. A sprinkler that throws large drops
of water, low down and slowly, is the
most efficient. These can be left to run
and soak for a long time and then be
turned off for many days. Flooding an
area is still more efficient, but takes special
preparation and is subject to many abuses.
We may have to come to this however,
if we cannot learn to use other efficient
methods.

ROUTINE watering is most ineffi¬
cient — watering for 20 minutes every
Monday and Friday, for instance, regard¬
less of weather or other conditions. The
amount and frequency of watering de¬
pends much on the type of Soil, the
Slope of the land, the amount of Sun
that the area receives and the Season of
the year. Remember these four S’s when
planning a watering program.

Plants must have moist soil around
their roots at ALL TIMES. In the eastern,
moister areas where we developed our
garden practices this is almost automatic
with the more or less regular rains and
snow, but here we very seldom have
natural precipitation sufficient to soak
deep down and keep the subsoil moist
over winter. So, we must learn that it is
NEVER time to stop watering, and if we
have long open periods of weather in
84

winter, plants may need water. Of course,
it is no use to water when the ground is
frozen, but if it is frozen it must already
have water in it.

Water Deep

Most gardeners are governed too much
in their watering by the appearance of the
SURFACE of the soil. It is the soil under¬
neath that is really important. Then you
will ask, “How can I know when the soil
underneath is in need of water?” The
answer is so simple that no one thinks of
it. “Just dig in and see.” This is not
too difficult to do, until you learn exactly
how much water is needed in every situ¬
ation of Sun, Slope, Soil and Season.

Finally, after the soil is thoroughly
soaked, much water can be conserved by
the addition of some sort of mulch over
the surface. This is nature’s way as can be
seen in any forest. There are many things
that can be used — peat, ground corncobs,
chopped hay, chips from the chipper,
leaves (preferably composted). This also
cuts down on the weeds that come
through and robs the plants of their
share of water. When lawns are watered
infrequently they may also be allowed to
accumulate some “thatch” to their better¬
ment rather than detriment.

Sawdust may be used for mulching
when it is more available if a small amount
of nitrogen (ammonium sulphate) is added
to compensate for the nitrogen robbed
from the soil as it decomposes.

Most lawns are overfertilized which
only requires more watering and more
mowing. True, most lawns are put in
soil that is not fit to grow anything, and
they need extra food, but if lawns were
planted in good soil they would need very
little extra fertilizer. Mowing a lawn a
little higher than is customary will also
encourage the growth without extra water
or fertilizer.

Recommended Plants

Here are some suggestions for plants
to use in Colorado landscaping which can
be grown with much less water than the
usual eastern plants:

Most of the pines and junipers will
grow with little water. In large pines this

would include the Ponderosa, Scotch and
Austrian; in smaller scale the native Bristle-
cone, Limber, Pinon and the Dwarf Mug-
ho. We have many low growing junipers
with which most people are familiar, such
as the Pfitzer, Armstrong, Tamarixleaf
and Marshall. In the upright type, gener¬
ally called “cedars”, it is best to stick
to the native J. scopulorum and its named
varieties, for they have a root system
especially adapted to drier areas.

In deciduous large trees we can use
the native hackberry, honeylocust, in its
many varieties, green ash, Russian olive,
and in special situations, the western
catalpa, native pink locust, boxelder,
“Chinese” elm and native cottonwood.
With just a little more water and care,
trees such as the lindens, sycamores,
birches, hard maples, or even certain oaks
can be grown.

In shrubs we have a great variety of
drouth resistant kinds. In areas where
only 5 to 10 inches of natural rain can be
expected we can use some of the native
desert shrubs, including several of the
sages {Artemisia), desert thorn ( Lycium ),
rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus ), yuccas,
Mormon tea {Epherda), buffaloberry
{Shepherdia) , kinnikinnick {Arctostaphy-
los ), oaks {Quercus), barberries, winter
fat ( Eurotia ), greasebrush ( Forsellesia ),
buckwheats (Eriogoniums), and horse¬
brush ( Tetrademia ).

Under more favorable conditions, from
10 to 15 inches of rainfall, such as is
found over much of the populated area of
the eastern slope, we can grow some of the
nicer natives such as: elders ( Sambucus ),
mountain mahoganies (Cerco carpus), ser¬
vice berries ( Amelanchier ), sumacs {Rhus),
chokecherry, hawthorns {Crataegus), sil-
verberry and autumn olive {Elaeagnus),
flowering currant and wax currant {Ribes),
wild roses, snowberries {Symphoricarpos),

Apache plume {Fallugia), cliff rose {Cow-
inia), antelope brush {Purshia), single-leaf
ash ( Fraxinus ), mountain privet {For-
estiera).

In this area there are many perennials
that will grow with little water, including
the hollyhocks and other mallows, iris,
vetches, statice, gaillardia, coreopsis, chry¬
santhemums, most of the mints, spider-
worts, fall asters, bouncing bet, docks,
oriental poppy, milfoils, ajugas, penstem-
ons and English daisies.

Bulbs would include such as cannas,
dahlias, tulips, gladiolous, narcissus and
grape hyacinths.

Annuals, Ground Covers

Many of the nicest annuals will thrive
under our conditions. Included are the
petunias, zinnias, calendulas, cosmos, mar¬
igolds, snapdragons, candytuft, kochia,
cleome, lunaria, poppies, portulacas, cen-
turia and celosia.

Used for ground covers of various
heights could be: Low species of artem-
isia, evening primroses, vetches, antennar-
ias, sedums, euphorbias, festuca, flax,
Nepeta mussini , potentillas, sempervivums,
erigonums, cerastium, and even the wild
strawberry.

There are several grasses in addition to
the crested wheat before mentioned, in¬
cluding some of the grammas, bromes,
buffalo and dropseed.

We need to acquaint the general garden¬
ing public with these plants, first through
our garden writers, then our landscape
architects who draw the plans, and the
nurserymen who grow and sell these
things. At the moment the use of these
plants and practices is voluntary, but
unless many accept these principles, the
time is almost here when their use will
be compulsory, if we would still grow
good gardens.

TRAVELING WITH
TREES AND FLOWERS

Josephine Robertson

While conducted garden tours cover the most ground with the great¬
est expertise, it is possible to work in many do-it-yourself visits on business
and vacation trips. This has been our hobby for years and we have found
some useful helps along the way.

Last September, for example, we had occasion to drive to the east
coast and planned our itinerary to stop at a dozen arboreta. We had with
us copies of The Directory of American Horticulture and Handbook of
American Gardens , A Traveler’s Guide. These booklets with the latter
going into more descriptive detail list, by states, both arboreta and gardens.

Most of our friends had never heard of an arboretum tour and
wondered how anyone, except a professional, could find it interesting.
Strictly amateurs, we find it a delightful pursuit, but for different reasons.
My husband, a former chemical research director, took up the study of
trees from the scientific angle. My field is human interest. I want to know
who started the great tree collections and why, the adventures of the
early botanists and plant explorers.

It is fascinating to see how the threads interweave: how John Bartram
influenced his contemporaries and following generations; how Sir Joseph
Hooker of Kew Gardens inspired Henry Shaw to found the Missouri
Botanic Garden; how Dr. Manasseh Cutler, friend of Benjamin Franklin,
collected plants along the Ohio River in 1788, hoping to found a botanic

NOT FOR

Pc ■ Rf ATI ON

OT A PARK

garden - a dream realized by his great-great-grandson, Beman Gates Dawes;
how the Arnold Arboretum inspired Albert F. Holden, publisher of the
Cleveland Plain Dealer , to endow an arboretum for his city, the site
chosen by Ernest “Chinese” Wilson; how J. Sterling Morton founded
Arbor Day a century ago in Nebraska, resulting in the planting of millions
of new trees across the country — and surely influencing his son to estab¬
lish the great Morton Arboretum fifty years later.

Early arboreta and physic gardens were designed strictly for scientific
study, not for public enjoyment. England’s beautiful Oxford Botanic
Garden did not even admit the public for its first two hundred years.
Many of today’s arboreta, generally pressed for funds, post stern notices
that they are NOT parks and NOT for public recreation — such as picnick¬
ing. However, since some are located far from eating places, there are,
occasionally, picnic tables in some inconspicuous corner. We have learned
from hollow experience, to take at least a pocketful of nuts and raisins.

The size of the welcome mat varies. Visitors are admitted freely to
the excellent Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, but we
have found no printed information available on the grounds. At the other
extreme is the truly people-oriented Los Angeles State and County
Arboretum. Many others, such as Longwood, Morton, Dawes and Holden,
have attractive visitor centers offering information. Increasingly, it appears
to us, they are reaching out through tours, courses, displays and publica¬
tions to teach environmental appreciation to the public of both school

I and voting age.

In Cincinnati we had the privilege of touring an arboretum with its
founders, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley M. Rowe, who began planting forty-five
years ago and now have opened their large estate to the public. It is
particularly beautiful in the spring when the 150 cultivars of crab-apple
are in bloom. Mr. Rowe pointed out a small shrubby oak, Quercus havardi,
which had come originally from the Andrews nursery in Boulder. “At
first,” Mrs. Rowe told us, “we planted everything people gave us. Now we
are wiser and advise others to specialize. It is useful to show what is
native and what will grow well in your own locality.”

We have joined the American Association of Botanical Gardens and
Arboreta, as associate (non professional) members, and find their modest
Bulletin full of interesting news — and ideas to file away for future trips.

The arboretum world is a quiet world, but it holds never ending
trails of interest, both scientific and human. Furthermore, as Dr. Louis B.
Martin comments in his introduction to A Traveler’s Guide , “Every day is
Earth Day at a botanic garden or arboretum.”

Lxotics

f COLORAD 0

Common Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis

The term “exotic” does not necessarily
mean a beautiful and rare plant; it merely
refers to any plant growing in an area
where it is not a native plant. An exotic
can be a handsome ornamental, but it is
just as likely to be a troublesome weed.
This is the case with common crabgrass,
Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., familiar
to every gardener as an obnoxious lawn
weed.

Digitaria sanguinalis is indigenous to
Europe but is found at low and medium
altitudes in most temperate and tropical
areas of the world. It was brought to this
country, probably unintentionally, and is
now naturalized throughout the United
States although it is more common in the
east and south. It is to be found in lawns,
golf greens, cultivated fields, pastures, gar¬
dens, roadsides, waste places or any dis¬
turbed soil.

Crabgrass has been able to extend its
range so far beyond its natural limits in
part because of the enormous number of
seeds produced. The North Dakota Ex¬
periment Station Bulletin 112 estimates
that 204,000 seeds are produced from a
single plant.

We think of crabgrass as a prostrate,
creeping mat plant. It is true that when
crabgrass is mowed or grazed, it mats
close to the ground. Under ideal con¬
ditions, however, it will send up stems 6
inches to a foot or more tall.

In the southern part of the United
States, crabgrass is a common weed in
cultivated soil. It makes a prolific growth
in late summer on fields which have been
cropped, and it is used as a forage plant or
sometimes cut for hay when other forage
is scarce.

Crabgrass is an annual grass. It starts
growth rather late in the season and often
goes unnoticed until late summer when it
takes on a purplish hue, making unsightly
blotches in a lawn. It grows best in hot

Helen Marsh Zeiner

weather and is usually killed by the first
frost.

The plant is branching and spreading,
rooting at the decumbent base. The leaf
sheaths are noticeably hairy. Flowers are
borne in few to several spike-like racemes
in whorls or approximate at the ends of
culms. This is a digitate or finger-like
arrangement. The genus name Digitaria
is from the Latin digitus, finger. San¬
guinalis comes from the Latin sanguis,
meaning blood, and refers to the purplish
color of crabgrass.

Common crabgrass is also known as
fingergrass, August grass, watergrass, crow¬
foot, purple crabgrass, hairy crabgrass.

Because crabgrass is an annual, the best
controls are those which prevent the pro¬
duction of seed. This might be hand¬
pulling of small infestations, but is gen¬
erally use of a chemical crabgrass killer.
There are several of these on the market,
and directions should be followed care¬
fully. Early treatment when the seeds are
germinating and the seedlings appearing
has proved effective. Germination usually
takes place in May or June but is variable.
Viable seeds may endure in the soil for
several years, making a continuing control
program necessary.

One of the best defenses against crab¬
grass is a good growth of blue grass.
Close-mowing of a lawn is a common mis¬
take which encourages mat growth of
crabgrass and weakens blue grass. Cut
your lawn at a height of 2 inches and do
not overwater in order to promote a good
stand of blue grass and inhibit the growth
of crabgrass.

Smooth crabgrass, Digitaria ischaenuim
(Schreb.) Muhl., is also a very common
and troublesome lawn weed. A native of
Eurasia, Digitaria ischaemum resembles
Digitaria sanguinalis but is not as coarse
or as tall. The leaf sheaths are smooth
and the foliage is usually more purple.

FOCUS

MONSTERA DELICIOSA

in the
Boettcher

Memorial Peg Hayward

Conservatory

Monstera deliciosa Uebm., a relative of
Philodendron, is a coarse, woody climber,
or liane, native to the jungles of Mexico
and Central America. It is now grown in
many tropical gardens and under glass in
temperate regions for its curious perfor¬
ated leaves and its sweet edible fruits.
This monstrous evergreen aroid, Araceae
family, will spread along the ground in a
tangled mass, or climb over walls, or to
the tops of tall trees. It clings to its

support by numerous cord-like aerial
roots.

Ceriman, also commonly called Mexi¬
can breadfruit, has stems up to 3 inches
thick. The immense leathery leaves,
which are long-stalked, have blades that
are roundish in outline but slashed at
intervals half way toward the center.
The rest of the blade is characterized by
large perforations, more or less regularly
placed. Their function is uncertain un¬
less it is to protect the leaf from being

torn in the wind. The leaves may get to
be 3 or 4 feet in length.

Flowers appear from June to Septem¬
ber. They resemble huge calla lilies. A
club-like flower spike (spadix) bearing a
great cluster of flowers rises from a waxy,
white enveloping leaf or bract (spathe).
If pollinated, the ovaries mature to be¬
come components of a compound fruit
about the size and shape of an ear of
corn. The fruit matures in the late sum¬
mer or fall of the succeeding year, some
14 months or more after blooming. The
collective fruits are built up of hundreds
of small single fruits pressed so firmly
against each other that they appear as
tile-like, hexagonal sections. The fruit
has a delicious fragrance and delectable
flavor between that of pineapple and
banana, hence the species name deliciosa.
As the fruit ripens, the sections gradually

fall away from the hard core, beginning
at the stem end, and reveal segments of
cream-colored edible pulp. Not everyone
likes the fruit, however, as the spicules or
crystals of calcium oxalate 'which are
present cause a burning sensation on the
throat and tongue, especially if one at¬
tempts to eat portions that are not
fully ripe.

The roots of Monstera are tough
enough to be used as rope and for the
making of hats, chair seats, and baskets.

Monstera deliciosa in the juvenile stage
is the house plant by some authorities
called Philodendron pertusum and is even
better known as split-leaved philodendron.
The youngest foliage is entire and heart-
shaped and as it matures it develops first
one split, then several. It is propagated
by cutting up the stem and rooting the
pieces in a mixture of sand and leafmold.

Botanic Garden Guild

MID-SUMMER ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR - JULY 26

Nine lovely “in town” gardens, varying greatly in sjze and planning,
will be visited by those who make the Annual Garden Tour on July 26th,
from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening. Some of these were
designed by the owners, one of whom is a landscape architect himself.
Some are maintained by the owners, others are professionally cared for.
A real treat!

The gardens of:

Dr. and Mrs. William C. Jackson,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nicola
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Davis
Mrs. Charles P. Gordon, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Chanute
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kistler
Dr. and Mrs. D. W. Hossess
Mr. and Mrs. Chris G. Moritz
Mr. and Mrs. William Andrews

Jr. 855 Vine

144 Downing
222 Cherry
414 Eudora

2515 E. Alameda Circle
860 So. Madison
865 So. Adams
495 So. Jersey
1433 So. Eudora

Down-to-Earth Instructions on

DAHLIA

Edward

J. Pankoski

The dahlia in one of the easiest and most beautiful flowers to grow
and will produce more flowers, considering size, than almost any other
plant.

Plant your dahlias in sunny areas, although shaded places are satis¬
factory if plants are given more space and kept well thinned out.
Dahlias should have an area of their own. Large varieties should be kept
2-1/2 to 3 feet apart in a bed 3 feet wide, or plant two rows in a 4-1/2 to
5 foot bed with 2-1/2 feet between rows. The ideal spot is where the
plants get the full benefit of all the morning sun only. However, I have
been successful in growing good blooms that are exposed to the hot sun
the greatest portion of the day. It is up to the individual to experiment to
see what varieties do well in sun or shaded areas. Certain red varieties
seem to burn quickly under the hot sun rays.

Prepare the soil for your dahlia beds by spading the full depth of
your shovel. Turn the soil over in the fall, if possible, leaving it rough.
In the spring turn the soil over again, breaking up the clods and smoothing
the soil as much as possible. Loose and bumpy soil dries out fast;
smoothing the soil will retain moisture longer.

Dahlias will grow in any soil that has air, sufficient moisture and
food in the right proportion. Many soils are in need of air. Heavy, soggy
soil can be improved by tilling in peat moss, sand, red wood sawdust and
chips, compost, or well rotted manure. If your soil area is very poor, till
in bone meal at 5 to 8 pounds over a 100 sq. ft. area. When the dahlias
are about a foot high, apply 2 pounds of potash in this area. Till it into
the soil around the dahlias and you will have a good fertilizer. (Be sure to
keep the potash off the foliage.)

Planting time for dahlias will vary according to the area of the
country in which you live. In this area planting begins in early May to
early June. You will have dahlias from the early part of August until the
first killing frost. The dahlia is a beautiful autumn flower and is usually at
its peak after the heat of summer is waning.

Planting the dahlia tuber: Lay the tuber flat in a hole 6 inches deep,
with the “eye” sprout pointing up. The size of the tuber makes no
difference as long as it has one good “eye” or sprout. Put some fine sand
and peat moss, or vermiculite, or fine soil around and over the eye of the
tuber and then fill in the hole with 2 inches of the surrounding top soil.
The remainder of the hole can be filled in after the plant grows above the
surface of the soil. Allow only one sprout to grow from each tuber.
When the plant has its third set of leaves, pinch the top out. This will
grow a stout branch at the base of each of the six pairs of leaves left. The
plant will be lower and produce more and better flowers.

Staking dahlias: Stakes should be 4 to 6 feet long. Redwood makes
good lasting stakes. However, leather gloves should be worn when driving
them into the ground to avoid painful slivers. Single stakes may be placed
in position when planting the tuber in the hole. Place the stake several
inches away from the tuber and drive it in at least 12 inches into the soil.
Later you risk the chance of damaging the tuber when the stake is driven
in. Two stakes may also be used — one on each side of the tuber — driven
in about a foot from the plant.

Tying materials should be soft harvesting twine, soft tape materials
or any soft materials. They should be tied loosely to avoid cutting and
breaking the plant. Old bed sheets torn in 1 inch strips make ideal tying
material.

When buds appear, stop deep cultivation, and give the beds a mulch
of manure, leaves, or grass clippings. A shallow basin around each plant
may also be used and this should be filled with mulching.

Disbudding: Larger dahlias of greater substance with longer and
stronger stems may be had by disbudding at the proper time. When buds
the size of peas appear, pinch off the buds on the left and right leaf
clusters, leaving the center bud if it is in good form.

For healthier looking dahlias give your plants a light shower bath
when sprinkling every evening during the hot weather of summer. This
shower also helps to hold insects in check.

Sufficient moisture when watering your dahlias is very important in
producing good blooms. As the dahlia grows, so grows the demand for
water. Your tuber is planted 6 inches deep so water should go down a
few inches below this depth.

The dahlia tuber will produce many fibrous rootlets. These rootlets
spread all through the soil looking for food and moisture. If the tuber is
planted too shallowly, these rootlets work up close to the surface, where
they are subject to starvation and burning on hot days. The proper feeding
of these rootlets will reward you with a good blooming dahlia plant.

When your first buds appear, stop all deep cultivation around your
plants. Cultivation can injure and destroy the fibrous rootlets which are
so important in flowering. Budding also indicates that now is the time to
begin applying mulch around the plants.

A general rule that is good to remember when watering your dahlias
is that a dahlia consumes its weight on each hot day. Therefore, an 8-
pound plant would consume a gallon of water a day. Also remember one
good watering lasting for several days to a week, is better than a light
watering every day. Top watering of your dahlia plants is permissible until
the buds begin to bloom; then all watering should be done at ground level.

Should you desire to improve and increase the size of your dahlias,
an extra feeding of fertilizer may be applied. This feeding should begin
after the buds have formed. If liquid feeding is done, it should be applied
when the soil is fairly wet from rain or watering. Do not apply too much
fertilizer at this time. Space your applications about 15 days or two
weeks apart. There are many good fertilizers on the market but I would
suggest you use one where the first element (nitrogen) is much lower than
the last two (phosphate and potash). Follow directions on the label or
package for how much to use per plant or area.

• i

NEW BOOKS IN THE
HELEN FOWLER LIBRARY

Solange Huggins

Since 1 January 1972, the books listed below, in categories, have been added to the
collection of the Helen Fowler Library.

AGRICULTURE

U.S.D.A. Grass; Year Book of Agriculture. 1948.

U.S.D.A. A Good Life to More People; Year Book of

Agriculture, 1971.

AQUATIC PLANTS
Prescott, G. W.
Prescott, G. W.

BIOGRAPHY
Garnett, Edward
Roberts, Morley
Peattie, Donald Culross
Hyams, Edward

BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Swift, Lloyd H.

BOTANY

Stocken, C. M.

Long, Robert W.

Grant, Verne
Eyre, S. R.

Steward, F. C.

BOTANY, MEDICAL
Marks, Geoffrey

ECOLOGY
Sears, Paul B.

ECONOMIC PLANTS
Jaques, H. E.

How to Know The Freshwater Algae. 1969.
How to Know The Aquatic Plants. 1969.

Letters from W. H. Hudson, 1901-1922.

A portrait: W. H. Hudson.

Audubon’s America.

Capability Brown and Humphry Repton. 1971.

Botanical Bibliographies. 1970.

Andalusian Flowers and Country Side. 1969.
A Flora of Tropical Florida. 1971.

Plant Speciation. 1971.

World Vegetation Types. 1971.

Plants, Chemicals and Growth. 1971.

The Medical Garden. 1971.

Wild Wealth. 1971.

How To Know The Economic Plants. 1958.

ENCYCLOPEDIAS

•Graf, Alfred Byrd

Exotic Plant Manual. 1970.

FLORAS

Steward, Albert N.

Manual of Vascular Plants of the Lower Yangtze
China Valley. 1958.

Deam, Charles C.

Gruber, V. I.

Curtis, John T.

Correll, Donovan S.

Legg, Kenneth

Long, Robert

Flora of Indiana. 1970. Reprint. Ref.

Plants of Central Asia. 1963. Ref.

The Vegetation of Wisconsin. 1959.

Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. 1970.

Lake Tahoe Wild Flowers. 1970.

A Flora of Tropical Florida. 1971.

FLOWER ARRANGING

Swerda, Patricia

March -Penny, John

Japanese Flower Arranging. 1969.

Japanese Flower Arrangement; Ikebana. 1969.

GARDENS

Lawrence, Elizabeth

Lob’s Wood. 1971.

GLASS CONTAINER GARDENS

Baur, Robert C. Gardens in Glass Containers. 1970. Ref.

GREENHOUSE CULTIVATION

Wittwer and Honma Greenhouse Tomatoes. 1969.

HANDICRAFTS

Iida Miyuki

The Art of Handmade Flowers. 1971.

HOUSE PLANTS

Skelsey, Alice

Campbell, Mary Mason

Graf, Alfred Byrd

Cucumbers in a Flowerpot. 1971.

Betty Crocker’s Kitchen Gardens. 1971.

Exotic Plant Manual. 1970.

INSECTICIDE, HERBICIDES AND FUNGICIDES

Page, B. G.

The 1971 Insecticide, Herbicide, Fungicide Quick
Guide.

Rudd, Robert L.

Pesticides and the Living Landscape. 1964.

MUSHROOM FOLK-LORE

Wasson, R. Gordon

Soma, Divine Mushroom of Immortality. 1969.

MYCOLOGY

Webster, John

Gray, William David

Miller, Julian H.

Introduction to Fungi. 1970. Mitchel coll.

Biology of the Myxomycetes. 1968. Mitchel coll.

A Monograph of the World Species of Hypoxylon.
1961.

Hale, M. E.

How to Know the Lichens. 1969.

NATURAL HISTORY

Krutch, Joseph Wood

Baja California and the Geography of Hope. 1967.

ORGANIC GARDENING
Philbrick and Gregg

Companion Plants and How to Use Them. 1966.

OUTDOOR GARDENING

Cruso, Thalassa

Sears, Paul B.

Making Things Grow Outdoors. 1971.

Wild Wealth. 1971.

SPECIAL FLOWERS
Urquhart, Beryl Leslie
American Rose Society
Crockett, James U.
Crockett, James U.

The Rhododendron. 1958.

The American Rose Annual. 1972.

Perennials. 1971.

Bulbs. 1971.

TREES

Harlow, William M.

Trees of the Eastern and Central U.S. and Canada.
1957. Paper, reprint.

Crockett, James U.

Austin, Robert

Pravdin, L. F.

Rollinger, E. Alan

Evergreens. 1971.

Bamboo. 1970.

Scot pine. 1969.

Pioneer Trees of Metro Denver. 1969.

VEGETABLE GROWING
Heriteau, Jacqueline

Wittwer and Honma

The How-to Grow and Cook It Book. 1970.

Greenhouse Tomatoes. 1969.

WEEDS

Jaques, H. E.

The Weeds. 1959.

The following books were added to the JUVENILE COLLECTION:

Asimov, Isaac

Carleton, Milton

Cooper, Elizabeth K.
Fenton, Carroll E.

Hutchins, Ross E.

Lemmon, Robert S.
National Audubon Society

Photosynthesis.

Indoor Gardening Fun.

Insects and Plants.

Trees and Their World.

Lives of an Old Oak Tree.

This is a Flower.

This is a Leaf.

This is a Tree.

Junior Science Book of Trees.

The Audubon Nature Encyclopedia. Ref.

OUQ LEISURE

Wes Woodward

You are at home one day, sick in bed,
but not too sick to luxuriate in a quiet
morning. Suddenly a horrible rasping,
buzzing noise jolts you wide awake,
mangles your nerves, jangles in your head.

It’s the lawn-mowers next door. You
don’t have to look to know what is going
on. There is a truck with the tail gate
down and four or five frenetic little men
wrestling gasoline-powered mowers and
trimmers onto the lawn. The rasping,
buzzing sound is doubled, then tripled,
as the infernal machines start up. You
know the men are running desperately as
the machines drag them furiously back
and forth, around and around, efficiently
cutting the grass to a Persian rug fineness.

Ten, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes,
and the job is done. The machines shut
off, one by one. There is much clanking
and banging as they go back into the
truck. Then they are gone, the normal
noises of the city return, and the lawn
next door is mowed, trimmed, pared
and, probably, shaved. Your nerves are
shattered.

This is the modern way of lawn care,
of gardening, in a sense. It gets the job
done with no dilly-dallying. It’s a lot
easier than pushing a mower yourself.
It may even leave a prettier lawn than
you had in the old days, although that
is not guaranteed.

It is also a long way from nature and
the joy and pride of working with nature.

The machine is fast, efficient, im¬
personal. It does away with irksome
toil. But it leaves emptiness and uneasi¬
ness in the soul of a true gardener.

The machine has destroyed some things.
Leisure, for one. Oh yes, we have more
time for other things we want to do. In

statistics we have more leisure. In reality
we have little, if any. Time is saved from
our chores, so we rush into an auto¬
mobile and race to an appointment, or
an entertainment.

There is little peace or satisfaction in
our speed.

An English woman, writing long ago,
saw what was happening to us. “Surely,”
she said, “all other leisure is hurry com¬
pared with a sunny walk through the
fields ... as such walks used to be in
those old leisurely times . . . Leisure is
gone — gone where the spinning-wheels
are gone, and the pack-horses, and the
slow wagons, and the peddlers . . .
Ingenious philosophers tell you, perhaps,
that the great work of the steam-engine
is to create leisure for mankind. Do
not believe them: it only creates a
vacuum for eager thought to rush in.
Even idleness is eager now — eager for
amusement . . . Old Leisure . . . was a
comtemplative, rather stout gentleman,
of excellent digestion, — of quiet per¬
ceptions, undiseased by hypothesis . . .
He lived chiefly in the country . . . and
was fond of sauntering by the fruit-tree
wall, and scenting the apricots when they
were warmed by the morning sunshine,
or of sheltering himself under the orchard
boughs at noon, when the summer pears
were falling.”

You and I can’t go back to that — it
was gone when George Eliot wrote Adam
Rede in 1858 — but we can spend some
quiet hours in a garden, in rewarding
toil, in contemplation. In using our
hands, in working with the soil and the
trees and the plants, we can even discover
a faint trace of the genuine flavor of
Old Leisure, sometimes called Peace.

1972

Membership Roster

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

(As of April 1, 1972)

Abbot, Mrs. C. B.

Abbott, Mr. & Mrs. David
Abegg, Chenia A., Jr.
Ackerman, Mrs. Theron L.
Adams, Mrs. B. L.

Adams, Frederick A.

Adams, Mrs. J. Loren
Adams, Mrs. Louise W.

Adams, Mrs. Ronald Burton
Adamson, Mrs. Glenn
Ahrens, Mr. Thomas P.

Aikawa, Mrs. J. K.

Ainbinder, Mr. & Mrs. Howard
Aitken, Mrs. L. L.

Albrecht, Pam
Alden, Holly
Alden, Mrs. Lee H., Jr.
Alexander, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce
Alexander, Mrs. Marion I.
Alexander, P. K., Jr.

Aley, Mrs. Maxwell
Allen, Mrs. James W.

Allen, Mrs. John T., Jr.

Allen, Nancy J.

Allen, Richard
Aim, Elmer A.

Allman, Jacqueline L.

Aim, Elmer A.

Almquist, Mrs. C. A.

Altvater, Mrs. F. V.

Alyea, Shirelle
Ambler, Mrs. John
Ammons, Mrs. Davis
Anderson, Clark L.

Anderson, Mrs. Martin E., Jr.
Anderson, Mrs. R. T., Jr.
Anderson, Mrs. Truman E.
Andrews, Mr. & Mrs. E. Wm.
Anschicks, Mrs. R.

Anschutz, Mrs. Philip

Archer, Mrs. Philip G.
Armstrong, Mrs. J. L.

Arndt, Dr. Karl
Arneill, Mrs. James R., Jr.
Arnold, Mrs. C. O.

Arps, Louisa Ward
Artisan, Robert
Ash, Mr. & Mrs. Walter B.
Ashby, Mr. Harry
Atchison, Mrs. A. P.

Aurand, Mrs. Harry
Austin, Mr. & Mrs. H. Greg
Austin, Mrs. J. E.

Bagley, Miss Alice
Bailey, Dr. Alfred M.

Bailey, Mrs. Mary
Bailey, Mrs. Richard H.

Baily, Mr. & Mrs. Jesse S.

Bain, Mrs. Francis M.

Baird, Mrs. R. N.

Baker, Augusta
Baker, Charles
Baker, Mr. Clovis G.

Baldner, Lindsay
Baldwin, Rainbow Byrd
Ballard, Mrs. R. W.

Bane, Mrs. William N.

Banks, Esther L.

Banks, Michael Jack
Barcager, Caroline P.

Barkley, Mrs. R. A.

Barnard, Dr. H. I.

Barnett, Mr. & Mrs. Douglas E.
Barnhart, Mrs. Woodson
Barron, Wm. & Jennifer
Barsotti, David
Bartels, Mr. & Mrs. John
Barton, Dr. & Mrs. M. D.
Barnwell, M. Jones
Barone, Charles P.

Barrett, Marjorie
Barron, Mrs. Arch
Barry, Gail N.

Barsis, Albrecht P.

Bates, Sybil D.

Baude, Mrs. Hugh K.

Bauer, Mr. Max
Beam, Mrs. Orville
Beardsley, Mrs. H. H.
Bechtold, Mrs. Lemoine J.
Beck, Clara A.

Becker, Mrs. R. C.

Becker, Mrs. H. C.

Becker, Ralph W.

Behrent, Mrs. Robert V.
Beidleman, Dr. Richard G.
Bekins, Mrs. Barry
Bell, Peggy
Bellomy, Ronald D.

Benjamin, Hertha F.

Bennett, Florence M.

Bennett, Mrs. Melba R.
Benton, Mr. & Mrs. A. E.
Benton, Mrs. Field C.

Berend, Arlene M.

Bergkamp, Mrs. Harold E.
Berlin, George A.

Berryman, Cora Ann
Berman, Mr. Harry
Best, Mrs. Imogene Spencer
Betcone, Barbara
Bezzerides, Mrs. T. L.

Billings

Birkenmayer, Mrs. A. B.
Birrell, Mr. & Mrs. James R.
Bivans, Miss Margaret
Black, Dr. & Mrs. William C.
Blackwell, Mrs. Lyman
Blanchard, Mr. & Mrs. Robert

Blaney, Dr. L. F.

Blank, Mr. Paul
Blanz,,Mr. & Mrs. Ralph
Blecha, Mrs. Harry
Bledsoe, Mrs. Henry A.
Blickensiderfer, James C.
Blizard, Sandra
Bloch, Mrs. Don

Block, Dr. & Mrs. Wm. A.
Blount, Gail H.

Bobal, Anne T.

Bock, Dr. Jane H.

Boettner, Mrs. J. L.

Bogart, Sophia S.

Boggess, Bruce H.

Boggess, Mrs. Scott
Boline, Mrs. E. A.

Bolinger, Maxine I.

Bollig, Mrs. Joseph
Bonnie, Marjorie I.

Boone, Mrs. Merrill C.

Booth, Mr. Lanny R.

Borgen, Mrs. Bjorn K.
Borwick, Mrs. Charles
Boston, Mary V.

Bosworth, Richard H.
Bosworth, Mrs. Robert G.
Bottorff, Richard L.

Bouck, Miss Polly
Bourishaw, Fran
Bouslog, Dr. John S.

Bowen, Dr. & Mrs. James L.
Bowers, Miss Eva F.

Bowes, Mrs. Watson
Bowlby, Mrs. Robert Alan
Bowman, Mrs. Jim
Boyd, Mrs. Gary D.

Boyer, Mrs. Barbara S.

Boyle, Dr. & Mrs. Richard E.
Bozarth, Mrs. Howard, Jr.
Brace, Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Braden, Mrs. John W.
Bradford, Mrs. William E.
Bradley, Mr. & Mrs. Vester C.
Bramley, Mrs. Howard
Brandeberg, Mary Lou
Brennan, Mr. M. G.

Bray, Janet E.

Brewster, Rodman, Mrs.
Bridges, Dr. James H.

Bridges, Wm. G.

Briesemeister, Ethel
Brimmer, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. N.
Brink, Dr. Kenneth M.
Brittingham, Ruth W.

Brock, L.

Brock, Mrs. Sidney L., Jr.
Brock, Mrs. Wadsworth
Brodie, Mrs. Joan
Bromfield, Mr. A. J.
Bromfield, Mrs. Helen P.
Bromfield, Mrs. Lawrence
Bromfield, Mrs. M. C., Jr.
Brooks, Mrs. John, Jr.
Broughton, Mrs. Joseph
Brower, Virginia R.

Brown, Mrs. Alden H.

Brown, Ann B.

Brown, Mr. C. A.

Brown, Donald F.

Brown, Mrs. F. O.

Brown, Mrs. Gilbert L.

100

Brown, John S., Ill
Brown, Mrs. Macintosh
Brown, Mrs. Ruth H.

Brown, Dr. William R.
Bruderlin, Mr. Emil J.
Bruesselbach, Karl
Bruhn, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert A.
Brunkhorst, Mr. H. J.
Brunquist, Dr. E. H.

Bruns, Mrs. Robert L.
Brunson, Thayer
Bryant, Bruce
Buchan, Mrs. Mcintosh K.
Buchanan, Mrs. Robert
Buchanan, Mrs. Carolyn
Bucher, Mrs. Lawrence H.
Buck, Mr. & Mrs. Arnold F.
Buck, Douglas
Bucknam, Robert C.

Bullard, Mrs. Nell

Burgess, Mrs. Ralph
Burke, Edward F., Jr.

Burke, Mrs. Kenneth
Burket, Mrs. J. Warren, Sr.
Burkhardt, Mrs. William
Burnett, Mr. Emery
Burnkrant, Richard A.

Burns, Mr. & Mrs. Hugh
Burns, Mrs. Robert R.

Burnside, B. J.

Busch, Kathleen
Burt, Mrs. Claude
Burt, Mrs. Harvey A.

Burton, Sherry
Buschman, R. G.

Butler, Mr. & Mrs. David
Butts, Mrs. Louise

Caldwell, Elvin R.

Calloway, Mrs. Roy E.

Calvert, Mrs. F. W.

Camp, Richard A.

Campbell, Mrs. Donald C.
Campbell, William A., M.D.
Canaday, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome B.
Cann, Mrs. John R.

Cannon, Mrs. George R.
Cannon, Kathleen A.

Canon, Mrs. George M.
Caperton, Mr. Harry O.
Capps, Fred M.

Carlson, Mrs. Delbert L.
Carlson, Mr. Jim
Carmeny, Miss Lily V.
Carney, Mrs. J. G.

Carpenter, Mrs. Farrington
Carpenter, Joseph F.
Carpenter, Mrs. Virginia K.
Carr, Mrs. L. A.

Carroll, Mrs. John E.

Carson, Mr. & Mrs. J. Nevin
Carson, Mrs. Thomas
Carswell, Frances G.

Carter, Elmer W.

Carter, William J.

Cary, Mrs. Ward E.

Casey, Mr. & Mrs. George S.
Cassell, Mrs. Jeanne T.

Cassidy, Mr. & Mrs. Charles F.
Casson, Mrs. R. M.

Chaffee, Mrs. W. T.

Chaiken, Mrs. Sheldon A.
Chandler, Dr. Earl
Chandler, Polly
Chapman, Mrs. Thomas
Chappell, Mrs. Delos
Chappell, Miss Lori
Chappel, Mrs. Pierre
Chaput, Arthur F.

Charles, Mrs. Michael
Cherne, Mrs. Howard R.
Chilcote, Katherine V.

Child, Dean H.

Childs, Mrs. S. B., Jr.

Chlevin, Benjamin J., Jr.

