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GardenNOTES

ONCE AGAIN, NHS BOARD MEMBERS invite you into theirgardens for a day of conversation and inspiration. Last yearthe tour was held in July to celebrate the exuberance ofsummer gardens, but this year’s tour promises to celebratesomething even more remarkable—the exuberance ofgardeners. After winter’s litany of floods, freezes, winds, andsnow, you’ve got to admire gardeners brave enough to host aMay garden tour. Come see how these resilientsouls responded to Mother Nature’s weatherchallenges. Learn from their mistakesand triumphs as you savor the beautyof spring.

The tour is open exclusively toNHS members and their guests.Many of these gardens are notavailable for any other publicviewing. Best of all, the tour is free.Members are especially encouragedto bring non-members with them in aneffort to expose more people to thebenefits of NHS membership. Be sure to signup in each garden for a chance to win a free one-year NHS membership. Two will be awarded—one to amember and one to a guest.

Last year, thirteen past and present board members openedtheir gardens for the tour. Limited to just four hours fortouring, members were torn: Where to go first? How fast can I

drive? This year, to make things easier, all participatinggardens are clustered in Seattle and on the eastside. South-end

gardens will make up a separate tour on August 12, providingan opportunity for a leisurely day trip to the country. Detailswill be provided in the summer issue of Garden Notes.

But that still leaves ten gardens to visit in May. Good luck!

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING 2007

ABOVE: The Pendleton Garden (DOUG PENDLETON)

LEFT: The Irwin Garden (LISA IRWIN)

v THIRD ANNUAL TOUR v

NHS BOARD MEMBERS OPENTHEIR GARDENS

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 12-5 P.M.

SEATTLE GARDENS

THE HAMMONTREE GARDENGEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD

6422 CARLETON AVE SSEATTLE 98108

Welcome to my tiny Georgetown garden,next to the Orange Castle. In this smallspace, you will find things that shouldnot be here, ha ha. I think of my gardenas a big container, with many othercontainers within. Also, there is plenty ofsculpture and glass in the garden. Enjoya walk in a container: it’s a lot of fun.And if your shoes are clean, you cancome in the house.

THE IRWIN GARDENMAGNOLIA NEIGHBORHOOD

2514 W MCGRAW STSEATTLE 98199

My Magnolia hillside garden provides a living lab for observing new andgarden-worthy plants that I can oftenrecommend in my design business. Ihave three primary zones—a lush andenveloping shade garden, a bright andbold summer garden with tropical hints,

and a drought-tolerant, all-season entrygarden. I intersperse whimsical art,funky furniture, and birdhouses amidplantings that provide texture and colorwhile attracting wildlife.

THE LEVASSEUR GARDENPHINNEY RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD

509 NORTH 74THSEATTLE 98103

This is a cottage garden to enhance a1920 Seattle bungalow in the PhinneyRidge neighborhood. It has been inprogress since 1992 with some near-mature shrubs and trees and the mix ofplants seen in the typical cottage garden.Photographs of my garden are includedin The Northwest Cottage Garden byAndrew Schulman.

THE MASSONG/BUTLER GARDENQUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORHOOD

470 MCGRAW STSEATTLE 98109

Periodically my garden demonstratesevidence of human intelligence, butmost of the time it is a reflection of mypersonality.

THE PENDLETON GARDEN MAGNOLIA NEIGHBORHOOD

2551 37TH AVE WSEATTLE 98199

Thanks to the natural topography of thisMagnolia landscape, visitors ascend fromthe sidewalk, follow a pathway around a1940s brick home, and emerge into awelcoming, naturalistic landscape thatdelights and surprises. The focal point ofour garden is a life-sized waterfall thattumbles from an upper corner in thebackyard and culminates with a peacefulpool of water just below the viewingplatform. The garden is landscaped withan eclectic palette of Northwest natives,mature fruit trees that have been on theproperty for years, a brilliant coral barkmaple, and a giant gunnera that hassurvived extreme winter temperatures.

THE SPARLER GARDENSEWARD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD

5920 SEWARD PARK AVE SSEATTLE 98118

You should wear your dark glasses tothis over-the-top collector’s garden, nowentering its 15th utterly shameless year,for which of the following reasons?

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SPRING 2007

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ANNUAL BOARD TOUR, 2007D

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MULTIPLE CHOICE:

A. In hopes no one will recognize youin this den of horticultural iniquity.

B. To shade your eyes from this garishTechnicolor phantasmagoria ofbotanical flotsam.

C. To obscure your tears at the sight ofso many withered corpses done in bywinter’s freezes and floods.

D. All of the above.

To learn the correct answer, you’ll haveto come visit! Daniel and Jeff’s gardenhas been featured in several newspapersand magazines over the years.

EASTSIDE GARDENS

THE PATRICK GARDENPIKE’S PEAK NEIGHBORHOOD

12101 NE 33RD STBELLEVUE 98005

We have three gardens: there is Keith’sfolly, Janet’s perennials, and our half-acre garden, mostly in the shade. There

is also a small rhododendron garden thatis about 20 years old. Keith’s folly has aTerry Welch designed Japanese feeling toit, the perennial gardens feature acolorful border Janet designed, and thehalf-acre garden was the scene of ourson’s wedding ten years ago.

THE PEMBER GARDEN7617 NE 8TH STMEDINA 98039

Our garden surrounds a restored 1916craftsman cottage bungalow, situated ona one-third-acre lot that slopes awayfrom the south side of the house. Thegreen-and-white front garden wasenclosed in 1982 with shake fencing anda hedge. It features plants with year-round interest and a fountain andgunnera leaf sculpture made by Littleand Lewis. Porches, decks, French doors,and patios blend indoor entertainingwith outdoor spaces. From the deck youdescend to a 70' by 75’ garden filledwith specimen trees, shrubs, roses, and

some perennials. This area is anchoredby a giant Cedrus libani.

THE POOLE GARDENCLYDE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD

10236 NE 31ST PLBELLEVUE 98004

This garden was the third place winnerin the Arboretum Foundation’s 2005Garden Competition.Sunny borders enclosed by artful fencing

Ancient trees tower over woodland treasures

Stack rock walls in serpentine linesGarden art carefully chosen

Tetrapanax papyrifera dances withSaxifraga arendsii an unlikely pair

Sharply peaked ravine shelterCome and see for yourselves

THE ROUNTREE GARDENCLYDE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD

3205 102ND NEBELLEVUE 98004

Rather than the unrestrainedexuberance typified in my garden in thesummer and fall, spring is a quiet,serene time of year. Briefly bloomingbulbs, young colorful uneaten foliage,and small treasures appear among theswelling rose buds and early bloomingshrubs.

