GardenNOTESNORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SUMMER 2008

SUNDAY, JULY 20, 12—5 P.M.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 12—5 P.M.

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, gardeners arepaying more for gas, food, andsupplies, so you will be pleased toknow that the price of NHS’s Meet theBoard Tour remains the same: it is stillfree to members and their guests. Inthis year’s grouping of nine privategardens, you will see everything fromsmall city lots with fabulous views tolarge country estates with farm animals.The unifying factors are, of course,plants and the people who love them.

In 2005, Nita-Jo Rountree and hermembership committee dreamed up thetour as a way for board members tosocialize with other members. This is aspecial treat for visitors because manyof these gardens are not open to thepublic any other time. We encourageyou to share the fun with your friends,so bring along non-members tointroduce them to the benefits of NHSmembership. Be sure to sign in at eachgarden for a chance to win a free one-year membership—one will go to amember and one to a guest.

As we have done in the past, theevent will be spread over two days toprovide ample time for exploring and

visiting in each garden. On July 20,there will be six gardens open in theSeattle area: four in Seattle, one inShoreline, and one in Lake Forest Park.On August 17, there will be threegardens open in Pierce and ThurstonCounties. In these South Soundgardens, tour hosts will providecomfortable seating for those who wantto picnic during their stay.

Whether you have questions aboutNHS or an idea for a lecture, class, orGarden Notes article—or you just wantto match faces to gardens—we hopeyou will join us for the tour thissummer.

Descriptions of each garden are onpages 2 and 3. Directions to thegardens will be mailed to memberslater this summer.

The Corson/Stugger garden is one of six that will open to NHS members on July 20.

v FOURTH ANNUAL TOUR v

NHS BOARD MEMBERS OPEN THEIR GARDENS

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JULY 20 SEATTLE AREA GARDENS

THE CORSON/STUGGER GARDENRAVENNA NEIGHBORHOOD

5707 29TH AVE NE SEATTLE 98105

OUR GARDEN WAS designed to give theimpression of flowing serenitypunctuated with drama. The front of thehouse uses traditional “neighborhoodplants” that are arranged in dramaticswoops and dynamic landforms. Thelong southern-facing side garden snakesthrough a richly textured temperatetropical garden. Many unique specimensand dramatic color groupings create aluscious jungle-like feel. The waterfall inthe back of the garden links the tropicalgarden to our Jurassic landscape.Fascinated by primeval plants, weattempted to give the back a“gondwana-esque” look and feel with abeautiful specimen of Gunnera tintoria,a large collection of sizable tree ferns,

and bog areas of carnivorous plants.This spring we added a fence andreconfigured some areas, so it is a yearof transition for us.

THE HIGHBERGER GARDEN18827 53RD AVE NE

LAKE FOREST PARK 98155

OUR GARDEN IS a good example of whatcan be done with a small, irregularlyshaped lot. We built our home in 2000on a small triangle of property on acorner. Thank goodness we arebordered on one side by a great swathof green that is the Tolt River pipeline. Itgives the illusion of a much largerproperty. Somehow we have foundroom for outdoor entertainment areas, avegetable garden, a woodland shadegarden, a sunny perennial garden, andall the must-have collectibles. Thisgarden is in a constant state of flux dueto my ever-changing design sense. Atpresent you will see the slow changetaking place from a boisterous over-the-

top perennial garden to a calmer, moreshrub-based evergreen garden.

THE IRWIN GARDENMAGNOLIA NEIGHBORHOOD

2514 W MCGRAW STSEATTLE 98199

MY MAGNOLIA HILLSIDE garden providesa 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 MASSONG/BUTLER GARDENQUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORHOOD

470 MCGRAW ST, SEATTLE 98109

PERIODICALLY MY GARDEN demonstratesevidence of human intelligence, butmost of the time it is a reflection of mypersonality.

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SUMMER 2008

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BOARD TOUR PARTICIPANTS, 2008