Choitz, Mrs. Marcel P.
Christensen, Mrs. C. J.
Christensen, Mrs. D. L.

Christy, Mrs. Gary
Ciancio, Joe, Jr.

Clark, Henry B.

Clark, Mrs. Mary
Claiborne, Ralph
Clawson, Mr. & Mrs. Robert M.
Clayton, Mrs. Glenn
Clayton, Mrs. Mack L.

Clements, Ellis C.

Clements, Ruby M.

Clifford, Mrs. William
Cline, Mr. Everett L.

Clinton, Robert
Close, Mrs. Harland T.

Cluphf, Mrs. Harlan E.

Clymer, George
Cody, Mrs. Edward L.

Coe, John Clark
Coffey, Mrs. Vernon B.

Cohen, Mrs. Alvin L.

Cohen, Mrs. M. C.

Cohn, Mr. & Mrs. Johann
Cole, Agnes B.

Collier, Mr. T. R.

Collins, Mr. & Mrs. Dabney Otis
Collins, Mrs. S. H.

Collister, Mrs. Em. B.

Colson, Miriam

Cone, Lt. Col. & Mrs. Leo F.

Congdon, Edwin A.

Connelly, Mrs. Jane E.

Connor, Mr. & Mrs. Jon J.
Connor, Wm. Jos., Jr.

Conover, Mrs. Frederic K.
Conover, Mrs. Josephine L.
Conrad, Mr. Henry J.

Cook, Mr. & Mrs. C. F.

Cook, Mrs. Edward
Cook, Mrs. J. R.

Cook, Mrs. Wm. L.

Cooper, Mrs. Richard H.

Conrad, Mrs. J. S.

Cosgriff, Mrs. T. A.

Cottingham, Mr. & Mrs. D. A.
Cotton, Mr. A. B.

Council, Mrs. Joann
Cox, Mrs. Harold H.

Cox, James C.

Cox, Joy W.

Coyle, Mrs. Sam D.

Craddock, Jean
Crain, Mrs. Richard P.

Crawford, Miss Caroline
Creighton, Mrs. Thomas E.
Cressaty, Miss Margaret
Crews, Mrs. William
Crisp, Mrs. Katharine B.

Crissey, Miss Lucy M.

Cross, Gwendolyn E.

Crouse, H. E.

Cullen, Mrs. Gerald B.

Culver, Mrs. Donald M.

Currier, Mrs. Laurence
Curry, Maj. Gen. John F.

Cusic, Kathleen
Cuthbert, Mrs. Warren

Daley, Mrs. Edith M.

Damrauer, Lenore
Danielson, Ralph W.

Darby, Mr. & Mrs. Paul T.
Davidson, Leila Webb
Davidson, Mrs. S. Mark
Davis, Tessa & Alan
Davis, Mrs. Allen H.

Davis, Mrs. C. Earl
Davis, Mr. & Mrs. J. S.

Davis, Mrs. John C., Ill
Davis, Mrs. Mary Lou
Davis, Dr. & Mrs. M. H.

Davis, Mel W.

Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Richard M.
Davis, Mrs. Robert L.

Davis, Dr. & Mrs. W. Grayburn
Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Wesley E.
Davis, Mr. & Mrs. William
Davison, Mr. & Mrs. Robt. P.
Dawson, Mrs. J. C.

Deason, Mrs. Joe D.

Decker, Mr. & Mrs. Martin G.
Delaney, Mrs. James
Delong, Sara S.

Deluise, Mrs. Piero
Delzer, Rollin
Denning, Thomas J.

Detemple, Carl N.

Deterding, Mrs. Alva
Devlin, Linda
Devries, Walter

De Yoanna, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas
Dicarlo, Robert H.

Diehl, Mrs. Vallarie
Dieter, Mr. Walter W.

Dietler, Mrs. C. S.

Diggs, Mr. Walter F.

Dillavou, Mr. J. E.

Dines, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce E.

Dines, Mrs. Eugene, Sr.

Dings, McClelland G.

Diss, Mrs. Alexandra G.

Dixon, Mrs. John H.

Dlugolecki, Mr. Leon
Doan, H. W., M.D.

Dobbins, Mr. & Mrs. Chris
Dobbs, Mrs. Finis E.

Dodds, Miss Mary A.

Dodson, A. F.

Doherty, Elizabeth B.

Dolan, Mrs. J. F.

Dolan, Mr. Lawrence
Dominick, Jacqueline M.

Donsky, Marc A.

Dorn, Mrs. Clayton
Doty, Mrs. L.

Doty, Mrs. Philip E.

Douglas, Mrs. Frederick H.
Downing, Mary Jane
Downing, Mr. & Mrs. Richard, Jr.
Doyle, Mrs. Joe H.

Drange, Mr. Charles M.

Dragoo, Dr. & Mrs. Robert A.
Dresen, Mrs. Wm. F.

Dudler, Mrs. Randolph
Ducker, Mr. George A.

Duke, Mrs. H. Benjamin, Jr.
Dunham, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert R.
Dusenberg, Edith
Dutton, Mrs. Roger W.

Eames, Mrs. Gladys G.

Earle, Dr. W. Hubert
Earley, Mrs. Robert
Easly, Mrs. James J.

Eastland, Mr. & Mrs. O., Jr.
Eastman, Mrs. Roe
Eber, Richard

Eberhardt, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest
Eckis, Rollin C.

Edison, Mrs. E. R.

Edwards, Mr. & Mrs. William G.
Egan, Mr. & Mrs. E. D.

Eiche, Mr. E. E.

Eldridge, Geneva
Eldredge, Mrs. Patrick
Ellett, Mrs. Emerson S.

Ellis, Mrs. Catherine
Ellis, Elliot F.

Ellis, Mr. Erl H.

Ellsworth, Mrs. Ralph E.
Elmquist, Fred N.

Emerick, Miss Juanita E.
Emerson, Mrs. Edgar
Emery, Mrs. Charles
Emery, Mr. & Mrs. Roderick R.
Enoch, Judge & Mrs. David W.
Ensor, Mary
Epp, Mr. John G.

Erhard, Albert
Erisman, Mrs. R. Franklin
Ernst, Mrs. Charles H.

Esmiol, Mr. & Mrs. Morris A.
Essig, Mr. B. C.

Ethell, Mrs. F. W.

Evans, Mrs. Doris J.

Evans, Miss Edith M.

Evans, Mr. & Mrs. John
Evans, Mr. & Mrs. John M.
Evans, Miss Katherine
Ewens, Mrs. Luise L.

Ewing, Mr. & Mrs. R. A.

Fahlenkamp, Leroy C.

Fahlberg, Mrs. G. A.

Fahrney, Mrs. Dan
Fairfield, Mrs. Robert J.

Falion, Mrs. William M., Ill
Falkenberg, Mr. & Mrs. John F.
Falkenberg, Mr. & Mrs. Wm.
Fall, Mrs. Richard C.

Fallieros, Zoe
Farland, Mrs. Adolf
Farquhar, Miss Bucky
Farris, John L.

Faxon, Mrs. Virginia W.
Feldman, Ann Louise
Fender, Katherine A.

Fennell, Mrs. Robert H., Jr.
Ferguson, Mr. Carlisle
Ferguson, Mrs. David
Ferguson, Mrs. John A.

Feucht, Dr. James R.

Fields, Lelia
Fiori, Mrs. Robert F.

Fisher, Dr. & Mrs. Calvin
Fitzgerald, Mrs.

Fitzsimmons, Mr. Fred
Fix, Mrs. Bula
Flick, Mrs. Bruce
Flint, Mr. & Mrs. R. H.
Florman, Mrs. Bode A.

Fluck, H. G.

Folmer, Mrs. Henry
Folks, Richard
Forsberg, Robert W.

Forselius, Mrs. Randall A.
Fouts, Mrs. G.

Fowler, Mrs. J. R.

Fox, Guy
Francis, Lyle D.

Frank, Anna Lee
Frank, Mr. & Mrs. Maurice
Frankhouser, John R.

Franson, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert
Frederick, Ruth

101

Freeman, Mr. & Mrs. Samuel
Freer, Mrs. Mary F.

Freiheit, Mr. Clayton
Freshman, Mrs. A. W.
Freudenberg, Lt. Col. & Mrs. W.
Freyer, Mrs. Frank B., Jr.
Friesen, Edward H.

Frost, Mrs. Dayton H.

Frost, Miss Mary C.

Frush, Mrs. Georgia K.

Fry, Mrs. F. A.

Fry, Miss Florence E.

Fukuma, George
Fuller, Mrs. John W.

Fuller, Mr. & Mrs. Pierpont, Jr.

Gargel, A.

Gale, W.

Gallavan, Patrick, J.

Gallegos, Tony
Gambill, Dr. W. G., Jr.

Gant, Wilma V.

Garcia, F. A., M.D.

Gardell, John E., M.D.

Gardner, Elizabeth J.

Garfein, Dr. & Mrs. Arthur D.
Garrey, Mrs. George H.

Garstang, Mrs. Ann C.

Gaskill, Mrs. S. W.

Gast, Mrs. Robert S.

Gates, Mrs. Caleb
Gates, Mrs. Charles C.

Gaurd, Dr. & Mrs. H. L.

Gauger, G. G.

Gauss, Mrs. Elvia V.

Gaylord, Mrs. Bradley, Jr.
Gaylord, Mrs. Charles
Gebhard, Miss Minnie
Geddes, Mr. William J.

Geick, Margaret A.

Geiss, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew
Gelvin, Mrs. Ray
George, Mrs. Wm. D.

Giacomini, Mrs. D. L.

Gibson, Mr. & Mrs. George C.
Gibson, Mrs. Jess
Gilbert, Beatrice T., M.D.
Gilbert, Mr. & Mrs. Richard K.
Gilbert, Mrs. S. H., Jr.

Gilcrest, Mr. I. D.

Gildea, Geraldine Mrs.

Gill, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence
Givan, David Allen
Gittings, Mr. & Mrs. Richard S.

Glassburn, Dr. A. R., Jr.
Glassford, Walker
Goehring, Lewis
Goes, Nancy K.

Goldman, Ms. Ronnie
Goldman, Mr. & Mrs. Edward
Goldsby, Fred L.

Goldy, Mrs. H. Donald
Gomez, Mrs. R. A.

Goodin, Phillip Eugene
Gordon, Mrs. Charles P.

Gordon, C. V.

Goldstein, Lynn M.

Goss, Mrs. Douglas K.
Gottschalk, Dr. & Mrs. Robert
Graham, Mr. Robert S.
Granicher, Mrs. Donald I.

Grant, Mrs. William W.

Grant, Mrs. Wm. W., Ill
Gray, Mrs. Richard E.

Grebe, Mrs. Frances
Green, Mr. & Mrs. Dudley
Green, Elenor
Greines, Harriet
Grey, Mrs. Schuyler E.

Griffin, Mrs. Hugh
Griffith, Mrs. Wm. M.

Grill, Leo F.

Grimes, Mr. & Mrs. George L.
Griswold, Mrs. Lester E.

Gross, Mrs. Benjamin
Grover, Dr. Robert F.

Groves, Mrs. William B.

Grow, Dr. & Mrs. John
Grutter, Mrs. Walter
Grynberg, Mr. & Mrs. J.
Guilfoyle, E. J.

Gump, Mr. & Mrs. M. L.

Gurian, Mr. & Mrs. Dan
Gurtler, Mrs. Arnold
Gushurst, Teresa

Hacker, Mr. & Mrs. E.

Hackstaff, A. T.

Hackstaff, Mrs. J. Edward
Hackstaff, Mrs. Howard L.
Hagemeister, Miss Jo Ann
Hahn, Lona F.

Hall, Mrs. Laurence B.

Halmi, Mrs. C. Z.

Halpenny, Ruth W.

Halpin, Mrs. Stephen J.

Hames, Kathleen
Haman, Mr. Seman
Hames, Mr. & Mrs. Eugene S.
Hamilton, Mrs. Frederick C.
Hamilton, Mrs. W. L.

Hammond, Mrs. Stanley
Hampton, Mr. & Mrs. Orville W.
Hannigan, Mr. R. S.

Hannum, John, M.D.

Hansen, Mr. & Mrs. Claude B.
Hansen, Jack
Hanson, Bruce G.

Hanson, Mrs. Fredrick R.
Hanson, Lynn S.

Hanson, Virginia D.

Hanson, Walter E.

Hardin, Mrs. Sam B.

Hargreaves, Col. R. B.

Harlan, Mr. & Mrs. Donal L.
Harley, Mr. Wynne
Harper, Mrs. Fred
Harper, Mrs. John S.

Harris, Mr. & Mrs. D. Carl
Harris, Mrs. J. A.

Harris, Mrs. J. Mel
Harrison, Mrs. Charles
Harrison, Mrs. R. J.

Hart, Mrs. John L. J.

Hart, Mr. & Mrs. John N.
Hartman, R. E.

Haskell, Mrs. Charles A.

Hatch, Gladys J.

Hatcher, Mrs. Hugh
Hattendorf, Mrs. N. E.

Hauck, Miss Rachael
Hauck, Earl & Patricia

Hawkins, Mr. & Mrs. Horace N
Hawkins, Ruth
Hawthorne, Rowland
Hay, Judy

Hayden, Mr. & Mrs. George K.
Haydon, Mrs. George V.

Hayes, Kenneth & Glenda
Hayna, Lois B.

Hays, Mrs. William H.
Hayward, Glenn C.

Hayward, Mrs. Phil
Hazen, Mrs. Wayne C.

Heacock, Mrs. Mary Ann
Hearn, Mrs. L. E.

Hechter, Natalie
Heckman, Miss Dorothy A.
Hedrick, Mr. Robert R.
Heidtbrink, Ed
Heinschel, Mrs. Phil
Heinz, David
Heisel, Laura Jean
Heitzmann, R.

Helper, John W.

Henderson, Barbara Jean
Hennessey, Mr. & Mrs. R.
Henry, Mrs. Hubert D.
Hentzell, Paul A.

Herbert, Mrs. Thomas G.
Herbst, Mr. & Mrs. Hal
Herfurth, Mr. & Mrs. Carl E.
Hermann, Dr. & Mrs. A. A.
Hermann, Dr. & Mrs. Gilbert
Herrgott, Mrs. Francine B.
Herring, Mrs. Carrie
Herrington, Mrs. Cass M.
Hershner, Mr. John D.

Hess, Dr. Dexter W.

Hewitt, Charles H.

Hickey, Mrs. Frand E.

Hicks, Mrs. S. Nelson
Hieronymas, Mrs. R. E.

Higbie, Mrs. H. G.

Higbie, Mr. Harley G.

Highland, Mr. & Mrs. Sam
Hildreth, Dr. A. C.

Hill, Dr. & Mrs. George J., Jr.
Hill, Hazel T.

Hill, Susan A.

Hill, Mrs. W. J.

Hilliard, Mrs. E. H., Jr.

Hillyard, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald R.
Hilton, Robert J., M.D.

Hinds, Mrs. Ervin A.

Hiner, Mrs. A. W., Ill
Hines, Mr. C. Leigh
Hoch, Dr. & Mrs. P. C.
Hodgson, Mrs. Donald R.
Hofen, Mr. Russell
Hoffman, William
Hogsett, Mrs. V. H.

Holland, Mrs. Josiah G.
Holland, Mrs. William Y.
Hollendorfer, Fred & Cathy
Hollis, Mrs. Gordon
Hollister, Mrs. Elizabeth
Holman, Erwin W.

Holme, Mr. & Mrs. Peter H.
Holmes, Mrs. Hardin
Holt, Mr. & Mrs. Brian E.

Holt, Miss Esther L.

Holt, Mr. M. B., Jr.

Holtz, Esther A.

102

Holyoke, Dr. John B.

Holzer, Mrs. David
Honnen, Mrs. Ed H.

Hook, Irving S.

Hooten, Rev. Horace R.
Hopfenbeck, Mrs. George
Horn, Mrs. Sylvester C.
Hornby, Mrs. William
Hornby, Mr. William H.
Horsley, Mrs. Howard T.
Horstmann, Mrs. Florence M.
Hough, Mrs. Frances D.
Houghton, Laura W.

House, Charles
Howard, Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Howe, Mrs. David
Howe, Ray
Howell, Mrs. Ira
Howell, T. A.

Hoyt, Mrs. Burnham
Hoyt, Mrs. J. Mitchell
Hubman, Mrs. Helen T.
Hudgins, Mrs. Reba
Hudson, Deatt
Hughes, Mrs. Virginia
Hulbert, Mrs. Ralph W.

Huling, DI M.

Huntzicker, Mrs. Paul
Hurguth, David
Hussey, Mrs. Mavis H.

Hyatt, Dr. & Mrs. David E.
Hyland, Mrs. N. W.

Hyman, Dr. & Mrs. Bernard
Huston, Mrs. T. S.

Iliff, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. S., Jr.

Imig, Elizabeth

Inglis, Mr. & Mrs. Richard R.

Intemann, Mr. H. Luther

Ireson, Mrs. Bert

Irving, Mr. John W.

Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. Alexander
Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce
Jackson, Mrs. William C., Jr.
Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. Royce
Jacobson, Mrs. C. R.
Jacoponelli, Mr. & Mrs. John
Jacques, Miss Sharon
James, Mrs. Colin
James, Katy
Jamison, Kim B.

Jarvis, Wm. B., Jr.

Jefferies, Mrs. R. C.

Jehle, Joyce
Jelstrup, Mrs. Gunnar
Jenkins, Miss Elsie M.

Jensen, James H.

Jensen, Mrs. Norman K.

Jerks, Mrs. Maurice L.

Jewett, Mrs. Robert G.

Joffee, Mrs. Norman
Johnson, Bill
Johnson, Mr. Carl S.

Johnson, Charlton
Johnson, Donald E.

Johnson, Mr. Edgar A.

Johnson, Dr. & Mrs. E. W.
Johnson, Helen
Johnson, Mrs. James H.
Johnson, Janis M.

Johnson, Mrs. L. E.
Johnson, Mrs. L. L.
Johnson, Mrs. Raymond W.
Johnston, Mrs. Kathryn
Jonas, Mrs. Joseph P.

Jones, Mrs. Gerald
Jones, Mrs. Guilford
Jones, Helen G.

Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert I.
Jones, Mrs. James D.

Jones, Joy
Jones, Mrs. Larita
Jones, Mrs. Marion F.

Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Rex
Jones, Rocky E.

Jones, Mrs. Teri
Jordon, Mr. & Mrs. Carl
Jordon, Mr. Charles
Jordon, Mr. & Mrs. John A.
Jordan, Mrs. T. N.
Jorgensen, Carl J. C.

Judish, Mr. Frank
Jump, Mrs. Lawrence
Justice, Frank

Kali, Mrs. George
Kalmbach, Edwin R.
Kalmbach, Olin
Kamischke, Mrs. K. C.
Kaplan, Dr. & Mrs. Max
Kassanchuk, Julia
Kast, Mrs. Howard
Kats, Miss Joan
Kaufman, Dora E.

Kauper, Thomas J.

Keating, Robert B.

Keenan, Mrs. J. E.

Keiper, Dr. Ralph & Nan
Keller, Wendell
Kelly, Mrs. Carl M.

Kelly, Mr. & Mrs. George C.
Kelly, Mrs. George J.

Kelly, Mrs. Harry J., Jr.
Kelly, John F.

Kelly, Mrs. Martha W.
Kemme, Bill
Kenmore, Mrs. George
Kennedy, Mrs. Berneas E.
Kennedy, Mrs. M. G.
Kenney, Sue C.

Kennon, Miss Anne Byrd
Kepplemann, Mr. Frank A.
Kerr, Mrs. John G.
Kesselman, Mrs. Fern
Kessler, Mr. Gerald F.
Kessler, Mrs. Robert

Kiesling, Mrs. Paul
Kimble, Gregory A.

Kimmel, Mr. & Mrs. Earl
Kimsey, Ezell & Jean
King, Mrs. Frank
King, Mrs. Martha B.

Kingery, Mrs. H. M.

Kinghom, Glenn
Kingman, E. F.

Kirchen, Harold W.

Kirchof, Mrs. F. J.

Kirk, Mr. & Mrs. Richard A.
Kirkley, Dr. W. L.

Kirkwood, Hortense S.

Kissel, Lucy E.

Kissinger, Frank
Kistler, Mrs. William H.
Klement, James L.

Kline, Wilhelmina S.

Klinger, Mr. & Mrs. Bruno
Knight, Mr. & Mrs. Don
Knoll, Ethel
Knorr, Roberna L.

Knowles, Mrs. Thomas
Kobayashi, T. K., M.D.

Koch, Mrs. Walter
Koehler, Mrs. John G.

Koehler, Kathryn
Kohnfelder, Mrs. Dorothy
Kolar, Michael A.

Kornfleld, Edwin H.

Korsoski, Charles
Kosanke, Mr. & Mrs. Robert M.
Krause, Susannah
Kretschmer, Mrs. Franz
Kreuger, Mrs. C. F.

Krohn, Mr. & Mrs. David H.
Kropf, Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Kuenz, Mr. & Mrs. Frank
Kugelor, Mrs. Henry
Kuhn, Danelle
Kruesi, Mr. & Mrs. Paul R.
Kullman, Mr. Herb
Kunde, Mrs. Frank J.

Kunkely, Mrs. Anna

Kunkely, Mr. William
Kurtz, Katherine C.

LaFavor, Miss Dorothy
Lahr, Ross V.

Lamb, Mrs. Tom K.

Lambart, Carol M.

Land, Mrs. Walter
Landauer, Mrs. Jeanne
Lande, Mrs. Norma

103

McHugh, Mrs. Claire S.
McHugh, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome
McIntosh, Mr. & Mrs. James
McIntyre, James R.

McKay, James W.

McKee, Mrs. Edwin D.
McKerral, Mr. & Mrs. H. A.
McKnight, Mrs. John G.
McKone, Sandra Kae
McLaughlin, Mrs. Geo. E.
McLead, Mr. & Mrs. Paul S.
McLister, Mrs. Frank
McMann, Mrs. J. Glenn
McMurry, Mrs. Wm. B.
McMurtry, Mrs. John
McNichols, Mayor W. H.

McNeil, Mrs. E. S.

McNulty, James E.
McWhinney, Mrs. Leroy

Landfald, Jennie C.

Lane, Donna
Lane, Mrs. Gerald A.

Lane, Curtis G.

Lane, Mr. & Mrs. John W.
Lane, J. R.

Langford, Joyce
Lankhorst, Dave
Lanoha, Patricia M.

Laprade, Patsy
Lantz, Mrs. Ben K.

Lantz, Mr. & Mrs. John N.
Larkin, Mrs. Fred
Larocco, Diana L.

Larose, Mr. & Mrs. Wm.
Larsen, Mr. Birger, A.

Larsen, Mrs. Henry L.

Larson, Mr. & Mrs. Owen L.
Larson, Robert
Larson, Mrs. Stanley L.
Latham, Harriet J.

Latta, Larry D.

Laue, Mrs. George R.
Lauthern, Linda
Layton, Mr. & Mrs. Frank
Lassich, Mr. Frank
Lawlor, Mrs. Kenneth
Learned, Mrs. Clyde E.

Leach, Michael

Lederer, Mary

Lee, Mrs. Herbert

Leech, Ivan

Lee, Mrs. C. Gordon

Lefant, Mrs. J. Burns

Lehman, Mrs. Kathleen C.

Lehman, Robert G.

Lehrburger, Dr. & Mrs. Henry

Leith, Mrs. Cecil E.

Lell, Mr. Alphonse
Lepinski, Mr. & Mrs. Jerald
Lesher, Mrs. David J.

Letson, Janet Leigh
Leuenberger, Mrs. Verna B.
Levene, Mr. & Mrs. Harold
Leverenz, Mrs. Oscar T.
Levitas, Shari
Levy, Mrs. Edward
Lewin, Charles, M.D.

Lewis, Mrs. Ella K.

Lewis, Margaret

Light, Shirley J.

Light, W. C.

Lilly, Mrs. Alonzo
Lind, Mabel A.

Lindsay, Mrs. Thomas
Little, Mrs. Joseph
Litty, Laura F.

Llorens, Dr. Alfred S.
Lockridge, Mrs. John C.

Lofton, Mrs. Leona Glee
Loiseau, Mrs. Louis A.
Lombardi, Mrs. William
Long, Mr. & Mrs. Everett C.
Longcamp, John S.

Longley, Mr. Warren
Loomis, Mrs. Joy
Lopez, Jon

Lorenzen, Mrs. Warren C.
Lornell, Randi
Lotito, Paul
Love, Mrs. John A.

Lucking, Mr. & Mrs. W. H.
Luelf, Lester
Luft, Mrs. Lois B.

Luna, Mrs. Dan
Lund, Lawrence O., M.D.

Lunt, Mrs. John
Lyford, Mrs. Richard T., Jr.

McAllister, Mrs. J. D.

McAnulty, Dr. & Mrs. W. N., Jr.
McBride, H. E.

McBride, Mrs. Robert E.
McCabe, Mr. & Mrs. Frank
McCall, Mr. & Mrs. Christopher
McClearn, Mrs. Hugh J.
McCollough, Mrs. Richard
McCoy, Mr. Jack
McCoy, Mrs. Pearl
McCoy, Mrs. Richard
McCulloch, Mrs. Roderick
McDonald, Donald G.
McDonald, Mrs. Philip
McDowell, Myrtle
McDowell, DT. R. N.
McGaughey, Mrs. R. B.

McGee, Charles J.

McGee, Mrs. Hugh
McGiffert, Mrs. Genevieve M.
McGuire, Dr. & Mrs. Carl

MacDonald, Mrs. Ranald H.
MacDougall, Mrs. William R.
Macintosh, Kenneth M.
MacMillan, Mr. William W.
Macomber, Mrs. H. Hillard
Magoffin, J. R.

Magruder, Mrs. M. M.
Maguire, Mrs. Charles D.
Mahn, Mrs. Holbrook
Maleika, Ronald D.

Mall, Mr. & Mrs. Vance A.
Manley, Duane
Manning, Mrs. Donald D.
Manning, Mrs. Robert
Mansfield, Mr. & Mrs. Gary
Manz, Christopher
Marcus, Mr. & Mrs. Simpson
Margolis, Dr. & Mrs. David
Margolin, Mrs. Margaret
Mark, Mr. & Mrs. Anson, III
Markley, Jonathan L.
Markley, Dr. & Mrs. Miles R.
Marks, Leo M.

Marr, Dr. John
Marranzino, Ernest
Marshall, Mrs. Andrew, Jr.
Marshall, Mr. Maurice N.
Marshall, Mr. Ned
Martin, A. R.

Martin, Mrs. Jane H.
Martino, Mrs. Paul R.
Mateyka, Mr. Matt
Matheson, Miss I. M.
Mattocks, Mrs. F. S.
Mattson, William
May, Dr. & Mrs. Charles D.
May, Leon R.

May, Mr. Wayne H.

Maytag, Elaine Anne
Mead, Mrs. Roger B.
Meddlebrook, Mrs. Jane M.
Medford, Menton
Meheen, Mrs. H.

Megrew, Alden F.

Melin, Mrs. Bruce
Mentgen, Glen A.

Merrick, Mrs. Helen P.
Merrill, Fred
Merritt, Mrs. Charles H.
Metzger, John
Metzger, R. S.

104

Meurer, Malcolm R.

Meyer, Miss Elinore S.

Meyer, Miss Kay
Meyer, Margie M.

Meyer, Ramon
Middleton, Mrs. Florence
Miller, Betty E.

Miller, Mrs. G.

Miller, Mr. & Mrs. Joe K.

Miller, Mrs. Kenneth W.

Miller, Michael
Miller, Mrs. Mott
Miller, Mr. Oran C.

Millett, Mrs. Wm. D.

Milliard, Mr. & Mrs. Richard M.
Mills, Mr. Ernest P.

Mills, James
Milroy, Peg

Mimmack, Frederick W., M.D.

IMinnick, Juanita
Mitchel, D. H., M.D.

Mitchell, Irene
Mitchell, Jeri
Mitchell, Mrs. John C.

Mitchell, Patricia M.

Mitchell, Mrs. Samuel
Mitzner, Mr. & Mrs. David T.
Mixa, Mrs. Edward
Mizer, Dr. F. Robert
Mobley, Beverley
Moddelmog, Emma
Moe, Barbara
Mohr, Mr. Lawrence Q.

Moles, Mrs. B. O.

Molloy, Robert M.

Montgomery, Isla
Moody, Mrs. Jean B.

Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Davis W.
Moore, Mr. Donald P.

Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Hudson, Jr.
Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Lonny J.

I Moore, Ralph R.

Moore, Mr. Willett S.

Morey, Mrs. Hugh C.

Morgan, Roy
Moritz, Chris
Morris, Mrs. James R., IV
Morris, Mrs. Robert V.

Morrison, Mrs. George R.
Morrison, Mr. & Mrs. Graham B.
Morrison, Dr. John T.

Morroni, Mrs. A. J.

Morse, Martha P.

Mowat, Mrs. John

! Mueller, Mrs. A. Gilbert
Mueller, Mrs. Gilbert J.

Mueller, Miss Helene
Mullet, Mrs. Aidan M.

Mulford, Mrs. Warren E.
Munday, Mrs. Charles P.

Munoz, R. R.

Munro, Mr. & Mrs. E. L.

i Murphy, Dona L.

Murray, Mrs. Paul V.

Musgrave, Mrs. Frank
I Myatt, Mrs. Alice Hale

Nackerud, R. H.

Nadeau, Mrs. C. J.

Nagel, Mrs. Jerome K.

Nagy, Mrs. Ruth L.

Nakamura, Donald

Nance, Mrs. Thomas J.

Naylor, Mrs. Ray H.

Neal, Mr. Kenneth
Neely, Mrs. Brenda
Negri, Richard
Neil, Mrs. H. W.

Neisen, Mr. & Mrs. Michael
Nelson, Colleen
Nelson, Ruth A.

Nelson, W. Dale
Nelson, Mrs. O. F.

Newmark, Frances C.

Newton, Roger
Nice, Joan E.

Nichols, Mrs. Gayle
Nichols, Mrs. Wayne
Nicoulin, Mrs. Marita M.

Nix, Mrs. Helen
Nixon, Mr. & Mrs. M. E.

Noel, Mrs. Susan
Nolte, Doris Mae
Norris, Hazel
Northen, Mrs. H. T.

Novitt, Frances White
Nuzum, Wayne B.

Ockerman, Mr. & Mrs. H. L.
O’Connel, Father John Q.
O’Connor, Mr. & Mrs. Gene
O’Dell, Mr. Forest C.

O’Donnell, G. E.

Oestman, Mrs. Elmer
Okin, Danielle
Olds, Mrs. Howard F.

Omura, Mr. J. M.

O’Mara, Mrs. Thomas P.

Oppe, Mr. Joseph W.

Oppegard, Mrs. C. R.

O’Rourke, Mrs. Donald, Jr.
O’Rourke, Mr. & Mrs. Donald H.
Ortiz, Shirley Wills
Ortloff, Mr. & Mrs. C. L.
Ostrowski, Maj. L. A., Ret’d.
Otto, Oscar O., Jr.

Otto, Terry
Owen, Claudia
Owen, Mrs. J. Churchill
Owen, Mrs. Thomas P.

Owens, Mrs. Marvin F.

Oxnard, Mr_& Mrs. B. A.

Pabst, Mrs. Harold
Paddock, Mr. & Mrs. L. T.

Page, Mr. & Mrs. Henry A.
Palmer, Mrs. Frances A.

Palmer, Mr. Scott L.

Palmer, Suzanne
Pankey, Mrs. Robert W.
Pankoski, Ed

Pannebaker, Mr. Frederic M.
Papazian, Mrs. Harold A.

Parker, Mrs. C. O.

Parker, Don & Sue
Parks, Mr. Howard E.

Parks, Mr. & Mrs. Wilbur
Pasie, Mrs. A. J.

Pasley, Mrs. Lee M.

Pate, Earl C.

Pate, Nancy Lee
Paterson, Joanne
Patrick, Mrs. Norman F.

Fatten, Dr. & MiT A. M.

Patterson, Mrs. Donald L.
Patterson, Mrs. Helen
Patterson, Mr. L. R.

Paulino, Mrs. Mickey
Paxton, Dr. George S.

Payne, Mrs. Thomas W.

Payson, Mrs. E. C.

Peck, Mrs. Mordant E.

Peel, Mrs. Donald E.

Peltier, Wm. H.

Penix, Dr. Lex L.

Penn, Ruth V.

Penturf, Brad
Perkins, Fred J.

Perkinson, Mrs. James E.
Perlmutter, Mrs. Bruce
Perreten, Arnold E.

Perrigo, Mrs. C. A.

Perry, Mrs. George E.

Perry, Mr. Kennard B.

Perry, Dr. & Mrs. Robert
Pesman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Pesman, Gerard H.

Peters, Mrs. Emily W.

Petersen, Mr. & Mrs. Charles
Petersen, J. V.

Peterson, Beverly
Peterson, Mr. & Mrs. S. H.
Peterson, Sandra E.

Petrick, Mrs. Albert
Petrocco, John
Pettee, Warren W.

Petty, Mrs. Richard D.

Peyton, Mrs. J. B.

Pfaelzer, Mr. & Mrs. David
Pfeiffer, John D.

Pfluger, Mrs. Marion H.

Phelps, Mr. & Mrs. William
Phillips, Mr. & Mrs. Harry
Phillips, Mrs. Shirley H.

Philpott, Mrs. James A.

Phipps, Mr. Allan
Phipps, Lawrence H., Jr.

Pichette, Marie L.

Pickens, Mrs. T. H.

Pierson, Mrs. Edward D.
Pinckney, Mrs. Charles
Pipiringos, Mrs. G.

Platts, Mr. & Mrs. Harlow C.
Plested, Miss Dolores
Plimpton, Mr. & Mrs. Fred J., Jr.
Polak, Mrs. M.

Polk, Mr. & Mrs. Leon A.

Polzin, J. Erika
Pope, Mrs. Lucian E.

Porter, Mrs. Lowell S.

Porter, Paul

Post, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard
Pote, Dr. & Mrs. Hugh L.

Pratt, Richard A.

Preszler, Mrs. Elaine
Price, Mrs. Max
Prine, Mr. & Mrs. Dale L.
Pritchard, Mrs. J. C.

Prosser, Mr. & Mrs. Warren C.
Puckett, Mary In
Potter, Grace
Potter, Mr. & Mrs. Keith

Quiggle, Mrs. Dean

Quinette, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. H., Jr.

105

Quinn, Reba M.

Quiram, Maj. & Mrs. H. G., RET.

Radctsky, Carol L.

Radosevich, Barbara
Rank, Mrs. Martha E.

Ranncstad, Dr. John A.
Ranstrom, Ray
Rapp, Mrs. Nell
Rawles, Mrs. T. H.

Read, Timothy A.

Reed, Miss Helen F.

Reed, Mrs. C. W.

Reed, Maud J.

Reeder, Ann
Rees, Mrs. Maurice P.

Reeve, Mrs. E. B.

Rehmus, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick P.
Reisdorf, A1 P.

Rench, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C.
Repecka, Joseph P.

Replogle, Elsie
Reynolds, Dr. Howard C.

Rice, Mrs. Carroll A.

Richard, Mr. Frank
Richards, Mrs. Harlan R.
Richards, Jeri
Richardson, Mrs. Alfred B.
Rickenbaugh, Mrs. R. L.
Ricketts, Ronald W.

Richey, Reginald Wade
Riebe, Mrs. Bernhard F.

Ries, Mrs. Jane Silverstein
Ritchson, Mr. & Mrs. D. M.
Ritter, Mrs. C. H.

Ritter, Charles G.

Roads, Paul C.

Roberts, Mrs. Ben
Roberts, Florence D.

Roberts, Gilbert F.

Roberts, Mr. John
Roberts, Mr. Melvin J.

Roberts, Mrs. William N.
Robertson, Mr. & Mrs. Campbell
Robertson, Mrs. David
Robertson, Mrs. Donald
Robertson, Mrs. Hope L.
Robertson, Mrs. Jack K.
Robinette, Mr. Lloyd F.
Robinson, Mrs. Arthur
Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. D. W.
Robinson, Mrs. F. George
Robinson, Harold W.

Robinson, Kathryn R.

Robinson, Robert R.

Robison, Linda C.

Rockwell, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce
Rode, Mary Alice
Roeder, Clare T., Jr.

Rogers, Mrs. Edmund B.

Rogers, Mae Ellen
Roger, Mrs. Jim
Rogers, Lawrence S.

Rogers, M. G.

Rohan, Mrs. Jane Dancer
Rollinger, E. Alan
Root, Mrs. Charles D.

Rorex, Richard A.

Roseboom, Mrs. Alex
Rosenberg, Mrs. H. Lee
Rosenwald, Gilbert W.
Rosentreter, Mr. & Mrs. L. J.

106

Ross, Mrs. K. R.

Ross, Mrs. Thompson
Rossenbaum, Marcus D.
Rothaus, Marguerite
Rubinstein, Mrs. David
Rudnick, Stanley S.

Russell, Mrs. Wm.

Rutherford, Mrs. Joan
Rutledge, Enid K.

Rutter, Robert L.

Ryan, Terrence J.

Rydstrom, Mrs. Arthur G.
Rydstrom, Mrs. Donald H.
Rynders, Miss Constance June

Sabbatino, Mrs. Genevieve
Sabichi, Magdelyn S.

Safford, Mrs. Edward
Sage, Mr. & Mrs. Albert T.
Salazar, Mrs. Genevieve
Saliman, Mrs. Barry
Salyards, Miss Susan
Salzer, Mrs. B. F.

Salzman, Dr. Emanuel
Samelson, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur
Sampson, John V.

Sams, Mrs. Don E.

Sanders, Mrs. Genevieve R.
Sangster, Mrs. R. C.

Saracino, Dr. Michael
Sargeant, Mrs. Raymond, Jr.
Sassetti, Mr. & Mrs. Robt.
Satterlee, Mr. Robert R.
Sauck, L. C.

Saunders, Mrs. Charles L.
Savig, Mr. & Mrs. Einar
Sawyer, Dr. Kenneth C.
Scavo, Joseph J.

Schaetzel, Mr. Jacob
Schaetzel, Susan P.

Schaffer, O. D.

Schelefman, Mrs. Kenneth
Schell, James M.

Schindele, Mrs. C. H.
Schlesinger, Mrs. Herbert J.
Schloss, Alva L.

Schmidt, Mrs. H. A.

Schmoll, Dr. Hazel M.
Schneider, Bernard G.
Schneider, Susan
Schoefer, Marie M.