GardenNOTES

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Linda S BehrensJeffery N BellCarrie BendiksenRhonda BjornstadVan BobbittKathy BoullinScott C CartwrightGail CerraRolande ChesebroPatricia N CurtisMargaret DennisonLeisha DianeBarbara DiederichsFar Reaches FarmSharon FieldsPatricia FlowersCharlotte GilbertShannon GlassElizabeth Grabow &

Marsha WilsonJudy GudykaD J Guth

Nancy Claire GuthKris HamarKaryl HansenMrellan HarahanColleen HaywardPolly HolidayMeg JacobsenDebra JahnPat JohnsonAnne KinsleyMarianne KitchellJ I KleinbergVal Maureen KnightTeresa KnuthPatricia KristofersonElizabeth A KristofersonKandice KrollDavid LeighMary LignanaRobert G MacDuffJanet MandelJohn Marsh

Shelley MathewsDaniel MatlockDiane McCannErin McCormickShirley McEvoyInara McEwenTeresa D McPikeDonna NealBrian NelsonKathy NielsenDebbie O'DellNancy K O'NealSusan PaganoChristine PowellBarb RobinsonPatrice RossanoKen SchiewetzCarolyn SchneiderSteve ScottAnn ShureSteve SloanPaul Smith

Stephanie SmithCynthia SmithPeggy SmithSandy SowersBarbara H. Stenson

SpaethSharon & Ed StanfordKristen StoutCarolyn SturgellBetty J SwiftSally SykesDee TravisSue Karen TrippLaurel Van EatonDebera VerlindaLinda WardJanet WartingerBonnie K WiggintonJudy WilsonZhanbing Wu

~ WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ~

KATE

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HOW CAN YOU DO without grasses inyour garden? They offer wonderfultexture, put up with nasty conditions,and ask so little in return—no fertilizer,thank you, just a quick grooming.

One of my favorites is an old warhorsethat’s been around for more than acentury in Japan: Miscanthus sinensis

‘Morning Light’ (Japanese silver grass). ‘Morning Light’ is sturdily upright, and

its fine variegated blades provide abright vertical sunspot all summer. Andit’s not going to hog all your space. Itrises to about 5 feet, spreads to 3 feet,and generally behaves itself. Did Imention it’s drought tolerant? And aGreat Plant Pick?

It comes into its own in autumn—it’sa late bloomer—when it puts out mauveinflorescences that transform into flowingseed heads. It is upright well into winter.Mine has soldiered on through this pastwindy/rainy/icy/whatever winter, andlooked really wonderful with snowclinging to its seed heads.

Rick Darke calls it “arguably the best all-around garden plant of all theMiscanthus species” in his Color

Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses. It’s not known for seeding around, ittolerates light shade, although happier in sun, and it doesn’t flop or splay, assome miscanthus do.

Grasses are built for tough conditions,which is why they succeed all over theworld. They don’t like fuss. Many don’twant too much water. If the soil is toorich, they’ll spurt upward like a teenagerand flop over.

Make sure you plan enough space forgrasses. They seem so small you can’tbelieve they will grow to rival abasketball star, but believe the heightand spread information on the tag.

Some grasses flounce their progenyall over the garden. This doesn’t meanyou can’t indulge them; you just need tohave a strategy. Mexican feather grass(Nasella tenuissima) is one such hussy,but how could you not love that flowing

presence? I keep mine in a pot, better toplace it, and keep a sharp eye out forseedlings. (They pull out easily.)

A cousin of ‘Morning Light’,Miscanthus nepalensis (Himalayan fairygrass), is my real prize. It, too, is upright,about 5 feet by 3 feet, not fussy, and itdoesn’t seed around. Its inflorescencesare more filigreed, and in fall the seedheads pouf into a flossy boa.

Unfortunately, I almost killed my M.

nepalensis. When I tried to pry it fromits huge pot to divide it, I pretty muchtrashed its roots. I did manage to rescuea small start, just a half-a-dozen bladesnow shivering through winter. I don’toften see M. nepalensis in the nurseries.I spotted a few last summer, but by thetime I got to the nursery, someone (youknow who you are) bought them all up.In the meantime, I’m nursing along mylittle division until it’s big enough to fillits home pot.

Rose O’Donnell owns Bryant Organic

Gardening in Seattle.


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IN LOVE WITH GRASSESR O S E O ’ D O N N E L L

CARING FOR GRASSES• Deciduous grasses, those that die back in cold weather, are easy. In winter or when you can’t stand the mess anymore, cut them down. Do this before thenew blades start to come up. In summer, if you like a tidy look, they may need grooming if blades start flopping over. Once the blade is on the ground, it won’tpop back up, so cut it off an inch or so above the base of the plant.

• Evergreen grasses, like Helichtotrichon sempervirens, grow in all seasons. I suspect our damp climate makes a lot of blue oat grass blades die off, because itseems to want a lot of grooming. Comb through the grass to pull out dead blades,with your hands or using a weed cultivator. Reach underneath to pull out deadblades at the base of the plant. It’s like getting a good haircut. The grasses seemmuch perkier afterward.

• Be on the alert for rot at the center. Many grasses don’t like soggy feet. I keeprunning into these poor things planted right beside an irrigation head, and theyare not happy.

• All grasses have a shelf life. The center will die, and eventually the plant needsto be divided or replaced.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’maintains its elegant stature

well into winter

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HISTORICALLY, gardens were planted forfood and medicine, not landscaped forornamentation or recreation as they aretoday. There is still a generation that canremember the Victory Garden. In the1940s, the term defined a home gardenplanted to produce food for the wareffort. Vegetable gardens were acommodity, or as President Rooseveltstated, “food is no less a weapon thantanks, guns and planes.”

In today’s fast-paced life, theconnection to gardens grown for food isvery different. Time and space are theprecious commodities. We are farremoved from the concept of growinggardens for a war effort. Nevertheless, inour small plots of suburbia, we stillcrave fresh tomatoes off the vine. Manyof us welcome the trend where smallurban gardens give way to vegetablesand herbs.

Potager, a French term referring to avegetable or kitchen garden, typicallyconjures up visions of the acres ofPotager du Roi at Versailles. But in today’sspace-challenged gardens, an urbanpotager is not just about the expanse ofa kitchen garden; it is all about theornament of food gardening. Whencreating a potager in a small space, thereare several elements to consider.

DESIGN YOUR SPACE

Design is essential. This garden willalways be cut and harvested from, thusplanning for an attractive year-roundlook is important. Start by drawing lines.Define a permanent framework to allowplants to come and go without ruining

the design. Enclose, circle, or makepathways to form space. Move beyondthe frumpy, treated-wood rectangles.Create a permanent framework withliving plants such as true dwarf Englishboxwood or with hardscape materialssuch as woven willow hurdles, brick, orstone. Build pathways for easy accessand as another way to guide the eyethrough a space. Introduce outdoorstructures such as obelisks, trelliswork,and garden art for color and style. Tallerstructures will build a “room” effect andcreate a place for climbing plants.