Alice Aeschbacher

Erika Arndt

William Baldwin

Bruce Bennett

Jason Broad

Becky Chan

Gordon Clark

Elayne Damron

Kathy S Dort

Mary Drummond

Penny Fields

Melodye Gold

Ella Marie Gray

Barbara Guthrie

Christie Hammond

Sarah Han

Christa Hendrick

Paul Johnson

Barb Keiley

Evelyn Kessler

Anne Laird

Sandra Lier

Pamela Lund

Mari Malcolm

Pam McAlpine

Nancy McConnell

Gale Mengle

Nancy Moore

Jerald Noy

Katherine Overby

Christine Putnam

Ann G Ramos

Judy Redmond

Jacqueline Robertson

Pam Roy

Marilou Rush

Barbara Sherry

Michael J Sidell

Carol Sjogren

Jacquie Skolnik

Gaylynn Smith

Kevin D Steil

Johanna Striar

Mollie Tremaine

Cathy Van Dyke

Scott VanGerpen

Laura Westbrook

Carol T Worsham

~ WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ~

LANDWAVE GARDENSTHE REYES GARDEN

15745 DAYTON AVE NSHORELINE 98133

THIS WORK-IN-PROGRESS reflects agrowing ambition, an insatiable obsession,and a never-ending quest for outstandinggarden plants. While I have yet todevelop a firm design, I hope you willenjoy my collection of plants and theirenchanting stories. Enter through theshade garden that takes you to aChinese woodland featuring my personalcollections from “the mother of gardens.”Mixed raised beds showcase a wideassortment of hardy herbaceousperennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs,and tropical accents. Peruse the paths,note your favorites, and then inquire ifyou could possibly come home withsome of them!

THE SPARLER/SCHOUTEN GARDENSEWARD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD

5920 SEWARD PARK AVE SSEATTLE 98118

AFTER THE RECORD CHILL of April andthe sizzling heat of May, it’s anybody’sguess how this outrageous collector’sgarden will appear in the dog days ofJuly. All the better for the adventurous sort! Come check out the towering

acacias, eucalyptus, pittosporums,pseudopanax, and other denizens of theSouthern Hemisphere. Traditionalistsneed not despair: dahlias, hardyfuchsias, and roses round out thepanoply of plants on parade. New thisyear is a viewing pavilion from whichyou can survey the scene. Daniel andJeff's garden, now entering its 16th year,has been featured in severalnewspapers, magazines, and booksover the years.

AUGUST 17 SOUTH SOUND GARDENS

OLD GOAT FARMTHE GRAVES GARDEN

20021 ORTING KAPOWSIN HWY EGRAHAM 98338

OLD GOAT FARM is the three-acre home and nursery of Greg Graves and Gary Waller. We have beencombining our Capitol Hill plantcollection with the existing gardens for just over three years now, and theeffect is spectacular. A turn-of-the-century Victorian home, quaint vintageoutbuildings, and a menagerie of petfarm animals make this garden worththe trip. The nursery will be open forthose who wish to shop.

THE HAWKINS GARDEN4817 PALERMO DR SW

OLYMPIA 98512

TWO BEAUTIFUL LARGE Japanese Koiponds containing seventy-five multi-colored fish are the piece de resistance inour one-plus-acre garden. Examples ofmy special concrete leaf castings and“dinosaur eggs” are on display throughoutthe area, which also showcases severalpatios, a new gazebo and 60-foot-longgarden-themed cedar wall, stunningtropical plants, and a collector’s variety oftrees, shrubs, and perennials. Visitorshave commented that they experience avery peaceful, almost spiritual-like feelingwhile touring this unique garden.

THE WILLMAN/OUELLETTE GARDEN4841 CHURCHILL ROAD SE

TENINO 98589

WE BEGAN OUR GARDEN seven years agowhen we purchased a home on sixacres. Large areas of 20-year-old Douglasfirs were cleared to make way for afenced, one-acre vegetable, berry, and fruitgarden, an 80-foot greenhouse, andornamental planting areas. The most recentaddition is a large woodland plantingwith a 7 by 50 foot cement garden-artwall. Our garden mixes the beauty ofornamental landscaping with sustainablevegetable and fruit plantings.

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When you come in from your gardenthis week after finally enjoying some fineweather, make sure to mark yourcalendar for the annual NorthwestHorticultural Society Fall Plant Sale. It isa fun event for all, and the proceedssupport NHS programs, scholarships,and grants.

Almost forty of the region’s bestspecialty nurseries will offer a wide arrayof terrific plants suitable for fall planting.We’ll also have many great plantbargains available at the memberdonations area. Once again we willfeature Great Plant Picks throughout thesale, and program staff will be on handto provide information.

According to Hoyle, fall is one of thebest times to plant. Roots have a chanceto settle in with fall and winter rains,ready to burst forth next spring, playingtheir trump cards. And according to Dr.

Seuss, fall planting keeps our bodies inshape for that strenuous winter activityof seed catalog browsing—why we areknown as all-season gardeners here inthe Northwest.

When you’re out in the garden andwondering what to do with some ofthose extra plants, be sure to divide andpot them up for the member donationsarea at the Fall Sale. That’s also a greatway to make more room for some of thenew and unusual plants you will want topick up at the sale.

Attention new members: many pastvolunteers have said this is one of thebest opportunities to get to know otherNHS members and meet theknowledgeable growers. Lots ofvolunteers are needed to set up and takedown the sale, distribute and pick upsigns in the neighborhood, write salesslips, cashier, work the hold and memberdonations areas, and help at themembership table. No experienceneeded, but smiles are always appre-ciated. To volunteer, please contact LoisWillman at merriam@scattercreek.com

or (360) 264-6683.Watch the NHS website,

www.northwesthort.org, and the fall issueof Garden Notes for more informationand a complete list of vendors.