Scholten, Mrs. Wm. B.
Schomburg, Mr. T. W.
Schomp, Mrs. Ralph
Schoomaker, Mrs. Fred
Schrepferman, Mrs. C. M.
Schrepferman, Mrs. R. L.
Schroeder, Lucille
Schug, Mr. & Mrs. E. H.
Schulein, Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Schultz, S. G.

Schwartz, Mrs. Bruce L.
Scopel, Louis J.

Scott, Mrs. Leonora D.
Scott, Norma. E.

Scotti, Dr. M. L.

Scurry, Thomas & Fumi, Jr.
Sears, Mrs. Muriel E.

Secrest, Mary A.

Segelke, Mrs. Wesley A.
Seifert, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur J.

Seiler, Martha A.

Selby, Mrs. Lorin
Sellers, Mrs. D. P.

Sellke, Mrs. Albert
Sena, Mrs. J. Fred
Serafini, Mrs. Esther
Serrell, Mrs. Edw. W., Jr.

Serrell, Helen H.

Shafer, Barbara
Shanahan, Mrs. Robert
Shander, Dr. & Mrs. David
Shankle, Mrs. T. E.

Shanahan, Mrs. R. H.

Shannon, Kenyon C.

Shannon, Mr. Richard S., Jr.
Shaw, Mrs. Stuart
Shearouse, Mr. Henry E., Jr.
Sheldon, Mr. Nelson
Sheldon, Dr. & Mrs. Paul
Shepardson, Mrs. John
Sherbok, Dr. & Mrs. Bernard C.
Shere, Dr. & Mrs. Norbert
Shepperd, Mr. & Mrs. Robert B.
Shortt, Mrs. Fred
Shubert, Dr. & Mrs. Moras L.
Sidwell, Mrs. William A., Jr.
Siegel, Mo
Sikes, Margaret
Silber, Mrs. Robert L.

Simms, Willard
Simon, Mrs. Richard H.

Simson, Mrs. George, Jr.

Sinclaire, Mrs. William
Sinclaire, Mrs. W. W.

Singleton, Dr. John W.

Sinnock, Mrs. Jean
Sinow, Mrs. Louis
Sisler, George
Sitachitt, Mrs. Prasertsri
Sjogren, Mrs. Axel O.

Skaggs, Mr. & Mrs. Robert A.
Skuderna, Mr. & Mrs. A. W.
Slade, Miss Eugene
Sloan, Mrs. W. W.

Slocum, Miss Flora
Slusher, Thomas
Small, Cynthia

Smead, Mr. & Mrs. Burton A., Jr.
Smith, Dr. & Mrs. Carl H.

Smith, Mrs. Carl L.

Smith, Mrs. Chard P., Jr.

Smith, Mrs. Constance W.

Smith, Mr. & Mrs. David
Smith, Mrs. Dewey M.

Smith, Mrs. Dudley
Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M.
Smith, Jeaneva
Smith, Jerry, M.D.

Smith, Mrs. John D.

Smith, Mrs. John P.

Smith, Mrs. Judith
Smith, Margaret C.

Smith, Miriam
Smith, Mrs. Myron L.

Smith, Mrs. Stuart S.

Snapp, Mrs. Don M.

Snare, Mr. & Mrs. Wm.

Snyder, Mildred O.

Snyder, Mr. & Mrs. Willard S.
Soderquist, Mary Jane D.
Sokolove, Miss Tobbe
Solt, Douglas G.

Sommer, Mrs. John M.
Sorensen, Robert O.
Sparhawk, Mrs. R. Dale
Spitzer, Mrs. Harold J.
Spitzmiller, Mrs. G. E.
Sponable, Harry M.
Springs, Mr. Noah B.
Sproul, Mrs. Arch A.

Stahl, Mrs. Donald
Stahl, Marlene
Stailey, Mrs. V. O.
Stanek, Dr. William F.
Spicer, Millicent M.
Stanley, Mrs. Helen D.
Stanley, Mrs. William
Starzel, Mr. & Mrs. F. J.
Stearns, David
Stearns, Dr. Robert L.
Stedman, John
Steele, Dr. B. F.

Steele, Carol S.

Steele, Mrs. J. P., Jr.
Steele, Mrs. Paul D., Jr.
Steele, Mrs. Walter
Steffan, Mr. Carl F.
Steil, Veda M.

Stein, Mr. Edwin W.

Stein, Dr. & Mrs. Hermann B.
Stephenson, Dr. & Mrs. David
Stephenson, Dr. & Mrs. Wm. F.
Steinhardt, Irene
Sterne, Charles S.

Stern, Mrs. Edgar, Jr.

Stetson, Mrs. A. E.

Stewart, Mr. Stedman L.
Stiglitz, Roy

Stillman, Moreen & Sidney
Stites, Wilbur D.

Stoddart, Mrs. John
Stoeker, Mr. & Mrs. George A.

Stoenner, Mr. Herbert F.
Stokes, Mrs. James E.

Stone, M. L.

Storm, Larry D.

Storrs, Mrs. Frank
Stout, Shirley C.

Stowe, Mr. & Mrs. Erick D.

Strelesky, Mrs. H. J.
Strickland, Mrs. Jerome
Strieker, Mrs. Allan M.
Strohm, Lois H.

Stross, Mrs. Lawrence
Strueber, James V.

Stults, Mrs. Lavern
Sudmeyer, Mrs. C.

Sullivan, Mr. John J.
Sumners, Mrs. Thomas
Sunderlin, Caroline E.
Sunshine, Mrs. Floyd
Swan, Mr. Henry
Swan, Mr. & Mrs. Oscar E.
Swanson, Mr. Russell E.
Swennes, Mrs. S. R.

Sweeney, Mrs. Bayard K., Jr.
Sweet, Mr. & Mrs. Lennig
Sweet, Mrs. William
Swift, Mr. Harry M.

Swingle, Mrs. Viola
Sylvester, Mr. Ray
Syner, Mrs. James C.

Taber, William & Evelyn
Talbott, Dr. & Mrs. Richard
Talmadge, Mrs. Frank M.

Takeshita, Mrs. Frank
Tapia, Maj. & Mrs. William G.
Tarby, Mr. & Mrs. Theodore J.
Taylor, Dorothy K.

Taylor, Mrs. Carl G.

Taylor, Mrs. Erik S.

Taylor, Dr. E. Stewart
Taylor, Mildred
Taylor, Mrs. Moses
Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. Richard D.
Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. William
Teare, Miss Frances F.

Teig, Susan

Tempel, Dr. & Mrs. Carl W.
Temple, Mrs. Oscar
Terpening, Margaret
Terry, Mrs. Hugh B.

Tessadri, John, Jr.

Teter, Mr. & Mrs. Eugene K.
Theobald, Lois G.

Thode, Mrs. Jackson
Thomas, Mrs. Alma M.

Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. John W.
Thompson, Ellen C.

Thompson, Mrs. Jerry C.
Thompson, John R.

Thompson, Margaret C.
Thompson, Mr. Myron W.
Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. Raymond
Thoms, Mrs. Arthur
Thomson, Mrs. Rosamund D.
Thornton, Mrs. Dan
Thurmon, Mrs. Emmett
Thurnauer, H.

Thurston, W. R.

Tidwell, Dr. R. B.

Tierney, Mr. & Mrs. W. G.
Tillostson, Miss Jerry Ann
Timblin, Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd, Jr.
Timm, Mrs. Anna M.

Timothy, Mrs. Robert K.

Timpte, William J.

Tippit, Mr. & Mrs. John H.

Tisdel, Mrs. Wendell A.

Tobin, L. C.

Todd, Mr. & Mrs. D. F.

Tohill, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce
Tolin, Dorothy M.

Toll, Dr. & Mrs. Giles D.

Tolle, Mrs. Mable
Tossberg, Mrs. Frederick B.
Tourtelot, Mrs. Edna
Tracy, Mrs. Alma L.

Trainer, Mr. Leonard R.
Trammell, James R., Jr.

Travis, Moss
Traylor, Mrs. Frank A.

Trefz, Robert
Tschanz, Mr. & Mrs. C. M.
Tschudy, Dr. & Mrs. Robert H.
Tullis, Mrs. Robert
Tung, Marion V.

Turner, Mrs. Joseph G.

Turner, Olga D.

Turnure, Mr. & Mrs. R. E.

Tuttle, Anna Jane
Tyler, Mrs. John L.

Tyndall, Don C.

Uhrich, Mrs. B. F.

Urbach, Mrs. Charles M.

Valdez, Mrs. E. J. P.

Vander Ark, Mrs. Gary
Van Etten, Mr. & Mrs. Lee W.

Van Gilder, Mrs. Dell
Vanmale, Miss M. L.

Van Meulebrouck, Mr. Prosper
Van Ordstrand, Mr. & Mrs. J. N.
Van Stone, Mrs. Leonard
Veren, Melba
Van Vleet, Mrs. L. W.

Venner, Duane J.

Verhagen, Mr. Dirk
Vetting, Mr. Fred C., Jr.

Vick, Mr. & Mrs. A. Frank, Jr.
Vickers, Mrs. Jack
Vickers, Mrs. Michael
Vince, Mrs. George
Vincent, Mrs. Thomas N.

Violyn, Mr. & Mrs. Walter
Visher, Mr. & Mrs. Frank N.

Voile, Dr. Frank O.

Von Eissler, Mr. & Mrs. F. George

107

Wagner, Mr. Robart D.

Wagner, Mrs. H. J.

Wagner, Mrs. Wendell
Wahl, Carol Jean
Walker, Allan P., Jr.

Walker, Craig & Claudia
Walker, Mrs. James L.

Walker, Mrs. Strother H.

Wallace, James E.

Wallace, Miss Wilma V.

Wallbank, Mr. Stanley T.

Walter, Mary F.

Walter, Mr. & Mrs. H. G.

Walton, Dr. & Mrs. Matt S.
Wangelin, Mrs. Hugo
Wanner, Mrs. John J.

Wantland, Frances Lillie
Ward, Nancy J.

Ward, Mrs. Orlando
Ward, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C.
Warden, Mrs. John P.

Waring, Mrs. Houstoun
Waring, Mrs. James J.

Warner, Mr. & Mrs. Gene
Warner, Rev. Mark
Warren, Donald & Beverly
Warrick, Mrs. Ruth
Wartes, Mrs. L. Lore
Washburne, Mrs. Theodore B.
Wasson, Chester R. O.

Watson, Larry E.

Watson, Mrs. Robert
Waugh, Mr. Thomas D.

Wayland, Mrs. Norman L.

Wear, Mrs. John F.

Weaver, Mrs. Conant
Weaver, Elaine E.

Webb, Mrs. Charles
Weber, Mr. Otto Kurt
Webster, Mrs. Daniel P.

Wecal, Robert
Weckbaugh, Mrs. Ella M.
Weckbaugh, Mrs. J. Kernan
Weinberg, C.

Weinman, Mrs. Jos. B.

Weishuhn, Joy

Welborn, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence E.
Welborn, T. J.

Wells, Mrs. Alice L.

Wells, Miss Doris M.

Wells, Mr. & Mrs. Peter C.

Wendell, Charlone L.

Wendt, Mrs. J. W.

Wenter, Camille
Werner, Gerald & Mari Lynn
Wersebe, Dr. & Mrs. G. Kenneth
West, Wm. A.

Westbrook, Ellen
Westby, Mr. & Mrs. R. B.
Wethcrow, Ann
Whallon, Mrs. G. Wm.

Whealcn, Mrs. Robert B.

Wheaton, Mrs. Elizabeth L.
Wheeler, Mrs. John R. P.
Wheelock, Dr. & Mrs. Seymour E.
Wherry, Franklin P., M.D.
Whitaker, Mrs. P. D.

Whitchurch, Mrs. Irl G.

White, Mrs. Betty B.

White, Carneice Brown
White, David A.

White, Miss Exie P.

White, Mrs. James L.

White, Mr. & Mrs. William
White, William G.

Whitehead, Mrs. Richard W.
Whitledge, Alvah Q.

Whitman, Mrs. Josephine
Whitwell, Mrs. Mary C.

Wiberg, Mr. & Mrs. J. T.

Wierman, Miss Janet M.

Wiesner, Mrs. Laverne
Wilber, Mrs. Harold O.

Wilbur, Mrs. William F.

Wild, Margaret N.

Wildeman, Mrs. Thomas
Wilkerson, Ruth
Willard, E. Warren
Willard, Mrs. Evelynne
Willet, Mrs. B. R.

Williams, Mrs. J. Ben
Williams, Martha M.

Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. Allan
Willis, Mrs. Alice M. B.

Williams, Keiser
Wilm, Mrs. Katherine
Wilmore, Scott
Wilson, Mr. Ashton
Wilson, Earl
Wilson, Kirk

Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. Milo V., Jr.
Wilson, Mrs. Richard M.

Winber, Mrs. Ralph

Winn, Vincent
Winters, Mrs. Alton
Winters, Leon N.

Wirth, Mr. & Mrs. Timothy
Witte, Mrs. Leslie P.

Witting, Mrs. Ruth D.

Winger, Mrs. A. W.

Wittmann, Mrs. Otto
Wofford, Mr. & Mrs. Wirgil B. j
Wohlgenant, Mr. & Mrs. Richari
Wojdak, Miss Stephanie
Wolcott, Linda
Wolf, Phillip S., M.D.

Wolfe, Mr. & Mrs. James
Wood, Alice H.

Woodard, Mrs. Lorene
Woodfin, Mrs. Lyle L.
Woodman, Mr. Roy E.

Woods, Mrs. Donald R.

Woods, Mrs. R. Geo.

Woods, Merel O.

Woodward, Mr. & Mrs. Lester F
Woodward, Mr. W. E.

Work, Mrs. Martin H.

Worland, M. V., Jr.

Worman, Mr. & Mrs. John G.
Worrell, Mrs. Pam
Wray, Dr. Judith
Wrenn, Mrs. Theodore W.
Wrenn, Mrs. T. W., Jr.

Wright, Mrs. Richard
Wurtsmith, June Gillette
Wurtzebach, Miss June
Wuthrich, Dr. & Mrs. F. J.

Yarabeck, Mrs. R. R.

Yates, Mr. & Mrs. R. C.

Yeatts, Loraine
Young, Allen & Barbara
Young, Mrs. Arthur
Young, Mrs. Russell D.

Zamkoff, Mrs. Joel
Zang, Miss Minnie
Zarlengo, Mr. & Mrs. R. A.
Zeiner, Dr. Helen
Zeis, Mrs. Robert H.

Zeller, Mrs. Wallace
Zezza, Mrs. Carlo
Ziesing, Lucinda M.

Zoetewey, John
Zwinger, Ann H.

108

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.
A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr . Director

Mr. Andrew R. Knauer . Assistant Director

Mr. Ernest A. Bibee . Conservatory Superintendent

Mr. David A. Blades .Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Miss Beverly M. Pincoski . Botanist-Horticulturist

Miss Margaret Sikes . Education Director

Mrs. Solange Huggins . Librarian

Dr. A. C. Hildreth . Director Emeritus

TELEPHONES

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . . . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover - Photo by Miriam Denham

Pages 66, 69, 70, 71 - Photos by Miriam Denham

Page 72 - Drawing by Suzanne Ash

Page 77 - Photos by Norman LeMay

Page 81 - Photo by Edward J. Pankoski

Page 82 - From Green Thumb File

Pages 86, 87 - Drawings by Polly Steele

Page 88 - Drawing by Suzanne Ash

Page 90 — Drawing by Phil Hayward

Page 92 — Photo by Edward J. Pankoski

Pages 100, 103, 104, 107, 108 - Drawings by Polly Steele

The Green Thumb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

NON PROFIT
ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DO NOT FOLD

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

Botanic Gardens House

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organization sup¬
ported by municipal and private funds.

A botanic garden is a collection of growing plants, the primary
purpose of which is the advancement and diffusion of botanical
knowledge. This purpose may be accomplished in a number of
different ways with the particular placing of emphasis on
different departments of biological science.

The scientific and educational work of a botanical garden centers
around the one important and essential problem of maintaining a
collection of living plants, both native and exotic, with the end
purpose of acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge.

THE COVER

Tomorrow's Horticulturists In the Conservatory
Photo by Loraine Yeatts

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-NINE, NUMBER FOUR

Editorial Committee
Mrs. Walter Ash
Mrs. William H. Crisp
Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr.
Mrs. Phil Hayward
Dr. A. C. Hildreth

Mrs. Solan ge Huggins

■

Mrs. Robert Kosanke
Mrs. Norton Novitt
Mrs. J. V. Petersen, Chairman
Dr. Moras L. Shubert
Miss Margaret Sikes
Mrs. J. P. Steele, Jr.
Dr. Helen Marsh Zeiner
Mr. Wes Woodward, Editor

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent free to
all members of the organization. Junior membership $2.50, Regular $7.50, Participating $15.00,
Supporting $25.00, Contributing $50.00. Business and Educational Institutional $100.00. Single
Copies, 50tf.

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center at 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York Street,
Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

Ike GreeMbumb

AUTUMN, 1972
THE CONSERVATORY

Thanks from the Young Visitors . 110

A Tour Guide Tells All — Syd Glick . 113

Focus on Codiaeum Variegatum — Peg Hayward . 115

HELEN FOWLER LIBRARY

Kathryn Kalmbach Botanical Stamps — Solange Huggins . 132

HORTICULTURE HALL

Barbara Nielsen’s Picture in Art Exhibit . 121

GIFT SHOP

Christmas Sale . 127

THE GROUNDS

Walks for the Future . 140

GARDENS OF THE WORLD

Bartram’s Garden — A valonne Kasanke . 116

THE PLANTS

Kerrias — A. C. Hildreth . 122

Exotics of Colorado — Oregon Holly grape — Helen Marsh Zeiner 124

The Fountain Butterfly Bush — A valonne Kosanke . 128

In Praise of the Gladiolus — Lee Ashley . . . 130

A GREEN THUMB REPORT

Will There Be Enough Water for our Gardens? . 134

Let’s Plan for a Beautiful Colorado in 1976! — George Kelly . 133

Makers of the Magazine — Wes Woodward . 139

109

Ohhh - - - look at that!

110

BjIam

tCA

ru _y /KACA* jdWl; djtiH

/??zfrcJl /

In the first six months of 1972 more
than 8,100 children went on guided tours
of the Boettcher Conservatory at Denver
Botanic Gardens. Denver public schools
sent 2,410 students; Jefferson County
schools 3,140. There were 1,797 children
from the schools of other counties, 501
from high schools, and 338 from parochial

schools. All these visitors made their
tours under the expert care of the 27
conservatory guides who each contributed
an average of two hours a week to the
job. It figures out that, on the average,
each guide conducted over 300 children
through the conservatory during the six-
month period.

Ill

J^rJyOyjuL Ji/jt- facX,

&Y^— • J( y^cuL. JLfaz ,&jC.
fa ^^uJfa _Jsjl_ Jjxis-L. yf_ y^tr frptr

SL&TJ^ yf/~ofai a\sJ/GL. J^-ty^x^AA^-S—

yU iz fa fat s&b^s\-£~. , ^ju^fai of

''UaXL yCfi jh>- faocfafL BO)^U/0l dt</ ,

^ jf OCX- JUi fa fa fa

tt<£~tcls !*A. (_^ J~ /Igt. j_ C^-^V_<3 — , Vy/jf*-, \tt A^^i. - f

&v€— Jfa<^d^ }^^roy<xfat—

p*in^ app/<s_ p iQn-t

cacTus rrva yk has a desi z.

There aren’t enough guides to meet the
demand.

In addition to the 8,100 school children
who toured the conservatory, there were
1 ,600 more in adult garden groups, con¬
vention groups, and others, who were
guided through the tropical wonders.
Some groups, including scouts and the
very young school children, as well as
adults, made the tours without guides.
There were over 3,100 of these people.
By the middle of March the schedule for
tours in late April and May (one group
every hour) was booked solid. The
record shows that 12,918 persons went
on the scheduled tours during the first
six months of this year. Thousands of
others, not scheduled, visited the con¬
servatory.

* * *

Volunteers who wish to become con¬
servatory guides go through a six-week
training course. In July, 16 new volun¬
teers were attending classes taught by
Mrs. Phil Hayward for two hours each
week. Upon completion of the course
the guides are expected to donate at least
two hours a week to the conservatory
tours. Those interested may get in
touch with Mrs. Hayward, Syd Glick,
or Margaret Sikes.

112

JUxm^

XLLcfjls )

ct.idb

SIS', M73.

MhxJtJ.

A TOUR GUIDE TELLS ALL

Syd Glick

I was sure I never could learn all those
Latin names! Even the common names of
all those foreign tropicals surely would
never come to mind if I had a staring
horde of 10 or 12 year olds before me.
No, I couldn’t possibly be a guide!

But, oh, here was someone actually
willing to take me into the tropical
wonderland and tell me about all those
fascinating big-leaved plants and beautiful
blooms! One tour through the conserva¬
tory and I was hooked; one training
session and I was eager for next week to
come so I could be introduced to yet
another family from the plant kingdom
and hear more details about the strange
and often incredible inhabitants of the
hot, wet quarters of our planet. Here was
someone willing to initiate me into the
wonders of plants bearing exotic fruits
and fragrances, giving sustenance to natives
of the jungle wilds, providing medicines
and fibers, construction materials and
even cosmetics!

I’m still sure I’ll never know most of

those Latin names. The school children
don’t care. When I show them a tree
that grows in Australia to be over 200 feet
tall and twelve feet across, their eyes
widen with amazement. When I point
out the pineapple-like plants and the
orchids festooned on the tree trunks or
point to the huge green fronds of the
feather-palms, they are transported by
magic to the depths of a tropical rain
forest. When I describe the fierce battle
between the tree-climbing fern and our
little jelly palm, they feel sympathy for
the barely surviving palm and perhaps
realize more acutely that plants too
compete to survive. I show them bananas,
and even tomatoes that grow on trees.
Perhaps the children go home feeling a
little more of the diversity and wonder
and excitement of the world of plants.
Perhaps they become more attuned to an
aspect of nature that most of them
hardly considered before. It is a rewarding
experience for me just to share an hour
during which their worlds expand.

113

Codiaeum variegatum

Colorful plants admired by visitors to the Conservatory

114

FOCUS on

Codiaeum variegatum

in the

Boettcher Memorial Conservatory

Codiaeum variegatum (L) Blume, origi¬
nally from the South Sea Islands, is the
scientific name for croton, an ornamental
tropical shrub. The word “croton” is
wrong botanically for it belongs to an
entirely different group of plants of the
same family, Euphorbiaceae. The genus
Croton is the source of croton oil used
medicinally, but of no particular garden
value. Croton is from the Greek kroton
for a tick, also a plant having tick-like
seeds.

Codiaeums are favorite foliage plants
with permanently colored leaves which
are grown in warm, moist climates and
valued for cultivation in greenhouses.
Codiaeum is derived from the Greek word
for head; the leaves were used for making
wreaths. These woody shrubs may reach
a height of 12 feet, but are usually kept
much lower. The art of the hybridizer
has given an ever-increasing number of
varieties. The leaves have unlimited
variations in form and in color pattern.
Leaf blades may be either entire or lobed.
Some varieties have long, narrow leaves
while others are broad and laurel-like.
Many leaves are smooth, others wrinkled,
and some are twisted cork-screw fashion.
All are thick, short stemmed and from
3 to 10 inches long. Leaves are strikingly
mottled in brilliant colors ranging from
green to yellow, orange-pink, red, maroon,
or bronze. The color appears in spots,
blotches, marginal colorings, and veins
often show contrasting colors. Many
crotons have young growth of one color
that matures to quite another. Very
seldom will two leaves on any plant be

Peg Hayward

exactly alike. Crotons are sun-lovers and
never show their best coloration in wet,
shaded spots. When strongly shaded, the
leaves turn green and may lose their
colored patterns altogether.

Small monosexual flowers appear in
axils of upper leaves in narrow spikes
6 to 10 inches long but are inconspicuous
compared with the showy leaves. Male
flowers near the top of the plant are
white, each with 15 or more stamens.
Female flowers below develop into small,
globose, three-parted green fruits.

Codiaeum seeds do not come true, so
propagation is by cuttings of half-ripened
shoots under warm and close conditions.
Substantial young plants may be secured
from old specimens by air-layering well-
colored tops.

Most of the many named varieties in
cultivation are considered to have origi¬
nated as seedling forms or sports of
C. variegatum var. pictum (Lodd.) and
are widely distributed throughout the
tropics. Specialists have given fancy
names to many of the more attractive
varieties. Many “best ten” could be
selected and the following are mentioned
as just a few good examples: Lord
Derby, large lobed leaves, yellow with
bright red suffusion; Indian blanket,
green, blotched with red and yellow;
Bermuda red, with nearly all red smoothly
pointed leaves; Mrs. Iceton, dark red
with rose mottlings; and Masterpiece
with twisted leaves in red, green and
yellow. The bright colored foliage of the
cultivated forms is conspicuous and plants
massed in clumps make a dazzling exhibit.

115

Unique from its beginning . . .

BARTRAM'S GARDEN

“This is a very ancient garden, and the
collection is large indeed... It is finely
situated, as it partakes of every kind of
soil, has a fine stream of water, and an
artificial pond, where he has a good col¬
lection of aquatic plants. There is no sit¬
uation in which plants or trees are found
but that they may be propagated here in
one that is similar.” Thus did Reverend
Manassa Cutler’s JOURNAL describe the
Bar tram garden at Kingsessing, near Phila¬
delphia, Pennsylvania, as it existed fifty-
five years after it was begun. How much
more ancient now! The collection is not
so large, however, and intervening years
have not always been kind to America’s
oldest existing botanic garden.

John Bartram had no intention of es¬
tablishing a botanic garden. He was simply
a farmer. In 1728, to provide for his
rapidly growing family, he purchased at
sheriffs sale 11214 acres of land sloping
down to the Schuylkill River. An orchard
and house came with the land. The or¬
chard provided Bartram’s favorite bever¬
age, cider, and visitors today may examine
the cider mill and press he carved from
stone near the river’s edge. The kitchen
of the original house may still be seen as
part of the handsome gray stone structure

Avalonne Kosanke

which Bartram built. Its datestone reads
“John - Ann Bartram 1731.”

Perfect Order and Regularity

His skill as stonemason is evidenced in
many unusual uses of stone still visible in
the seedhouse, also used as a greenhouse,
and other buildings. He wrote of this
work to friends. “I have been used to
making steps, door-sills and large window
cases, all of stone, and pig troughs and
water troughs. I have split rocks seventeen
feet long and built four houses of hewn
stone split out of the rock with my own
hands.”

Unusually perceptive of natural laws,
Bartram farmed his land. With laborious
care he poured back onto his fields the
swamp muck, manure and other composts
he concocted with such results that he
regularly harvested more than thirty bush¬
els of wheat per acre compared to his
neighbors’ ten. Other crops were similarly
superior. By 1740 he owned nearly 300
acres. Crevecour wrote of the farm, “Ev¬
ery disposition of the fields, fences and
trees seemed to bear the marks of perfect
order and regularity which in rural affairs,
always indicates a prosperous industry.”

Yet somehow his success as a farmer
was never enough for John Bartram. He

116

was born of Quaker parents at Darby,
Penns., in 1699. He had learned the rudi¬
ments of reading, writing and arithmetic
at the Friends’ School in Darby. Beyond
that he was self taught, a natural student,
one driven by an insatiable curiosity, es¬
pecially about plants. He wrote, “I had
always since ten years old, a great inclina¬
tion to plants, and knew all that I once
observed, though not by their proper
names, having no person nor books to in¬
struct me.” He bought what books he
could afford and borrowed others on his¬
tory, art, science, philosophy and several
languages. He was drawn to “physic” and
surgery, based largely at that time on
medicines derived from herbs. This stim¬
ulated his interest in plants, and he fre¬
quently visited the medicinal herb garden
of his friend, Christopher Witt, physician.
A Genius for Botany

This study of plants was further en¬
couraged by James Logan, Secretary to
William Penn. Logan was a serious student
of plants and gardening. His library on
this subject was one of the finest in the

colonies. “Paradiso in Soli” written by
John Parkinson in 1629, was one of many
books he loaned to Bartram. In 1729
Logan wrote to an English friend, “Please
procure me a Parkinson’s Herbal; I shall
make it a present to a person worthy of a
heavier purse than fortune has yet allowed
him. John Bartram has a genius perfectly
well turned for botany.”

True! The plants of his farm and
neighboring lands were quickly known to
him. Soon he was traveling by foot and
by horseback into Maryland, New Jersey,
New York and beyond. His saddlebags
bulged with new and curious plants to
be grown and observed in his garden at
Kingsessing. Sometimes his sons went
with him. Most often he traveled alone
for the trips were strenuous. Once he
covered 1100 miles in five weeks.

It was a costly, time consuming hobby.
In his increasing absences much of the
farm management fell to loyal servants.
Such profitless endeavor was frowned
upon by his wife, Ann Bartram.

John Bartram’s House

This photo and the photo on Page 119 are from the publication, “John Bartram, His Garden
and His House”, by The John Bartram Association.

117

BARTRAM'S GARDEN

How provident when Joseph Breitnall,
a Philadelphia merchant, introduced
Bartram by letter to the London mer¬
chant, Peter Collinson. Quaker Collinson
had one consuming passion, his ornamen¬
tal garden. He desired plants from the
new world. Bartram was certainly quali¬
fied to supply them. Their cautious
business agreement grew quickly into a
reciprocal trading friendship that spanned
thirty-five years and nearly doubled the
number of ornamental plants grown in
England.

More Honor Than Profit

Other wealthy patrons clamored for a
share of the findings of this American
botanist. At one time nearly fifty sub¬
scribed to the fund which made his search¬
es almost self-supporting. Collinson’s
greatest coup for Bartram came in 1765
when he wrote, “This day I have received
certain intelligence from our gracious king
(George III) that he has appointed thee
his botanist with a salary of 50 pounds a
year.” It proved more honor than profit
since it required a horse which cost much
while such mundane items as freight ex¬
penses for shipments remained ignored.

For years few ships left Delaware for
England without a box from Bartram.
Of his eleven children, William became
most involved in care of the garden and
making ready the shipments of seeds,
roots and plants for patrons and the spe¬
cially prepared specimens for study by
European botanists, including Carolus
Linnaeus. Almost from the beginning,
the boxes included shells, turtles, frogs,
rocks and similar objects since Collinson
had written, “Every uncommon thing
thou finds in any branch of nature will be
acceptable.”

Besides his stipend, Bartram received
many things from Collinson: books on

many subjects, fine wool cloth for Ann,
advice, encouragement and requests. More
exciting, however, was the endless stream
of English and European seeds and plants
to be tried in the Bartram garden. One
box contained the roots of “Siberian rhu¬
barb,” recently from Russia, with instruc¬
tions how to prepare its stalks for eating.
In 1743 came special pear seeds from
former Patron Lord Petre’s widow. Plant¬
ed near the house, the famous Lady Petre
pear tree took twenty years to bear fruit—
but lived till the very dry summer of
1931!

Increased demands for new plants plus
his own unabated curiosity beckoned
Bartram on ever more arduous collecting
trips. As the King’s Botanist he under¬
took the exploration of Florida’s east
coast and St. John’s River in 1765. His
son, William, accompanied him on the
eight month journey. Together they saw
for the first time the famous and elusive
Franklinia alatamaha. The trip was a
fitting climax to his travels.

A Practical Garden

The garden at Kingsessing was unique
from its beginning. America’s 18th cen¬
tury gardens had not evolved into the
colorful, strictly-for-pleasure borders of
today. They were, like their times, more
practical. They provided shade in lieu of
air conditioning, food for the table, pre¬
serves for the pantry, herbs for the kitchen
and medicine. Certainly Bartram’s garden
defied the rules and existed solely for the
study and propagation of his treasured
plants.

It boggles the imagination to picture
the Bartram assemblage of things collect¬
ed. It was easily the most extensive
botanical collection in America, some
“2000 native species contained in the

118

space of six acres” as recorded by the
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. There
were also rare foreign plants gathered
from gardens around the world. Manassa
stated there was no situation in which
plants were found but that it might be
duplicated in Bartram’s garden. This was
not happenstance. It proved his uncanny
ability to observe accurately a plant’s ex¬
posure, soil, light and moisture needs
where it was gathered. The goal of his
garden was to re-create these optimum
growing conditions for each plant. This
precluded growing them according to
some formal plan, or even isolating them
in botanically related groups. The gerry¬
mandering of ecologically similar plant¬
ings resulted in a disorderly order which
few visitors could comprehend. It also
discourages those who seek now to re¬
store the garden.

During the American Revolution, with
battlefields near at hand, it is to the credit
of the British that though they occupied
his house, they did nothing to destroy the
garden around which he had centered his
life. John Bartram’s death came quietly
in 1777 when the newly formed country
was barely one year old.

William Bartram, by then a recognized
artist, naturalist and botanist, continued
the collecting and garden-nursery with the
help of his own son, John. It was 1850
when the thirty -five acres which included
the aging garden passed from the Bartram
family control.

John Bartram Association

The twenty -seven acres which now
comprise Bartram’s Garden were pur¬
chased for a park by the City of Phila¬
delphia in 1891. Two years later about
400 of his descendents formed the John
Bartram Association “which maintained
an interest in the care of the property.”
Thus ended the more than forty year

Large specimen of Halesia Tetraptera
(Silver Bell ) in Bartram’s Garden

period of depredation by neglect and
plant hunters.

Restoration moved slowly. In 1923,
concerned citizens persuaded the associa¬
tion to open its membership. Paid mem¬
berships and specially raised funds speeded
repair of buildings and replacement of
walkways. A serious study of the garden’s
original plantings revealed only eighty-two
of those listed by Thomas Meehan, gar¬
dener, in 1853. The present guideline for
replanting is based on the list culled from
Bartram’s records of what he grew there.
The original garden area, which includes
the house, is reserved for plants known
to have been grown by either John or
William Bartram.

The visitor may speculate whether or
not John Bartram actually planted the
ancient yellow-wood, Cladrastis lutea, a
tree whose sap provided dye for early
settlers. They may also conjecture if
William saw to the planting of the tree
box, Buxus sempervirens arborescens var.,
and the giant Ginkgo biloba. It is known
that about 1784 three young ginkgos were
sent from England to William Hamilton.
He planted two in his garden, the “Wood-

119

BARTRAM'S GARDEN

lands”, now a cemetery, and gave the
third to William Bartram.

The great black mulberry, Morns nigra
memorializes the fruitless dream of those
who attempted to establish a silk industry
in this country. West of the house are
several specimens of the Franklin tree,
Franklinia alatamaha, descendents, no
doubt, of seeds gathered by William.
There are plenty of other tree and shrub
offspring of original plantings to entice
the visitor to explore this significant
garden.

Restore, Preserve and Promote

Since the John Bartram Association
affiliated with the Garden Club of Penn¬
sylvania in 1950, the current hostess
garden club is responsible for suitable
colonial arrangements for the house, also
its Christmas decorations. It provides
hostesses and guides for special events
and occasionally raises funds for special
plantings.

The John Bartram Association con¬
tinues to restore, preserve and promote

the heritage of Bartram’s Garden. They
furnished the house, provide many plant¬
ings, pay for part of the help, supply
literature for sale and underwrite much of
the research.

Around the clock guards are provided
by the Fairmount Park Commission which
has charge of maintenance and capital
improvements. Correct and current labels
are. a challenge in any garden. Fairmount
Park Commission has begun replacement
of the outdated remnants from three
former sets of names using currently cor¬
rect labels which are highly legible and
hopefully vandal-proof. It maintains
eleven acres as garden with the rest having
picnic benches, a baseball field and play¬
ground areas. The grounds are always
open and free except for 3 small fee re¬
quired to see the house itself.

Engulfed by the city, nudged by a
housing project, fighting the pollution
of its swamp areas by neighboring indus¬
tries, Bartram’s Garden remains a magic
carpet to carry the visitor back through
the pages of history to glimpse again the
garden of America’s first botanist.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record, 1970. Plants and Gardens. New Series, v. 26, no. 3, p. 38.

Cheston, Emily Read, 1953. John Bartram, 1699-1777, His Garden and His House; William
Bartram, 1739-1823. John Bartram Association.

Evans, Margaret W. Personal communication, Feb. 11, March 3, 1972.

Fletcher, Stevenson W., no date. John Bartram, Farmer-Botanist. John Bartram Association.

Fogg, John M. Jr., 1967. A List of Bartram Trees and Shrubs. Morris Arboretum Bulletin,
v. 18, no. 4., p. 75-78.

Lees, Carlton, 1964. Bartram’s Garden. Horticulture, v. 42, no. 3, March, p. 46-50.

Peattie, Donald Culross, 1936. Green Laurels. Simon and Schuster, p. 186-215.

Walker, Elizabeth C., 1970. What You Could Buy at Bartram’s Garden in 1783. Paper given at
Bartram Association Annual Meeting, 8 p., Courtesy of John Bartram Library.

120

A watercolor-drawing, inspired by dis¬
play of hibiscus at Denver Botanic Gar¬
dens, done by Mrs. Barbara Nielsen.
The picture was exhibited in June at
the Colorado Watercolor Society sale and
exhibition in Horticulture Hall.

121

'Amm

Kerrias are seldom planted in the
Denver area. Yet these attractive shrubs
are well adapted to the climate and soils
of the plains. The bush is upright in form
and about eight feet tall. The many
slender stems, or canes, arise from the
ground after the fashion of a bamboo
clump. The twigs and young stems are
bright green the year around, making this
one of the few hardy shrubs worth
growing for its bark color.

The dark green leaves are heavily veined
and have coarsely-toothed margins. The
fully double flowers are about an inch
and a half in diameter and golden orange
in color. Blooming starts the latter part
of May and continues two or three weeks,
after which occasional flowers open until
the end of the growing season.

Kerrias are suitable for border planting
and are especially good as specimens.
They should be planted where they will
have at least partial shade. The north
side of a building is an ideal site. These
shrubs require no special treatment as
regards watering, fertilizing or mulching
and they are generally free from insect
pests and diseases.

The indeterminate growth habit of
these shrubs makes the branch tips liable
to some killing back in winter. The
damaged tips turn brown. In order to
improve the decorative effect of the
shrubs, the brown tips should be snipped
off as soon as they are detected.

On old stems, the bark color changes
from green to brown. The brown dis¬
coloration detracts from the appearance,

122

A. C. Hildreth

especially after leaf fall. The brown-
barked stems, together with any very
weak or damaged green stems, should be
cut back to the ground immediately after
the blooms have faded, This practice also
serves as a rejuvenation treatment, keeping
the bushes continuously in a vigorous
condition.