FIND SUNLIGHT

Finding space to grow food plantstakes a bit of thinking outside the box.Vegetables need the sunniest spot in thegarden. Assess the quality of light whenthe summer sun is the best. Be aware ofneighboring buildings or trees that mayovershadow the plants. Look formicroclimates of reflective light andwarmth. Do not overlook rooftops,balconies, or warm brick walls betweenbuildings.

CHOOSE COMPACT OR

CLIMBING VARIETIES

Corn and large sprawling pumpkinvines just won’t work in small gardens.Some varieties to look for are ‘Patio’tomatoes, ‘Lemon’ cucumbers, ‘FairyTale’ eggplant, and ‘Spacemaster’ bushcucumber. Good herbs include ‘Minette’basil, garlic chives, and ‘Hidcote’lavender. You can also conserve spaceby growing plants up on structures. Polebeans and climbing peas are great on

trellises. Petite pumpkins such as ‘BabyBear’, ‘Jack Be Little’, or patty pansquash can also be trained to climb.

PLANT FOR BEAUTY

For an extra spot of color, plantpretty food. Many varieties of vegetablesprovide opportunities for multihuedcreativity. Lacy mesclun lettuces, ‘RubyBall’ cabbage, ‘Royal Burgundy’ beans,and edible flowers such as calendulasand violas add living color. Plantvegetables and herbs artistically. Getaway from straight rows. Line up plantsin patterns that intermingle with eachother, reminiscent of small knot gardens.

USE CONTAINERS

Even places without soil can hostelegant potted gardens. On rooftops andbalconies, try container gardens. Use potsat least two feet wide and tall to maximizechoices of plants to grow. Clustergroupings of three or more for best effect.A bay laurel topiary or columnar appletree will add an upright accent in thecenter of pots, while prostrate rosemarywill tumble over the edges.

Compact and artistic veggie plantingscan find their way into all shapes andsizes of garden spaces. As the gardeningyear kicks off, plot and plan how to adda potager of vegetables and herbs in themidst of your urban plot. Before long,you’ll be satisfying that craving for freshtomatoes.

Susan Goetz is owner of The Creative

Gardener, a garden design business in

Gig Harbor.

GardenNOTES

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THE URBAN POTAGER:

CREATING FOOD GARDENS IN SMALL SPACES

S U S A N G O E T Z

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ATTENTION, HORT HEADS! A disturbingtrend seems to be emerging in pub-lishing circles.

In what must be a misguided attemptto avoid alienating readers with whatthey assume are inscrutable Latin names,many magazine and newspapergardening-section editors are shovingbotanical nomenclature into the back ofthe tool shed and planting commonnames front and center. If you willpardon the indelicacy of the expression,dear readers, you may agree that thesenitwits don’t know their Eschscholzias

from a hole in the ground.The current (April 2007) issue of a

leading garden magazine extols thevirtues of a number of “high-poweredperennials,” but relegates their botanicalnames to the fine print. In the limelightare the likes of switchgrass (Panicum

virgatum), Helen’s flower (Helenium

autumnale), Lenten rose (Helleborus xhybridus), snakeroot (Actaea simplex),licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare), andeven hummingbird mint for an agastachecultivar. Such haphazard and arbitraryemployment of often nonsensical namesreinforces the need for precision andaccuracy, which only botanical binomials,derived scientifically and assigned byconsensus, can hope to afford.

If the Fates (and perhaps the goddessFlora) allow, in future editions we willexplore the particulars of learning tolove botanical names, but for now let usreview the shortcomings of theircommon cousins. Before we begin, letme be the first to admit that in certaincircumstances—especially in the spokenlanguage—common names are vastlymore practical than the academicalternative. How many of us actually talkabout our cultivars of Solenostemon

scutellarioides rather than our kinds ofcoleus?

Moreover, it is not only practical, butalso sensible to use common names forfamiliar plants with long-establishedculinary uses. Of particular utility are theno-nonsense, monosyllabic staples suchas rice (Oryza sativa), oat (Avena

sativa), rye (Secale cereale), and wheat(Triticum sp.). Some herbs also fit thebill: dill (Anethum graveolens).

However, these are the proverbialexceptions that prove the rule. We areall aware of the major pitfalls of usingcommon names—they are imprecise andambiguous. Let us now ponder theOOOH so many ways in which their useis detrimental to understanding,disruptive to common sense, and evendestructive to the social order. In hopesof reinforcing the mnemonic suggestedabove, we will briefly consider thecondemnation of common names on thefollowing grounds: More often than notthey are Odd, Obscure, Obfuscatory,and even Hateful.

Odd—Multitudes of common names forplants are just plain weird. Take, forexample, “pork and beans” for Sedum

rubrotinctum. Hungry for an “apple ofSodom”? Bite into the fruit of Solanum

carolinense but be aware that it mightbe your last—and know that this toxicnightshade is also called Carolinahorsenettle, bull nettle, wild tomato,devil’s tomato, sand briar, and treadsoftly. If you care to avoid “bats-in-the-belfry,” don’t plant Campanula

trachelium. How about a native shrub ofsouthwestern Washington, the westernwahoo (Euonymus occidentalis)?Apparently it took its common namefrom the eastern wahoo (Euonymus

atropurpureus), which in turn derivesfrom a native name in the Dakotalanguage. Wahoo is also applied,however, to many other shrubs and treesincluding the following genera:Calycanthus, Magnolia, Melia, Rhamnus,

Tilia, and Ulnus. The devil-made-me-do-it category could cover hell’s halfacre as well as most parts of theanatomy. Among the 30-plus examplesto be found are devil’s tongue, devil’sguts, devil’s backbone, devil’s claw,devil’s finger, and devil’s hair, not tomention more unsettling prospects suchas devil’s snuff box, devil’s beggartick,and devil’s plague.

Obscure—A number of common namesseem in today’s eyes more esoteric thantheir scientific counterparts. Yet they arestill used—by publishers at least—withnary a sideways glance. Is it really anyeasier to refer to giant viper’s buglossthan Echium pininana? Or Siberianbugloss over Brunnera? I was forcedinto the etymological dictionary to learnthat bugloss is from the Greek for ox-tongue. Common, indeed! A couple ofother candidates in the most obscurecategory would include Dyer’s plumelesssaw-wort (Serratula tinctoria) and—mypersonal favorite—Mongolian pride-of-Rochester (Deutzia parviflora).Questions abound: Who was Dyer, andwhat’s a saw-wort? Which Rochester? Inaddition to New York there areRochesters in 10 other states, plus two inEngland, and one each in Canada andAustralia. And how does Mongolia enterthe picture?