Lisa Irwin is co-chair of the 2008 Fall

Plant Sale. She is also an NHS board

member and the owner of Dru Gardens,

a local design business.

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SUMMER 2008

HEADS UP FOR THE NHS FALL PLANT SALE

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FRIDAY: September 12 from Noon to 6:30 p.m.SATURDAY: September 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Warren G. Magnuson Park (Sand Point) in Seattle

Stock up on hard-to-find plants at thesale on September 12 and 13.

CONTRIBUTING MEMBERSNancy Alvord

Phoebe AndrewJoanna Beitel

Ralph & Lynn DavisPete & Midge Lucas

Laurie LyfordMr. & Mrs. Philip R Stoller

SUPPORTING MEMBERSAlison Andrews

Barbara Asmervig/Michael ThanemCharlotte Behnke

Ginny BrewerJohn & Kathleen Bullivant

Mary Ann ByhreSusan K Carter

Clinton IncDan CorsonCarol DeWitt

Beverly FletcherLinda Griesbach

Mike HayesJocelyn Horder

Ilga JansonsKaycee Krysty

Raymond LarsonJeanne Marie LeeDorothy Lennard

Susan Holmes LipskyKaren LongSusan Maki

Cynthia & John McGrathCiscoe Morris

Maureen MorrisAlexandra Morse

Marianne MulcaheyLee C NeffSue Nicol

Ann S OrmsbyLinda Park

Barbara PetersonMeredith P Smith

Daniel Sparler & Jeff SchoutenRichie SteffenNancy Strahle

Pamela J TrojanoskiDennis & Dorene Tully

Ralene WallsMaro Walsh

Cathy Waymire-RooksMarie Weiler

Wells-Medina NurseryWendy Weyerhaeuser

Joanne WhiteGlenn Withey & Charles Price

NEW LIFE MEMBERSKristin Mandt

Susan Neill

~ THANKS TO OUR 2008 DONORS ~

We wish to thank our donor members for their generous support.

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Don’t succumb to Daniel! —John Neff

JOHN’S FORLORN “Don’t succumb toDaniel” has been a regular admonitionevery time Daniel Sparler and I set outon a plant-purchasing foray. And forgood reason! If Daniel is your gardeningbuddy, you inevitably succumb: heknows more plants that you just have to

have than anyone else you couldpossibly go plant-hunting with. (Ofcourse, once you succumb, he makessure you know how to pronounce theirnames correctly.) And just how didDaniel become this know-it-all, find-it-all, seen-it-all in South Africa or Australiaor the Canary Islands mentor?

It began when he was a child inArkansas and knew, at age six or seven,that he needed to live somewhere else.He would lock himself in the bathroomwith all the road maps he could find,then the family globe, and finally an atlasof the world, and dream about escapingwork on his father’s acre-sized vegetablegarden. Daniel’s father “grew enoughokra, sweet potatoes, and peanuts tofeed ten thousand people, and everytype of pea and bean and melon.”

Daniel first “escaped” by helping hismother with her flower garden—allannuals and iris. His infatuation withflowers was first evident when he savedhis ten-cents-a-week allowance longenough to purchase by mail order fiftypurple tulips for $2.50. When he wasfifteen, he ran away—clear across thestate of Arkansas. And when he wassixteen, Daniel ran all the way to Seattle:“as far away as you could get fromArkansas and still be within thecontinental United States.” It wasn’t

flowers he was after then butthe gloom, mist, and clouds ofthe Northwest’s big trees.

Daniel’s love of language began inmiddle school and continues today withteaching and writing about botanicalnomenclature for NHS members. Hismiddle school Spanish teacher sparkedhis love of words; she wrote him a lettersaying she expected him to learn at leastseven languages, including Chinese,Hindi, Russian, and Arabic. From this listhe has only studied Chinese, but he doesknow something of seven languages,including Spanish and German, which hestudied in college. He almost completeda graduate degree in comparativeliterature but went to Japan on ayearlong scholarship instead of taking hisoral exams. His “back door” approach tolearning Latin began with his study of theSpanish language’s evolution.

Travel has become an “avocation,”rather than an “escape” from his currentcommitments as a teacher, and Daniel

usually plans three or four trips a year,often in pursuit of wonderful botanicalgardens. Among the best: Kirstenboschin Cape Town and those in Melbourne,“one of the best run and designed,” andPerth, full of Western Australia’sindigenous plants.

Daniel’s travel and acquisitivenesshave led to his collecting and growingliterally thousands of plants. His currentchallenge: “uncollecting”—a drasticreduction in the number of plants in hisgarden.