Kerria bushes tend to develop suckers.
These can be dug up and transplanted to
some other part of the garden or given to
friends. If not needed for such purposes,
the suckers should be dug up and dis¬
carded as they appear, otherwise they
eventually will develop into a thicket.

Nurserymen propagate Kerrias by cut¬
tings of mature wood taken preferably in
early fall and rooted in the greenhouse.
They may be increased also by dividing
old clumps or simply by digging up young
suckers and transplanting them to nursery
rows where they are grown to marketable
size.

Kerrias belong to the Rose Family,
Rosaceae. Botanists recognize only one
species, Kerria japonica, native in China.
This species has been known by the
common names Kerry bush and Jews-
mallow, but Kerria is now generally used
as the common name as well as the generic
name.

From such names as Kerria and Kerry -
bush, it might be concluded that this
shrub is associated in some way with
County Kerry, Ireland. Such, however,
is not the case. The name Kerria honors
William Kerr, a gardener, of Kew, England
who introduced to England from China,

this and many other different kinds of
plants.

There are both single- and double-
flowered forms of Kerria japonica. The
one discussed thus far as the double-
flowered form, is the botanical variety
Kerria japonica pleniflora, known by the
common names Globe -flower and Japanese
Rose. This was the plant which William
Kerr introduced to England in 1804. It is
also the one usually seen in Denver
gardens, and the one commonly offered
in nursery trade. The single -flowered form
was introduced much later, in 1834.

The beauty of a
branch from
Dr. Hildreth’s
Kerria.

The double-flowered form is reputed
to be hardier than the single -flowered one,
but both seem to thrive in the Denver
area. It is also claimed that the double
flowers last longer than the single ones.

There are some interesting variegated
botanical varieties of Kerria:

Kerria japonica picta, a dwarf shrub,
less than three feet tall. It has white-
edged leaves and single orange flowers.

Kerria japonica aureo-vitittata has green
and yellow striped stems.

Kerria japonica aureo-variegata has
leaves edged with yellow.

Apparently, none of these three varie¬
gated forms has yet reached Denver.

123

Lxotics

°/ COLORADO

Oregon Hollygrape, Mahonia aquifolium

Newcomers to the Denver area are
often disappointed because there are so
few broad-leaved evergreens available for
landscaping. It is true that broad-leaved
evergreens are adapted to more humid
climates and most of them do not tolerate
our sunny, dry winters. Fortunately,
however, time has proven that Oregon
hollygrape or Mahonia, one of the most
beautiful of all broad-leaved evergreens,
can be grown in Denver under proper
conditions.

Because they are plants of moist,
humid regions, leaves of broad-leaved
evergreens burn when they are exposed
to sun and dry air during the winter. If
grown in full sun they will lose their
leaves in the autumn. In the Denver
area, Oregon hollygrape should be plant¬
ed in the partial shade of an east or
north exposure. With plenty of water
and good cultural care, it should remain
attractive all year long. Any winter-
burned leaves can be cut off in the
spring.

Oregon hollygrape or Mahonia is a
medium-sized shrub, averaging about 4
feet in height. It is grown primarily for

Helen Marsh Zeiner

its foliage which resembles that of Christ¬
mas holly. Each leaf is made up of 5 to 9
spiny-toothed leaflets. They are leathery,
shiny above and pale green beneath.
They often take on a metallic appearance,
and in autumn they may turn red or
bronze. New summer growth is a light
shade of green.

The small yellow flowers are produced
in dense clusters followed by dark blue
berries in bunches somewhat reminiscent
of grapes. The berries are edible and can
be used to make jelly.

The name Oregon hollygrape is very
appropriate, reflecting the shape of the
leaves and the appearance of the clustered
berries. The shrub grows naturally from
British Columbia to California and is the
state flower of Oregon — hence Oregon
hollygrape.

Oregon hollygrape is a member of the
barberry family, Berberidaceae. Other
well-known members of the family in¬
clude Japanese barberry (Berberis japonica
Spreng.) a popular ornamental shrub;
and common or European barberry
(Berberis vulgaris L.), an introduced shrub
often escaped from cultivation. Because

124

European barberry is an alternate host
for harmful wheat rust, it has been
nearly eradicated in wheat-growing areas.
Not all members of the family are shrubs
— May apple or mandrake (Podophyllum
peltatum L.) is a well-known wild flower
of the eastern woodlands.

You may find Oregon holly grape listed
as either Berberis aquifolium Pursh or
Mahonia aquifolium Nutt. Oregon holly-
grape was originally (1814) classified as
Berberis . Later, in 1818, it was re¬
classified as Mahonia, primarily because
of its pinnately compound leaves and
unarmed branches. In the genus Berberis,
only the terminal leaflet develops into a
foliage leaf and the other leaflets are
modified into thorns at the base of what
appears to be a simple leaf. Some

present-day taxonomists feel that the
differences are not sufficient to justify
separating Mahonia as a genus, and they
return these pinnate -leaved shrubs to the
genus Berberis. Most reference books on
shrubs, however, still list Oregon holly-
grape as Mahonia.

Berberis is derived from an Arabic
name for the fruit — Berberys. Aqui¬
folium is from the Latin, meaning point
and leaf and referring to the spiny leaves.
Mahonia is named for Bernard McMahon
or MacMahon, an Irish- American horti¬
culturist who lived from 1775 to 1816.

For political reasons, MacMahon left
Ireland and came to America. In 1796,
he settled in Philadelphia and established
a nursery and seed house. His place of

125

business became a horticultural center
where many prominent horticulturists
gathered for discussion. MacMahon was
active in exchanging seeds and plants
from other parts of the United States and
from other countries. Many of the seeds
brought back from the Lewis and Clarke
expedition were entrusted to MacMahon
by President Jefferson.

Oregon hollygrape was introduced into
England by David Douglas who explored
the Pacific northwest between 1825 and
1827 and took the shrub back to England
when he returned. By 1838 it was
widely used in England and was con¬
sidered by many gardeners to be the
most attractive broad-leaved evergreen
grown in England.

A close relative of Oregon hollygrape
grows in the mountains of Colorado.

This is Berberis repens Lindl, (or Mahonia
repens Don), commonly called Oregon
grape. It is a low-growing, creeping
ground cover found on hills and slopes,
often in partial shade. It is valuable in
preventing erosion and providing food for
birds and mammals.

The species name repens means creep¬
ing. The plant resembles Mahonia aqui-
folium closely except for its prostrate
habit of growth. Berberis repens is
sometimes grown in Denver as a ground
cover, attaining a height of about a foot.
Native plants do not transplant well and
they should not be removed from their
natural habitat where they are an im¬
portant part of the ecological system.
Buy nursery-grown stock which is easily
transplanted and established and can be
counted on to succeed.

These two , who
belong with the
guided tours
up front,
got lost and
wandered into
Helen Zeiner’s
exotics.

126

127

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Avalonne Kosanke

Ever have a yen for your very own
butterfly ballet? Or have a dry sunny
spot in your garden boasting poor but
well-drained soil? Then you have the
perfect combination for growing Buddleia
altemifolia, Maxim., also known as the
fountain butterfly bush. From late May
till mid-June, its slender twelve to thirty-
six inch branches are transformed into
sweeping arcs of lavender set into motion
by the slightest breeze. Thousands of
tiny, tightly clustered blossoms emerge
along the stems in their special spiraling
pattern. Their fragrance proves irresistible
to all types of butterflies, especially the
drifting swallowtails. It is not unusual to
count in one glance a dozen huge black
and/or yellow beauties vying shamelessly
with lesser butterflies, moths and a motley
crew of other insects for a foothold on
the freshest flower.

Buddleias belong to the family Logania-

ceae. Carolus Linnaeus named the genus
Buddleia in honor of Reverend Adam
Buddie, vicar of Farnbridge, England. It
was a courtesy well-deserved, for this
clergyman’s work as a botanist over¬
shadowed his work for the church, and
his collection of plants is preserved in
the British Museum. The name “alterni-
folia” recognizes this species’ alternate
leaf pattern which sets it apart from
most of its relatives.

128

Of the nearly 150 known species of
Buddleia, only two are indigenous to
this country, none to Colorado. Most
are found in warmer climes of Asia,
South America and south Africa. Some
make fine greenhouse subjects. Few are
suitable as shrubs for our gardens since
they tend to freeze to the ground.

B. altemifolia was found in Kansu
(Northwest), China, and was later intro¬
duced into cultivation by Reginald Farrer.
It is the earliest of the Buddleias to
bloom. Unlike its more tender relatives,
this woody shrub does not freeze back in
our normal winters. Its arching form
contrasts gracefully with the usually rigid
silhouettes of other border shrubs. In
early May, the one-to-four inch willow¬
like leaves appear showing only their
silvery undersides. As the blades lengthen
during the flowering period, the rich green
of the upper surface finally dominates.

A Handsome Addition

The spectacular bloom gives way sud¬
denly to a period of new growth. Shoots
emerge at awkward right angles along the
spent, pendulous branches. Now is the
time to prune severely. Thin out poorly

placed, unwanted canes. Cut back
branches by one-third or to a well-placed
young shoot. Done annually this prevents
a scraggly look, keeps the shrub within
desired boundaries and encourages next
year’s bloom to set on the newly formed
wood. Here in Colorado, fountain butter¬
fly bush may spread ten feet across and
arch skyward almost the same, as in the
specimen pictured. For the smaller garden,
judicious pruning will keep it restricted
to a smaller space without sacrificing
heavy bloom. If an early spring examina¬
tion reveals freeze damage, prune well
below the injured portion back to live
wood. Vigorous new growth will soon
cover the scars.

The fountain butterfly bush is a hand¬
some addition to the shrub border. It is
an effective screening plant for privacy.
It is popular with sever. 1 species of birds
as its seeds ripen. Try it as a specimen
billowing over a wooden fence or down a
rocky wall. Plant it where you can sit
awhile and “pleasure” in its beauty.
Plant it for its heliotrope -like fragrance
drifting across the garden, delight in the
butterflies it lures. Plant it so that all
who pass may share in your good fortune.

129

IN PRAISE OF THE GLADIOLUS

Some instructions
on its culture

Some recommended
varities

Lee Ashley

The most beautiful of our summer
flowering bulbs is the gladiolus. It’s
spikes are tall, some five feet or more in
height, and often there are several spikes
from the same bulb. The flowers are of
almost every desirable color - bright red,
creamy white, pure yellow, green, many
tints of pink, and those with lovely
blotched throats. Perhaps we have no
flower which presents such a gorgeous
display of delicate yet brilliant colors in
the garden, on the exhibition tables, and
when used as floral decorations. It is not
strange that the gladiolus is exceedingly
popular.

For many years the hybridizers have
been working with the gladiolus to im¬
prove its color and growing habits. Here
in Denver we have several people doing
hybridizing and we have managed to add
a few ruffles to the petals, creating
varieties called “pleated” gladioli by the
public. These flowers have substance so
heavy that it is a wonder they can ever
open. They have created much interest
at the flower shows and the corms have
been sold for as much as ten dollars each.

The bulb, as it is commonly called, is
really a corm, and from this grows the
erect stem terminating in a spike of
flowers.

The culture is very simple. Set the
corms from six to nine inches apart and
cover about four to six inches. If set in
rows, they may be closer. Planting may
be done at different times from the end
of April to the first of June to secure a
long succession of bloom. Keep the earth
mellow, and add a little superphosphate
to make them grow strong.

Give them plenty of water, especially
at the time the fourth leaf shows. This is
when they start to produce the flower
spikes. It is also necessary to spray them
for thrips. We spray with one of the
insecticides made for this purpose. By
spraying every ten days and using several
different brands, you can prevent all
traces of thrips.

In the late fall, take up the bulbs, let

130

them dry for a week or more, and
remove the old corm and roots. We cut
off the tops close to the corm when they
are dug. Dust with a soil-and-bulb dust
and store in paper sacks in your basement.
They will be ready to perform again
next year.

Here is a list of some of the best bets
of a Grand Champ:

Vicki Lin, pink

Parade, salmon

Lady Bountiful (ream

Angel Eyes, white, lavender blotch

Pink Prospector, pink

Shirley Cole, red

Moon Mirag e, yellow

Parsifal, white

Dairy Queen, cream

Isle of Capri, orange

I have never known a case where the
gladiolus failed to give the most perfect
satisfaction, opening a new field of beauty
to those unacquainted with its merits.
It thrives all over America; its healthy
plants providing thousands of blooms for
the florists to use every day of the year.

Here are some that were created here
at Denver Botanic Gardens. For real
beauty these are hard to beat:

Pleated Lace, orange
Charming Maid, salmon
Doubloon, yellow
Tokay, light purple
Osa Mae, salmon orange
Rare Jewel, rich lavender
Apache Girl , yellow-orange
Rose Point, rose-pink
Spun Gold, deep yellow

- cut here -

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206

I hereby apply for membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens □
I wish my membership in the Denver Botanic Gardens extended
Enclosed is $ _ for my annual dues.

Class of Membership desired: (check one)

□ Junior . — $ 2.50 □ Supporting . — $ 25.00

□ Regular .... — $ 7.50 □ Contributing . — $ 50.00

Participating . — $15.00 □ Business & Education Institutional — $100.00

Name

Address

City State Zip Code

131

THE

KATHRYN

KALMBACH

STAMP

COLLECTION

BOTANICAL

7,000 STAMPS

127 PLANT FAMILIES

Solange Huggins

The Helen Fowler Library now houses the Kathryn Kalmbach botanical
stamp collection. The four albums of postage stamps, lovingly collected
and meticulously classified and arranged by Mrs. Kalmbach, were
presented to Denver Botanic Gardens by Dr. Edwin R. Kalmbach.

The name of Kathryn Kalmbach (1886-1962) has been associated with
DBG for many years. She was a frequent contributor to The Green
Thumb , writing on botanical and horticultural subjects. Her special
interest was in the herbarium which now bears her name, and she
worked tirelessly with local botanists to collect and prepare specimens for
it.

A collection of botanical stamps is an entirely fitting endeavor for
such a person. Characteristically, she made her collection a scientific
one, and it came to be outstanding in its field. Mrs. Kalmbach was a
member of the American Topical Association, an organization of
philatelists collecting by subjects rather than by country. Her articles in
the journal of this society brought her recognition as an authority in the
field of plants on stamps.

The best method of describing the stamp collection is perhaps to use
the words of Mrs. Kalmbach in her introduction to the first album,
dated November, 1956:

An article in the American Gardeners’ Chronicle in 1945 by Mr. Charles
H. Curtis of England, described his collection of plants on stamps, which
was arranged by plant families, rather than by countries. At the suggestion
of Professor Joseph A. Ewan, then botanist at the University of Colorado,

I began a search for stamps picturing plant life, in hopes of making a
similar collection. Growing slowly at first, the last few years more
rapidly, my collection at this writing shows over 5,000 stamps arranged
under 99 flowering plant families, and four non-flowering groups. (In
1960: 7,000 stamps and 127 families.) My collection includes not only
those stamps with plants as the main feature, but also those having plants
as parts of border designs, or other minor decorations. Used, as well as
mint stamps, are included.

132

Stamps in each of the plant groups are arranged alphabetically by
countries; except that any United States representative are always at
the beginning of each group.

The collection also includes, in a separate division, stamps picturing
agricultural subjects. These subjects include all forms of farm work, such
as plowing, sowing, harvesting, etc., as well as farm machinery, farm
buildings, farmers and farm children. Other occupations using plant
products are also included, such as basket making, textile work, logging,
etc. There are also shown botanists, botanical gardens, agricultural
scientists and institutions, parks, etc. This part of the collection will
be found in Volume IV, following the plant families.

The Denver Botanic Gardens appreciates the gift of this collection to
the Helen Fowler Library. No stamps have been added since the death of
Mrs. Kalmbach in 1962. Obviously, this collection should be continued
and so we are asking our members and friends to add to it. Should you
see any stamps depicting botanical and/or horticultural subjects as well
as those featuring the subjects enumerated for volume four, please save
then for the library. To prevent damage to a cancelled stamp a margin of
Vi inch of paper should be left around it.

The stamps will be shown to interested individuals by appointment.
Please call 297-2547, Ext. 24.

LET’S PLAN FOR A BEAUTIFUL COLORADO

IN 1976!

Plans are now being formulated for a
great Centennial-Bicentennial of the state¬
hood of Colorado and of the beginning
of our United States. Thousands of
people will be flocking into our state
in 1976 and we will need to put our
best foot forward, sweep our floors and
wash our windows, to properly present
our state to our many guests.

What better time than now to survey
every community, small and large, and
make definite plans for needed improve¬
ments — trees, parks, playgrounds, busi¬
ness fronts — and for displaying our
mountains, canyons and forests at their
best. In doing this we can develop to the
fullest the use of new plants, especially
our own good natives, teach everyone a
better use of water, soil and fertilizer,

George Kelly

and really develop a much needed
“Landscape Architecture for Colorado.”

Here is where we need dedicated
leadership. We have in Colorado many
competent people who are experts in all
phases of horticulture, and who could
now contribute of their expertise in really
dressing up the state for this occasion.
The horticulture departments of our col¬
leges, the Botanic Gardens, the Nursery¬
men’s Association, Association of Land¬
scape Architects, garden clubs and others
should immediately get together and plan
to cooperate with this celebration com¬
mittee to get this necessary work planned
now and executed in time for the 1976
events. We need leadership. Where will
we get it? Who will volunteer?

133

WILL THERE BE

ENOUGH WATER

FOR OUR GARDENS

Today’s Situation, Tomorrow’s Probabilities: According to a
Long-Range Study by the Denver Water Department.

A Green Thumb Report

After water is supplied to all the new homes and industries in the
booming Denver area, will there be enough water left over to irrigate our
lawns and trees and gardens?

As the area’s growth spirals upward, eating up the open space around
us, bringing more people, more houses, more commerce and industry,
horticulturists and home-owners are increasingly concerned about the
future supply of water needed to maintain this oasis.

What can we expect?

There are some answers in the large three-volume study, published in
June, 1969, by the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Called
“Metropolitan Water Requirements and Resources,” the study was made
by the Denver Water Department. It covered the urbanized portions of
Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson Counties.

Yes, says the study, there will be enough water for landscape irrigation;
if population growth continues as indicated in 1969, if our uses of water
are about the same as they have been, and if all the planned water
developments are financed and built.

The 1968 study discusses the irrigation situation to some extent,
beginning with records of the U. S. Weather Bureau in Denver:

“Winter months are normally driest with December and January each
recording about Vi inch of moisture. The high frequency of either dry
Continental or exhausted Pacific air masses account for these dry
winters. The spring months of April and May are typically the wettest,
as moist air from the Gulf of Mexico begins seasonal penetration
northward up the high plains. The mild months of June through
October average an inch of rainfall or better. However, this rainfall is
usually very spotty with showery characteristics. On the whole, the
urban climate is most accurately described as semi-arid. Native vegetation
when man first settled the region was primarily grasses and shrubs with
only a few deciduous trees along the stream beds. It is said that whenever
you see a tree in Denver today it is there because somebody cared enough
to water it. The natural rainfall does not favor extensive vegetation.”

In two out of ten years, the study says, Denver has 1 1 .4 inches of
precipitation or less, and the winter months will average V* inch or under.
At the other extreme, two out of ten years will have 18.4 inches or more.
1965, with its floods, was one of those wet years. (Compare Denver’s
average of 14.81 inches with Cincinnati’s 39.51 inches, Chicago’s 33.18,
Des Moines’ 30.37, Omaha’s 27.56, and New York’s 42.37 inches.)
Paradoxically, Denver’s most critical water problems are recurring drought
and floods.

Marston Lake - Denver Water System

135

40% FOR LAWNS

It is pointed out in the Water Board study that our semi-arid climate
requires large amounts of artificial moisture to support growth of lawns,
trees and flowers. The study says that it takes about one inch of water
per week for our lawns during the May through September growing
season when normal precipitation is only eight inches. Therefore, about
18 inches of additional water is required. Little, if any, of this water
returns to the ground water aquifer since the general movement of
moisture in the top 4 to 6 feet of soil is upward toward the atmosphere.
Nearly 40 percent of the municipal and industrial water supply is used
for lawn sprinkling.

The quantity of irrigation water used in Denver, the study says, is
dependent on these things: the amount of precipitation, the cost of the
water, whether it is metered or not, the economic level of a neighborhood,
the restrictions placed on water use, and, especially, the public concern
regarding the adequacy of the water supply.

In looking to the future, the study lists several factors that could
reduce irrigation demand. Lawns may be artificial, not requiring water,
or lawn area may shrink or even disappear in large urban areas as multi¬
family dwellings attract a larger segment of the population. Other
technical changes may provide de-humidification of the air or recycling
of domestic wastes to irrigate lawns on an individual housing unit basis.

Nevertheless, the study reasons that “because technology of water
supply has changed vei;y little in this century, all projections ... are based
on current conditions.” That is, the experts expect us to use water in
about the same quantities as in the past.

458 MILLION GALLONS IN A DAY

Most of the study is made up of projections of population, water
supply, and water demand in the future. In 1969, when the study was
completed, the Denver Metro area was estimated to have a population of
1,200,000. Denver itself had a water supply of 319,000 acre feet, and
other agencies had 1 10,000 acre feet; a total for the area of 429,000 acre
feet. 1969 demand for industrial and municipal use of water was
estimated at 262,000 acre feet, well below the supply.

(Literature sent out by the Water Is Necessary Committee , prior to the
recent bond election, reported this near-shortage: “The complex Denver
water system ... is capable of treating and delivering approximately 460
million gallons of water a day. On July 12, 1971, the temperature hit 101
in Denver. The city’s water use soared to 458 million gallons. Not that
the city would have run out of water if the use rate had exceeded 460
million gallons. The Water Board has an additional 246.9 million
gallons in small treated water reservoirs at strategic locations throughout
the service area. But the system could not have absorbed a series of such
days without severely restricting water use. And, in the future, there
will be many hot days and ever-increasing numbers of Denverites using
water.”)

136

Water supply as used in the study, was figured on a “safe annual
yield basis” defined as “the lowest yields recorded.” The sources of the
Denver area’s supply in 1969, computed on the safe annual yield basis,
were:

ACRE FEET

South Platte River

153,400

Wells

7,000

Transmountain Diversion

Moffat Tunnel

70,000

Big Thompson

18,000

Blue River

168,200

Homestake Project

12,400

Total

429,000

(An acre foot is the amount of water required to cover one acre one
foot deep, or 326,000 gallons.)

Future population, water supply, and water demand, for the Metro
area, were projected as:

1975 1990 2010

Population 1,378,150

Supply (Acre feet) 487,640
Demand (Acre feet) 328,630

2,024,900

634,320

496,830

2,687,300

798,840

749,080

Eleven Mile Dam and Reservoir

137

From this, it appears there will be no shortage of water for the area
until after 2010 — if all proposed developments are financed and built.

Says the report: “Included in the projection of supplies are additional
waters from the present Moffat, Blue River and Homestake sources” and
“new supplies from Englewood’s Ranch Creek, Denver’s Eagle-Piney,
Straight Creek, Gore and Colorado River sources.” Our future water
supplies, then, are to come from the Western Slope of the Rockies. The
additional sources mentioned were in the preliminary planning stage at
the time of the study.

An interesting statement in the report is to the effect that converting
our land to municipal and industrial uses will provide a growing supply of
water. Presumably this means that considerable water now used for
agriculture will become available for other uses.

DENVER TO SUPPLY THE AREA

The major premise of the study is a fairly new one: the Denver Water
Department no longer looks on itself as just a supplier of water to the
city itself; it is now and will continue to be the primary source of water
for the whole metropolitan area. In fact, its importance to the community
outside the city will greatly increase in the future as some of the smaller
systems, including Golden, Baker Water District, Broomfield, Louisville
and Lafayette, and others, run out of water. This new status as the
regional supplier of water was at the bottom of the opposition to the
water bonds voted on in July. Opponents hoped to limit regional
growth by limiting water supply — a policy the State of Colorado has
been wrestling with in recent legislatures.

On July 11, the voters of Denver defeated a Denver Water Board proposal
to issue bonds for $200 million to pay for the enlargement and improvement
of the city’s water system. By their vote, the majority appeared to be saying
that they did not feel that the Denver system should furnish water for unlimited
growth outside the city.

In addition to the $200 million bond issue which was turned down, the Water
Board had expected to obtain another $155 million from “development” charges
to finance a 12-year plan.

The plan included a new $60 million Foothills Complex on the South Platte
for treatment of the water, $76 million for additional and replacement transmission
pipe lines, some $20 million for a recycling project, $3 1 million for extension of
the Fraser River and Williams Fork collection systems, $103 million for a project
to bring water from the Eagle and Piney River into the Dillon Reservoir, and
sufficient funds for improvement and expansion of present facilities.

Undoubtedly, this rejection of the bond proposal has put a brake on the
contemplated developments. It could mean that there will not be as much water
for landscape irrigation as expected. It may mean that water will cost us more
than in the past.

138

(jUake/ts 9T(\e ^yUagagine

Wes Woodward

You may have noticed. Beginning
with the Summer issue The Green Thumb
had a new editor - me. I am on trial as a
successor to Margaret Sikes who is, you
know, Educational Director, and too busy
for this.

Actually, my connection with the
magazine began back in March. So, up
until July, when this is written, I had
attended five monthly meetings of the
editorial committee. I want to tell you
about the members of that committee
because I am impressed by these talented
and determined people.

In the ten years since the spring of
1962 The Green Thumb has published
529 signed articles. Over one-third of
those were written by the present members
of the editorial committee. Written well
and authoritatively.

Helen Marsh Zeiner leads the list of
writers with 47 articles, 26 of them in
the continuing series called “Exotics of
Colorado.” Peg Hayward, writing princi¬
pally on the plants in the conservatory,
formerly under the title “Plant of the
Month” and recently “Focus on...,” has
contributed 28 articles. You’ll agree, I’m
sure, that the regular appearance of the
work of these two writers is the backbone
of our magazine. Both of them give us
much information in the best of style.

And then there’s Bernice Petersen.
Her signed articles in The Green Thumb,
including the delightful “Pete Ponders”
series, total 26. There were more, before
1962, and some, I am sure, that weren’t
credited to her. You know, too, that she
has done far more than write. Ener¬

getically, with enthusiasm and unfailing
kindness, she has provided the motive
power for The Green Thumb for a long
time. I don’t know how long Bernice
(Pete, to some of you) has been on the
editorial committee; she was there in
1962 where my study of the magazine
begins; and she has been chairman since
1968.

Dignity and understanding are fur¬
nished by Dr. Hildreth, who has always
been close to the magazine as Director
and Director Emeritus of Botanic Gardens.
He has had 17 articles in The Green
Thumb in those ten years, and continues
actively on the committee with wise
advice and humorous appraisal.

Ten of the articles since 1962, mostly
on landscape planning, came from the
pen of Frances Novitt, and nine were
written by Avalonne Kosanke with much
verve and knowledge. Dr. Moras L.
Shubert also contributed nine informative
articles to The Green Thumb in that
period.

Other writers for The Green Thumb,
also members of the committee, have
been Suzanne Ash, Lucy Crissey, Dr.
Gambill, Solange Huggins, and Polly
Steele.

And the art work! I’ve made no
count of the number of drawings by our
artists. There were many and they were
memorable. The scratch board drawings
by Suzanne Ash are truly outstanding,
giving The Green Thumb “class.” Faith¬
ful Polly Steele has brightened the pages
of the magazine innumerable times with
her lively and amusing work. Phil

139

Hayward, not a member of the committee
but close to it, has certainly created
works of art that are much appreciated.
We are fortunate to have such artists as
these.

This spring, when I started work on
the summer issue, Margaret Sikes turned
over to me most of the material needed
for that issue. She, and the rest of the
committee, were completely prepared.

It’s plain to see that these dedicated
people, so involved and so concerned with
our magazine, have made it and maintained
it and continue to strengthen it, regardless
of printers and editors who may come
and go, They, and all the others before
them, have established a magazine with a
vibrant life of its own; a growing thing,
firmly rooted in experience, sending up
strong healthy foliage in the sun, flower¬
ing profusely, and delighting all who love
plants and gardens and beauty.

As Denver Botanic Gardens expands,
becoming the prestigious center of horti¬
culture in the West, The Green Thumb
must move with it as the resonant voice
of The Gardens. I am enthused over the
opportunity to have part in publishing
The Green Thumb.

My credentials: I am now one of
Colorado’s three state land commissioners,
a position I will leave in January, 1973.
A long-time civil engineer, I am a past
president and honorary life member of
the Colorado Society of Engineers. My
greatest interests have been in gardening
and journalism. I have been publisher of
one weekly newspaper, editor of another,
editor of an engineering magazine, and I
have, for years, written regular monthly
columns for two engineering magazines.
This year I am president of Men’s Garden
Club of Denver.

View of the Future - New Walk, Denver Botanic Garden

140

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.
A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr . Director

Mr. Andrew R. Knauer . Assistant Director

Mr. Ernest A. Bibee . Conservatory Superintendent

Mr. David A. Blades . Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

Mrs. Beverly M. Nilsen . Botanist-Horticulturist

Miss Margaret Sikes . Education Director

Mrs. Solange Huggins . Librarian

Dr. A. C. Hildreth . Director Emeritus

TELEPHONES

Denver Botanic Gardens . 297-2547

Conservatory Superintendent . Ext. 21

Education Specialist . Ext. 23

Library . Ext. 24

Gift Shop . 297-2348

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover - Photo by Loraine Yeatts
Page 110 - Photo by Loraine Yeatts
Page 112 — Drawing by Polly Steele
Page 1 14 — Drawing by Phil Hayward

Pages 117, 119 — Photos courtesy of John Bartram Association

Page 121 - Watercolor-drawing by Barbara Nielsen

Page 123 - Drawing by Polly Steele

Page 125 — Drawing by Suzanne Ash

Page 126 - Photo by Loraine Yeatts

Page 127 - Drawing by Ravia Seydler

Pages 128, 129 - Photos by Avalonne Kosanke

Page 130 - Drawing from Botanic Garden files

Pages 135, 137 - Photos courtesy of Denver Water Board

Page 140 — Photo by Loraine Yeatts

te Green ifimb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER, COLORADO 80206

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DO NOT FOLD

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organi¬
zation supported by municipal
and private funds.

Botanic Gardens House

Denver Botanic Gardens maintains a collection of living plants, both native and exotic,
for the purpose of acquiring, advancing and spreading botanical and horticultural knowledge.

THE COVER

Portal to Plans, Parks and People
Entrance to S. R. DeBoer’s Office

THE GREEN THUMB

VOL. TWENTY-NINE, NUMBER FIVE

Published by Denver Botanic Gardens, 909 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Sent free to
all members of the organization. Junior membership $2 50, Regular $7.50, Participating $15.00,
Supporting $25.00, Contributing $50.00. Business and Educational Institutional $100.00.

By becoming a member of Denver Botanic Gardens, you v/ill receive THE GREEN THUMB and
the monthly NEWSLETTER. You will also have unlimited access to the use of the books in
the Helen K. Fowler Library, now located in Boettcher Memorial Center it 1005 York Street.

For further information write to Membership Chairman, Botanic Gardens House, 909 York Street,
Denver, Colorado 80206, or call 297-2547.

wmmm

DECEMBER, 1972

A Tribute to S. R. DeBoer

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE - S. R. DeBoer

I Youth in Europe .

II Beginnings in America .

III The Speer Years, Denver Park Work .

IV Private Practice, Early Years .

V Denver Parks and Parkways, Stapleton .

VI Denver Zoning and Planning .

VII The Depression in Denver .

VIII Planning for the West .

IX Europe Revisited .

X Modern Times .

XI Observations and Opinions .

143

147

150

168

176

180

184

186

197

200

203

S. R. DEBOER

Articles in The Green Thumb
Elonors and Tributes .

213

215

The Idea Precedes the Accomplishment - Anna R. Garrey

217

Denver’s Municipal Landscaping - Katharine Bruderlin Crisp

222

The DeBoer Story - Wes Woodward

224

Subject Index, 1972 . zzc

This is the fifth issue of The Green Thumb in 1972. Not an extra issue, just speeding
up to put publication date at the beginning of each season.

141

S. R. DeBoer, Denver’s famous landscape
architect and city planner tells of his work
and times.

142

PLANS, PARKS
AND PEOPLE

S. R. DeBoer

YOUTH IN EUROPE

4 lJ was born in the village of Ureterp in the province of Friesland, the
C/f Netherlands, on September 7, 1883.

Friesland means “Free Land”. The Friesians are known for their
independence, for being stubborn, and as having all kinds of bad traits.

I They are all farmers. In their language the “boer” is the man who owns
the farm, the top man of his area. When Napoleon took over Western
Europe and installed governors, the governor of Holland decreed that all
families should take surnames. Our family called itself DeBoer - the

farmer.

The Friesians were with the Angles and Saxons when they invaded
Britain after the Roman armies left. Some of them are still there. In
1922, long after I had left Europe, I went to England to study at the

143

office of Thomas Mawson, and I stayed at the home of Mawson’s aunt
My landlady said that my English (really American) was not good, the>
didn’t understand me. She began to talk in a language she thought 1
couldn’t understand. It was just plain Friesian, the same as I and my
parents talked. I learned that around Lancaster, north of Liverpool, the
native tongue is Friesian.

Friesland is mostly fertile low land deposited by the Rhine, too wel
for trees, but producing bluegrass of unusual value. The farmers built
up mounds --terpen-- and put their farmhouses and churches on the
terpen, out of danger in times of high water. The churches had great
bells which chimed each hour. The sound can be heard an hour’s walk
away — three miles or so — so the name of my village, Ureterp means
an hour away from the church (on the terpen).

Finally the Rhine deposits built up the land, the people threw up
dikes around it, and now they don’t need the terpen any more, so they
dig them down and use the rich dirt as fertilizer.

Trees grow well in Opsterland, the uplands I came from. Recently I
sent money to Holland to buy trees to plant, and they divided the
money between the two towns of Ureterp and Drachten. They sent me
a photograph of the planting of a red oak tree in a little park there. They
have named it DeBoer Park.

School Days

I went to the only school in Ureterp, a public school with six grades.
It had been designed by my father who was an architect carrying out
his own designs.

We had school from 8 or 8:30 in the morning until 5 at night, and
on Saturday mornings, with only a two week summer vacation. Really,
we went to school all year round. Learning to read and write in four
languages meant lots of work. I was pretty good. I can still read and
write in four languages, but when it comes to talking French, I go around
the block to avoid it. I can talk German reasonably well, even today. I
talk Dutch, of course.

We had very little time for recreation. Our house had a big garden and
faced on a canal. The bridge across the canal was very high so that
sailing ships could go under it without lowering their masts. It was great
fun to ride my father’s bicycle — one huge wheel and one little one -
down the bridge onto the road that went to the farm places. We ice
skated on the canals, of course. We even skated to grade school, although
we had to walk the last part. Skating was our big recreation.

Later I went to public high school in the next town of Drachten. It |
was quite a select school. Back in the 90’s, in Holland, there was a good
deal of class consciousness, and working people were considered not to
amount to anything. They didn’t enter these schools. It was just a little
bit of a building, with maybe thirty or forty students, a principal who
also taught classes, and one teacher - for the whole town of Drachten.

We all thought the teacher was just a nut, but the principal was some-

144

thing else; he meant business. I
learned more from him than from
anyone else. He was the one who
told my dad, “You got to let that
fellow study.” I learned four lan¬
guages and studied far more mathe¬
matics than they have in high school
here.

It was an hour’s walking for our
group to get to Drachten. I often
think of the terrific change in our
lives since those early times. Today
we can’t walk any more. In the old
days we all walked; there weren’t
even bicycles. The bicycle was our
first change in transportation. Of
course there were horses; my grand¬
mother had a fancy horse and
wagon. She often took me along
with her because I was named after
her son.

After I graduated from high school I went to the Institute Poutsma.
I wanted to be a bridge building engineer who would someday span the

canyons of the Alps. This was my pipe dream. While I was there I got
desperately sick and the doctor sent me home. That was the end of

that.

Sickness and Change

When I was well again, I began to study at home. I kept on studying
until I could take an examination for junior engineer in the Dutch
government. Junior engineer meant surveyor. There were 150 candidates,
graded on ability, and I ranked 18th. But there were only 15 jobs open.

The doctor had told me to get away from engineering and take up
something else. So I went in for landscape design because I had a feeling
for beauty. This was not taught at school, and I studied at home. Then
I went to a special school where they prepared people for all kinds of
1 positions, like the management of plantations in the Indies, you know.
I learned plants, and I learned design, and then I took sick again.

Later, when I felt better, I went to southern Germany to attend the
Royal Imperial School of Horticulture. This was about 1906. While
there I boarded with many other boys at a nearby farmhouse. I drank
the water from the pump which was under the barn and made myself
terribly sick for a while. The landlady said I didn t need a doctor, she
' could tell that I had been “trinken wasser.” The other boys drank beer.
Later on, I took sick in the lungs, as I had several times before, and

I had to go back home.

I was studying all the time, even during my sick periods. I was read¬
ing all the books I could get, including the big one on landscape design

145

by Willie Lange, in German, and one by Edward Andre, in French,
and all the English books. I still have them, although most of them
are now in the Denver Public Library. I don’t think anyone could have
studied more about landscaping than I did. My parents supported me
in all these efforts.

In my unlucky period in the Netherlands, I had a course with a
leading architect, and at home I assisted my father in figuring material
lists for his building work. There were no adding machines, practically
no typewriters, and telephones were only in the houses of the wealthy.
My dad employed carpenters and bricklayers and men of that kind.
The top carpenter got 15 cents an hour — Dutch cents. In the 1890’s
that would have been about 4 or 5 cents in our money.

For a while I had my own private landscaping office, and I hired
men to prepare the ground for a tree nursery. My dad said, “Pay
those boys a little bit more than they get anywhere else.” I paid them
61 Vi cents a day. My uncle, who had the big farm next to us, was
paying 50 cents. He told my dad, “If you pay those fellows that much
we’ll get in trouble.” At those rates the boers — the farm owners — got
the best kind of help anyone ever had. The laborers worked from sunrise
to sunset.

In the summer of 1908 I was desperately sick again, with bleeding
in my lungs. The doctors and my family thought I was going to die.
Colorado and New Mexico were already famous for their healthy climate.
We knew a Dutch school teacher in Maxwell City, New Mexico, who
was in the same fix I was. When he wrote for me to come there my
folks agreed that if there was a place
where I could live, it would be
better to go there. My brother took
me to the boat at Rotterdam. I
went away from Europe thinking
what the heck difference does it
make if I’m buried in this holy
ground of the fathers or somewhere
in the mountains of America.