Obfuscatory—This is the most vexingfield in that there are so many subcate-gories to consider. Many common


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A PLEA FOR LATIND A N I E L S P A R L E R

names seemed designed to confoundgardeners in a veritable babble ofdouble-speak. Consider mutuallycontradictory names for the same plant:How can Nigella damascena be “love-in-a-mist” as well as “devil-in-a-bush”?The wild form of our beloved carrot,Daucus carota, is one woman’s “QueenAnne’s lace” but another’s “devil’splague.” Ornithogalum umbellatum isboth “star of Bethlehem” and “dove’sdung.” Among many other appellations,Datura metel is called “angel’s trumpet”as well as “devil’s trumpet.” Even moredismaying is the confusion engenderedby the willy-nilly misapplication of acommon or even botanical name tounrelated genera: so-called spurgelaurel is neither a spurge (Euphorbia)nor a laurel (Laurus or Prunus) but isin fact Daphne laureola. “Octoberdaphne” is really Sedum sieboldii,“strawberry geranium” is Saxifraga

stolonifera, and “flowering maples” areAbutilons. “Australian fuchsia” (Correa)and “Cape fuchsia” (Phygelius) aren’teven remotely related to the real thing,although “evening primrose”(Oenothera) is—surprise!—a distant kinof fuchsia, but it sure ain’t a primrose.Speaking of roses, pity the poor plantfor having to share its name with acouple dozen wannabes. In what maybe the single most egregious case ofhorticultural identify theft, a rose is nolonger a rose (apologies to GertrudeStein) when attached to the followinghangers-on: alpine, Christmas, cotton,desert, Egyptian, guelder, Lenten, moss,rock, sand, sun, velvet et cetera. Thereal thing by any other name may smell as sweet (apologies to Wm.Shakespeare), but now that we’recasting aspersions (if not spurges), this

scourge is enough to discourage, or atleast bedevil the beginning gardener.

Hateful—Now we’re on to seriousbusiness. Is there no sympathy for themother-in-law? Must her poor tonguestill be used for Sansevieria and Dieffenbachia and her cushion forEchinocactus. (Ouch!) Isn’t it downrightmean—not to mention cannibalistic—torefer to Monstera deliciosa as “mother-in-law”? She can, of course, retaliate byinvoking a dozen or so bastards,including bastard indigo (Amorpha

fruticosa) as well as bastard balm(Melittis melissophyllum), bastardcabbage tree, cinnamon, olive, rocket,sandalwood . . . you get the picture.We’ll wrap this up on a somber notethat includes a call for action. The mostnefarious common names are those thatincorporate racial slurs. The worstexamples from our own country, thosethat employed the “n” word, have finallybeen expunged. However, all around usare references to a South African termthat is just as vile. The hideous “kaffir”has been applied as part of the commonname for various species of Citrus,

Carpobrutus, Erythrina, Encephalartos,

Sorghum and other tropical genera, butin Seattle some prominent nurseries stillsell Schizostylis coccinea and sometimesClivia miniata as “kaffir lily.” I’ve madeit a point to inform proprietors of theimpropriety of such terminology when Isee plants so labeled, but the names stillsurface with disheartening frequency.Let’s make it a point to follow the leadof the South Africans themselves, wholong ago began referring to Clivia asbush or forest lily and Schizostylis ascrimson flag. If we work together onthis we can make a difference.

You’ll have to excuse me now. It’stime to go out and sow some Californiapoppies.

When he is not torturing the English

language, Daniel Sparler, who recently

joined the NHS board, torments plants in

his Seward Park garden.

GardenNOTES

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A BIT O’ FUN

WITH COMMON NAMES

“Kiss me over the garden gate1,”whispered the black dragon2 to Molly thewitch3 as he tread softly4 on the deadman’s hand5. “Oh, sweet heart of Jesus6,”came her retort. “Not for all the bells ofIreland7, you devil-in-a-bush8, youbastard toadflax9! Reel in your paintedtongue10 and touch me not11, or I’ll makesure your love lies bleeding12 when thequeen of the night13 arrives. She’ll doffher ladies mantle14, crack out the devil’shorsewhip15 and stuff you full ofhellweed16. Then her destroying angel17

will finish you off with his Spanishdagger18, bury you with St. Anthony’sspade19 and you’ll be pushing up stinkingcorpse lilies20 before you know it.”

1. Persicaria orientale

2. Dracunculus vulgaris

3. Paeonia mlokosewitschii

4. Solanum carolinense

5. Scleroderma geaster

6. Caladium bicolor

7. Moluccella laevis

8. Nigella damascena

9. Comandra umbellata

10. Salpiglossis sinuata

11. Impatiens balsamina

12. Amaranthus caudatus

13. Selenicereus grandiflorus

14. Alchemilla mollis

15. Achyranthes aspera

16. Cuscuta europea

17. Amanita virosa

18. Yucca gloriosa

19. Sansevieria sp.

20. Rafflesia arnoldii

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EVENT NAME

Sustainable Gardening:

The Green Approach

Pots in the Garden

Botanic Gardens at

the Crossroads

Making the Modern Garden

Designing Mixed Borders

for Sun & Shade

Bloedel Reserve—

Pacific Northwest Treasure

TYPE OF EVENT

SPRING GARDENING

SYMPOSIUM

Slides & Lecture

Wednesday Evening Lecture Series

No reservation required

Slides & Lecture



Slides & Lecture



Slides & Lecture



Slides & Lecture



FEATURED SPEAKER

Janet Marinelli

Sean Hogan

Maurice Horn

Cameron Scott

Ray Rogers

Scott Medbury

Christopher Bradley-Hole

Bob Hyland

Richard Brown

DATE, DAY & TIME

March 24 (Sat)

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

April 11 (Wed)

6:45 p.m. Reception

7:15 p.m. Lecture

May 6 (Sun)

12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.

May 9 (Wed)

6:45 p.m. Reception

7:15 p.m. Lecture

June 13 (Wed)

6:45 p.m. Reception

7:15 p.m. Lecture

September 14 (Fri)

12:00 noon – 6:30 p.m.

September 15 (Sat)

9:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m.

October 10 (Wed)

6:45 p.m. Reception

7:15 p.m. Lecture

November 14 (Wed)

6:45 p.m. Reception

7:15 p.m. Lecture

N H S L E C T U R E S — 2 0 0 7

E L I S A B E T H C . M I L L E R L I B R A R Y W I L L B E O P E N F R O M 5 : 0 0 – 7 : 1 5 P . M . B E F O R E T H E W E D N E S D A Y E V E N I N G L E C T U R E S .

MEET THE BOARD TOUR

NHS ANNUAL FALL PLANT SALE

9

S — 2 0 0 7DESCRIPTION

Our spring symposium will focus on earth-friendly practices that will enable us to pass

healthy ecosystems on to future generations. Topics include growing endangered plants to

help save them, installing green roofs, following sustainable soil building and composting

practices, managing weeds and diseases without chemicals, and conserving water.