My older brother, the one I went
to school with, wanted to go to
America with me but his future wife
wouldn’t let him. He later became
an architect. My younger brother
went into business and married into
a well-to-do family. Both are dead
now.

Saco Rienk DeBoer
Picture taken in Holland

146

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

BEGINNINGS IN AMERICA

arrived in New York City on Thanksgiving Day in 1908. I was 25
and it was the first time I had seen a huge city. I was so excited
I forgot all about being sick. The towering buildings and the

narrow streets awed me.

That same evening I left New York by railroad, traveling through
Canada and on into St. Louis and Kansas City. From there I was on the
Santa Fe, and as I watched the strange land go by I felt that I was really
in the Wild West. At the little stations I saw people riding horseback, a
new thing to me. I kept remembering that a man on the ship, coming
over, had warned me against Maxwell City, where I was headed. He said,
“I’ve been as far west as Iowa, and it’s wild and woolly enough for me.
Actually, I have never seen anything wild or woolly in Maxwell City, or

in the Denver area, or in Iowa.

At last, New Mexico. Getting off the train in Maxwell City I slipped
on the snow-covered wooden platform of the station and fell flat on my
back. Later, friends joshed me, saying I was trying to kiss the soil of
my new homeland. At that time Maxwell City consisted ol a general
store, a large hotel, and a small hotel where I stayed. The doorknobs
were missing, so I slept with the furniture piled up against the door.

I didn’t do any work in Maxwell City. The fact is the town, even
today, isn’t big enough to have any kind of landscape work. I loafed for
several months, with my friend, Pete, who came shortly after I was

settled down.

I had time to think about what had happened to me in Europe. It
had been a devil of a hard time, not for lack of money - my family was
pretty well-to-do - but because of the eternal sickness. I would get
down, and then I would get well again, and get going on my studies,
and then I would have another bleeding in the lungs. I don’t want to
talk about it. The big story of my life is that I have never been sick
since I came to America. I’m still here. I’m 89 years old, and the doctors
thought that if I could get to be 40, I would do wonderfully.

Colorado

After a while, I had a toothache. I packed all my stuff and went to
Raton for a dentist. When I got there I figured I might as well go on to

Denver. So I went to Denver.

147

I landed at the Union Station and caught a street car to Edgewater. I
was going to see a man who had a dairy in Edgewater. I didn’t know
he actually lived on Sixth Avenue, so I had to walk several miles, carry¬
ing my baggage all the way. I stayed in Edgewater a short time. When
my money got low I got a job surveying for an irrigation company.
They sent me out to Barr Lake, near Hudson.

They put me at the rear end of a tape and I began to learn the
American way of surveying. The surveying I had done in Europe was
with the metric system and I had to learn all over. I got along all right,
mostly because I was very much in earnest about learning how. Then,
one day, the chief asked me, “You know what you’re doing?” I said,
‘Yes, I think I do.” “All right,” he said, “tomorrow morning you stay
in camp and draw up the notes we are taking.” So I became a draftsman.
I was full of pep and energy and, in the long run, I got the regular
draftsman’s job.

After a while I was transferred to the main office on the top floor of
the Ideal Building in Denver. It was a wonderful job. That’s when Anna
Beth came from Holland and we got married. Things were good. Then
the Denver Reservoir and Irrigation Company went broke. Most of the
men were let go but some of us were transferred to Canon City on a
project like the one at Hudson.

While we were still in Denver a lady reporter from the Denver Post
waded through the mud out to our house to interview us. She had found
our names in the courthouse records and was curious about the man with
the funny name, Saco Rienk, and the lady with the long name, Anna
Sophie Elizabeth. Just before she left she asked, kinda shy-like, if I had
any noble titles! Our pictures were in the paper.

In Canon City, when we were looking for an apartment, we met a
lady who said, “Oh, you’re the people who were in the Denver Post!”

I worked as a draftsman on that job too. We enjoyed our stay in Canon
City very much. We went for a hike nearly every day and people said,
“That’s the couple who walk all the time.” We walked through the
orchard district east of town and climbed up on the hogback. Once we
made a long trip up the canyon of the Arkansas to the site where the
bridge is now, and we took samples of the sands along the river. Anna
Beth thought that all the glittery stuff in the sand was gold. I didn’t
believe it but I couldn’t prove she was wrong. She wrote home about it,

telling them that we were in a country where you just scooped up the
gold.

I did my darndest on that job, but that company went broke too. Out
of 200 engineers, 180 were laid off and 20 of us stayed on. But after
six weeks they closed up the whole thing.

I came back to Denver, leaving Anna Beth in Canon City, because I
didn’t know where we were going. I wasn’t worried; I was pretty stuck
up because my first year in America had been so successful and I was
sure I would get a job in no time. The Moffat Railroad was being built
and I went there to get a job. I found out I was too late; all those 180

148

engineers from the irrigation company had been there six weeks before
me.

There was no engineering work of any kind. I tried picking apples, out
at Sixth and Colorado Boulevard, but I couldn’t pick as many as a
common laborer could. I had learned to do some grafting and I got a job
grafting six thousand roses for George Brown who had a nursery on
Cherry Creek at Colorado Boulevard.

First Work for Denver Parks

In 1910, on my second attempt at the Denver Parks office, I found
the new superintendent, Frederick Steinhauer. He asked me if I could do
park work. “Yes,” I said, “but I’ll have to show you. I have no papers
or anything.” He sent me to the city nursery at 9th and York and put
me to work as a teamster. I didn’t know how to hitch a horse. When I
tried, the horse stepped on my toes. I learned. Charlie Clinton, the other
teamster, helped me. He dictated that every time we made a round trip
in the middle of the nursery, the horse had to stop and rest. That gave
me time to make notes on what was growing there. By the end of two
weeks I knew more about the plants that grew in the nursery than
anyone in the park office. That old Percheron horse had done me a lot
of good.

Of course, Anna Beth had come from Canon City, and we made a
home in Denver, not realizing that Denver would be our home for the
rest of our lives.

Steinhauer asked me if I could make a plan of a park. I told him I
would show him. He sent me down to the park office in the City Hall
at 14th and Larimer. I drew up a plan of the Sunken Gardens, just as
nice as I could. When it was done, it was printed. Steinhauer, who didn’t
know a good plan from a poor one, took it to Mayor Speer. Speer said

it was all right. That did it. When
Speer said I was all right my repu¬
tation as a landscape architect was
established. The word was spread
all through the parks and people
called me the man that the mayor
got from Holland!

Anna Sophie Elizabeth DeBoer

149

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

THE SPEER YEARS
Denver Parks and Parkways

OBERT SPEER, elected mayor in 1904, broke the ice. He started
/V7 the improvements that made Denver a great city. He was aggres-
V sively determined to put his ideas into practice.

Speer got the land. He extended the city boundaries to almost what
they are now. He laid out the parks and saw to it that they were built.

It was 1910 when I began to work for Speer and I soon learned that
all you needed to get along with him was to put out a good day’s work
each day. He was a great big fellow and he was stubborn. What he said,
by God, you had better do! We park men all liked Mayor Speer.

He got George Kessler from Kansas City to help him on the parks,
and Reinhard Scheutze was the local landscape architect. These two, and

Frederick Olmsted, were designing Denver parks before I came into the
picture. I was the foreign immigrant who appeared in the midst of a big
development.

City Park had been started in the 90’s; at that time it was miles out
of the city. Washington Park had been acquired, through a bond issue,
from the South Denver Park District. Speer had bought Berkeley Park,
and I think he had begun work on acquiring the mountain parks.

I didn’t create the parks, as some people have suggested. All I did was
improve them. The park department was desperately in need of some¬
body who knew about trees and horticulture, and I was lucky enough
to fall into the vacuum. After I finished Sunken Gardens Park, I planted
trees on the main boulevards simply because there was no one else to do
it. I don’t claim any special credit for it.

During the decade, 1910 to 1920, the park work was largely the
carrying out of the Speer plans. The parks created by Speer were the
Civic Center, the Cherry Creek Parkway system (a big job), Berkeley Park,
Rocky Mountain Lake Park, and some small ones like Rosedale Park!
There was much work to be done in City and Washington Parks. Chees-
man Park had been established.

George Edward Kessler (1862-1923) Began, in 1890, to prepare a city-wide plan
of parks and boulevards for Kansas City. “His achievements in the next twenty
years made Kansas City famous and inspired cities from Salt Lake City to Toledo
and from Indianapolis to Mexico City to seek his services . . . .”

150

Robert W. Speer: Born Mt. Union, Pa., 1855. Tuberculosis brought him to Colorado
in 1878 at the age of 23. Recovered, he worked as an $8 a week carpet salesman
at Daniels and Fisher store. Then into real estate business. Elected city clerk 1884.
Appointed postmaster in 1885 (served 4 years). In 1891 was secretary of Lookout
Mountain Resort Co., of which H. A. W. Tabor was president. Appointed to Fire
and Police Board of Denver (as police commissioner) 1891, reappointed in 1897.
In 1901 the governor appointed Speer president of Denver’s Board of Public Works.
(City government was under state government at that time.) Elected mayor 1904;
inaugurated at Tabor Opera House. Returned to office in 1915. Voters approved
“Speer Amendment” which gave him “more authority than that of any other
mayor of an American city.” (Power over all appointments except that of auditor;
power to appoint 4 out of 9 members of city council.) “It was probably as close
to oligarchic form of government as Denver was ever to experience.” Charles A.
Johnson, in his book “Denver’s Mayor Speer” (1969), says: “He was impatient
with slovenly or dilatory endeavor. He drove his subordinates hard, but gave his
loyalty in return.” When Speer died in 1918, 10,000 people attended his funeral
in city auditorium.

151

Sunken Gardens

When we started to make Sunken Gardens Park, Cherry Creek was an
uncontrolled stream although the concrete walls were about completed
on the east side. The main boulevard, east of the creek, was being finished
when I started. The west side was still bottomland, but a pavilion for an
exhibition had been built in the Sunken Gardens. Later it blew down.
The second building there was a nice one, designed by one of our
architects. Years later we took it down too because it didn’t make sense
in front of the new West High School. A big reflecting pool was part of
the plan for Sunken Gardens.

After Speer’s return to office in 1915 we finished the section of the
Sunken Gardens next to 8th Avenue. It included a small rockery made
out of building stone and sidewalk flagstones. We didn’t use native rock
because it would have taken a team and wagon a whole day to haul one
load. Water was piped from Cherry Creek to run over the rocks and down
a little winding creek into a pool, then back into Cherry Creek. Speer
liked the idea and he brought people to see it. Years later a famous
landscape man from Brussels called our little waterfall the best bit of
landscaping he had ever seen. I write this with a lot of pleasure. The place
is somewhat run down now and the water has dried up, but the rocks
are still there.

The Parkways

Tree planting on Sixth and Seventeenth Avenues was done hurriedly
in 1911 under Speer. Third Avenue parkway was planted in 1914 when

THE SUNKEN GARDENS AND REST PA VI LION

1913

152

he was out of office; there were poor soft maples on the north side and
we put in a solid line of English elms on the south side. 1 wanted to take
out the maples and replace them with elms but Speer lived on the park¬
way and he and his neighbors stopped us. “We have shotguns, he said.
We surrendered and left the maples in. It’s an unbalanced tree picture.
The English elms got scale and were badly damaged. Looking west on
Third Avenue there is a beautiful view of the mountains. English elms,
which are upright, frame the view; not like American elms which are
drooping and wide.

Seventh Avenue got more study. The center parking is designed for
variety. We had blocks without planting, or with flowers, followed by
tree-planted blocks, some with evergreens, some deciduous, some low,
some high. The effect was satisfactory, and still visible. As a frame we
planted two rows of American elms between the curb and the sidewalk.
Some said they are too close together but they aren’t as close as on some
of the famous avenues of Europe.

Citizenship and a Buggy

About 1913, when I had been here four or five years, I applied for
citizenship. I was to appear before a judge, and a Dutchman friend said
he would swear that he had known me five years. But, in court, my friend
said he wasn’t sure. The judge couldn’t take me and I was not naturalized
until four months later. I became an American citizen as soon as I could
because I saw the great advantages of America. Europe had no such
advantages for me.

I was trying to cover all the Denver parks and the park superintendent
saw that I couldn’t do it on foot. So I got a horse and buggy. At the
time, Anna Beth and I were living in a house on King Street in North

Five minutes to pass a lamp post

153

Denver. I drove the horse and buggy home every night, and down to City
Hall every morning. Maybe I was a little slow. Will Chamberlain, a land¬
scaper, told me, “I’ve been watching you and your horse, and it takes
you exactly five minutes to pass one lamp post.”

The horse and I got along all right. We made trips to Platt Park, then
across to University Park, and then back to Rocky Mountain Lake Park.
I had the horse and buggy for several years. Superintendent Steinhauer
got the first auto in the parks department. My first car, several years
later, wasn’t nearly as dependable as my horse had been. It always had
something wrong with it.

Cherry Creek Flood

Mayor Speer’s pet project was the Cherry Creek Parkway system.
Engineers, following the design principles used in eastern cities, had built
high concrete walls on each side of the creek. Little dams were put in to
hold the bottom soil of the creek in place. After Speer had been replaced
by Mayor Henry Arnold in the 1912 election, and had gone to Europe
on a study trip, the new walls were tested.

In June, 1913, a cloudburst hit the upper Cherry Creek valley. I
remember that we had taken the Golden street car for a picnic in the
mountains that day, and when we returned we heard that Cherry Creek
was in flood. We were too tired to go and see it.

At eight o’clock the next morning I drove my horse and buggy to the
Eleventh Avenue bridge where we were at work filling in the west
boulevard. Cherry Creek was still rushing madly, with water to the tops
of the walls. In several places they had toppled over. All the low land
on both sides of the creek was under water and the water was deep
from the railroad station to Auraria. We had just finished planting grass
in the Sunken Gardens the previous Saturday night, but all of the park
was buried under three feet of mud and water. The drains were clogged,
and Pat Harrington, the park foreman, stood in the water up to the tops
of his hip boots, trying to open them.

The write-ups in the newspapers were even worse than the flood
itself.

By late summer the dirty flood water in the park began to stink so bad
that something had to be done. Alec Graham was appointed foreman and
we began to clean up the gardens. Some of the muck was dumped east
of Broadway for the next section of the west boulevard. We raised the
grade of the park, put top soil over the muck, and planted grass again.

It was not until the big floods in 1933 that we discovered why the
Cherry Creek walls had toppled. The designs were correct but they were
based on the slow water of other regions. In 1933 the water rushed
down with great velocity, churning up the creek bottom to a depth of
35 feet. The piles under the wall footings were only 20 feet long and
dangled in the wild torrent. They tumbled over and the walls went with
them. The main east boulevard along the creek had been curbed and
guttered. The curbs and walls settled some but the road stood up fairly

154

well. Of course, all the walls were
rebuilt. We didn’t know about
floods here; we didn’t know then,
and I wonder if we know now.

The concrete walls along Cherry
Creek were not the kind of thing I
would do if I had the choice to
make.

Speer Boulevard

Speer Boulevard followed the northeast side of Cherry Creek from
the 14th Street viaduct to Downing Street at First Avenue. It was a daring
piece of work and it proved to be an unusually important section in the
plan of Denver. A line of American elms was put in between the curb
and the sidewalk. Later they had to be moved to the space between the
walk and the creek wall because they would have interfered with the low
street light standards. They are there today, 60 years later. We had hoped
to have a similar line of trees on the other side of the boulevard but the
opposition from property owners kept us from planting them. Some
small triangles were planted with trees.

The Speer plan had been to continue the parkways along the creek
all the way through the city but, because of the new country club and
its residential area, the parkways ended at Downing.

North of the business district, Speer Boulevard was continued over
the 14th Street viaduct into what was called Lake Place, now North
Speer. The streets were widened to Federal Boulevard, but the planned
diagonal extension to Berkeley Park was never built. Trees taken out on
old Lake Place were not replaced.

Forest Drive

Speer came back from Germany full of enthusiasm for the city forests
he had seen there. When he was again elected mayor, in 1915, he decided
that the strip south of Cherry Creek and east of Broadway would do
for a city forest. So we planted a dense forest there. Since we needed a
service road we left a 20-foot roadway through it, planting Lombardy
poplars on both sides of the roadway. In a few years the poplars grew
into a dense hedge. Frances Novitt pictured the effect in a drawing in
my book, “Around the Seasons.” The lane between Broadway and Logan
became one of the sights of the city. Traffic found its way there and
the road had to be widened to 30 feet. Later the poplars got a bark
disease, more traffic width was needed, and the trees were removed. We
planted red oaks at regular intervals through the forest and they are the
trees that remain there now.

155

The poplars on Forest Drive

The section of Forest Drive between Logan and Downing Streets was
planted with Colorado blue spruce as the dominating tree. They are of
a very blue variety called the Koster spruce, named for a Dutch nursery¬
man who collected the bluest specimens in Colorado in the 1870’s,
propagated them, and sold them back to us.

On the planting of Cherry Creek parkway I was under the eye of the
mayor all the time. We were filling in on the south side of the creek at
Logan and had one man leveling with a team and a little bucket we
called a slip, going around slowly to place the soil. Speer walked by there
every morning on his way to the office. One morning, after he had gone
by, the mayor sent for me. I was trembling. When I was inside his office,
he said, “You have one team working there, going around in circles. It’ll
take him a hundred years to level off that boulevard.” I said, “Mayor,
we don’t have much money.” “Who told you to worry about money? I
do that. Now get out of here and get that thing done.”

It was really Steinhauer’s business, so I told him. The next day we had
more teams there than we had room for. That’s the way Speer was; he
was going to improve Denver right now and no doubt about it.

156

The Civic Center

In 1913 the buildings on the site of the proposed Civic Center were
torn down. Frederick Law Olmsted was employed to make a study and
plan for the Center. Olmsted had a capable staff of landscape architects.
The building part of the plan was done by Arnold Brunner. Work was
started soon after and trees were planted.

When Speer returned to office in 1915 he brought with him visions of
the German plazas he had seen in Europe — plazas which were mostly
paved, with bordering forests and very little grass. He wanted a German
plaza for Denver, a place where people could congregate, and he didn’t
like the Olmsted plan. So he employed Edward Bennett of Chicago to
make a new layout. The new plan called for removal of most of the
trees.

I plowed up the work that had been done. I worked out what is there
now, based on Bennett’s plan which included the outdoor theater de¬
signed by Marean and Norton and the Voorhies Memorial designed by
Fisher and Fisher.

The red oaks in the Civic Center were a big experiment. I had visualized
a big area of red color in the fall and the red oaks were available. We got
them from a nursery in Pennsylvania, in late April, when the buds were
white and two inches long. I was sure we were licked, and I knew who
would get the blame.

We planted the trees anyway, hauling them from the railroad car a
dozen at a time so we would not have to heel them in. They certainly
received all the care in watering, staking, and fertilizing that we could
think of. I kept a notebook on them, writing it down if one showed signs
of growing. I did not know that inadvertently we had struck a period
which is best for transplanting trees. When the buds are swelling, trans¬
planting is safest, although it is the most dangerous time for the roots to
shrivel up. Out of the whole lot, we lost only two trees.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) With Calvert Vaux, he designed Central Park
in New York and supervised its construction. Architect in Chief of Central Park,
Commissioner of Yosemite and Mariposa Big Tree Grove, designer of Prospect
Park in Brooklyn, Mount Royal - Montreal, Back Bay Park - Boston, World’s
Columbian Exposition — Chicago, Capitol grounds - Washington, D.C., and many
others. He is recognized as “the founder of the profession of landscape architect
in America.”

Frederick Law Olmsted (1870-1957) Son of the Frederick Law Olmsted of Central
Park fame. Began practice as a landscape architect in 1895. Major planning projects
included Metropolitan Park System of Boston, Baltimore Park Commission, and
the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Director of California’s Park
Commission. This is the Frederick Law Olmsted who made plans for Denver’s
Civic Center and its Mountain Parks.

Arnold W. Brunner. Architect of the Cleveland post office and other public buildings.

Edward H. Bennett. San Francisco architect. Made city plans for Minneapolis in
1911-17.

157

Ash trees had been planted between the
oaks, according to the Olmsted plan. They
grew, and while the oaks were slowly
developing, the ashes were already green.

Today, as I look at Civic Center’s fully
grown groves of hardy oaks, I am disgusted
because they do not have the bright red
color we had hoped for. They are a
mahogany brown, and not spectacular.

When the State Capitol Building was finished, in the 90’s, it was de¬
cided to plant around it every variety of tree that would grow in Colorado.
Reinhard Scheutze planted the grounds. It was an interesting collection
of trees and has been very helpful to us all through the years. A lot of the
trees have died and some were removed to open up a vista to the City
and County Building.

Boulevard F — Federal Boulevard

Most of our planting activities had been in the eastern and southern
parts of Denver and the people in North Denver felt that they had been
ignored. George Olinger was park commissioner for North Denver and in
1915 he got us to plant trees — American elms — on both sides of Boule¬
vard F — Federal Boulevard — from Colfax to 46th Avenue. Mother
Cabrini’ was so anxious to get trees planted in front of the Queen of
Heaven Orphanage, of which she was the head, that she came to the park
office to ask for them, saying she would dig the holes. Next morning I
drove by there in my buggy; sure enough, a number of little girls and a
few nuns were digging in the hard clay. I had visions of much troublesome
publicity in the papers, and I told them to quit. By one o’clock we had
a crew of men digging the tree holes in front of the orphanage.

City Park

While the work on the parkways and streets was progressing we were
also developing the major parks. City Park had been partly planted, using
Reinhard Scheutze’s plan for the area east of the lake. The west end of
the park had been planted in the 90’s by, I believe, private citizens who
donated trees, and by school children. I found a plan of that area in the
park files; I have never seen a landscape plan like it!

The whole area, from York Street to the duck lake, was a maze of
concentric circles with trees bordering the circular roads. It was based on
horse-and-buggy driving and you could drive from one circle to another.
Imagine a large park with miles of silly roads and walks, trees everywhere,

158

and no open space. There were many ridiculous S-shaped walks, the edges
of which had to be hand trimmed.

It was no easy matter to create the open lawns we have today. The
citizens were so proud of their work that we had to remove the elm and
maple trees during snowstorms to avoid criticism. Three or four miles
of unnecessary roads and twice that many miles of paths were plowed
up. Criticism stopped when the big sloping lawns became apparent. Large
groups of people began to use them. The west end of City Park became
very attractive, with big open vistas. I claim credit for that, but I sure
caught hell when we cut down those trees.

The eastern end of City Park was slower in developing. The Carter
Museum of Natural History had been located there and that part of the
park designed around it. There was an entrance at 17th Avenue and
Colorado Boulevard. I got rid of that, replacing it with curved roads de¬
signed for slow traffic. We opened 23rd Avenue and widened 17th Avenue
so that traffic could go past outside the park.

In the middle of City Park, near the service buildings, a small zoo had
sprung up. Alfred Hill had started it with a few animals. It grew little
by little. In 1917 Victor Borcherd built the artificial mountain in the bear
pens. It was the first barless cage area in western zoos. He took im¬
pressions of the rocks near Morrison and set them up in the zoo, pouring
concrete of natural rock color in the forms.

He had other plans for the zoo but when interest at City Hall died
down, he went to St. Louis and built similar structures there. In St. Louis
the same thing happened, and after two years he came back to Denver.
Soon after, when I came back from a meeting at Cleveland, I found that

CARTER MUSEUM, CITY PARK
1913

159

Vic had shot himself. Poor Vic. He was a true artist. He had designed
naturalistic settings for the museum in City Park which were the fore¬
runners of the great ones there now.

Washington Park

With the building of Washington and Cheesman Parks, City Park lost
some of its glory. The parkways and large parks pulled development their
way.

When I began to work in the parks, Washington Park had the two lakes
that are there now. Park development was around the superintendent’s
house. Adam Kohankie, appointed superintendent by Speer in 1905, was
a very capable man, and Denver owes the beauty of this pet park largely
to his work. We worked together closely, I doing the paper work, and
Adam directing construction. There was some criticism about the city
furnishing Adam a house to live in, but the fact was that living there kept
him on the job 24 hours a day.

The big lawn had been put in; an expensive project. Horse drawn
mowers came along at this time. Automobiles had begun to use the park
roads, and the city put a row of heavy posts along the edge of the lawn
to keep motorists from cutting across.

During the interval between Speer’s administrations the parks were
under a commissioner. City Hall complained about the expense of putting
in the big lawn in Washington Park and stopped the work. Both the south
and north ends remained in prairie. A swimming beach and bath house
went in but no more park lawn.

Planting trees at the north end of the park was a problem. The com¬
missioner said, “No, leave this alone. We’ve got parks enough.” Harry
Raymond, the secretary of the commission, who lived near the park, said,
“Go ahead and plant it.” I had a plan and the plant material, so we
planted it. The trees were collected and carried by hand from the trucks.

FREE FISHING IN WASHINGTON PARK LAKE

1913

160

VIEW OF THE ROCKIES FROM CHEESMAN MEMORIAL, CHEESMAN PARK

The commissioner never noticed what we were doing. Evergreen Hill is
there today, the only nice planting of evergreens the park has.

When Speer came back into office, we were still working on the north
end of Washington Park. The engineers had figured out a curving road
there mathematically, with degrees, and had staked it that way. It looked
like heck; no flowing curves. So, one day, after five o’clock, John
Duninger, who was helping me, and I, pulled out the engineers’ stakes
and flattened out the road curves to a nice flowing line. The mayor
approved it.

Cheesman Park

Cheesman Park was originally a government cemetery. It existed when
I came to Denver although there was no burying there any more. Negotia¬
tions to turn it into a park were under way. The north end was already
planted and I planted the south end. A lake is part of the design for the
northwest corner of the park but we never got water for a real lake. It
has always been a dry lake; kind of interesting with its grassy slopes.

I tried my darndest to take away the monotony of all plain lawns in
these big parks. There is variety in the north and south ends of Cheesman.

Some wealthy homeowners, next to Cheesman Park, wanted the plant¬
ing removed so that their homes would face on an open park. I explained
to Otto Thum, the commissioner in charge of parks, that we should leave
it alone. “We have finally,” I said, “with a lot of work, gotten a park on
the go.” “All right,” he said. He was a good man. Later on, we com¬
promised. I made some openings in the planting so that the neighbors
could look in and their homes appeared to be part of the park.

Inspiration Point

Although the city had no legal right to buy land outside the city,
Mayor Speer went ahead and purchased the high bluff called Inspiration
Point, saying, “I’d be willing to go to jail for it as long as the people of
Denver got the use of it.” The beautiful outlook from The Point is one
of Denver’s great attractions. Part of the land there has been planted with
a forest of yellow pines so that no grass is needed.

Mountain Parks and Roads

The original idea for a Denver-owned mountain preserve came from
Robert Speer, I believe, but it was promoted into a reality by two com¬
mittees: one from the Real Estate Exchange with K. A. Pence as chair¬
man, and one from the Chamber of Commerce with Warwick Downing
as chairman. The two committees worked together for several years.

There were legal complications. The State Legislature had to authorize
the city to acquire land outside its corporate limits. Most of this mountain
land west of Denver was federal land subject to homesteading. It was
necessary for the federal government to withdraw it from homestead
entry. Only then was Denver allowed to select the land it wanted at the
rate of $1.25 per acre, the price for homestead land. Denver never made
a more profitable deal, for this land is probably worth thousands an
acre now.

Most of the mountain parks development came later but we did get
the mountains opened up with roads. The road up Lookout Mountain was
first planned and surveyed by Frederick Law Olmsted of Boston. The
Olmsted plan was ignored.

I started working on road surveys in the mountains shortly after I went
to work for Denver. During the winter time the engineers of the park

SKI JUMPING IN BERKELEY PARK
1913

162

PANORAMIC VIEW FROM LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ROAD, DENVER MOUNTAIN PARKS

office were on the survey of the Lookout Mountain road. Fred Steinhauer,
superintendent of parks, was chief engineer, with Ed Smith, later city
engineer, under him. I remember distinctly how we staked out the road,
taking care to protect the natural scenery.

We showed off the new road when we hosted the national meeting of
the American Institute of Park Executives in 1913. There was a trip up
Lookout Mountain, then one lane, but with good grades. Many of the cars
had to stop for water at a well in one of the turns of the road. After a
trout dinner in a tent on top of the mountain, the parade of cars followed
Denver Parks’ roads to Bergen Park and Evergreen, then down the old Bear
Creek road, which was narrow and plenty dizzy in places, to Morrison.

We had a road up on Genessee Mountain in 1913, I think. The Mount
Vernon Canyon road came much later, of course.

How the Elms Came to Denver

In those early days there were very few nurseries. The two outstanding
ones were George Brown’s and the Northern Nursery. But there were
tree salesmen, nevertheless. One of them had connections at the mayor’s
office; in fact, he was nothing else but a ward politician. He got a big
order. The trees had already been bought and shipped when I came in
the picture. That’s how Denver got so many elms. I picked out a few
good ones and threw out the mess of poor ones. We had a battle. I won;
the mayor supported me. I always thought the city should have sent me
to the nurseries to pick out the trees.

That same year, Speer arranged to give forty or fifty thousand little
trees to the people of Denver — a limit of three trees to each person who

163

came for them. We had the trees heeled in at Curtis playground and I
stood over the operation and threw away the worst culls. The people
were so tree-hungry they would get their three trees, take them away,
and come back again for three more. They were elms and soft maples
mostly. That’s what we distributed and that’s what we planted along
17th Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Monaco and Speer Boulevard. I realized when
we were doing it that we were planting too many American elms. It’s
dangerous for a city to plant too many trees of one kind. The trees are
sixty years old now and some of them are the elms which are being cut
down now. From Downing Street, you look down a stately line of trees
on Speer Boulevard to the mountains. I hope the darn bugs will spare
those trees. I’m more afraid of the human bugs than the animal ones.

ALONG THE MARION PARKWAY TO WASHINGTON PARK

Most of the trees which were not elms or soft maples, in the older
parkways and parks, were varieties which I introduced. The black walnut
was one of them. Another was the black locust, which was a good tree
but the worms finally wiped out almost all of them. Few black locusts
are left.

Experiments on Marion Street

We worried about having too many elms, so we tried out many other
kinds. Marion Street, from Cherry Creek to Washington Park, was rriade
a parkway with the city ditch running as a little rivulet down the center
parkway strip. Later, the engineers put the ditch in a pipe and covered
it over. Despite my protests they had eliminated the item of interest —
flowing water. We tried out several kinds of trees on the Marion Parkway.

164

Because one sycamore, Platanus occidentalism in Washington Park, looked
hardy, we planted sycamores for two blocks. In spite of the dry sandy
soil they did well.

In the next two blocks we planted hackberries that the city bought
from George Fragert who was a politician and had the ear of the
mayor. The hackberries came in a carload lot and were beautiful straight¬
trunked trees with few roots. Adam Kohankie and I planted them and
they leafed out fine. The first winter they all died. I didn’t dare tell the
park office that they were all dead; I thought my job depended on
those trees. If it wasn’t for the fact that there was no one else in the
park department who knew about plants, I probably would have been
fired — for having ideas, you know. It’s dangerous.

The hackberries that died were from the lowlands of Mississippi, not
suitable here. Adam and I didn’t say anything about it. We bought the
other hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, and went out and pulled the dead
Mississippi trees, one at a time, smuggled them away, and replaced them
with good hackberries. They are there now.

In the third two-block stretch we planted black walnuts and Carolina
poplars, alternately in the rows. The wlanuts came out later and were
replaced by red oaks.

The block from Cherry Creek to Third Avenue, on Downing, was
made a parkway, planted mostly in Eastern white pines. At that time the
white pine blister rust was doing much damage in the East and the
Department of Agriculture put out an order to destroy all trees of this
kind. Our white pines were not discovered by the inspector. The mature
trees are there today.

Park Men

In the early park program, I did all the horticultural work. No one else,
except Adam Kohankie, who came from Ohio, knew anything about
trees. Later on there was John Berry, from Colorado Springs, and John
Land; they knew something of horticulture.

During the “teen” years, we organized a horticultural, or plant identi¬
fication, class in the park department. Two young men in that class went
on to successful park careers. Russell Ellenbaas became superintendent
of Washington Park.

The other, George Carlson, worked with me during much of his career.
For many years he was with me in private practice, supervising actual
construction and planting on my plans. Later he was superintendent of
parks for Colorado Springs and general superintendent of Denver parks.
He certainly was a very capable man.

Flower Show

Although we were working for the Denver parks only, we were inter¬
ested in promoting horticulture over the whole state. Gus Klaiber had

165

Top: Alec Graham, Sunken Gardens ; Dr. C. P. Gillete, Colo. Ag. College; G. A. Klaiber, City
Forester.

Middle: Joe Herter, City parks; Carl Aude, Montclair parkways; Emil Fuerter, Gardener; Russell
Ellenbaas, Parks foreman.

Bottom: Wm. Zellers, Gardener; Robert R. Forest, City nursery; Paul Oske, Nurseryman;

Unknown; Unknown; “Deafie” Smith, Highland Park; George Carlson, City parks; Mr.
Patrick, Park Floral Co.; John Berry, Supt. of Parks; Mr. McIntyre, Berkeley Park;
S. R. DeBoer, Landscape Architect.

One-half of a picture of Horticultural Pioneers taken in 1912 at first meeting of Denver Society of
Ornamental Horticulture. Full picture, loaned by George Carlson, appeared in The Green Thumb,
September, 1948.

been appointed city forester. He and I hatched out the idea of a flower
show. A chrysanthemum show in the fall, we thought, would be a tremen¬
dous thing. Mayor Speer was enthusiastic about it.

We went to see the florists about it. The first one, A1 Mauff, told us
that it was too late. “You have to begin a year earlier to grow them,” he
said. Then we went to John Valentine at Park Floral and he agreed that
we needed a year to prepare the show. “But,” he said, “if Mayor Speer
is interested in this, I’ll empty the whole darn greenhouse to please
him.” So we had one florist. We went back to A1 Mauff and A1 said,
“Dammit, if Valentine can do it, I can too!” That’s the way the first
flower show was organized.

We had a pretty good flower show, in November, 1912, I think, and
all of it came out of the florists’ shops. The show was held in the
auditorium because Mayor Speer was anxious to have activity in the new
building which was barely finished. Even at that time Mrs. Morse, now
Mrs. Garrey, was on the committee. She and I are the only old timers
left.

166

The flower show was held annually for several years and the committee
managed it. Finally, the florists got together and decided that they had
really been putting on the show while the committee got the credit. So
the florists staged the next show themselves. At the end of it, they got
into a scrap, a real battle over who was doing what, and that was the end
of the flower shows.

Speer Comes Back Again

Robert Speer was out of office for several years. The mayors who
served during that time were nothing, and only showed that the city
needed a firm hand to direct it. In 1915 Speer returned to office. Al¬
though he had been the most despised man during the previous adminis¬
tration, he was elected by a vote of 2Vi to one. And Speer’s new city
charter was approved. It gave much executive power to the mayor, includ¬
ing the power to appoint all administrative officials and some councilmen.
This charter, somewhat modified, is still in effect.

I was elated over Robert Speer’s election but got a shock when I
received a letter from W. F. R. Mills, the Manager of Improvements and
Parks, to the effect that my services as a landscape architect were no
longer needed. I began thinking of setting up my own office for private
practice. Then I was called to Mayor Speer’s office. When I got there he
demanded, “What happened to you?” “You fired me,” I said. “No,”
said Speer, “I didn’t know a thing about it.” So, the next day, at the
park office, Mr. Mills took me into a corner and apologized. “I didn’t
know what a landscape architect was,” he said. I went back to work and
got a raise in pay.

In the midst of his new program, Robert Speer died, on May 14, 1918.

George Carlson and
Denver park men
on 1916 spraying
equipment.

167

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

PRIVATE PRACTICE, EARLY YEARS

ORLD WAR I slowed down the park work in Denver, but all
of us were busy in some kind of war work. I was not drafted
for military service because I had two children. To contribute
to the national effort I wrote promotional articles for the government
public relations agency, working under George Sanford Holmes, formerly
editor of the Rocky Mountain News and Commissioner of Safety for
Denver. Denver remembered him for his efforts to take guns and night¬
sticks away from the police. My articles were translated, one into 26
languages, for distribution in allied countries.

When -the war came to an end, in 1918, Denver went wild with excite¬
ment. I remember that Walter Pesman, Van Oostern and I had our
pictures taken acting like we were drunk, which we were not. Anna Beth
was hard to convince; she never forgave me for that picture.

By this time I was constantly being asked to do some private land¬
scape designing. It was something I had wanted to do and expected to do
some day. In 1919 Walter Pesman and I opened an office in the Tramway
Building. Pesman was in the office most of the time; I continued with
my park work for the city.

The park office was kind of uneasy because I was doing private work
besides my city work, so I quit the city. About two months later they
hired me back again, with an increase in pay, and I continued as landscape
architect and park consultant. This engagement with Denver lasted from
1920 until 1958.

The first private work I did in Denver was a garden plan for A. C.
Foster who had a fine home on a 160-acre farm. The next, I think, was
for Dr. DeWitt’s place up on the Morrison Road. I had an attractive and
condensed garden plan for that. Then I made a beautiful plan for Mrs.
Verner Z. Reed for her place on Circle Drive. There were others, all
elaborate gardens.

New Home in an Old House

It was 1920 when our family moved into the old farm house on a
five-acre tract in South Denver, under the city ditch. I had purchased the
land the year before. The house is probably one of the oldest houses in
South Denver. It took a lot of work to make it livable and I still work
on it.

We remodeled the chicken house into an office, put a pergola in front
of it, and a garden in front of that. My thought was that, being on the

168

Mrs. Verner Z. Reed Estate - DeBoer design

The office of S. R. DeBoer on E. Iliff Ave., Denver

169

city ditch, we would have enough water to make a small show garden as
a build-up for a landscape design office. For a while I had two gardeners.
When that proved to be too expensive I cut down to just one, and later
on we had to do the work ourselves.

There were big cottonwoods on the place, planted at the time the city
ditch was built. One of them was, I believe, the tallest tree in Colorado —
112 feet tall. It is still there but it is slowly dying. We were happy in
the old place. The pergola attracted much attention and its photograph
was printed in a Paris garden magazine.

The office building was designed by Lester Varian but he didn’t put
in the tower; he thought it would be too expensive. I designed the tower
myself, basing it on my memory of the tower in our home town of
UYeterp, in Holland. When it was built, Lester Varian approved of it. The
bricks of the office building are laid in a kind of wavy line, something
the bricklayer didn’t appreciate. And the roof shingles were also put on
in wavy lines. There were people who thought I had been cheated by
drunken workmen, but that’s the way I wanted it.