Ray Rogers, editor, award-winning horticulturist, life-long gardener, and author of the

upcoming Timber Press book, Pots in the Garden (photographed by Richard Hartlage),

will show us how to create and site fantastic containers in the garden for optimum effect.

Learn how to create focal points, use water, and exploit the potential of empty containers

to make wonderful deck, patio, and terrace environments, as well as beautiful gardens.

Scot Medbury, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, will speak about

making botanic gardens relevant to contemporary society. He will share horticultural

experiences from botanic gardens in Hawaii, New Zealand, Great Britain, and now New

York. Scot, an MS graduate of the UW Center for Urban Horticulture, promises to mention

good garden plants for Seattle along the way.

Christopher Bradley-Hole, author, architect, and plantsman, works at the cutting edge of

modern design. He will provide an overview of the best modern and minimalist gardens,

giving the inspiration behind the gardens and explaining how space and proportion

combine with clever planting.

Bob Hyland is co-owner and manager of Loomis Creek Nursery, a retail nursery in New

York’s Hudson River Valley that specializes in perennials, grasses, shrubs, and tender

plants for the mixed border. He will discuss the art and practice of creating dynamic,

colorful, four-season borders planted with a mixture of shrubs, perennials, ornamental

grasses, annuals, and bulbs.

Prentice Bloedel’s belief that “Nature can do without man, but man cannot do without

nature,” inspired him to give his wonderful estate to the Northwest. Richard Brown, the

executive director of the Bloedel Reserve, and a talented garden photographer, will tell us

how this once-private residential estate evolved into a nationally significant public-access

garden.

MEMBER/NON

$45/$65

$5/$10

FREE

$5/$10

$5/$10

FREE

$5/$10

$5/$10

LOCATION

Bastyr University Auditorium

14500 Juanita Dr NE

Kenmore, 98028

NHS Hall / UW Botanic Gardens

Center for Urban Horticulture

3501 NE 41st, Seattle

Driving directions to tour

gardens will be mailed out

later this spring







Warren G. Magnuson Park

7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle







NHSP.O. BOX 4597ROLLING BAY, WA 98061-4597(206) 527-1794

0 – 7 : 1 5 P . M . B E F O R E T H E W E D N E S D A Y E V E N I N G L E C T U R E S .

ARD TOUR

PLANT SALE

RAY ROGERSPOTS IN THE GARDEN

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

LIFELONG GARDENER RAY ROGERS has the hots for pots, andhe’s coming to Seattle in April to tell NHS members why. His

new book Pots in the Garden, just published inFebruary by Timber Press, reflects this

longtime gardener’s accumulated thoughtsand experiences on container gardeningand the basic principles behind goodgarden design.

Ray began his career in publichorticulture before turning to a career as a

garden editor and writer. Working at theMorris Arboretum in Philadelphia and at the

American Horticultural Society’s headquarters at River Farm inAlexandria, Virginia furthered his interest in the horticulturalpress and led to a position as senior editor at DorlingKindersley Publishing, where he worked on over 40 titles.

Currently a freelance editor and author, Ray is a regularcontributor to the American Gardener magazine, Green Scene,

and American Cottage Gardening. He has even been a gueston Martha Stewart Living. Ray continues to pursue his horticul-tural interests as a home gardener, an amateur hybridizer ofHippeastrum (amaryllis), and as a major horticultural exhibitorin the Philadelphia Flower Show.

In a recent interview, Ray, who currently gardens in NorthBrunswick, New Jersey, spoke about the popularity ofcontainer gardening. “It can be done in a small space—such asa postage-stamp urban or suburban garden, patio, or deck—orin a garden the size of Versailles,” he says.

Ray maintains that the overarching factor in deciding whatelements make for a pleasing container combination is: Does it

look good to you? “This is a very subjective business,” he says.What he calls “the Big Five—color, line, form, space, andtexture”—come into play here. He also promises to tell uswhat colors of containers play well with others. One caveat:“Watch out for bright orange terra cotta.”

SCOT MEDBURYBOTANIC GARDENS AT

THE CROSSROADSWednesday, May 9, 2007

SCOT MEDBURY, president and CEO of the Brooklyn BotanicGarden (BBG), is coming to Seattle in May to talk to NHS

members about making botanic gardensrelevant to contemporary society. Prior to his

appointment as president of the BrooklynBotanic Garden in 2005, Scot was thedirector of the San FranciscoConservatory of Flowers and theBotanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum,

Golden Gate Park. Scot’s career hasincluded appointments at gardens in

California, Washington, Great Britain, New Zealand,and his home state of Hawaii.

In 2006, the American Association of Museums listed Scot asone of the Top 100 Museum Professionals of the Past Century.In awarding the honor, the Association recognized Scot as achampion of botanic gardens, whose 30-year career has beendevoted to innovating, improving, and expanding upon howbotanic gardens in the United States serve the public.

Scot’s work at the BBG has included a focus on helping thegarden become even “greener.” “We’re really getting our headstogether on how we can be a model of a green institution,” hesaid at a recent breakfast forum in New York City. To that end,the BBG is planning to construct a new visitor’s center—expected to be completed for the garden’s 2010centennial—featuring a green roof that “we think will take it tothe next level,” said Scot. The BBG is also getting moreinvolved in working with local gardeners on food issues.

His evening with NHS promises to be a homecoming ofsorts for Scot, who holds two degrees from the University ofWashington: an MS in Forest Resources from the Center forUrban Horticulture; and a BA in International Studies, with anemphasis on Russian language and culture from the Henry M.Jackson School of International Studies. Mindful of hisNorthwest connections, Scot has promised to mention goodgarden plants for Seattle along the way.

UPCOMING SPEAKERSR O B I N M A A S S

May PreviewApril Preview


All lectures are held at NHS Hall, Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St., Seattle. Fee is $5 for NHS members, $10 for guests.

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June Preview

CHRISTOPHERBRADLEY-HOLE

MAKING THE MODERN GARDENWednesday, June 13, 2007

BRITISH AUTHOR, architect, and landscape designer ChristopherBradley-Hole is coming to Seattle in June to share his ideas on

modern and minimalist gardens with NHSmembers. Christopher has designed gardens

ranging in size from small city courtyardsto grand country estates in the UnitedKingdom, Germany, Sweden, andCanada. His latest book, Making Modern

Gardens, will be coming out this year.Christopher’s widely publicized contem-

porary garden designs, with their focus onthe relationship of buildings to their surroundings,

have been influential in changing British attitudes towardlandscape design.

Many of Christopher’s innovative modern gardens, createdfor the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, have won multipleawards. In 2004, his garden Hortus Conclusus, a modernistreinterpretation of an early Islamic garden designed for theShaikh Al-Nahayan, took Best in Show at Chelsea. In 1997, hisfirst-ever garden design at Chelsea won a Gold Medal, as wellas Best in Show. It was widely acclaimed for its “pared-downsimplicity and tranquility, executed with a sharp eye for bothrigorous design and harmonious planting.”

Originally trained as an architect, Christopher runs hisdesign practice from London, and teaches landscape design tostudents of the diploma course at the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew. Some of his recent public projects in the UK haveincluded a new urban landscape for the BBC headquarters atWhite City in London, a contemporary garden for EnglishHeritage at Portland Castle, the redevelopment of HighburyStadium for Arsenal Football Club, and a new garden courtyardfor the new wing of the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

Christopher’s previous book, The Minimalist Garden, won theGarden Writers Guild Award for Book of the Year 1999-2000.

GardenNOTES

See calendar (pps. 8 and 9) for lecture times.

Mrs. Don G. Abel in memory of Jeanette Michel

Phoebe AndrewAlison S. AndrewsBarbara AsmervigKaren BabbitBamford & Bamford Pottery/

Kathryn BamfordDouglas BayleyCharlotte L. BehnkeJim & Suzette BirrellSusan BogertConstance BollenMrs. Edgar BottlerJill D. BowmanShelly & Paul CapelotoWhit CarhartBarbara CarmanMichael J. CoieTam CrockerStacie CrooksBarbara L. CrutcherLynn & Ralph DavisMarsha Davis-ThomsenTanya DeMarsh-DodsonTina DixonDragonfly Farms NurseryAnita DunnMrs. Phil DuryeeDominique EmersonJanet & Mike EndsleyCarolyn FisherBetsy FitzgeraldLucile FlanaganLorene Edwards ForknerKathy FriesJane GambleMr. & Mrs. E. Peter GarrettGreg GravesMary Louise GriffinAnn & Geoffrey Groff-SmithIola GrothJoyce HawkinsElizabeth Hebert

& Donald GuthrieNancy HecklerDeborah HegCatherine HillenbrandA Garden of DistinctionJocelyn C. HorderDeborah HornDan & Darlene HuntingtonLisa IrwinSuzy JamiesonAnn E. KellerKemper/Iversen, Ltd.Karin KravitzMary Helen Krock

& John MacKeanLaura M. KvasnoskyDenise Lane & Bruce AllenRaymond J. Larson

Alice LauberJulie LawrenceJeanne Marie LeeAnn LeVasseurSusan & John LewickiJanet LewinsohnMr. & Mrs. J. David LewisBarb LibbeyMartha LindbergSusan Holmes LipskyKaren LongPete & Midge LucasHans & Tina MandtJames K. MarshallJudy MassongMcComb Gardens NurseryKathy E. MeislahnMolbak's LLCRenee MontgelasCiscoe MorrisAlexandra & Charles MorseSusan MullenJohn & Lee NeffAnn S. OrmsbyMary PalmerCatherine ParkerChitra & Zakir ParpiaT. Keith & Janet L. PatrickMaryann & Charles PemberLois PendletonSusan PicquellePhyllis PierceDianne K. H. PolsonKate PooleDebra Prinzing

& Bruce BrooksRavenna GardensBarbara ReisingerM. Gayle RichardsonPat & Walt RiehlNita Jo RountreeLiz SanbornGerda SpenceRichie SteffenRebecca StewartPhil & Susie StollerNancy StrahleMary Kay TalbotJoanne Titus ThompsonShelagh TuckerRalene WallsMarie WeilerWells Medina NurseryJoanne WhiteCarolyn WhittleseyMadeleine WildeLois WillmanSherri WilsonWithey Price Landscape

& Design, LLCKathryn P. Yerke

~ THANKS TO OUR 2007 PATRONS ~

The educational series would not be possible without thetremendous support of our wonderful patrons. Their generosityenables NHS to provide a world-class educational program for

Northwest gardeners. Thank you, patrons!

11

TROPICAL FOLIAGE and exoticflowers, punctuated with hand-carved masks, combined tocreate one of the most beautifuland popular displays at thisyear’s Northwest Flower &Garden Show. Borucan Indiansfrom Costa Rica made thecolorful masks; Outdoor LightingPerspectives designed andinstalled the special-effect lightingthroughout the garden; Jean Whitesavagedonated her “Jungle Nut” sculpture;Rosebar contributed a gunnera-leaf waterfeature; and Wendy Welch GardenDesigns artfully unified the entireexhibit.

Huge thank-yous go to the manyNHS volunteers who installed, staffed,

and dismantled the exhibit.Staffers not only sold NHSmemberships, theyidentified plants, gavedirections to anything andeverything in the show,and played two DVDs, one showing NHSmembers in their gardens(filmed by

Terry Moyemont), and asecond showing theBorucan mask ceremony.

Mary Palmer won thePhilips portable DVDplayer, promised to thevolunteer who recruitedthe most new members.During her shift, she

signed up seven new members.Congratulations, Mary!

Our special thanks also go to:

Aw Pottery

Clinton Bamboo

Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden

Lake Washington Technical College,horticultural students

Mariposa Imports

Molbak’s

Terry Moyemont

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

Ravenna Gardens

Rosebar, Inc.

Steamboat Island Nursery

Swansons

Wendy Welch Garden Design

Jean Whitesavage

Wintergreen Tree Farm

AS PART OF ITS commitment to further horticultural education,NHS maintains an endowment fund to support the ElisabethCarey Miller Scholarship in Horticulture, available to graduatestudents at the University of Washington. The scholarshipprovides financial assistance for a specific project. This year,each of the 2006 winners is pursuing research in restorationecology, aimed at improving natural environments.

LLOYD NACKLY recently entered the master’s program atthe Center for Urban Horticulture. His thesis is centered onunderstanding invasive plant biology and habitat preference inorder to predict and prevent further colonization of naturalsettings. He hopes the results of his studies will be useful inhorticulture, urban planning, and natural resource management.

RODNEY POND is a PhD student at the Center for UrbanHorticulture, researching the best methods to reestablish plantcommunities in disturbed low-elevation riparian forests in theNorth Cascades National Park. He is investigating natural factorsthat limit reestablishment, such as substrate quality, seeddispersal, and plant tolerance of site conditions, and then

devising experiments to determine what needs to be manipu-lated to promote plant establishment. He hopes his researchresults will aid areas disturbed by construction, mining,recreation, slope failure, erosion, and any other form of distur-bance that exposes bare mineral substrates.

SIERRA SMITH is pursuing a master’s degree in theUniversity of Washington’s Environmental Horticulture andUrban Forestry program. Armed with evidence suggesting asymbiotic relationship between plants and fungi, Sierra isworking in partnership with the Nature Conservancy to test hishypothesis that farming a site disrupts the mycorrhizalcommunity, making it more difficult to reestablish native plants.He hopes to aid the Nature Conservancy in its efforts to restorePuget Sound’s abandoned agricultural fields, and to inform thebroader debate over the use of mycorrhizae in the productionof plant material destined for sites like this.