The building was finally completed in 1930 when there was little work
for anyone. A bricklayer and helper did the last job at five dollars a day.
Today they each get more than that for an hour.

English Interlude

In 1922 I was invited, by Thomas Mawson, the top city planner in the
world, to work in his office for a while. I had to pay for the privilege.
The Olmsteds in Boston had done some tremendous work on certain
tracts of land, like Central Park in New York; Mawson planned whole
cities.

I studied with Thomas Mawson for three or four months. He was too
busy to show me much, but his staff in Lancaster showed me everything
in the office. I saw it all and studied it all. I discovered that Mawson was
behind the times; he was still an old-fashioned city planner and landscape
architect. His park plans were independent of the plan of the city. He
designed curving line subdivisions and he designed the central part of the
city, but the atmosphere was narrower and smaller than the American
idea. I had learned something more advanced in Denver. I had learned
from John Nolen’s book that a correct city plan must consider water
lines to the homes, and sewer lines from them, and roadways for fast
traffic. I had seen the vision of integrated planning for the future.

At that time I was asked to do the planning for a big park in Rotterdam.
They were turning the Alexander Polder into a park. 1 hesitated about

Thomas H. Mawson (? - 1933) Founder of firm of T. H. Mawson & Sons, London
and Lancaster. Articled to architectural profession, turned by preference to arbori¬
culture and horticulture, then practiced as landscape architect and town planning
consultant. City plans for Athens, Salonika, Calgary, Banff, Vancouver, Bolton,
Northampton and many others. Author of Art and Craft of Garden Making, Civic
Art, Bolton - A Study in Town Planning, The Life and Work of an English
Landscape Architect.

170

that job. Finally Anna Beth and I decided that we wanted to go back to
Denver. Holland is a pleasant land but it’s crowded with people. And,
we knew, things had changed tremendously since we left it.

Some Planning in Denver Area

Back in Denver I was very busy with landscape work. George Carlson
came back from the war and joined me. Denver was growing and there
was a lot of building. We had much to do in the new Cherry Hills Country
Club area. We made the plans for the Cherry Hills area — the master
plan for the Village. Much later I did the planning for Greenwood Village.

We did the first planned landscape subdivision in the Denver area —
Glen Creighton, out on West Colfax, near Wadsworth. A small tract in
North Denver had curving streets but, otherwise, Denver had the dead
rectangular layout that nearly all cities have. Mr. Creighton was a farmer,
and he had us lay out his 80-acre farm. We laid out the subdivision in a
landscaped way, like no other in this region. When it was staked out
Creighton wanted more land in the lots, so he narrowed the streets from
50 feet to 30 feet wide, with no sidewalks. That’s the way they are
today.

We designed Bonnie Brae, where again I tried my darndest to get away
from Denver’s monotonous block system. I had in mind a plan for
Denver which included a curving diagonal street from Speer Boulevard
southeast to Colorado Boulevard. Bonnie Brae Boulevard, east of Univer¬
sity, was part of it, but the rest never happened. That boulevard has
proved to be valuable.

Although we had lots of work we didn’t prosper. I had put my in¬
heritance from my family into our business but, in spite of all our work,

Development Plan, A. C. Foster Estate by S. R. DeBoer

171

the books showed a continuous loss. Finally, in 1924, Pesman and I
separated and he took over our Denver school contract which was the
best part of the business. I went on building cities.

Grand Junction Plan

My consulting arrangement with Denver made it possible for me to
spread out and do planning work in other cities on a private basis. I was
working in Denver on zoning, which began in 1925, but for some time
had had a new view of overall city planning. When, in 1926, Ed Thompson,
the city manager of Grand Junction, came to me, I agreed to make a
plan for that city.

The plan for Grand Junction, as we conceived it, was a daring and
pioneer plan. I think it was the first time in the West, or maybe in
America, where city planning was extended into all the city’s trade
territory. I had a chance to try out my ideas.

We began the study by analyzing the elements of the whole territory.
What was there that could lead to employment and stable citizenship?
How large was the territory? How many people? And what did they do?
Things like that. We talked to the merchants and learned about their
customers, some of whom came from a long way off, once in a while,
to buy a half year’s supply of goods. We mapped a circle of 150 miles
radius and spotted the forests and mineral and other resources on it. The
map showed tremendous coal deposits and, of course, the famous oil
shale mountains along the Colorado River. We saw that the oil, when
developed, could supply the whole world with oil for many years, and
would make a big city out of Grand Junction. We considered the value
of the scenic areas, such as Glenwood Canyon, and their attraction to
tourists.

With all this information accumulated and mapped we applied our
findings to the city and planned what it needed for development. We
planned farm-to-market roads and connecting roads, the beginnings of a
master transit and highway network. We planned for tourist encourage¬
ment by business and cultural centers. Part of the plan was a parkway
along the Colorado River.

Working on this, we saw the need for a statewide planning project. We
saw that Colorado would benefit from a slow speed, indirect highway,
perhaps from Grand Junction up Glenwood Canyon, to Kremmling and
Hot Sulphur Springs, Grand Lake, the Trail Ridge Road and Estes Park,
to Denver. Such a road would not replace the high speed freeway, but
would be auxiliary to it.

For Grand Junction we prepared a zoning plan, based on the Denver
ordinance, but simpler.

The plan received wide attention, and led to my employment by the
government at the creation of Boulder City.

172

GENERAL PLAN - BOULDER CITY, NEVADA

Boulder City

I designed Boulder City (in Nevada, at Hoover Dam) about 1930. I
went out there and scouted the whole area where the dam was going to
be built with the Bureau of Reclamation engineer on the job. After
studying the topography it was clear that there were five possible locations
for the townsite. There was only one I could stick a shovel into, all the

173

others were too rocky. That’s the site we picked. Trees did grow there,
although it was necessary to haul in a lot of soil. Today, Boulder City is
a green spot in a thousand miles of nothing.

My Boulder City plan is V-shaped, with the point at the north on high
ground, with a view of Lake Mead. From the point, the streets radiate
out to the south, with the residential area in the wide part of the V.
The shopping center is located around a park in the center of town.
South of that is a multi-family dwelling area, and then the single family
area. Around it all I planned a green belt, with an industrial area and
room for a golf course, more homes, and other expansion outside the
green belt. On the west side of the plan runs the railroad. That is the
plan, but that isn’t what is there.

President Hoover got excited over unemployment and ordered the
Bureau to begin building the dam before the specifications were worked
out. The contract was let and work began before my plans were ready.
I made a tentative report and plan but, as I drew it up, I got other ideas
and began to revise it. By gosh, Reclamation was so anxious to get going
that they went out and staked out a plan that wasn’t mine. Dr. Elwood
Mead, the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, made a trip to
Washington and when he got back the stakes were pulled up. My final
plan for the city was then approved and staked out on the ground. And
that’s when things went wrong.

As you know, a number of big contractors went together to undertake
the Boulder Dam job (Six Companies, Inc.). The first thing they did was
to put up a big general store on the railroad, about half a mile from
the planned shopping center. Then other businesses came along and built
store buildings next to the first one and pretty soon the business district
was established there, not where I had planned it.

So, the planned shopping center in the center of the town, rimming
a park, is not there. About four blocks of that ground are vacant with
only a city hall in one corner. The center of the town is dead. The
school, which was to be in the residential district, is in the unplanned
commercial district. I have been unhappy about this sad situation for a
long time, particularly because the wrecking of the plan was done under
the eyes of one of my own engineers. Anyway, the government offices
were actually built in the space designed for them, up at the point of
the V. The green belt exists to a small extent, although there is a
hospital in part of it.

My plan for Boulder City was for a model city. Although it didn’t
become a reality it was a good plan, I think, for its time. Today, with
all the people on wheels, I would probably do it differently.

Estes Park

The Estes Park area work must have been in the 30’s. We did an awful
lot of work there. We made a subdivision layout for the grounds around
the Stanley Hotel, and another for a place on the other side of the

174

creek, and a layout on all the west side of Estes Park, and on the road
south to Ward.

We did work for the towns on the plains east of Estes Park — Longmont,
Loveland, and Fort Collins later on, and Greeley. I made the Greeley
zoning plan.

The following list of projects done in Mr. DeBoer’s early years in private practice
is not complete. It comes from pictures in the DeBoer home and from the index
of “The DeBoer Papers” at the Western History Department of the Denver Public

Library.

Charles Gates Home, Bear Creek About 1920

John Gates Home, Denver About 1920

W. R. Owen Residence, Cherry Hills 1920’s

F. M. Mayfield Estate 1920’s

Mrs. Verner Z. Reed Estate, Denver 1920’s

A. C. Foster Estate, Cherry Hills 1920’s

Thomas H. Powers Estate, Colorado Springs 1920’s

University of Denver, Development Plan 1923

Johnstown, Colo., City Plan 1926

Trinidad, Colo., Study of Need for Junior College 1926

Park Lane Square, Denver, Development and Landscaping 1926

Grand Junction, City Plan 1927

Greeley, Colo., Zoning Study and Ordinance 1927

Colorado Women’s College, Denver, Proposed Development 1927

Boulder, Colo., Zoning Study 1927

Estes Park, Colo., Development Plan for Eagle Rock

Residential Area 1927

Estes Park, Colo., Development Plan for Stanley Estates 1927

Boulder City, Nevada, City Plan 193 1

Colorado Springs, Plans for Restoration of

Monument Valley After 1935 flood

Longmont, Colo., Zoning Plan 1939

Boulder, Colo., Zoning Ordinance 1939

Arapahoe County, Colo., Zoning Plan 1939

Englewood, Colo., Building Code 1940

Englewood, Colo., City Plan and Zoning Ordinance 1940

175

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

DENVER PARKS AND PARKWAYS
The Stapleton Era

HE two men who were responsible for Denver’s parks and
parkways were Speer and Stapleton. When Benjamin Stapleton
became mayor in 1923 Denver could not have had a better man
for the continued development of its park system. He was the logical
successor to Robert Speer. He had followed our work closely during the
Speer years and when, after eight years of being postmaster, he became
mayor, his program was ready. He appointed Charles Vail his Manager
of Public Works and Parks.

Much of the Speer plan had been carried out, and Stapleton began to
purchase land for more parks. His purchase of Red Rocks Park was
severely criticized. One daily paper referred to it as Stapleton’s Rattle¬
snake Park. It was one of the best investments any city ever made.

In spite of criticism the mayor went ahead and bought Manhattan
Beach at Sloan Lake and put in a boat harbor there. He also purchased
land north of Berkeley Park for the Case golf course. The airport land
was acquired in the 30’s, when Denver was first on a main airline. We
had Roxborough Park on our list, and the mayor offered $15,000 for it.
The owner wanted $17,000 and the deal fell through. The land was
finally bought by a private developer and is now being cut up into a
fancy real estate subdivision.

Alamo Placita and Arlington Park

When Speer Boulevard was built on the northeast side of Cherry Creek,
there was a swampy area of old creek bottom left over, north of the
boulevard at Ogden Street. It had a beautiful grove of old cottonwoods
on it. Under Stapleton, we made a plan for a park there, preserving the
old trees. Part of the low land was planted in a formal design with low
hedges and beds of flowers, intended to be seen by motorists on the
boulevard. Today’s traffic is so fast that the motorist has no time to ob¬
serve anything but his road, and this type of design is no longer practical.

Eli Gross, Superintendent of Parks under Stapleton, gave the park an
appropriate name. Alamo Placita — Little Place of the Cottonwoods. This
park, together with Arlington Park on the south side of the creek, marks
the eastern end of the Cherry Creek, or Speer, Boulevards.

176

Denver's Civic Center before construction of City and County Building

Civic Center Again

The city got a donation for a bit of a fountain and I wanted to put
it in the intersection of the two axes of Civic Center. Burnham Hoyt, the
architect, with other ideas, had a prominent sculptor draw up a plan
that would have torn up the trees and everything. We had a battle. I
refused to let them spoil the Civic Center plan. So, Stapleton took the
money, a hundred thousand dollars, and put up a small building on the
Denver General Hospital grounds.

About the most important step in the development of the Civic Center
was locating the new city hall — the City and County Building — there.
Mr. Isaac Keator was chairman of a special committee of the Planning
Commission which acquired the block of ground on which the building
was located. The city government did not want an outsider to design its
most important building. It wasn’t just sentiment. It was recognized that
an outsider wouldn’t understand Denver’s special conditions of soil,
water, air, and sunlight. Mayor Stapleton decided to give the job to all
29 architects in Denver. They formed a committee and hired an outsider
to make the design which was used. The building was completed during
George Begole’s term as mayor.

Barnum Boulevard

The parkway program had mostly covered East Denver where the
well-to-do citizens lived, and North Denver had gotten very little of it.

177

To correct this we worked out a plan which served the whole northern
district and fitted into the plan of the city. We planned a boulevard run¬
ning from Barnum Park (West 4th to 5th Avenues, Hooker to Julian
Street) to Sloan Lake* then north to Berkeley Park and along West 46th
Avenue to Rocky Mountain Lake Park, then to Argo Park and past the
stockyards and on to Montclair, tieing in to the East Denver parkways.
South from Barnum the parkway would connect with the Platte River
plan and run to University Park along Harvard Gulch. It would give
Denver a tree-lined boulevard around the whole city. We also planned an
extension of Speer Boulevard to Berkeley Lake, Arvada, and Coal Creek
Canyon.

I still think it was a valuable plan, but did we get criticized! At a public
meeting in the Berkeley School I caught it. The chairman gave the gavel
to the vice-chairman so he could talk with freedom. And he did! It was
the days of the Ku Klux Klan, and his complaint was that we had con¬
nected Regis College campus to our parkway — a religious move to give
more power to the church. I pointed out that the plan also connected
with Denver University, Colorado Women’s College, a Baptist school, and
with Barnum and Sloan Lake Parks. I got out alive, but they stopped the
program right there. The next meeting was in Barnum and we expected
an attack. Mr. Vail went along, bringing his chauffeur who was a plain¬
clothes policeman. The chauffeur told me that “the boss thought you
might need some protection.” Nothing happened. But our ambitious
parkway plan never became a reality.

Sloan and Cooper Lakes

Sloan and Cooper Lakes used to be separated from each other by a
heavy dam and road. The dam was cut to make the largest body of water
in Denver, big enough for power and sail boats. The Tennyson Street
entrance was closed and the north end of the park developed for play¬
grounds. Traffic was detoured around the park, and parking places put
in at the boundaries. The boat harbor and boat house were built.

Roads Through Parks

As automobile traffic increased in Denver we began to make plans to
keep it out of the parks as much as possible. There had originally been

Mayors of Denver, Speer to Stapleton
Robert Speer 1904-12
Henry J. Arnold 1912
Dr. J. M. Perkins 1913-14
W. H. Sharpley 1915
Robert Speer 1916-18
W. F. R. Mills 1918
Dewey C. Bailey 1919-22
Ben F. Stapleton 1923-30
George D. Begole 1931-35
Ben F. Stapleton 1935-47

178

a road around Berkeley Lake for horse racing. It went through a busy
playground. We eliminated it and the road through the south part of the
park. And in Cheesman Park we closed Franklin Street. As a continuation
of Park Avenue it was becoming a main artery.

Mountain Park Developments

I have told you of the roads built in Denver’s Mountain Parks under
Speer. The developments in the mountains continued after he was gone.
In Stapleton’s time the road was built from Bergen Park to Echo Lake
by the city. The city’s road from Echo Lake to Mount Evans came later,
and the road from Echo Lake down to Idaho Springs was part of the
state construction. Echo Lake Lodge was built as a final point of the
mountain park system. Denver had built Tahosa Lodge on Genessee
Mountain which was never too successful. The whole development on
top of Lookout Mountain, including the lodge, was built by the city.

Cherry Trees and Crabapples

Stapleton had been to Washington at the time the flowering Japanese
cherries were in bloom. He came back and insisted on cherry trees in
Denver. So we bought a number of cherry trees. They all froze that
winter. We bought some more and some more. No luck. Our climate was
too severe for them.

In a corner of one of our parks we had a scraggly old flowering apple,
a purple Japanese crabapple. Why not try that? The crabs we bought
survived and in a couple of years produced beautiful pinkish-red flowers.
We planted half a mile of them along Marion Street Parkway and Cherry
Creek and they are still there. As we kept on planting them, new
varieties were tried. Today we plant several varieties of crabs here with
success.

A strange thing happened when the city trees began to blossom. The
citizens fell in love with them and began to plant flowering crabs in then-
gardens. They took over the project. Today, in the spring, the city is in
color from one end to the other.

0 fl.A'So

Srp-uc-t .s-in-t* fits

179

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

DENVER ZONING AND PLANNING

URING the first term of Mayor Stapleton, many new ideas
in city building were developed. It was the beginning of zoning
in Denver, James Burnett was president of City Council in 1925

when Stapleton appointed the city’s first zoning commission. New York
and Los Angeles had begun zoning plans; Denver was the third city to try
it. Nice neighborhoods were being ruined by shabby looking business
houses and there was a sad need for zoning regulations. The city employed
Robert Whitten, a New York specialist, to start the work.

I was a member of the zoning commission and I was employed by
the city to work with the specialist on the zoning plans. Another com¬
missioner, Irvin McCrary, also worked on the zoning. Mac never did much.
I was full of pep. The staff consisted of Mac and me, a lady secretary,
and a draftsman. For a long time we didn’t have an office in City Hall,
but eventually we did.

For the zoning plan we made a survey of all existing conditions in the
city. It was carefully figured out. Finally it was ready.

The original Denver ordinance was clumsy and overloaded with legal
terms. It has been rewritten many times. Later ordinances were less
technical, based on the principle that the common man should be able to
understand them.

The Park Hill Improvement Association was the main supporter of the
first Denver zoning ordinance. Without its enthusiasm and aid the plan
might not have been adopted. City Council President James Burnett was
largely responsible for its adoption in 1926.

The Denver zoning ordinance stood the test of time largely due to
the determination of Fred Ameter who steered it through many political
scuffles. If it did not accomplish what some had expected, it did protect
large neighborhoods from the creeping blight by which they were
threatened.

Planning Commission

In February, 1926, when the zoning ordinance was adopted, City
Council appointed a planning commission with John Flowers as president.
Flowers was active and interested in Denver. He did a remarkable job in
the brand new field of planning; they could not have chosen a better
man. He had gone to Washington to get the new post office located on
its present site. He owned property within two blocks. If he had expected

180

some gain in the value of his property, he was disappointed. Values of
land near the post office actually went down. Surveys have proved this.

I was a consultant on the city zoning and planning work, together
with the landscape firm of McCrary, Culley, and Carhart. We were all
young men in the planning field. We were working toward a major plan
for the whole city. Several preliminary studies of traffic and parks were
made and presented. The final “Denver Plan No. 1” was published on
December 27, 1929.

Denver Plan No. 1

The 1929 report contained a brief history of Denver and an analysis
of its population growth.

The graph showing past and future population growth was carefully
drawn by Louis Douglass who later became dam engineer for the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, and still later chief of the Hoover Dam project.
In making the graph we checked those of the telephone company, Public
Service Company, and the Water Board. They all showed the same climb,
from 300,000 in 1929 to 600,000 in 1960, and a million in the year
2000. Now, in 1972, the city has already exceeded the million mark, but
half of this is in the suburbs.

Since Denver had much vacant land, it had an overall density of 6.73
people per acre, although the density was 37.8 people per acre around
the Civic Center and 15.9 per acre in the district near Washington Park.
Some areas had less than one person per acre. If we compare this with
New York with 29.8 people per acre, Chicago 14.4, Milwaukee 25.8,
Kansas City 7.6, and Detroit 20.5, it can be seen that Denver had room
for growth inside its 1929 city limits.

The report noted that Denver was essentially a city of one family
homes, and said, “This commission is not in sympathy with any attempt
to change this characteristic of the city.”

Streets in the Plan

A plan for a traffic way around the central business district was part
of the first volume of the Denver Plan. That plan has been in many
reports and even today is part of the Urban Renewal Project. The line
on Larimer Street has varied, with both Market and Larimer Streets being
suggested for the route.

Traffic counts and studies began with that report. It was shown that
Broadway, Speer, and Colfax were the heaviest traveled arteries.

A general plan for street development showed the first plan for Buchtel
Boulevard with its continuation to the Platte River. (Essentially, the line
of 1-25 today.) Broadway was extended through Globeville. Speer Boule¬
vard was shown extended to Berkeley Park and Arvada. North Denver
Park District defeated that idea. Alameda Avenue, University and
Colorado Boulevards were to become main thoroughfares.

181

Parks in the Plan

In the park and recreation section of the plan, Civic Center was to be
extended west to Cherry Creek from the new City Hall. This extension
was later blocked by the construction of the U.S. Mint addition. The
plan visualized a parkway around North Denver as I have told in my
story of Barnum Park. There were plans for additions to Rocky Moun¬
tain Lake Park and Sloan Lake Park, and to the north side of City Park
for a municipal golf course. Marion Street Parkway was supposed to go
through Washington Park and then past South High School to University
Avenue. The School Board stopped that one when they took all the
space around the high school. All of this planning was an elaboration of
the original parkway plan by George Kessler.

Mass Transportation Plan

The second and third volumes of the Denver Plan, published in 1931
and 1932, under Isaac Keator as chairman of the Planning Board, made
more detailed studies of traffic and mass transportation. The mass trans¬
portation plan, if carried out, would have solved many of today’s
problems. Bus lines were planned to operate within lA mile of all
residences, feeding into electric lines on Broadway and Colfax. It would
have been easy to carry out the plan before the Tramway Company
removed the rails, or covered them over, on those main streets. The
report was written with the assistance of the manager of the Tramway
Company but it was never applied. Today the system could still be
effective if the main lines were placed on railroad rights of way.

Regional Plan

The Regional Plan for Denver was perhaps the most important work
of the Planning Commission. Under the presidency of C. M. Lightburn,

Celebration Parade — Opening of Buchtel Blvd. - 1936

182

the commission published a preliminary outline in 1933. This was
followed by a more detailed study in 1936 under the chairmanship of
George R. Day. The two reports contain a careful analysis of the region
around Denver and proposals for its development.

One proposed project, eventually carried out successfully, was the
Boulder Turnpike. It was first planned to run beside the Colorado &
Southern Railway tracks from Denver to Boulder. The Boulder Planning
Board proposed a more direct route. Under the personal direction of
Roderick Downing, professor of engineering at Colorado University,
students made the first real survey, shortening the alignment still more.
The State Highway Department didn’t accept the proposal and it met
with much criticism in the legislature, which voted against it. But when
it was proposed that the cost of the road be paid for by a toll from the
motorists, it was approved and built. The highway was a great success
and today it is one of the most important ones in the state in spite of
the fact it was never made part of the U.S. Public Roads system.

The plan called for a major highway through the city, from North
Broadway south along the Platte River, then southeasterly on Buchtel
Boulevard. The city did much work on this and Carl Feiss, director of
the planning work, had a model made of it and set up in City Hall — a
great help in “selling” the project. That was the plan that became the
Valley Highway, Interstate 25.

Other Main Highways

We had suggested a main traffic highway between the Greeley road
and the Fort Collins road, running north from Denver to carry the fast
traffic through to Wyoming. The mayor of Johnstown realized that the
new highway would come close to his town. He came to City Hall in
Denver and showed the report and highway plan to Charles Vail, who
at that time wa 5* Manager of Public Works. This led to the construction
of the North Washington road which Mr. Vail promoted when he became
chief engineer of the Highway Department. In lafer-years, Interstate 25
was actually built on the old Broadway line, extended to Cheyenne.

Another proposal in the plan was for a circular boulevard around
Aurora, along Sand Creek, and across on 46th Avenue to connect with
the Boulder cut-off. When Interstate Highway 70 was finally built it was
placed along 48th Avenue.

The Regional Plan we have been talking about proposed a road from
Mt. Vernon Canyon running by small communities on the east slope of
Green Mountain to Englewood and Littleton and along Hampden Avenue
and Peoria Street to what is now 1-70. Sections of this plan have become
roads but none of them have the aspect of a great scenic boulevard,
which they could have been.

At the time the regional study was made, Denver was a relatively
small city with no indication of the post war growth as has happened.
It is remarkable that the plan still fits the larger city which has grown
up here.

183

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

THE DEPRESSION IN DENVER

fji N late 1929 the whole economy of America collapsed, following
the stock market crash. None of us escaped the financial depression.
It showed us that, God! you can go hungry right in the middle of a
pile of gold.

I had a good sized staff in Denver before the crash, and the people
all had to be laid off. I had a second office in Houston, where my staff
was mostly making plans for real estate developments. For a few years,
that office had been a wonderful thing, but when everything went broke,
I went. broke everywhere. Two of the men I laid off in Denver went
to Houston to take over that office, believing they could make it go.
They went broke too.

No Plans

I found that the thing that made the depression so bad was the fact
that, even though there was government money to put the unemployed
to work, the cities had no plans for the work to be done. Denver was
the outstanding example of that.

Denver had 400 CCC men, under Major Ardourel, sitting on Genessee
Mountain with nothing to do. The head of the National Parks camps
asked me if there was any solution to this problem. It seemed that the
Denver city administration was violently opposed to the efforts of
Washington to create jobs.

At the time I was planning consultant for Boulder, Colorado, as well
as Denver. Harold McClintock, Boulder’s city manager, and I worked out
a program of needed improvements on Flagstaff Mountain, and in a few
days Major Ardourel brought his men to Boulder. They marched by the
courthouse, presenting their shovels in a salute, on their way to the
mountain. As a result, Boulder got the mistletoe cleaned out of the
pines, a road up and over Flagstaff, a picnic building, an overlook outdoor
theater on top of the mountain, and other improvements.

After a flood in Cherry Creek, I took the men from two CCC camps
and put them to work cleaning up brush and stuff and restoring the
channel. We had quite a lot of it done when an official came out of
Washington and decided we were doing flood control, not park planning.
He took the men away.

Regional Mapping

The depression began to pinch in 1931. Denver voted over half a

184

million dollars for unemployment
relief but City Hall had no plans to
use this money advantageously. All
they could think of was to pay men
to shovel off sand that had washed
over the new sidewalks in Bonnie
Brae. Important work for the un¬
employed was blocked by the
unions. It was at this time that the
Planning Board took up its project
of regional mapping.

The regional mapping project of
1932 had two principal purposes:
to put our unemployed engineers to
work and to provide much needed
up-to-date maps of the region. It
was led, or rather, pushed, by
C. M. Lightburn, secretary and past-
president of the Colorado Society
of Engineers, and president of the
Planning Board. The Planning Board
laid out the job, U. S. Geological Survey cooperated, and the federal
government paid the wages. The Colorado Society of Engineers, listing
some 250 job applicants, furnished the men. Actual field work corrected
the old maps and furnished the date for new ones.

A foothill road was proposed and engineered in the depression period.
It would have created a scenic road, carefully planned to connect
attractive areas between Boulder and Colorado Springs. Beginning on the
east slope of Flagstaff Mountain at Boulder, it was to skirt Eldorado
Springs, the mountains west of Arvada and Golden, go past Red Rocks
Park, and run southwest from Kassler to the mountain area west of
Sedalia and Monument, coming into Colorado Springs at the Garden of
the Gods. No construction was ever started. I still believe that the
Denver-Colorado Springs tourist area ought to build this road for slow
traffic and scenery.

WPA Work

WPA work was sneered at by many, but in fact Denver got a great
deal out of it. When Ben Stapleton came back into the mayor’s office in
1935, he had all kinds of plans ready to be carried out. George Cranmer
was appointed Manager of Parks and Improvements and he took on the
construction work. Cranmer got things going.

Stapleton and Cranmer used WPA labor to build the Red Rocks theater
and the roads and parking lots for it. Then the WPA people built Alameda
Avenue Parkway from Denver to the Red Rocks. Denver bought a very
wide right-of-way for this road and side strips were planted parkway

185

style. But the county neglected the planting and allowed trees to be re¬
moved wherever a business wanted access and a view. Today there is
little left of the parkway plan.

Other important WPA projects included riprapping the banks of the
Platte River and building roads along it, widening roads at Inspiration
Point, and some development of roads along Cherry Creek above Colorado
Boulevard.

As the depression got worse, industries shut down and unemployment
increased. My private work closed up and I went to work for the National
Resources Planning Board as a consultant.

PLANS, PARKS and PEOPLE

ISM

PLANNING FOR THE WEST

Y study of Grand Junction, some way or other, got to Wash¬
ington and, eventually to Frederick Delano, the uncle of
Franklin Roosevelt. Mr. Delano was responsible for my appoint¬
ment as consultant to the State Planning Board of Utah, under the
National Resources Planning Board.

Mr. Delano was, in my opinion, the genius who really got city planning
under way in this country. He had been chairman of the Chicago Planning
Board and had made that city famous for its planning work. When the
National Resources Planning Board was established by President Roosevelt,
Delano was made head of it.

Utah

Jacob Crane of Chicago introduced me to the Utah Planning Board
and left me without any hint of what I was to do. I want to tell you I
was absolutely at sea! I felt like a mouse in a cathedral. What was I going
to do?

I collected all the information on Utah I could find and sent it to
Washington. It came right back with the comment: “We don’t want
the reports of somebody else, we want you to analyze it all and make
a state plan.” So, that’s what they wanted!

There were no text books nor manuals on state planning, but I had
the Hoover Reports, made under Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover.
From these I obtained the basic information needed to begin my
planning work in Utah.

186

We organized a large staff, some 50 or more unemployed architects,
engineers, mining specialists, but the best men did not stay long; they
found work in private business after a while.

A systematic study of all the resources of the state was undertaken.
It included land, water, railroads, cities, industries, commerce, health,
smoke pollution, etc.

Much work had already been done by the state department of agricul¬
ture on a study of land, especially its ownership. As you know, a high,
percentage of Utah’s land belongs to the federal government. The land,
of course, is the base on which all other elements depend.

Water is the next most important resource of the state. An overall
survey of water resources for irrigation was done by a special committee.
The survey indicated that when a few proposed projects were completed
the State of Utah would have used up all its water available for irrigation.

But one of our WPA engineers by the name of Borg came up with a
daring proposal. The Flaming Gorge Dam on the Green River had been
under consideration for a long time. It was designed as a power project.
Borg suggested that the water used for power should also be used for
irrigation. He proposed a tunnel through the Uintah Mountains, carrying
Flaming Gorge water to the south end of the Salt Lake valley to irrigate
more than a hundred thousand acres of fertile land.

I mentioned Borg’s proposal to Lee Kimball, the engineer in charge of
the Salt Lake Irrigation District. Like others, including the governor, he
declared it to be a pipe dream — impossible from an elevation stand¬
point, and too expensive. Since Kimball was an expert on these things,
his opinion was final as far as I was concerned. Two weeks later he tele¬
phoned me in Denver. “I take it all back,” he said. “It is possible, and
does not need to be costly.” Lee’s acceptance of the Borg dream caused
a great awakening in Utah. Everyone began to see the possibility of a
great agricultural development for the state. The Salt Lake Tribune
devoted a Sunday issue to the story.

Frederick Adrian Delano was born of American parentage in Hong Kong, China
on September 10, 1863. He began his career as an engineering assistant for the'
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in Colorado in 1885. By 1901 he was
general manager of that railroad, and later he was president of several railroads.
Woodrow Wilson appointed him a member of the Federal Reserve Board in 1914.
During World War I, and for a few years after, Delano served as a colonel of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in France. In 1925 he was chairman of a League
of Nations Committee.

Frederick Delano was a pioneer in city planning, being a member of the
citizens group which sponsored the “Wacker Plan” for Chicago. In 1927 he was
chairman of the Commission on Regional Planning for New York and Environs.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, his nephew, named him chairman of the National
Resources Planning Board in 1934. He was president of the American Civic
Association 1925-37, and of its successor, the American Planning and Civic
Association. The list of Mr. Delano’s activities in national, state and local public
service agencies is unbelievably long, as is the list of his memberships and official
positions in prominent societies and organizations.

187

Before anything could be done, Lee Kimball was killed in an auto¬
mobile accident and his bold project died with him. The Flaming Gorge
Dam was built without the irrigation project.

Brigham Young as Planner

If you study the early history of Utah you will learn that Brigham
Young was not only head of the Mormon Church but was also governor
of the territory, and a great planner. Before the original Mormon settlers
reached the Salt Lake Basin, Young was planning their future city.

He laid out a rectangular street pattern with blocks ten acres in area
and streets eight rods, or 132 feet, in width. When the blocks had been
staked out and the survey tied to the meridian of the area, all the
leading families among the settlers received building lots of their choice.
Young kept a large tract for himself and a very large area for the church.

Young sent out scouts in all directions to locate grazing and crop lands,
water supplies and minerals. Then he made plans for their development.

Although it hadn’t been realized at first, the church required that all
property was to be owned in common. In southern Utah this system
succeeded and the people lived in community dormitories and ate in
community eating halls. But in the cities it didn’t always work. The
people who had built homes on the lots claimed private ownership and
after a while the federal government supported them. Utah had to
abandon the community ownership idea and fit the American way.

In spite of the many difficulties he faced, Brigham Young was cer¬
tainly one of this nation’s foremost planners and builders. He developed
a modern civilization on the most unpromising desert land.

Copper, Iron and a Smelter

Copper mining became an important industry in Utah. With the
Nation’s supply diminishing. Bingham Canyon and Tooele copper mines
gained in importance. The start of the great depression caught the
copper industry in great difficulty. Price of copper on the world market
fell below the cost of production. Utah Copper Company had to lay
off some 4500 men. For a year the company kept many of them on
the payroll but after that they were on public relief. It was no easy

188

matter for the state and counties to provide work for so many. Advanced
planning became an important matter.

Some iron had been mined in the southwest corner of the state and
had been processed in a small smelter near Provo, but it was believed
that the quantity available was limited. The Utah Planning Board made
a world-wide study of iron which became the board’s most valuable
undertaking.

The report on iron did not emphasize the international situation. It
brought out the fact that southwestern Utah had enough iron for
development. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed this and
pointed to large supplies. A smelter could be located at Provo where all
the other essentials for iron processing were within easy reach.

In 1940 the second world war seemed imminent and the need for
iron in munitions became very great. Frederick Delano came to Salt Lake
and together with the governor, Henry Blood, and other officials, we
inspected the site of the proposed smelter near Provo. The Geneva
Smelter was built, in record time, and was operated by the government.
After the war it was sold to a private company and is still operating
today.

It was fun to travel with “Uncle Fred” Delano. Wherever we went,
men, mostly park superintendents, were ready with their cars, and, of
course, their problems. We visited Bryce and Zion National Parks, and
went through the beautiful Arizona forest to the north rim of the Grand
Canyon. The evening we were there we sat on the open rocks around the
hotel watching an eclipse of the moon and listening to two girls singing
softly. The next morning we were guided by the girls to a small plane
which took us to the south rim. If you ever want a thrill, fly across the
Grand Canyon in a small plane. There is a strong down-draft and you
hang on for dear life.

New Mexico

After we were well on our way in Utah the National Resources Plan¬
ning Board added the New Mexico planning work to my program. New
Mexico’s board consisted of university and college presidents and a
couple of business men. Their attitude was quite different from that of
the Utah Board. The Salt Lake attitude had been one of serious thinking.
The Santa Fe attitude, although serious, was more light hearted. I liked
the New Mexico attitude and if I ever leave my dear Colorado, I have
a building site picked on the Rio Grande River south of Santa Fe, below
the bluff.

Dust Bowl

At the beginning of the depression the mountain states were in a
period of serious drouth. Nowhere was it more severe than in the south¬
east corner of Colorado and the northeast corner of New Mexico. Pastures
dried up and cattle were sent to Old Mexico to survive. Plow land blew
away. The story went that a farmer who was following a black cloud

189

of dust with his power plow explained, “That is my farm. I will plow
it as soon as it comes down.” The meetings of the New Mexico Planning
Board were largely concerned with the dust problem.

The director of the state planning board, Captain Kean Griffith, and
I decided to visit the worst dust areas and see for ourselves. Taking
Captain Griffith’s car, we drove toward Clayton. By four in the after¬
noon it was dark and we had to turn on the headlights to see the road
or, rather, the sand blowing across it. We were stuck several times and
finally came to a complete halt in a big sand dune. By letting most of
the air out of the tires we managed to turn around.

We had seen a light in a farm house a short distance back and we
headed for it; eventually driving into the yard. The farmer’s wife opened
the door. “Evidently,” she said, “you are stuck in the sand. Come in.”

They were eating supper and she invited us to join them. We had
hoped to get to Clayton, but she said, “You’ll never get there.” So we
joined them. There was no meat, just bread and corn. We had come to
see the dust bowl and we were seeing it.

I asked the farmer, “Why don’t you move away?” “That’s what I
say,” his wife broke in. “I worry over the children; they get red circles
around their eyes from the dust.” “I know,” the farmer said, “but my
father left me this place with 1400 acres of land. If I leave, the place is
lost. He homesteaded it, and I just cannot leave.” These people had
been fairly well-to-do, but now their animals — cows, horses, pigs —
were gone, together with most of their equipment.

The wife had been a school teacher and this life was hard on her. But
that evening we gathered in the living room and she played the old
piano and sang for us. Her voice was barely stronger than the wind out¬
side. It was something to stay with a person forever.

The farmer’s wife made up a bed
for us in the living room. We did
not sleep. The wind howled around
that little house like a fury. The
family slept upstairs and in the mid¬
dle of the night I heard them get
up. She told us, later, that they
were afraid the house would blow
over and she had dressed the chil¬
dren to be prepared if the house
went down. I have seen poverty in
some countries, but this was poverty
plus agony.

Toward morning the wind went
down. The farmer got up early and
began breaking up the tough leaves
of century plants to make feed for
the few animals that were left. His
wife refused pay from us — they

190

were still well-to-do farmers. I left a ten dollar bill under the kitchen
towel.

And What Came of It.

When we reported what we had seen to the State Planning Board they
voted to request five million dollars in emergency money from the
federal government. We managed to get Utah to make a similar request.
Ten million ought to do something, but no one knew what. A restriction
against plowing the land was definitely needed. The response from
Washington was immediate and with it came the announcement that
seventy-five million, not ten million, would be available.

One of the top men of the regional Forest Service was appointed to
take charge of the emergency work. He was somewhat bewildered by
the problem of what to do with so much money. A large tract of land
was bought by the government for experimental work and the Soil Con¬
servation Service was organized. It became one of the nation’s most
important conservation agencies.