University of Washington graduate students wishing toobtain information regarding the 2007 scholarship may [email protected].


12

NHS AT THE FLOWER & GARDEN SHOWREAPS RAVE REVIEWS

N I T A - J O R O U N T R E E

NHS AWARDS THREE SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2006

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WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED trendy plants. Orshould I say they’ve suffered us? Ourclimate is just mild enough to make ustry anything and fickle enough to makeus fail. We have all had our share offailures, even in the most favorable ofmicroclimates. But we have hadsuccesses, too, with some of the mostunlikely plants. Melianthus major

happens to be one of those plantsproving to be long suffering and findinga place in the modern Northwest garden,beyond its trendy start.

I say long suffering, because this lax,soft-wooded shrub from the west coast ofSouth Africa is just barely at home in ourtemperate Mediterranean climate. And yetit willingly compromises, behaving morelike a hardy perennial than a shrub.

In its native land, Melianthus major,or giant honey bush, grows on moist,sandy riverbanks and in ditches. Due toits suckering habit, it can grow as wideas tall, reaching 10 feet. It is a memberof the Melianthiaceae family, which iscomprised of three genera and eighteenspecies. M. major, with its gloriousfoliage, crowns the family. Grownornamentally in warmer climates foryears, it now enjoys popularity even intemperate climates.

Its alternate, pinnately compoundleaves bearing 7-11 leaflets are dramati-cally serrated and heavily coated with asilvery wax, which captures changinglight. The leaves appear platinum in fullsummer sun, jade green in spring’s softlight, or luminous blue on a misty fallday. The cultivar ‘Antonow’s Blue’ is anexceptional selection, with boldertexture and deeper blue coloration thanthe species.

In Afrikaans it’s calledKruidjie-roer-my-nie, orherb-touch-me-not. Thetoxic foliage has an odorsome people affection-ately call peanut buttery;others say it is malodorousas rubber. Actually, South Africans haveused the healing compounds of itsfoliage for ages to create poultices. Thefoliage is not toxic when touched, butonly when eaten.

The mahogany red flowers carried ontall panicles over the foliage appear inspring. In Greek, melianthus meanshoney flower, and these flowers dripwith nectar, fed upon by the AfricanSunbird, its sole pollinator. These flowersare seldom seen in the Northwestbecause they appear on second-yeargrowth in the spring. It takes a frost-freewinter for this sensitive shrub to comethrough and bloom. Though I have seenit bloom here, the display is nothing likewhat you’d see in California or Africa. Itis the luminous foliage that has won itpopularity here.

Whether started from seed orcuttings, melianthus is a quick grower. Afew small plants regularly watered andfertilized can give a shrublike effect bysummer’s end.

A melianthus that I planted as anannual five years ago still lives in aprotected corner under cedars, thoughI’ve given it minimal encouragement.Over the years the cedars have wrappedroots around it, but have not stopped thislong-suffering plant which gets little waterand hot afternoon sun. Each autumn therains begin and so does the melianthus,putting on a new flush of growth. The

first hard frost kills this new growth. Ihave been warned not to cut it back atthis time, yet each year I dare this“annual” to die, and cut it back as soonas the first frost damages it, mulchingonly lightly. Each spring the plumelikesea-green foliage returns, encouragedwith minimal fertilizer and water.

Melianthus is not for every garden. Itsstunning foliage—at home with cannas,castor beans, and dahlias—looks like aforeigner in a Mediterranean orNorthwest-native planting scheme. I’vecombined it with Cotinus ‘Royal Robe’,Cordyline bauerii, Ruta graveolens ‘CurlyGirl’, Sedum ‘Matrona’, and Canna

striata. These plants enjoy the samecultural conditions, and the play of colorsand textures gives a long season ofdramatic interest. Not minding crampedroots, it also makes a great containerplant, making it much easier to haul intoa garage when temperatures drop. Mostnurseries have caught on to the charmsof this tender perennial and offer it intheir annual department each spring.

But an annual or tender perennial itis not. I feel a need to upgradeMelianthus major’s status. Certainlycalling it hardy may be pushing it toofar. Maybe a new category? How aboutlong suffering?

Daniel Mount works as a gardener and

designer in the Seattle area.

GardenNOTES

13

LONG-SUFFERINGMELIANTHUS MAJOR

D A N I E L M O U N T

Melianthus major foliage adds drama to the garden

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IMAGINE A CARGO VAN packedto the roof with eighty-sixbanker’s boxes. Now imagineeach of those boxes filledwith horticulture books. Forthose of us at the Miller Library,this is way better than Christmas. Talkabout kids in a candy store!

In December of 2006, the MillerLibrary received its largest gift of bookssince the founding of the library, asGeorge Waters donated his entirehorticultural library to us. We spent twodays in the Portland area, packing andloading those eighty-six boxes (andunloading them back in Seattle). Feelingsomething of a time crunch, we had toconcentrate on getting everythingpacked, although the temptation to lingerand browse through the booksoccasionally took over, and “look at this!”was frequently heard as one of usdiscovered yet another treasure.

We are profoundly grateful to GeorgeWaters for his generosity. Many of youwill recognize his name. For more thantwenty years, from July 1976 until fall of1997, George was the editor of Pacific

Horticulture. For several years prior totaking the editorial helm, he and hiswife Olive were involved in therevamping of the journal. They servedon the foundation’s board of directors,and streamlined the distribution of thejournal to its subscribers.

A native of England, George grew upnorth of London, where as a child, hecollected manure for the garden. In aconversation with Brian on an early visitto evaluate the collection, he recalledbecoming a “professional” manure man,

working for a truck farm.Upon his move to Californiain the early 1970s, heworked as a gardener, andbecame involved in the

California Horticultural Society,where he became friends with Maggie

Hayakawa, who was on the board ofdirectors of the Pacific HorticulturalFoundation. The rest, as they say, ishistory. In 2002, George and Olivemoved from the Bay Area to OregonCity to be closer to Olive’s son. Sadly,Olive passed away on April 24, 2005,and George began making plans tomove back to the Bay Area. Wanting hisimpressive collection of books to go toa good home, he contacted us, much toour delight.

The headliner of this collection is the1731, first edition of The Gardener’s

Dictionary by Philip Miller. A hands-on,A-Z listing ofornamentals,fruits, herbs, andvegetables, itwould be a mustin your garden if it didn’t weigh15 pounds! Garden practices, such as pruning and air layering, areinterspersed with more curious subjectssuch as the impact of lightning andthunder on plants. But Miller had hispriorities correct, devoting seven pagesto a month-by-month plan for growinghops, and over 50 pages to grapes andwinemaking throughout England andFrance.