Some two years later the new planning director and I drove by the
farm out in the dust bowl where I had spent the night. It was a clear
sunny day such as only New Mexico has. The farmer’s wife was in the
yard and we stopped. She wore a new dress and looked well. I asked her
how things were. “Well,” she said, “we got some money.” She told me
that her husband, as a veteran of the first world war, had received a
bonus of $1400. I said, “That helped.” “I got two hundred for some
clothes,” she said. “And the rest?” I asked. She turned to the field.
There was a new power plow sitting in the field, nearly covered with
sand. “There it is,” she said.

That part of the northern New Mexico plains is very fertile and the
soil is deep. Sooner or later we may find the type of crops which will
grow at this 6,000 foot altitude and perhaps learn how to get water for
them.

Architecture and Parks

At that time New Mexico was well on the way toward developing its
own style of architecture. The Fred Harvey Co. had built eating houses
and hotels at most towns along the Santa Fe Railroad main line, using
building designs based on the Indian village, or Pueblo, architecture. The
LaFonda in Santa Fe, the Alvarado Hotel and the station in Albuquerque,
were refreshing items in the western landscape. The introduction of
dining cars on the trains made many of these buildings superfluous but
several of them remain today.

The Pueblo style had competition from the Spanish Colonial, preferred
by many architects. A new capitol was built in the 30’s. The first unit,
the supreme court building, was in Pueblo style, but the main buildings
are Spanish Colonial, to my regret.

We did considerable park work in New Mexico, for Santa Fe, Albu¬
querque, Roswell, and other towns. George Carlson, who had been with

191

me in Denver, was in charge of the actual construction on these projects.
The Santa Fe work included a parkway along the Santa Fe River. We had
a difficult time getting land for this.

The federal government would pay for the work but the city had to
acquire the land. We needed 106 separate small tracts for the parkway.
At first we had little luck; talk of economics meant nothing to the
people. But when we made the plea that they should give land for the
good of their city, we got results. An elderly Mexican woman whispered
to me that the archbishop would give a strip of land back of the church.
A business man donated a strip behind his store. Now the Anglo group
began to come in. At last 103 tracts were promised and work could
begin.

George went to work, construct¬
ing small dams in the river, restoring
bridge abutments, and planting
parks along the stream. A small
building, designed by Carlos Vierra,
was constructed as an office for the
state park system.

In Roswell, another assistant, Ray
Shipherd, worked out the Bottom¬
less Lake Park. There is a great
underground flow of water there
under the Pecos River. Buildings
were put up, pretty much on floats.

It was an interesting project.

The People

The New Mexico planning work dealt with people much more than
planning in other states had done. Detailed studies on the Pueblo Indian
villages were made by specialists. The simple life of the Indians was a
great tourist attraction, but these people were miserably poor and did
not benefit from the tourist industry.

The villages were picturesque and the Indians were friendly. However,
there were limits to their friendliness. A companion of mine, one Sunday
afternoon, started sketching some doorways without offering to pay for
the privilege and had to surrender his sketches to a husky Indian swing¬
ing a harness hame.

Their stolidness was dismaying. When I arrived at an Indian village
late, due to mud on the road, on an occasion when I was to show
colored slides, I tried to explain, but there was no response, nor did they
seem interested in the pictures. Later, the agent told me that he had
heard much favorable comment on the pictures.

192

My work in New Mexico brought me again to the little town where
I had first landed in America. The town was named for Lucien Maxwell,
a rancher, who had, through marriage and purchase, obtained ownership
of a large part of northern New Mexico at one time. When the area
became part of the Union, Americans came there to settle. One group
tried to grow sugar beets in the neighborhood but failed because there
was not enough irrigation water for their crops. Later a Dutch syndicate
purchased much of the Maxwell Land Grant and a number of Dutch
families came there in search of a cure for lung trouble. They built their
own church, but the settlement did not last, and the Dutch scattered to
Colorado and Montana.

Wyoming

In spite of the fact that the two states of Utah and New Mexico, to
which I had been assigned as consultant planner by the National Re¬
sources Planning Board, were enough of a task, I had to accept Wyoming
as a third one. The three states, and the Denver region, where I was still
engaged as planner, covered a huge part of the United States.

We had previously done much work in Wyoming cities and the state
officials insisted that I be their consultant. Our work had begun with a
small subdivision in the City of Rawlins, a grimy and unpleasant division
point on the Union Pacific Railroad. At that time Rawlins had one tree,
a crooked silver poplar. We made a plan for a small park, which we
planted.

George Brimmer was a prominent lawyer in Rawlins. He had made
some money in the oil business. George was much interested in our
planning and planting work. When we did the little park, he suggested
other projects — the courthouse grounds, the cemetery, city hall, park¬
ways on the avenues. Years later I discovered that Brimmer had paid
the fees for designing those projects. He arranged free labor from the
penitentiary for our public work. The warden was anxious to provide
outdoor work for the men who were soon to be discharged. A large
tract of land, just outside the walls, was owned by the penitentiary.
Brimmer arranged to have us design a park for this tract that could be
worked by the prisoners and used by the people of the city. It was built
and became a big improvement.

When the Rawlins work was completed we designed the grounds of
all the state institutions — at Evanston, Lander, Basin, Sheridan, Saratoga,
Thermopolis, and Riverton. The Riverton job was for the penitentiary
farm. The inmates put up the buildings and operated the 720-acre farm
without any fences, on alkali land they had reclaimed.

Later, Brimmer moved to Cheyenne, and of course, we had to do
much planning and planting in that city. The City of Cheyenne had large
but undeveloped park areas. One, north of the city, included two lakes,
a golf course and picnic area. We worked on all of these. Brimmer got
everyone in on the program. We had a Rotary Park, a Lions Park, and
a Kiwanis Park. An approach road to the airport buildings was part of

193

the program. Brimmer paid for much of the nursery stock we used.

The city cemetery got some planting, but the main job on this wind¬
swept hill was at the Veteran’s Hospital. A colonel of engineers came to
see what could be done there and arrived on a terribly windy day.
“Human beings cannot live in this place,” he decided. “Plant the biggest
trees you can find here.” When we estimated the cost, his mind was
changed. We wound up by using small trees, mostly evergreens. The
forest is there now, and it is a perfect shelter.

Fort Warren was another item on the Cheyenne list. Our sponsor
opened the way for a big tree planting program there and Captain Ware,
who was in charge of the work, was enthusiastic. We planted thousands
of trees.

I had mentioned to Mr. Brimmer the vain efforts we were making
toward a botanic garden in Denver. Without telling me, he wrote to
Senator Warren and in a short time a large tract of government land near
Fort Warren was set aside for a new plant experiment station of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and $100,000 was appropriated for develop¬
ment. The experimental plot was established and became an important
horticultural center for the West. At the same time we made plans for
an operation post of the Forest Service in the mountains west of Fort
Warren. The forest guides who had little to do in winter built their own
homes and did the landscaping. The trees are grown up now and the
buildings nestle against the tall windbreak, protected from the wind.

The Capitol and Other Jobs

One of the disappointments in our Wyoming work was the failure to
complete the development of the capitol grounds. Our proposal was to
have a large open meadow in front of the building. There was one block
of park east of Capitol Avenue and it was extended another block to the
east for a building to house the supreme court. The west side of Capitol
Avenue, which in the plan balanced the east side, could not be acquired
because it contained two large residences. Even now Wyoming would do

well to acquire this property and
put in a large green lawn as a set¬
ting for its capitol.

In 1932, on George Washington’s
200th birthday, a program got under
way (pushed along by George Brim¬
mer’s enthusiasm) to start, or add
to, a park in every city and town
in Wyoming, whatever its size.

194

State Planning

The state planning work, done under N.R.P.B., was mostly around
the hospitals in Worland and Evanston. The plant material we used was
growing right there — native plants collected along the creek bottoms.

We found that the cattlemen and sheepmen of Wyoming, even when
fighting each other, were all opposed to national parks, forests, and
beautification projects. Much of the land is owned by the government
and the railroads. Land use planners must consider these things.

Wyoming was an easy and friendly place. It’s a God-forsaken place
they live in, but the people are all right. I’m fond of them.

Wyoming Town by Night

Open lonely spaces
Howling coyotes
Star spotted sky
Waving horizons

Far away a train whistling
Miles and miles of openness
Wind is blowing
Dust is flying
Over hilltop
Lights are shining
Lights of a town
Bright in distant darkness

Hearth fires there are burning
Coziness of home
Kindly lights of love and living
Far in the darkness

S. R. DeB.

The incomplete index of “The DeBoer Papers” in the Western History Depart¬
ment of the Denver Public Library lists 40 different reports, studies and plans by
Mr. DeBoer for the State of Utah. They cover resources — water, land, power,
scenery, minerals, etc.; activities - welfare, agriculture, industry, education, com¬
merce, etc.; and such other subjects as population, health conditions, libraries,
income, public works. There are planning studies for Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City.

There are 14 studies and reports on New Mexico covering such subjects as
illiteracy, Indian lands and pueblos, irrigation, business, land use. Planning included
military posts at Fort Bliss, White Sands Proving Grounds, Holloman Air Base;
also planning for Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell.

Wyoming reports in “The DeBoer Papers” total 33, many of them important
studies of the resources of large areas such as the basins of the Missouri, Green,
Upper Colorado and Yellowstone Rivers. Specific planning reports in this incom¬
plete list are for the state hospital at Evanston, development and parks at
Cheyenne, sanatarium at Basin, landscaping Fort D. A. Russell, the campus of
University of Wyoming, and others.

195

The National Resources Planning Board served this country well by
bringing the best ideas in modern planning to the states. After many
years of efficient work the board came to a sudden death when congress
cut off its appropriation in 1943. Many of its studies had been by river
drainage areas, and often the pet projects of members of congress for
diversions were not what the scientific analysis of the board recommended.
The death of the board was a shock to the development of America. It
left a legacy of state and city planning boards which continued the work
more or less successfully.

National Resources Planning Board: Established in 1933 as the National Planning
Board of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, it soon became
the National Resources Board and, later, the National Resources Committee. In
1939 it was designated the National Resources Planning Board. Through all its
life Frederick Delano was chairman of the Board, with Charles W. Eliot as director.
Clifford H. Stone was chairman of the regional organization in Denver. An act of
Congress, August 31, 1943, abolished the Board as of January 1, 1944.

S. R. DeBoer

196

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

2 X

EUROPE REVISITED

OR many years I had been putting all my strength into leading
the planning work in three large states and one major city. In
the summer of 1939 I felt that I could not, and should not,
go on. My mind was simply worn out. War was visible on the European
horizon, and my wife, Anna Beth, and I, saw that if we wanted to go to
Europe we had better go quickly. I resigned my position with the National
Resources Planning Board, although Mr. Delano felt that they needed me.
Then I sent word to Stockholm that I would attend the international
city planning meeting in June and I advised my family in Holland that
we were coming.

Stockholm

We took our car with us. After landing in Rotterdam, we drove through
Germany, Denmark and Sweden, to beautiful Stockholm. The planning
meeting, conducted in three languages, was like all meetings of that
kind, dull and sleepy. That is, it was dull until a British speaker, referring
to a model town on the island of Norderney, built by Hitler and Goring,
ran into considerable flak from the German planners.

After the meeting I told Albert Speer, head of all German planning,
that I was going to Germany and wanted to see what they were doing.
He was very friendly. Since he was going on to Norway, he gave me his
card and an introduction to his chief assistant in Berlin. Speer became
Hitler’s main assistant, all around advisor, and supervised the making of
ammunition during the war. Afterward, as a war criminal, he was held
in Spandau prison until recently.

Berlin

When we got to Berlin and I presented Mr. Speer’s card and note we
were royally received. At the planning headquarters we were shown into
a large exhibition room in which were displayed drawings of the plans
for all the large cities of the Empire. They were well done but all the

Albert Speer: Born March 19, 1905. Professional architect. Became in 1937
“Inspector General of Buildings for the Renovation of the Federal Capital.’’ City
planning for Berlin. Hitler’s personal, and the Reich’s official architect. During
the war was Minister of Armaments and War Production. Sentenced to 20 years
imprisonment at war crimes trial. In prison until October 1966. As prisoner wrote
“Inside the Third Reich’’ on scraps of paper which were smuggled out of Spandau.

197

designs were entirely architectural. Later we saw the work being done
on TJnter den Linden road, the Branderburger Tor (gateway), and the
tunneling under the Spree River.

At the tunnel, a group of engineers surrounded us, asking what America
would do in case of war. I answered that “we don’t want war.” Surpris¬
ingly, they too said, with much sincerity, that they didn’t want war. All
of us knew that the war was coming; the atmosphere in Berlin was
charged with that knowledge.

On the road out of Berlin we were stopped by men of the Gestapo
who inspected everything we had. We had been told to proceed when
the inspector remembered that Mrs. DeBoer was driving. He demanded
to see her driver’s license. As you might expect, she went through every¬
thing before she found it. The man could not read it. I explained what
was on the card, but I did not mention that the license had run out a
month before.

German Cities

We arrived at Munich late at night and the next morning presented our
credentials at Hitler’s headquarters. Through the people there we were
received by Munich officials. They showed us the monument to the men
who had died in the Beer Hall Putsch. There was a dinner at the Munich
museum and a trip to a famous forest cemetery. We were glad to leave;
we felt uneasy in Munich.

At Nuremberg we drove within the walls, right into a mob of excited
youngsters gathered for a “Youth Day.” It seemed wise not to stay and
we left without seeing much of the old town.

A garden and horticulture show was going on in Stuttgart when we
got there and we visited it with the local planning director. Stuttgart is
in a famous plant-growing section. Its main park was a schloesgarten —
a royal or ducal garden — occupied by Hitler’s men.

The old buildings in Meinenger, around a small park, were charming.
I hope we learn to make city shopping areas as beautiful and pleasant as
those.

Switzerland

So we came to Schaffhausen, saw the waterfall, and crossed over the
line into Switzerland. Mrs. DeBoer sighed, “We can talk again.” It was
good to escape the Gestapo atmosphere.

Both Zurich and Lucerne have beautiful lake fronts: large hotels facing
parkways lined with trees, next to the lakes. I was itching to study them,
but our schedule did not permit it.

We drove to St. Gotthard Pass and had lunch in an attractive restaurant
on top where a singer and flutist charmed the customers with Tyrolean
songs. The St. Gotthard Pass road is built against the rocky walls of the
mountains, not tunneled as are ours, and is very impressive. We spent a
few days in Locarno on the Alpine Lakes and then started back to
Holland. Our hostess in Lucerne urged us not to go through Germany,

198

but I insisted because I wanted to see the school of landscape art I
attended long ago. I said, “I am an American citizen; they won’t dare to
touch me.” She replied, “You are child-like. The American government
would not know of your disappearance for six months.”

And Return

We went back to Germany and down the Rhine to what had been the
Imperial School of Landscape Art. The school had been moved to
Dahlen, near Berlin, and the site was a park. When we stopped for gas
in Wiesbaden, the attendant told us, “Better fill up; I have orders to
stop selling.” The war had begun. So, through Cologne to Cleve and into
a patriotic parade. We kept out of the way.

At the Dutch border our persons and our car were rigorously searched.
We had nothing to declare. They didn’t find the six bottles of Rhine
wine on the back seat under a blanket. I didn’t declare them because those
fellows were so brutish and rude. Our experience with German custom
officers was far more pleasant than with those at the Dutch border.

We had been visiting in Holland only a few days when word came
from the American ambassador to get out and get back to America.

We left immediately, almost missing our Holland-American ship because
of the crowds of German Jews trying to leave. If I had not used my
roughest language we might not have got on. A kind old Denver minister
put his baggage in a cabin, but when he came back a German woman
had put his baggage out in the corridor and had taken possession.

The first night in the channel the ship was kept in darkness so as not
to attract gunboats. At Southampton, where the harbor was closed by
under-water gates we took on a large number of refugees, then headed
west into the ocean. Our ship sailed with half a crew because of a strike
in Rotterdam. The gaps were filled by student travelers. Out in the
Atlantic we picked up the survivors of a sunken freighter — 33 men
rowing around the floating grain that was all that was left of their ship
and cargo.

How welcome was the sight of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan
skyline! We had never appreciated our home in America so much. We
had managed to cross the Atlantic by the last passenger ship.

199

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

MODERN TIMES

HE Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association was
organized in 1944. From the beginning, it dreamed of and
worked for a botanical garden in this area. Mrs. John Evans
gave the association a building on Bannock street for its headquarters.
George Kelly was director, secretary, and editor and we owe much to
George’s devoted service. The association did some good work in desig¬
nating horticultural areas in the state, such as the 800 year old junipers
in the Garden of the Gods, the silver firs in Cheyenne Canyon, pinon
pines north of Fort Collins, and the yucca plants at Palmer Park. The
first three of these areas were made official in 1948, and were suggested
by George Carlson who was then assistant superintendent of parks in
Colorado Springs.

Denver Botanic Gardens

If it had not been for the perseverance of Mrs. Evans, president of
the association, Denver would not have a botanic garden today. I remem¬
ber going to a dinner at Mrs. Evans’ big palace on the hill, where Darwin
Andrews gave a talk on native plants. Darwin was a Boulder nursery¬
man and plant collector who contributed much to our knowledge of
Colorado plants. Of course, we talked of our plans for a botanic garden.
I remember it well because we all came dressed in our best clothes,
except Mr. Andrews, who came in his working clothes.

We were always trying to obtain some land for the great garden we
wanted but we never had the finances to purchase a big tract of land.
Finally the association asked the City of Denver to set aside 100 acres
at the east end of City Park as a botanic garden, and the city did this.
It seemed like a great opportunity. We would have an exhibit of live
animals on one side and a beautiful stuffed animal collection on the
other side. The botanical exhibit would complete the setting. I believe
the contract for this ] 00-acre tract is still valid.

The plans for the City Park botanical development included a rose
garden in front of the museum. It was planted and supported by members
of the rose society. An excellent evergreen garden, on the south side of
the museum, was donated by Robert More, Denver attorney, who was
growing hundreds of kinds of evergreens on his land at Buffalo. West of
the rose garden there was a large collection of fine lilacs donated by
Mr. More’s partner, Milton Keegan. There was a crabapple tree collection,
an iris garden, and a cherry and plum collection.

200

The land was graded and topsoil
brought in for the gardens. The trees,
south of the museum, suffered from
chlorosis due to shallow ground water.

A plan was worked out to drain the soil
by pumping the water out of the ground
and running it down a naturalistic creek
into the lake. It is a lovely place for
plants. A young graduate was brought in
to be superintendent of this botanic area.

Immediately there was a quarrel with
the park administration which wanted
the area for regular park purposes.

A little later Mrs. James Waring
donated a large residence at 9th and
York for a Botanic Garden House and
the city designated 18 acres of its land
adjoining the house for a botanic garden.

The Colorado Forestry and Horticulture
Association was disbanded with Denver Botanic Gardens taking over
part of its functions. Mrs. Evans retired as president. I worked up the
first plan for the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Although we now have a botanic garden that is developing rapidly,
the city will eventually have to acquire a large tract of land for an
arboretum. The great need of Denver is for experimentation with trees.

Federal Boulevard Trees

The story of the trees on Federal Boulevard I wish I could erase
from my memory. I am not referring to planting the trees in the Speer
years, I am referring to what happened 40 years afterward. The trees
were fully grown but they had not been watered for several years. The
traffic engineer wanted to widen the street and ordered the trees removed.
I was on other work. The park engineer who had neglected the trees had
them cut down. It was wholesale slaughter, and I am still ashamed that
Denver could have an experience like this. The sad fact is that the street
could have been widened without touching the trees. I am writing this
with a purpose. Some of the parkways are still in danger.

Ruthless Highway Building

The north part of Berkeley Park has been taken out and a fast free¬
way, 1-70, fenced and inaccessible, put in. The change was protested by
the people of North Denver for ten years. Even today it is possible to
see how another route could have been chosen north of the park at less
cost and no loss of park use to the people of Denver. The addition of a

201

small triangle of land at 46th and Sheridan, long filled with old street
car tracks and weeds, has, in a small way, compensated for the acres lost.

DeBoer Projects — Modern Times

As can be seen, Mr. DeBoer’s account of his planning activities stops at World
War II. He was active for a quarter of a century after that, making plans, studies
and reports for many communities throughout the West. Here is a partial list of
his work during those years, by no means complete:

Scottsbluff, Nebraska — City Plan 1940’s

Boulder, Colorado - City Plan (8 vols.) 1942

Aurora, Colorado - Building Code 1943

Delta, Colorado - Plan for Municipal Cemetery 1943

Colorado Springs, Colo. — Wahsatch Ave. Plan 1944

Golden, Colo. — Preliminary City Plan 1944

Brainerd, Minn. - City Plan 1946

Boulder, Colo., School Dist., #3 - Plans for school

plant and grounds 1946

Grand Island, Nebr. - Park & Recreation Plan 1946

Idaho Falls, Idaho - City Plan 1947

Trinidad, Colo. - City Plan 1947

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Plans for Memorial Park,

Prospect Lake Recreation Area 1948

Denver, Colo. — Master Plan for Denver’s Parks 1949

Glenwood Springs, Colo. - City Plan 1949

Denver, Colo. — Master Plan for Mountain Parks 1949

Colorado Springs, Colo. — Cascade Ave. Plan n.d.

Craig, Colo. - Plan for City Park n.d.

Cherry Hills Village, Colo. - Street Plan and Zoning Proposal 1950

Glendive, Montana — City Plan 1952

Denver, Colo. — Master Plan, Denver Botanic Gardens 1952

Aurora, Colo. — Zoning Ordinance 1953

Sidney, Nebr. — Development Plan 1954-55

Douglas County, Colo. - Zoning Plan 1954

Douglas County & Castle Rock, Colo. - Development Plan 1954

Las Cruces, New Mex. — Development Plan 1955

Greenwood Village, Colo. — Development Plan 1956

Moscow, Idaho - City Plan 1956

Bozeman, Mont. — City Plan 1958

Ruidoso, New Mex. — Comprehensive Plan 1961

Carrizozo, New Mex. — Development Plan 1962

Fort Collins, Colo. — Park & Recreation Plan 1962-63

Arvada, Colo. — City Entrance Plan 1964

Kimball, Nebr. — Development Plan 1964

The above list compiled from copies of plans in Mr. DeBoer’s library and from
incomplete index of “The DeBoer Papers” in Western History Department, Denver
Public Library. (Ed. 1972)

202

From Left: Dan Voorhies, Wellshire ; Willard Coleman, Greenhouse; Clyde Hill, Zoo; Wendell
Keller, Sunken Gardens; S. R. DeBoer, Landscape Architect; Louis Spallone, Gen. Construction;
James Bible, City Parks; Carl Newberry, Golf Supt.,; George A. Carlson, Supt. of Parks; O. P.
Hutchinson, Case; Ray Miller (retired) City Park; Charles Hart, Mower shop; John Peketz,
Cheesman Park; Russell Ellenbaas, Washington Park; Clyde Lees, Sloan and Cooper Lakes;
Edwin Taylor, Overland Park; Martin Schafer, Montclair; Arnold Boal, Berkeley Park; Wm. H.
Lucking, Horticulturist; George Noce, Civic Center; Edmund Wallace, Landscape Architect;
Earl Sinnamon, City Nursery; Thomas Lynch, East Denver Parkways.

Denver Park Men - 1 948

PLANS, PARKS AND PEOPLE

Observations and Opinions

i / F the hundreds of activities fostered by city administrations,
f (7/ \ the overah planning of the city is the most important.

We are challenged to build cities that are pleasant to live and
work in. Our successors will judge us by what we do; we will either
impress them with worthwhile cities or they will criticize us for lacking
the imagination to build them.

Every Town’s Plan

The plans for Central Park in New York, over a hundred years ago,
stimulated park work. Elaborate buildings and landscaping at the World’s
Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 inspired the “City Beautiful”
period of planning. George Kessler’s work on parkways in Kansas City
and the work of the Boston landscapers belong to this period. This was
the time of the Chicago plan, the New York plan, the Boston plan,
every town’s plan. It was landscape planning — beautification.

There was no city planning, as we know it now, in the 1920’s. Few
books had been written on the subject, although there were many park
reports and studies. No schools taught city planning. The schools of

203

landscape architecture and some of the engineering schools taught land
and* subdivision planning. The present development of many schools of
planning with hundreds of youngsters with new ideas is a tremendous
superstructure on the early foundation.

After the sudden end of beautifying work during World War I, the
cities concentrated on zoning as a way of building attractive cities by
regulation. The zoning plans focused public attention on the makeup of
our cities and showed the need for overall planning.

From the City Beautiful phase to city planning and then to state
planning was a great advance.

As the work of planning entire cities grew in importance a special
division in the American Society of Landscape Architects was set up. It
was natural to call the division the American Institute of Planners. The
profession soon found recognition in many public councils and step by
step universities put in schools of planning.

The first book on overall planning, as far as I know, was by John
Nolen. He analyzed the street plan, fitted the water and sewer systems
into it. The parks and playgrounds, the schools and public buildings were
part of the overall layout. A broad analysis of the city’s trade territory
and its environment was included.

The depression probably had as much to do with the development of
our present city planning as anything, because many cities were jarred
out of their sleep. Here they had thousands of people unemployed, not
loafers, but real men. The cities could get money but didn’t know what
to do with it. That’s why city planning had to grow.

Frederick Delano was a pioneer in city planning. He was behind the
Chicago plan. And he became head of the National Resources Planning
Board that really put life into city and regional planning.

Metropolitan Area Planning

It is essential that a city’s planning extend into the neighboring com¬
munities. The city and its neighbors should learn that they are both part
of a larger city unit in which they all have equal rights. This would
make possible metropolitan planning and understanding.

Usually the large central city, in establishing its highways or water and
sewer lines, goes through a small suburb in a ruthless way. These things
are necessary and cannot be properly located without mutual agreement.
A proper solution is a metropolitan authority which can fit all the
proposals into one large plan.

If a city plan has been properly prepared it must, per se, include the
plan of the area around it. This principle of carrying the city plan into
the surrounding area was first applied in the plan I developed for Grand
Junction in 1926.

Flowers Give People
A Friendly Feeling Toward a City

There was a time when planning was based on a desire to create

204

From The Littleton Independent - Feb. 3, 1952

attractive cities. Our civic centers, city parks and parkways and other
areas of beauty date from that time. The technical computerized formulas
often used today lack the human feeling which must be uppermost in
planning the places where we are to live.

Planners do not learn about aesthetics any more, and he who mentions
the need for an attractive layout with trees and flowers gets laughed at.
I do not say that our cities must be beautified at great expense; I say
that they may be made attractive and livable. The more people live in

205

skyscrapers the greater is the need for a little green grass on the ground.

At the many meetings I attend I often hear the complaint: “We can¬
not afford such open treatment; we must go to the high-rise buildings to
accommodate all our people.” I doubt this. To my mind the American
single family home on its own lot is a precious thing. I see these tre¬
mendous buildings with thousands of windows in monotonous rows, and
I feel that the men and women living under such conditions are practically
prisoners.

And I will risk my city planning reputation by saying that I also
believe in flower gardens as being important to our cities. Flowers give
people a friendly feeling toward a city. Too many public buildings, in
these times, are extremely dreary, without a flower or leaf about them.

I am thinking of the many fine gardens in this country and in Europe
which were built by individuals who donated them to their city. There
is no better memorial than a flower garden. Many of them are more
famous than the cities they are located in. A city’s most effective way
to promote its status and character may be through beautiful gardens.
Once the city takes the lead, the citizens will follow and plant gardens
of their own.

Shopping Districts

Forty -two years ago, when the American Civic Association published
my book called “Shopping Districts”, it was one of the first writings of
that kind. I wouldn’t call it “Shopping Districts” any more. I was talking
about the whole downtown area, not about scattered groups of stores.

The name “Shopping Districts” has come to mean the many retail
stores districts built away from the city core. Starting as grocery stores
they have expanded to every type of retail business. The clothing store,
especially the women’s clothing store, is the center of attraction. It
appears that competing stores have to be shoulder to shoulder.

These stores have a community of interest in the whole district. They
are not backward in asking city council for improvements, but hardly
ever will they give the customer a bench to sit on or a flower bed to
admire. As a rule council will reserve most of the street for traffic to
please the traffic engineer who lives by the slogan, “Traffic must move.”
Usually neither council, its engineers, nor the merchants look at the
picture as a whole; they stubbornly run a large number of fast cars
through crowds of pedestrian shoppers.

Planning Information Center

I have told you of my model city plan for Boulder City, which was
aborted when the business district grew up in the wrong place, leaving
a large vacant space in the center of the town. For over 40 years 1 have
been annoyed by that, and I have been wondering what you could do
with that vacant area. Recently I was talking with Louis Douglas, the

206

Proposed Business District Plan of Boulder City, Nevada

Bureau of Reclamation engineer who worked with me at Boulder City,
and our conversation about the big blank in the middle of town stirred
up an idea in my mind.

It stirred up memories of what I had seen in 1939 in a great exhibition
hall in Berlin. It was a grand display of the plans, in drawings and models,
of all the cities of Germany, placed there, I understood, at Hitler’s order.

What I want to do is this: I want to have the buildings put up in
Boulder City’s vacant shopping center area, just as they were planned in
the first place, but not for the use that was planned. I want to see the
new buildings used for an exhibition of city planning. The cities — New
York, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, and others — eould each take one
of the buildings or spaces and install in it that city’s plans. It is my idea
to get everything together that is known about city planning in a national
City Planning Information Center in Boulder City.

I suggest that the government spend some of its welfare money for
this important purpose. It would be a great attraction for planners,
builders, city administrators, students and tourists — an educational center
in the desert. Too hot there, you say? It is near the lake and there is
plenty of power at hand for air conditioning.

Hoover and NRPB Reports

In my work with state planning boards I needed basic information
and I frequently referred to Social Trends , a work by the Hoover Com¬
mittee which was written when Hoover was still Secretary of Commerce.
The “Hoover Reports” are a compilation of many studies by' selected

207

men and women connected with all our social and economic problems.
They were mostly on economics and business, with statistics and basic
information necessary for planning of all kinds. They discussed the major
industries of the country and made recommendations for their growth
and development. The problems of railroads, highways, education —
everything — were considered.

The Hoover volumes were one of the greatest contributions to our
knowledge of our civilization. They were published in the 1920’s and are
now, of course, out of date. I have, or had, the final volume, a kind of
summary of the others.

Hoover did a tremendous job on this study, and while I didn’t think
much of his presidency, his work made Roosevelt’s work possible.
Roosevelt would not have liked that, of course. Roosevelt went into
office with a broom and he swept out everything that had to do with
government before.

Another great series of publications, a follow up to Social Trends, are
the volumes published by the National Resources Planning Board, of
which Frederick Delano was chairman and Charles Eliot executive director.
They were compiled by committees of experts making studies all over
the United States, working for several years to gather the material. There
were several committees; I was on one which provided information on
parks, These were published during the depression years. For anyone
studying the basic factors of American resources they are perhaps the
greatest source of information.

Milestones for Denver

The first Denver Plan had a chapter on history giving all the interesting
happenings of the city’s early beginnings. It failed to mention the serious
depression of 1893. As I see it, 1893 was a milestone in the life of
Denver. The town had been the supply depot for extensive mining
activities. In 1893 the mining stopped, mining towns became ghost towns,
and Denver was in serious trouble. The cause, it seems now, was a
human one: the decision by Congress to set a low price on silver. It is
inconceivable that a law could have the effect of nearly wiping out a
center of civilization.

The 1893 panic was more than a milestone, it changed the character
and future of Colorado. Colorado sought other resources and found
them in its sunny, healthy climate. By 1900 Denver was known world
wide as a health resort. Great sanatoria for tuberculosis patients were built
and continue yet, as general hospitals.

The next milestone was the work of Robert Speer. When the Civic
Center and the major parks were open and blooming, Denver began to
attract people for its beauty. It became a tourist city, overshadowing
other centers. It is well for us to remember 1893 and Robert Speer as
the factors that made Denver. Can we maintain our enviable status with
a smoke cloud hanging over us, causing lung trouble instead of curing it?

208

Mrs. Verner Z. Reed Estate

Denver Mountain Parks

The Mountain Parks have been a great asset to Denver, and I think it
would be silly for Denver to dispose of them. No city could ever acquire
so fine a scenic area as that at any price.

It has been suggested that the state take over Denver’s Mountain Parks.
It is a ridiculous idea. I am not opposed to the state owning and operating
parks, but if it has the financial ability to do so, it should acquire other
land, and not take on what Denver has already established. The state
is doing a good job in developing Golden Gate Park, above Golden.

209

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JkKnr.S

iju^< s

[SHiy

■v no

The Home of the plans

The cost of maintaining the Mountain Parks is small. Some areas, like
the Red Rocks Theater, are definitely not suitable for state management.
The city should keep the parks and enlarge them whenever it can.

The possibility of fire is a serious threat to these parks. Although
Denver’s lands are at the lower elevations, the forests that grow on them
are part of a wooded area that reaches clear up to timberline. I think
that the U. S. Forest Service should extend its fire protections service
over all this forested land.

Long ago, when the new Bear Creek road was built, I argued that the
road was placed so high and the speeds planned on it were so great that
the creek was no longer visible. Maybe we have overdone this building
of speedways; people now fly through the mountains without seeing
them.

Platte River Parkway

We have, of course, major high-speed highways from Nebraska to
Denver along or near the Platte River. I propose a scenic parkway, wind-

210

ing, slow-speed, along that river, coming in to Colorado near Julesburg,
going through Sterling and Fort Morgan and on down to Denver, and
continuing through Littleton and up the Platte Canyon to the high
mountains. The State of Colorado is already developing state parks near
those northeastern towns, and those parks could be connected by this
parkway. Trees should be planted along it and scenic areas developed.

I suggest that the road could be divided into sections and the con¬
struction done locally by communities along the route.

Eventually, such a parkway could be extended southwesterly from the
Platte River headwaters on over the mountains and down to Santa Fe.
Colorado needs scenic highways, not racetracks.

Future Denver Park System

Many proposals for future extension of the Denver park system are
awaiting the vision and enthusiasm of officials, but some progress is
being made. The Cherry Creek dam and lake are there; an outstanding
example of cooperation between federal, state and local agencies.
Chatfield dam and its lake fit into the Platte River development plan.
There are many more park possibilities which can be linked into an
outer park system surrounding the city and connected by a parkway.
These include Kendrick Lakes, the parks of Westminister and Arvada,
the Clear Creek valley and its great possibilities, Bear Creek and its future
lake at Mount Carbon, and Sand Creek, east of Denver, not yet developed.

The old plan of a parkway along Cherry Creek being extended north¬
westerly past Berkeley Park and through Arvada, should be revived to
create a diagonal park system from Cherry Creek dam to Coal Creek
Canyon. We already have plans for a scenic Platte River strip and park¬
way through the heart of the city.

I have recently presented new plans for parks and recreational develop¬
ment along the Platte River in the metropolitan area. This development
would also serve the purpose of flood control. Parks do that, you know.
In 1915 George Carlson and I made a survey of the Platte which showed
48 natural parks, heavily wooded with large cottonwoods, between the
Hampden Avenue bridge and Riverside Cemetery. The trees had retarded
the high water of 1913 and sent it meandering through the natural
parks. By the time of the devastating 1965 flood, the whole valley had
been denuded and the river was like an open sewer. There was nothing
to slow it down. My recent Platte Valley plans for South Suburban
Metropolitan Recreation and Park District would bring back some charm
and beauty to the valley and would also create retarding basins for control
of the river.

Rocky Mountain Horticulture

Denver is quite different from the other places where people garden.
We are more than 5,000 feet above the sea, above the clouds of the
low countries. Our air is thin and clear. The rainfall is low; about 15 or
16 inches per year. And this has a great effect on our soil. The soil is

211

shallow, resting on a layer of alkali, of salts. Lower cities do not have
that kind of soil because the rainfall washes the alkali away, leaches
the salts from the earth.

Our summers are hot; the sun’s heat is not filtered through a dense
atmosphere. Winters are alternately cold and warm, and winters are our
driest seasons. These conditions are responsible for our lack of native
trees. Colorado has not yet awakened to the fact that its difficult
climate is, in a way, an asset. A tree grown in Colorado, under the condi¬
tions I have described, has a stronger root system that one grown at
lower, more humid locations. Growers could cash in on that fact, with
the right kind of promotion.

Before It Is Too Late

When I came to Denver we had a mayor who was interested in trees.
Today, City Hall shows no interest in trees. Our streets, now, are for
automobiles, sewers and water pipes, not for beauty. Cutting down
trees half-a-century old seems to be a joy to councilmen and engineers;
planting young trees is an act of treason against the city budget. And
yet tree planting is ridiculously cheap. Part of this attitude comes from
the negative approach to city planning. City planners, now, have no
knowledge of horticulture and they avoid the subject. Cities are designed
according to mathematical formulas which make them bleak and colorless.

We must not stop in our planning for beauty. Our trees and parks
and gardens must be renewed constantly if we are to leave a decent
world for those who follow us. Now is the time to plan that world.
The city grows so fast that it will soon be too late if the opportunities
for making it beautiful are not grasped now.

Conclusion

My boyhood dreams of designing bridges to span the canyons of the
Alps never materialized, but, if my scribbles, my words, and my hopes
have led toward bringing beauty to the treeless cities and plains of
Colorado, I will be satisfied.

212

Articles in The Green Thumb by S. R. DeBoer

Title

The Colorado landscape.

Cottonwoods.

Survey of elm scale completed
(co-author)

Adam Kohankie.

Landscape architecture frames a
picture in a garden.

Beauty in simplicity of landscape
design.

Winter gardens.

Oak trees in Denver.

Denver parks flower trail.

A1 Coffin, gardener.

A practical plan for a small garden.
Clarence F. Leach, an unusual man.
Master plan for a botanic garden in
Denver.

Horse chestnuts.

Keegan’s lilac lane.

Over 160 varieties.

Edgar C. MacMechen
New type of street tree.

A Denver rose garden.

Flowering crabapples in the Denver
Botanical Garden.

Maidenhair tree.

Through the garden gate.

A history of the Denver parks.

The Denver civic center.

The Barnum Parkway
In memoriam M. Walter Pesman
Two Oregon grapes.

The Gates memorial garden.

Harvard Gulch.

A mountain parkway
Flowering crabapples.

Chinese elm - still more.

The old cemeteries - now Denver
Botanic Gardens.

The Denver civic center.

Cherry Creek parkways.

A Chinese oak.

Times change, landscapes change.
Strawberries and Colorado horticulture.
The rock elm.