John C. Loudon, an influentialhorticultural journalist and designer in

the 19th century, wrote another one ofthese gems: The Villa Gardener (1850) isa how-to book for grand scale landscapedesigners. His wife, Jane Loudon, carriedon after his death by instructingVictorian women in The Ladies’

Companion to the Flower Garden (1858).The Florist’s Directory (1810) was “a

Treatise on the Culture of Flowers,”especially for those used in the floristtrade. Written by James Maddock andSamuel Curtis, it was a standard for 30years. Alfred Smee studies his owngarden at Beddington, Surrey in My

Garden: Its Plan and Culture (1872), the650 pages illustrated with 1,300engravings. This was one of George’spersonal favorites.

And not just books! Several newperiodicals will grace the Miller shelvesbecause of the Waters’ gift. Theseinclude a complete run (from 1930 to

the present) of the British IrisSociety yearbook, and My

Garden—a mid-20th century“intimate magazine for gardenlovers.”

The list goes on and onand the whole Miller staff

will be busy for months just gettingthrough it. So if you hear a squeal ofdelight from the workroom during yournext visit to the library, know that we’vejust found yet another treasure fromGeorge!

Karen Preuss is manager of the Elisabeth

C. Miller Library.

Brian Thompson is the Miller Library’s

curator of horticultural literature.

14


MILLER LIBRARY NEWS AND NOTES

K A R E N P R E U S S A N D B R I A N T H O M P S O N

The Elisabeth C. Miller Library is open:

Monday 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.,Tuesday–Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.,

and Saturday 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.(Closed Saturdays in August)

NHS BULLETIN BOARDNHS BULLETIN BOARD

AprilTHURSDAY, APRIL 5, 10:00 A.M.—12:00 NOON

Spring Ephemerals with Greg GravesLOCATION: Miller Botanical Garden, Seattle

FEE: Members $25.00 Non-members: $35.00

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 12:30 A.M.—2:30 P.M.

An Iris for Every Part of the Garden with Richard Greenberg

LOCATION: Brenneman Garden, Wallingford


MayWEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 10:00 A.M.—12:00 NOON

New Hot Plants with Richie SteffenLOCATION: Miller Botanical Garden, Seattle


WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 10:00 A.M.—12:00 NOON

Tropical Rhododendrons (Vireyas) with Clarice Clark

LOCATION: Rhododendron Species Foundation, Federal Way


THURSDAY, MAY 24, 10:30 A.M.—12:30 P.M.

Containers with Greg GravesLOCATION: Old Goat Farm, Orting


WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 10:00 A.M.—2:00 P.M.

Botanical Tour of the Zoo and Rose GardenLOCATION: Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle


Please visit www.northwesthort.org for class descriptions.To register: Call Karin Kravitz (206) 780-8172 or [email protected].

NORTHWEST PERENNIAL ALLIANCE

Spring Plant SaleSUNDAY, APRIL 22, 10:00 A.M.—3:00 P.M.

SAND POINT MAGNUSON PARK, BUILDING 27

7400 SAND POINT WAY NE, SEATTLE

SELECT GREAT PLANTS from Northwest vendors, the NPABorders at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, and memberdonations. Learn more at www.n-p-a.org.

SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB

“It’s Magic” Flower ShowSATURDAY, MAY 19, 10:00 A.M.—5:00 P.M.

CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE

3501 NE 41ST, SEATTLE

ENJOY THE SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB’S innovative arrangements,horticultural exhibits, and photographs. For more information,call (206) 322-7565 or (206) 324-1155.

A Pattern GardenVal Easton’s Book Launch a Big Success

THANKS TO ALL who planned and attended this festive event atthe Center for Urban Horticulture on March 6. Over $17,000was raised to support the Northwest Horticultural SocietyElisabeth Miller Library Endowment Fund.

e SAVE THE DATE! f

Molbak’s “Spring into Action”Festival to Benefit NHS

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 9:00 A.M.—8:00 P.M.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 10:00 A.M.—6:00 P.M.

13625 NE 175TH ST, WOODINVILLE

JOIN MOLBAK’S FOR their annual kick-off to spring celebrationand get new ideas for your garden. Along with a temptingselection of plants, there will be activities to satisfy everyone,from first-time gardeners to those most experienced. This year,Molbak’s will donate a portion of the weekend’s proceeds toNHS, benefiting our educational programs.

Weekend events include container-planting workshops,garden lectures, inspirational displays, and special activitiesfor kids. On Saturday, Marty Wingate will present “Year-Round Interest for Small Gardens” at 1:00 p.m., and onSunday, Karen Chapman will present “Spring Ideas for YourEntry” at 1:00 p.m.

We hope to see lots of familiar faces at the festival! Eventdetails are available at www.molbaks.com or on our ownwebsite at www.northwesthort.org

— 2007 SPRING CLASSES —

15

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

P.O. BOX 4597

ROLLING BAY, WA 98061-4597

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSeattle, WA

Permit No. 4842

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

AFTER ONE OF THE MOST frustratinglymiserable winters in Seattle history, I amlooking forward to a glorious spring andsummer. The eagerness I feel whenhosta leaves first poke through theground, the excitement felt when thepale shades of spring green leavesemerge from bare branches, the exhila-ration of discovering that a treasuredplant is still alive—this year every gardenevent will be especially appreciated afterthe traumas of this winter. Hope springseternal!

I hope you will all share yourenthusiasm for the new season by takingadvantage of NHS lectures, classes, andtours. Our exceptional board of directors spends an amazing amount of time and research toprovide members the best opportunities to learn and interact with fellow garden enthusiasts.

One such event is our hugely popular “Meet the Board Tour” on May 6. I hope you can allcome, and I’m looking forward to meeting many of you in my garden.

Karin Kravitz, our administrator, has created a beautiful and informative monthly e-newsletter.Let us know if you are not receiving it through e-mail.

Exciting News: Molbak’s has named NHS as the beneficiary of their “Spring into Action”festival, held on April 14 and 15 (more info on Page 15). Bring your friends to this fun-filledweekend and help Molbak’s help NHS. Everyone will get Hooked on Horticulture!

THANK YOU,NITA-JO

GARDEN NOTES EDITOR

Melody [email protected]

DESIGNERConstance Bollen,

CB Graphics

CONTRIBUTINGTO THIS ISSUE:Debbie Campbell

Susan GoetzLisa Irwin

Karin KravitzBarry Latter

Ann LeVasseurRobin Maass

Julie MartinsonDaniel Mount

Rose O’DonnellKeith Patrick

Doug PendletonKate Poole

Karen PreussNita-Jo RountreeDaniel SparlerRichie Steffen

Brian Thompson

PRINTERMike Klinke,

Impression Printing

Garden NOTES

i Telephone: (206) 527-1794 i Web: www.northwesthort.org i E-mail: [email protected]

Read about the NHS exhibit at the NW F&G Show on Page 12

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