Volume

Number

Date

Feb. 1944

Sept. 1944

Jan. 1945

May-June 1945

July-Aug. 1945

Sept. -Oct. 1945

Jan.-Feb. 1946

Sept. -Oct. 1946

Sept. -Oct. 1947

Nov. -Dec. 1947

Jan. 1952

Dec. 1952

Feb. 1953

June 1953

July 1953

August 1953

Dec. 1953

Jan. 1954

April 1954

Jan. 1956

Jan.-Feb. 1957

Jan.-Feb. 1959

Oct. 1959

Jan.-Feb. 1960

Aug. -Sept. 1961

Jan.-Feb. 1963

Oct. 1963

Nov. -Dec. 1963

Oct. 1963

Jan.-Feb. 1965

May-June 1965

March-April 1966

Sept. -Oct. 1966

Nov. -Dec. 1967

Summer 1968

Autumn 1968

Winter 1969

Summer 1970

Spring 1971.

213

214

Civis Princeps

On April 29, 1972, Regis College, Denver, presented its Civis Princeps —
First Citizen - Award to S. R. DeBoer, for community service. The citation
says, in part:

“Many a good and generous man aspires to put a personal mark on his own city.
Few have done so as indelibly — though as unobtrusively - as Saco Rienk DeBoer.

“He has always lived and worked in accord with tire highest ideals of his
profession, considering the doing of a good job more important than the fee it
brought. While this has ordained his life to be one of modest means, it has also
earned for him the debt and respect of everyone with, or for whom, he has worked.

“His was a ‘voice before its time’ not only in ecological awareness, but in his
concern over the ‘modern’ tendency to dehumanization.

“He is perhaps more responsible than anyone else for Denver’s park and
parkway system and the Denver Botanic Gardens.”

S. R. DEBOER

Memberships and Honors

Fellow: American Society of Landscape Architects
Member: Colorado State Planning Board
Life Member: Colorado Society of Engineers
Member: American Institute of Planners
Honorary Member: American Institute of Architects
Honorary Member: American Society of Planning Officials
Member: Netherlands Institute for City Planning and Housing
Member (Award of Merit): Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association
Distinguished Service Award (1960): American Institute of City Planning
Outstanding Achievement Award (1961): Colorado Nurserymen’s Association
Distinguished Service Award (1966): Americans by Choice
Civis Princeps (Community Service) Award (1972): Regis College
Denver City Council passed ordinance (1962) naming park at Harvard Avenue and
So. Vine St., DeBoer Park

215

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unfit mz/zar fo PP/s western country. Jpe record of pour

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unusaf c/imafe.

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you never once re/inyuisPedpour uffimafe endeavor fo
esfai/isP a Soianic Harden in fPe PocPpfPounfain Pe^iom.
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Assoczafuon. sa/ufe pou and pes/ow zyoon pou fPisAwardof
Mcrd /n reco/ntfion of pour- services fo fPis comm uni fp
over a period of manp pears.

Presented to Mr. DeBoer at annual banquet of Colorado
Forestry and Horticulture Association, January 18, 1957.

ANNA R. GARREY

Saco Rienk DeBoer arrived in New
York from his native Holland in 1908.

He has told us of his elation at the
sights and sounds of the city, of his in¬
stant and intuitive sense of having found
a haven, a place of such great adventure
that his physical frailty was forgotten.
Seriously ill with tuberculosis, he had
come to the United States as a health
seeker.

He recalls his arrival in New Mexico,
of stumbling and falling in the snow as he
left the train, then rising again. Later, in
memory, this seemed a symbol of his
restored health and well-being.

Industrious, resolute and stubborn,
with what eclectic spirit this man dedi¬
cated himself to his new countryside!

Predominately a horticulturist in the
European tradition, he also had qualifica¬
tions as an engineer.

As a horticulturist he saw many chal¬
lenges here — intense and unveiled sun¬
light, a semi-arid climate, vast open spaces
spreading to a wide horizon or rising to
the great barrier of high mountains. What
plants or trees might grow here other
than the familiar cottonwood or alder at
the streamside? Could the beauty of the
native flora be brought into city gardens?
And more — the challenge of planning a
young and growing city — all of this pre¬
sented itself to him, for he had left New
Mexico to come to Denver where he
began his work as a city planner.

In Denver’s Mayor Robert Speer, he
found a protagonist, a practical man of
vision and a skillful politician. In the last
accounting this mayor’s services to Denver
may best be measured by the very modest
personal estate he left in contrast to his
great legacy of a well-planned city.

The practical horticulturist whose in¬
terests were soon to embrace a wide field —
city and community planning - found
his place under the leadership of Robert
Speer. To these men of vision the orderly
development of a rapidly growing com¬
munity was of utmost importance. The
needs seemed limitless.

Among these, planning and planting
became fundamentals and priorities were
a necessity. In extensive plantings, what
trees and shrubs would survive in this
semi-arid land?

In earlier years our pioneers had re¬
alized this need and now, from the old
world, came a man, Saco DeBoer, who
brought new realization of a way to ful¬
fill this need — a botanic garden. The
idea had for the first time taken form.
With missionary zeal he spread his con¬
viction. As his responsibilities increased
and as the scope of his work widened he
never lost sight of this goal.

Through numberless talks and through
various organizations he continued to
stress the necessity for a research center
such as a botanic garden.

In tracing the history of the forces
which lie behind an accomplishment we
find that many seemingly irrelevant ele¬
ments sometimes unite to bring success.
The untiring labors of the many, now long
gone, who worked so ceaselessly for a
project in a future they could not share —
these remain the mute cornerstones of
our botanic garden. In this short account
of the development of an idea many of
these must be for the most part anony¬
mous, though not forgotten, as we often
find ourselves speaking of organizations
rather than of individuals. A short review

217

of these groups, however, reveals the con¬
tinuing presence of the same leaders.

Denver had citizens of vision, early
ecologists indeed. Legend suggests that
the second forestry association in the
United States was the Colorado State
Forestry Association formed in 1884 and
headed by Col. Edward Ensign of Colo¬
rado Springs. These citizens urged the
establishment of forest reserves, and, by
1891, President Harrison had signed a
proclamation establishing the first reserve
in Wyoming, the second in the White
River Plateau in Colorado. By 1899 Con¬
gress had passed an act providing for the
organization and management of public
forests.

Wm. E. Byers, editor and owner of
the Rocky Mountain News, served as
president of the Colorado State Forestry
Association for many years. Remembered
for his experiments in introducing new
trees, he planted some 35 varieties on his
home grounds, now Byers Junior High
School. Among those listed as members
of this association were Messrs. Walter
Cheesman and Henry M. Porter. How
little did they dream of the part their
daughters, Mrs. John Evans and Mrs. James
Waring, were to play in realizing their
early plans for directed research in plant
material — resulting finally in a botanic
garden in Denver!

Into this background came this intrep¬
id Dutchman, S. R. DeBoer. As a horti¬
culturist he knew that he was confronted
by unfamiliar growing conditions where
the traditional and familiar guides of the
continent or of England could not be
applied. It seemed obvious that in joining
such a group as Colorado Forestry Associ¬
ation his efforts would become more
effective. As he expresses it, he was “so
full of the need for a botanic garden he
shared his enthusiasm with whomever
would listen.”

A faded post card drops from a long
unopened volume in 1971. It’s date, July,
1918. “The Garden Club of Denver will
meet at the home of Mrs. Henry Van
Kleeck. Mr. DeBoer will conduct a tour

of Denver’s Parks.”

Rest assured, mention was made of a
botanic garden. Or a glance at the list of
workers in the groups of those days: S. R.
DeBoer, Vice-President; or Botanic Garden
Committee, Chairman, S. R. DeBoer;
always the familiar names. So the word
spread.

Meanwhile the government assumed
more and more responsibility for the for¬
ests and as early members of the forestry
association grew older, interest in horti¬
culture increased so that a new group was
formed in 1916, The Denver Society for
Ornamental Horticulture. Its first presi¬
dent, Adam Kohanke, superintendent of
Washington Park, was succeeded by S. R.
DeBoer who also edited its bulletin,
Garden Hints , for many years.

In the interests of horticulture Mayor
Speer suggested that a flower show be
held in the new city auditorium. With
encouragement and sponsorship of The
Garden Club of Denver, which helped in
financing these shows, Mr. DeBoer spoke
with local florists who stripped their
greenhouses to give a creditable display.
Many successful shows followed.

On a date worthy of remembrance,
May 24, 1941, at a meeting of the Colo¬
rado Forestry Association the following
motion was presented by Mrs. E. R.
Kalmbach:

“Resolved that the Colorado State For¬
estry Association endorse and aid in the
establishment of a Botanic Garden within
and adjacent to Denver where various
tree, shrub and herb species maybe tested.
Such a Botanic Garden may not be in
one large tract, but many small tracts,
located in various zones, extending from
the typical Eastern Prairie Zone to Alpine
Timberlands. The State Association is not
interested primarily in a ‘Show Place’
within the city limits, but in the practical
demonstration of the adaptability of the
tree, shrub and herb species to various
natural zones. Such demonstration tracts
may be located on city, state, or federally
owned lands through arrangements made
with the proper agencies and such avail¬
able lands should be assigned to botanical

218

purposes at any time opportunity is
presented.”

This may well remain a permanent
guide to the future of Denver Botanic
Gardens. The herbarium in the Gardens,
established by and named for Kathryn
Kalmbach, reminds us of her years of
dedication to this project.

By 1943, however, it became obvious
that the Colorado Forestry Association as
well as the Denver Society for Ornamental
Horticulture would both benefit by fusing
the two into a single new group which
would be called The Colorado Forestry
and Horticulture Association. This was
done in 1944. The first president of this
new group, A. Lincoln Fellows, was suc¬
ceeded by M. Walter Pesman. The labors
of this unselfish idealist should not be
forgotten.

The organization at this time had no
place of being. In lively parlance it might
have been termed “a soul in search of a
body.”

M. Irvin McCrary, landscape architect
and city planner, another of Denver’s out¬
standing citizens, offered space in his
office at 16th and Broadway where the
first numbers of The Green Thumb were
prepared. Dynamic George Kelly, its edi¬
tor, was responsible for the name of the
Association’s publication and served as its
acting head. His understanding of the
local terrain as well as of its plant materi¬
al, coupled with his zeal as a conserva¬
tionist, made him an excellent leader.

Establishment of a botanic garden in
Denver remained a top priority as stated
in the first issue of The Green Thumb:
“That this Association take the initiative
in promoting a Rocky Mountain Botanic
Garden. This project has had the consid¬
eration of the Association for so many
years that there is no necessity here to
stress its importance . . . .”

To that first issue Mr. DeBoer contri¬
buted “The Colorado Landscape” in which
he emphasized the importance of under¬
standing horticulture here: “It does seem,
however, that in this Rocky Mountain
land a type of plant life has found a home

which is sturdy enough to withstand the
chills of winter and the wither of drouth...
It requires not only intensive study of
the region’s plants, its climate, its ways of
plant maintenance, but it needs more
than that; it requires an understanding
of the landscape of the Rockies. It can
be taught nowhere but here.”

On the election of Mrs. John Evans as
president of Colorado Forestry and Horti¬
culture Association the Society entered a
new era. Mrs. Evans generously provided
a headquarters rent free, and in June,
1946 the Association moved into its new
home.

This delightful Victorian house at 1355
Bannock Street had been transformed
into an efficient unit with book shelves,
well-arranged tables, a director’s office,
and kitchen facilities. A quaint curving
stairway led to the custodian’s quarters
above.

Privately supported by special dona¬
tions, by membership dues, and with the
assistance of many working volunteers,
the association prospered. From year to
year, Mrs. Evans, in her annual report,
stressed the association’s continued efforts
to obtain a botanic garden. Various sites
were considered. Among these were
certain clay pits south of Denver Univer¬
sity. Old Overland Park on the Platte
River was suggested as a possible war
memorial in 1944. Finally, Inspiration
Point in North Denver with its 200 acre
plot seemed ide§l with its superb moun¬
tain view, its stream bed and rolling
terrain. Assurances of approval of this
site by the city were given, indeed, it
seemed a “fait accompli.” Alas, to wake
one morning and read of another use for
this land near Berkeley Park!

So start again. Mr. Myron Blackmer
was approached. He offered a 200 acre
site on South University Boulevard where
he had already made impressive plantings
of evergreens. The city’s unwillingness to
assume the upkeep of such an acreage
put an end to this plan.

So begin once more. City Park might
be available. Studies were made of the

219

land surrounding the Museum of Natural
History — about 100 acres.

Sometimes we forget that, on a certain
day at a certain hour, a way may be
shown.

At a meeting of the Executive Com¬
mittee of Colorado Forestry and Horti¬
culture Association at the home of its
president, Mrs. John Evans, Mr. Evans
spoke as a friendly advisor. He presented
a new plan. He suggested that often, un¬
less the city receives a gift, action on a
proposed project may be delayed indefi¬
nitely. He then said that he and Mrs.
Evans would finance the preparation of a
detailed plan for a botanic garden in City
Park. Mr. S. R. DeBoer, Denver’s now
nationally-known city planner and long¬
time advocate of such a garden, would
make these detailed drawings.

At last*, on a sunny afternoon in 1951,
on the terrace in front of the Museum of
Natural History in City Park, in the pre¬
sence of city officials and officers of
CF&HA, this plan, donated by Mr. and
Mrs. John Evans, was accepted by the
City of Denver, and Denver’s Botanic
Gardens became a reality.

Mr. DeBoer’s plan was published by

the city in book form. Management of
the Gardens was vested in a Board of
Trustees who were to serve without
remuneration.

Work began promptly. An interesting
feature of the plan was a rocky canyon
simulating high mountain terrain. This
was built to the southwest of the museum.
Large boulders were brought in — a gen¬
erous gift of the Gates family. From this
height a stream meandered through the
meadow ending in a lily pond. Alpines
were to be planted in the canyon, follow¬
ed by plantings typical of each succeeding
zone to the plains. What a fascinating and
original idea!

A conservatory surrounded by various
plant collections was included in the plan
with plantings of additional collections
indicated in other areas.

In a progress report to the CF&HA,
May 1954, we note Helen Fowler’s fern
collection, Mr. DeBoer’s collection of 47
flowering crabapples, Milton Keegan’s
French hybrid lilacs, LeMoine Bechtold’s
hemerocallis, as well as his and Dr. John
Durrance’s iris. The Denver Rose Society
sponsored plantings of 4,000 roses; and
Robert More gave the pine turn, a unique

CITY DARK, DENVER , COLOBADO

GARDENS WEST or tuc MUSEUM

A « /)£

kAfl f\

f _ _ - - - ^

— " Jrr- - '

Tir r?-. 2^.. *

i r -^zri . ^ _ i r - - v

A part of S. R. DeBoer’s plan for a Botanic Garden at City Park

220

collection of 250 varieties of evergreens.
These were a reality, to be seen and
enjoyed.

In 1956, Robert Woerner, graduate
landscape architect and horticulturist, was
selected by the Trustees to direct the
Gardens. He was installed in an office in
the basement of the museum. The idea
had indeed taken form.

In tracing the development of an idea
we have spoken of but one facet of the
varied career of this practical idealist,
S. R. DeBoer, to whom we owe so much.

We have followed the course of his
constant and undeviating efforts to obtain
a proper research center, a Botanic Gar¬
den, in this unique western land. We have
seen how, coming as a stranger, he re¬
mained to dedicate his life to his adopted
countryside.

In grateful remembrance we dedicate
this issue of The Green Thumb to Saco
Rienk DeBoer, the man who first pre¬
sented the idea.

An explanatory footnote should ac¬
company this account of the beginnings
of Denver Botanic Gardens. What caused
a change of plan and of location?

The Botanic Gardens Trustees were
soon confronted by a serious problem.
City Park was used increasingly as a
recreational area. The depradation in the
herbaceous sector of the Gardens was
incredible. The Gates canyon became a
challenge to youthful rock climbers who
gaily leaped from boulder to boulder.
Mrs. Fowler’s choice ferns on a shaded
slope presented an ideal hillside for the
young bicycler. A $25 iris planted on
Monday was purloined on Tuesday by
unscrupulous collectors. Newest hybrid
roses met their end in the nearby fountain
or suffered the same fate as the iris. The
fencing of 100 acres was not acceptable
to the city. Effective policing was im¬
possible, and our headquarters were prov¬
ing inadequate.

It was at this point that Mrs. James
Waring offered to purchase a headquarters
building at 909 York Street adjacent to
an 18 acre plot once occupied by Mt.

Calvary Cemetery but now owned by the
city. The gift’s provision stipulated that
the Board of Trustees raise a matching
sum — $55,000. Denver Botanic Gardens’
larger woody collections in City Park re¬
main there but the herbaceous unit has
moved to this protected area and the
proposed conservatory has been built
there.

This house, formerly the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crawford Campbell,
the architect Jules Jacques Benois Bene¬
dict, and its surrounding garden planned
by Irvin McCrary, is worthy of preserva¬
tion by the National Trust.

With the acquisition, space in the head¬
quarters building was offered to Colorado
Forestry and Horticulture Association
whose members had borne so much of the
responsibility for the establishment of
Denver Botanic Gardens. At this time,
however, this privately supported associa¬
tion faced financial difficulties and it
seemed expedient to fuse this group with
the now well established Denver Botanic
Gardens. Its membership lists were help¬
ful. Its publication The Green T/mmb, the
Helen Fowler Library, and the Kathryn
Kalmbach Herbarium remain permanent
reminders of this dedicated fellowship,
The Colorado Forestry and Horticulture
Association.

Let us remind ourselves once more of
Mrs. Kalmbach’s original motion of 1941
on the establishment of a Botanic Garden
comprised of many units at varying alti¬
tudes. With the completion of our most
distinguished gift, the Boettcher Conser¬
vatory and the adjacent Education Build¬
ing in the herbaceous unit we have an
impressive setting for education and re¬
search. As a Botanic Garden our situation
is unique with an alpine unit on Mt.
Goliath and the legacy of land in the
montane zone at Evergreen.

Another challenging opportunity now
presents itself in the possible acquisition
of an area at Chatfield Dam where im¬
portant environmental studies may be
made.

Again! The idea precedes the accom¬
plishment.

221

Denver's

Municipal Landscaping

Katharine Bruderlin Crisp

In 1949 S. R. DeBoer wrote, “Denver’s
growth for the last fifty years has been
around its parks. The major part of the
park system was created in the first fif¬
teen years of this period.” And, we know,
a major figure in the creation of that
park system was Mr. DeBoer himself.

Denver’s landscape planning began with
the work of Reinhard Scheutze who was
engaged by the city in 1894 and held the
office of landscape architect until his
death in 1909. S. R. DeBoer was the
city’s landscape architect from 1910 until
1931, and became its city planning engi¬
neer and park consultant in 1932.

During the administration of Mayor
Speer, 1904 to 1912, and 1916 to 1918,
the city of Denver became “park-minded”
and as a result, “tree-minded”. Mayor
Speer wished to make Denver the most
beautiful city in the world. He created
the present system of parks and boule¬
vards, with Mr. DeBoer as planner and
planter. Experimental tree planting was
begun then, and included a forest belt
eighty feet wide on the south side of
Cherry Creek from Broadway to Clarkson
Street. A city dump on the west side of
Broadway near Cherry Creek was trans¬
formed into the Sunken Gardens, one of
the most beautiful spots in the city, with
its evergreen forest and a natural rock
garden.

Mayor Speer’s forward looking devel¬
opments included the city’s system of
sanitary and storm sewers, its surfaced
and curbed streets, the Denver Audito¬
rium, the public bath house, and the
many children’s playgrounds. He was in¬

strumental in the erection of the Museum
of Natural History in City Park and in
establishing Inspiration Point. Perhaps he
was proudest of the walling of Cherry
Creek and the construction of the hand¬
some boulevard on its right bank to which
his name was given by City Council.

The experimental tree planting begun
under Mayor Speer changed the city from
a treeless plain spotted with clumps of
broadleaf cottonwood, fringes of willows
along the creeks, a few boxelders and
lanceleaf cottonwoods, into a great green
city which is the envy of metropolitan
cities of the world. By 1933 there were
105 species of trees, representing 23
families and 37 genera, in Denver.

Mr. DeBoer and others learned that
Denver’s unusual climate makes growing
conditions difficult on the Rocky Moun¬
tain Plateau with its characteristics of low
temperature, sudden and extreme tem¬
perature changes, bright sunlight, alkaline
soils and dry atmosphere. They found
that occasionally specimens of varieties
which are not hardy may become accli¬
mated and their descendents (from seeds
or from cuttings) may be sufficiently
hardy for use in this area. Such experi¬
mentation and knowledge is vital to the
continued beautification of our city.

Along with learning the conditions and
overcoming them, the horticulturists de¬
veloped our parks. Now we can’t do with¬
out them. As Mr. DeBoer has said: “Parks
have furnished recreation for Denver for
forty years (now 70 years). This is a
service needed today more than ever
before. Parks are the only places in the
city where traffic and noises are kept to

222

a minimum.” They create the livability
of a neighborhood and are a factor in
the economic life of Denver.

The parks and their connecting park¬
ways establish what Mr. DeBoer calls
“flower trails.” In his book, Around the
Seasons, he describes parts of the trails.
“At blossom time few places can be more
attractive than the corner of Denver
around the Downing street bridge. At
this spot, groups of crabapples have
been planted. Together with the yellow
streamers of the Russian willows they
make a picture. Further south are the
double flowering Bechtel’s crabapples.
They are later and have beautiful double
flowers.”

Planning and working for beauty in
Denver, Mr. DeBoer and others realized
the need for a botanic garden as a center
for horticultural demonstration and edu¬
cation. When a botanic garden was first
attempted in City Park, Mr. DeBoer made
the master plan for it. Parts of the plan
are still evident in the park.

This planner and planter nas expresseu
his concern for the future of the beauty
that he labored to create, in these words:
“Has the idea of quiet places in a noisy
world, natural beauty in a sea of buildings
and play in attractive surroundings be¬
come obsolete? Do we still believe that
trees and flowers are a worthwhile asset
in our cities?”

Around the Seasons in Denver Parks and
Gardens by S. R. DeBoer. Illustrations
by Frances White. Smith-Brooks Press,
Denver. 1948

A Master Plan for Denver’s Parks by S. R.
DeBoer. Illustrated by Frances White.
City of Denver, Dept, of Improvements
and Parks. 1949

Master Plan for a Botanic Garden in
Denver. Prepared by S. R. DeBoer &
Co. Illustrated by Mrs. Frances White
Novitt. Botanical Gardens Foundations
of Denver, Inc. 1952

De Boer Plan - C. C. Gates Residence Bear Creek - 1920

223

The DeBoer Story

Wes Woodward

Aturbulent river of automobiles rushes
constantly and eratically along the four
main streets that enclose Denver's City
Park. Few in those mechanical con¬
traptions see and enjoy the stately old
trees, the "big, sloping lawns," and color¬
ful shrubs planted there long ago by
S. R. DeBoer.

Trees, lawns, shrubs — beauty — are
not wasted. Several generations, now,
have used and enjoyed that park. Even
though this green oasis may be a little
tarnished and often taken for granted by
the motorists, it is thoroughly appreciated
by those who use it. Our love of beauty
and tranquility is not dead, it is only
frustrated and thwarted. The deep need
for natural beauty is demonstrated by
the growth and popularity of Denver
Botanic Gardens.

This is what Mr. DeBoer has given
us: a legacy of beauty and a vision of
what can be done.

The man himself has been quiet and
shy, with an air of old-world dignity. I
have the memory of an evening, some
ten years ago, spent with him in the old
farm house he describes in his story.
After hours of leisurely and comfortable
talk, enlivened by his frequent sharp ob¬
servations, he arose from his chair and
served me a bit of wine and some cakes,
silently and with a formal grace. It was
not the sort of thing that one old
western engineer expects of another old

western engineer. It was impressive.

Now, there are other memories. Re¬
cently, in preparing this issue of the
magazine, I spent a bright autumn after¬
noon with Mr. DeBoer, his daughter, the
gracious Mrs. Elizabeth Wright, and S. R.'s
old friend, George Carlson. This time, I
was impressed by the planner's clear
memories and pungent comments.

Most important, as Elizabeth brought
forth the pictures and books and me¬
mentos of her father's full life, I was
impressed by the unbelievable productiv¬
ity of this man. There is so much that
he has done that doesn't appear in this
magazine. Of necessity, the story is cut
off, for practical purposes, at World
War II. But the story did not end there.
Dozens of projects, many of them of
great importance to planning in the west¬
ern states, followed one on top of another
through a productive quarter of a century
after our account ends.

Not only that, but I realized he has
scarcely hinted at the inspiration and
direction he furnished to all the work he
has mentioned here briefly and imperson¬
ally. One has only to experience the
intense loyalty and eagerness of the
people who have worked with him, par¬
ticularly Frances Novitt and George
Carlson, to realize that his great story
has only been partially told.

Frances Novitt, who worked for S. R.

224

DeBoer for some ten years, last year, in
ill health herself, spent countless hours
in recording and transcribing his words
into a voluminous manuscript. This is the
Frances White who made the lovely and
appropriate drawings for Mr. DeBoer's
book, Around the Seasons. She made
this story possible.

Eagerness is the word for George
Carlson. He is always eager to tell the
DeBoer story and to assist anyone who
works on it. He was part of the story.
When I asked George how long he was
with Mr. DeBoer, he blazed: "I'm still
with him!

Anna R. Garrey! It's an experience to
know her — a rather exciting experience.
Her vitality and enthusiasm affected us
all, held us to the mark in getting the
story completed and published. Besides
that, she saw to it that there were
finances for the project. Her history of
Denver Botanic Gardens, told in her
distinctive way, is essential to this issue.

Katharine Bruderlin Crisp, successful
author, teacher and gardener, chairman
of the editorial committee for many years
and still active on that committee, has
written an appreciation of Mr. DeBoer's
work that tells us of her, and our,
esteem for him.

There were others. Jo Ellen Foerch
assisted in editing and rewriting portions
of the manuscript. She's an expert. We
welcome the art of Eileen Bloustein who
volunteered, with enthusiasm, to make
many of the drawings we needed. The
work of Suzanne Ash, as always, is lovely
and appreciated. Solange Huggins's re¬
search work was essential to the story.
Several departments of the Denver Public
Library, especially the Western History
Department, cooperated in their usual
efficient and thorough way. And Pete —
Bernice Petersen — was always there,
always working for us all.

The manuscript and the pictures, the
memories and stories that came to me,
would have filled, comfortably, some 200
pages in the Green Thumb. It would have
been nice to spend two years in proper
preparation of it all. In reducing and
selecting this material I have, I know,
left out things that the people I have
mentioned will miss. I am responsible
for the errors and omissions.

This issue has been an expanding ex¬
perience for me; working with creative
and productive people whose goals,
always, have been the good of all and
the best possible job. They have given
much.

225

THE

GREEN

THUMB

Subject

Index

1972

BONSAI

Bonsai, An Ancient Art, Edna S.
Webster, Spring P. 57

BOOKS

Book Review, Solange Huggins (The
Compleat Naturalist. A Life of
Linnaeus, Wilfred Blunt), Winter P. 23

Annotations, Solange Huggins (Charles
Sprague Sargent and the Arnold Arbo¬
retum, S. B. Sutton), Spring P. 48

New Books in the Helen Fowler
Library, Solange Huggins, Summer
P. 95

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Consumer Protection from the State
Level, Ken Wilmore, Winter P. 9

DEBOER, S. R.: A TRIBUTE TO
Plans, Parks and People, S. R. DeBoer,
December P. 143

The Idea Precedes the Accomplish¬
ment, Mrs. George Garrey, December
P.217

Denver’s Municipal Landscaping,
Katharine Bruderlin Crisp, December
P. 222

The DeBoer Story, Wes Woodward,
December P. 224

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Annual Report for 1971, Special
Section, Spring P. 1

Boettcher Memorial Conservatory and
Its Plants

Focus on Euphorbia Pulcherrima,
Peg Hayward, Winter P. 24

Focus on Codiaeum Variegatum,
Peg Hayward, Autumn P. 1 15

Focus on Datura Arbor ea, Peg
Hayward, Spring P. 55

Focus on Monstera Deliciosa, Peg
Hayward, Summer P. 90

Visiting the Habitat of Some of the
Conservatory Plants, Richard R.
Inglis, Winter P. 12

Tours: Thanks from the Young
Visitors, Autumn P. 1 1 1
A Tour Guide Tells All, Syd Glick,
Autumn P. 1 13

Committees, List of members, Spring
P. 62

Construction at the Gardens

Improving Urban Man’s Environ¬
ment Through Engineering, Ken
Wright, Doug Severn, Frank Barrett,
Spring P. 38

Pictures of Work, Summer P. 77,
Autumn P. 140

Gift Shop, Christmas Sale, Autumn
P. 127

Guild, Mid-Summer Annual Garden
Tour, Summer P. 91

Helen Fowler Library

Kathryn Kalmbach Botanical Stamp
Collection, Solange Huggins, Au¬
tumn P. 132

New Books in the Library, Solange
Huggins, Summer P. 95

History: The Idea Precedes the Ac¬
complishment, Mrs. George Garrey,
December P. 217

Lecture Series, 1971-72 Schedule,
Winter P. 32

Membership Roster, 1972, Summer
P. 99

Officers, Around the Seasons Club,
Associates, and Guild, Spring P. 62

People: Thanks to Bern Neil, LMC,
BEP, Winter P. 25

Charlotte A. Barbour, M.L.S.,
Spring P. 40

James M. Schell resigns, Winter P. 23

Plant Sale: Catalog of Rock Plants
and Ground Covers, Suzanne Ash and
Bernice Petersen, Winter P. 15

Trustees, 1972, Spring P. 60

Volunteers, List of, Spring P. 62,
Thanks to, Spring P. 61

226

ENVIRONMENT

Bird and Bush, George R. Shier,
Spring P. 34

A Delicate Beauty, Carol L. Radetsky,
Spring P. 41

ESSAYS

Denver’s Municipal Landscaping,
Katharine Bruderlin Crisp, December
P. 222

Disaster in Denver, Wes Woodward,
Winter P. 13

Let’s Plan for a Beautiful Colorado in
1976, George Kelly, Autumn P. 133

Makers of the Magazine, Wes
Woodward, Autumn P. 139

Old Leisure, Wes Woodward, Summer
P. 98

The DeBoer Story, Wes Woodward,
December P. 224

The Idea Precedes the Accomplish¬
ment, Mrs. George, December P.

EXOTICS OF COLORADO, Dr. Helen
Marsh Zeiner

Common Crabgrass, Summer P. 89
European Weeping Birch, Winter P. 26
Hyacinths, Spring P. 42
Oregon Hollygrape, Autumn P. 124

FOCUS ON, Peg Hayward

Codiaeum Variegatum, Autumn P. 1 15
Datura Arborea, Spring P. 55
Euphorbia Pulcherrima, Winter P. 24
Monstera Deliciosa, Summer P. 90

GARDENING

Gardening and the Law, Jacob V.
Schaetzel, Summer P. 78

GARDENS ELSEWHERE

Bartram’s Garden, Avalonne Kosanke,
Autumn P. 1 16

Traveling with Trees and Flowers,

Josephine Robertson, Summer P. 86

GARDENS, INDOOR

Begonias for the Indoor Garden, Helen
Marsh Zeiner, Winter P. 2

INSECT CONTROL

Approaches to Insect Control, J. W.
Brewer, Spring P. 49

LANDSCAPING

Landscaping for the Denver Techno¬
logical Center, Russ Rountree, Winter
P. 28

Denver’s Municipal Landscaping,

Katharine Bruderlin Crisp, December
P.222

MUSHROOMS

Mushroom Poisoning, D. H. Mitchel,
Summer P. 73

OBITUARIES

Charlotte A. Barbour, M.L.S., Spring
P. 40

PEOPLE

Charlotte A. Barbour (see above)

S. R. DeBoer (see DeBoer)

Thanks to Bern Neil, L.M.C., B.E.P.,
Winter P. 25

James M. Schell resigns, Winter P. 23

PICTURE

Watercolor-drawing — Mrs. Barbara
Nielsen, Autumn P. 121

PLANNING

Plans, Parks and People, S. R. DeBoer,
December P. 143

PLANTS

Begonias for the Indoor Garden, Helen
Marsh Zeiner, Winter P. 2

Common Crabgrass, Exotics of Colo¬
rado, Helen Marsh Zeiner, Summer
P. 89

Dahlia Growing, Down-to-Earth In¬
structions, Edward J. Pankoski,
Summer, P. 92

Fountain Butterfly Bush, Avalonne
Kosanke, Autumn P. 128

Gesneriads, Adventures of — , Miriam
Denham, Summer P. 67

Gladiolus, In Praise of -, Lee Ashley,
Autumn P. 130

Ground Covers, Catalog of Rock Plants

and — , Suzanne Ash and Bernice
Petersen, Winter P. 15

Hollygrape, Oregon, Exotics of Colo¬
rado, Helen Marsh Zeiner, Autumn
P. 124

Hyacinth, Exotics of Colorado, Helen
Marsh Zeiner, Autumn P. 124

Iris, Meet the Dwarfs, Jack Riley,
Winter P. 30

Kerrias, A.C. Hildreth, Autumn P. 122

Native Plants: Bird and Bush, George
R. Shier, Spring P. 34

227

PLANTS — continued

A Delicate Beauty, Carol L. Radet-
sky, Spring P. 41

Plants for the Denver Area

Colorado is Not Connecticut,

George Kelly, Summer P. 82

Rock Plants and Ground Covers, A
Catalog of — , Suzanne Ash and Bernice
Petersen, Winter P. 15

Vegetables: Trying Tomatoes in a

Home Garden, Norman LeMay, Spring
P. 46

POLLUTION AND PLANTS

Pollution and Plants, Dr. James R.
Feucht, Summer P. 81

STAMP COLLECTION

Kathryn Kalmbach Botanical Stamp
Collection, Solange Huggins, Autumn
P. 132

SUBJECT INDEX

Subject Index, 1972, December P. 226

TREES

Disaster In Denver, Wes Woodward,
Winter P. 13

European Weeping Birch, Helen Marsh
Zeiner, Winter P. 26

VIVARIUMS

Vivariums, Helen D. Stanley, Spring
P. 44

WATER

Will There Be Enough Water for our
Gardens? A Green Thumb Report,
Autumn P. 134

AUTHOR INDEX 1972

Author

Page(s)

Author

Page(s)

Ash, Suzanne .

. 15

LeMay, Norman .

. 46

Ashley, Lee .

. 130

Mitchel, D. H .

. 73

Barrett, Frank .

. 38

Pankoski, Edward J. .

. 92

Brewer, J. W .

. 49

Petersen, Bernice ....

. 15

Crisp, Katharine Bruderlin

. 222

Radetsky, Carol L. ..

. . . . 41

DeBoer, S. R .

. 143

Riley, Jack .

. . . . . 30

Denham, Miriam .

. 67

Robertson, Josephine .

. 86

Feucht, James R .

. 81

Rountree, Russ .

. 28

Garrey, Mrs. George .

. 217

Schaetzel, Jacob V. . .

. 78

Glick, Syd .

. 113

Severn, Doug .

. . 38

Green Thumb Staff .

. 134

Shier, George R .

. 34

Hayward, Peg .

24, 55,90, 115

Stanley, Helen D .

. 44

Hildreth, A. C .

. 122

Webster, Edna S .

. 57

Huggins, Solange .

23,48,95, 132

Wilmore, Ken .

. 9

Inglis, Richard R .

. 12

Woodward, Wes .

. .13,98, 139,224

Kelly, George .

. 82, 133

Wright, Ken .

. 38

Kosanke, Avalonne .

. 116, 128

Zeiner, Helen Marsh . .

.2,26,42,89, 124

228

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS, INC.

A Non-Profit Organization

OFFICERS

Mr. John C. Mitchell . President

Mr. Harley G. Higbie, Jr . Vice-President

Mr. Charles C. Nicola . Vice-President

Mrs. James J. Waring . Vice-President

Dr. Moras L. Shubert . Secretary

Mr. Richard A. Kirk . Treasurer

STAFF

Dr. William G. Gambill, Jr
Mr. Andrew R. Knauer. .
Mr. Ernest A. Bibee . . .
Mr. David A. Blades . . .
Mrs. Beverly M. Nilsen . .
Miss Margaret Sikes . . .
Mrs. Solange Huggins . .
Dr. A. C. Hildreth ....

. Director

. Assistant Director

. Conservatory Superintendent

Assistant Conservatory Superintendent

. Botanist-Horticulturist

. Education Director

. Librarian

. Director Emeritus

ILLUSTRATION SOURCES

Cover — Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Page 142 - Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Page 145 - Drawing by Eileen Bloustein
Pages 146, 149 - Photos courtesy of S. R.
DeBoer

Page 15 1 — Photo courtesy Western History
Dept., Denver Public Library
Page 152 - Photo from 1913 Report, Denver
Board of Park Commissioners
Page 153 - Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Page 155 - Drawing by Eileen Bloustein
Page 156 — Drawing by Frances White Novitt
from “Around the Seasons”. Courtesy copy¬
right holders.

Page 158 - Drawing by Eileen Bloustein
Pages 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 - Photos
from 1913 Report, Denver Board of Paik
Commissioners, Courtesy of Pat Gallavan
Pages 166, 167 - Photos courtesy of George
Carlson

Page 169 — Photos courtesy of S..R. DeBoer
Pages 171, 173 - Plans courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Pages 175, 177 - Photos courtesy of S. R.
DeBoer

Pages 178, 179 - Drawings by Eileen Bloustein
Page 182 - Photo courtesy of George Carlson
Page 185 — Drawing by Eileen Bloustein
Page 188 - Photo courtesy Western History
Dept., Denver Public Library
Pages 190, 192, 194 - Drawings by Suzanne Ash
Page 196 - Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Pages 199, 201 - Drawings by Eileen Bloustein
Page 203 - Photo courtesy of George Carlson
Page 205 - Cartoon courtesy Littleton Inde¬
pendent

Page 207 - Drawing from book “Shopping Dis¬
tricts”. Courtesy S. R. DeBoer
Page 209 - Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Page 210 - Drawing by Larry Grey, Christmas
Card, Courtesy S. R. DeBoer
Page 214 - Photo courtesy of S. R. DeBoer
Page 215 - Drawing courtesy of Regis College
Page 216 - Certificate from The Green Thumb,
Mar.-April, 1957

Pages 220, 223 - Plans courtesy S. R. DeBoer
Page 225 - Drawing by Eileen Bloustein

foe Green foumb

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
909 YORK STREET
DENVER. COLORADO 80206

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 205
Denver, Colorado

DO NOT FOLD

ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

DENVER, COLORADO

This is a non-profit organi¬
zation supported by municipal
and private funds.

Botanic Gardens House

Denver Botanic Gardens maintains a collection of living plants, both native and exotic,
for the purpose of acquiring, advancing and spreading botanical and horticultural knowledge.

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