Lee Neff is an NHS board member, the

board chair of the Pacific Northwest

Horticultural Conservancy, and the owner

of a new garden in Kingston. Her interest

in Southern Hemisphere plants can

squarely be blamed on succumbing to

Daniel’s influence, and rather than

“uncollect” in Seattle, she decided to move.

GardenNOTES

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VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

DANIEL SPARLERL E E C . N E F F

FIVE FAVORITE PLANTS

Clivia miniata: This native of South Africa is usually considered a house plant, but Daniel’sspecimen—a bit more red in color than the plant’s usual vivid orange—has lived outside in asheltered corner for twelve years. In coldest weather, he covers it with burlap.

Acacia pravissima: A native of Australia, this tree grows to 15 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. Ithas bronze-gold buds all winter and bursts into bright yellow blooms in spring. If, like Daniel,you live in the city, you may not care that A. pravissima is deer resistant, but everyone willtreasure the fact that it needs not a drop of summer water.

In 2007, Daniel visited the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where the two-hundred-year-old botanical garden, La Orotava, has subtropical plants from around the world. His favorites:the Aeoniums, indigenous to the Canary Islands.

Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’: A mature lion’s mane maple is one of the stars of Daniel’sgarden, and he rightly loves it. But he says he finds our native vine maple, Acer circinatum, justas desirable.

A final favorite is a second native plant, Ribes sanguineum, which Daniel particularly values forits early spring show and its attractiveness to birds.

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WHAT SETS THE Pacific Coast apart fromthe rest of the country, horticulturally, isour distinctive Mediterranean climate,common to only five regions of theworld. Here in the Pacific Northwest itis a modified Mediterranean climatebecause our winters are colder and oursummers are cooler, but we still sharethe defining characteristic of the type—wet winters and dry summers.

Most of the information available toAmerican gardeners in the early half ofthe 1900s came from the East Coast,which has summer rains and muchcolder winter temperatures. With this inmind, avid gardeners on the West Coastbegan publishing The Journal of the

California Horticultural Society in theearly forties. In 1968, representatives ofthe California Horticultural Society, theSan Francisco Botanical Garden Society(formerly Strybing Arboretum Society),and the Western Horticultural Societyfounded the Pacific HorticulturalFoundation to support this journal. In1975, with enthusiasm and little more,they redesigned the journal, and in 1976it began its new life as Pacific

Horticulture.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest,another organization was forming. In1973, Friends of the Arboretum, led byBetty Miller, reorganized under the nameNorthwest Ornamental HorticulturalSociety (NOHS). They began publishingtheir own journal, Ornamentals

Northwest. A few years later, NOHSdropped the word ornamental from itsname, becoming simply NHS. About thistime, Betty Miller received the inauguralcopy of Pacific Horticulture from its firsteditor, George Waters. Betty contacted

George to tell him howmuch she enjoyed thenew publication, andrecognizing moresimilarities than differ-ences between the twopublications, alongwith a desire toreduce publishingcosts, they helddiscussions toconsider how NHScould become asponsoring organi-zation of thePacific HorticulturalFoundation. Soon after, Pacific

Horticulture replaced Ornamentals

Northwest as the journal of NHS. TheSouthern California Horticultural Societyand the San Diego Horticultural Societyhave also joined the Foundation.

The mission of Pacific Horticulture isto stimulate and inspire gardeners in theart and science of horticulture on theWest Coast through quality publicationsand related activities. The mission ofNHS is to provide a forum for gardenersand plant lovers in the Pacific Northwestto share their interests and learn abouthorticulture. It is easy to see that bothorganizations are headed in the samedirection. As an NHS member, besidesreceiving a substantial discount onPacific Horticulture, you also haveaccess to other educational opportu-nities. Like NHS, the Pacific HorticulturalFoundation offers symposiums(Gardening Under the MediterraneanSkies series), tours (several each year)and a very informative website,www.pacifichorticulture.org.

The Pacific HorticulturalFoundation, like NHS,is a non-profit organi-zation. The magazinerelies on generous andtalented writers, artists,and photographers whogive freely to make thismagazine possible. Thispool of talented peoplealong with a very smalland very dedicated staffmakes this one of the besthorticultural magazinesaround. You can tell byreading just one issue thateveryone contributes their

best. The quality of this journal hasremained consistently high.

About half of the NHS membershiptakes advantage of the opportunity tosubscribe to Pacific Horticulture. If youdon’t receive the magazine, you mightwant to take a look at it and see whatyou are missing. It has a wealth ofinformation for Northwest gardeners andinspiration from the whole length of theWest Coast.

If you do receive Pacific Horticulture

and really enjoy the magazine, youmight want to consider becoming a“Friend of Pacific Horticulture.” You canget further information on the website.

Keep gardening, keep reading, andkeep being inspired.

Greg Graves is past president of NHS and

a Pacific Horticulture board member. He

is head gardener at the Elisabeth C.

Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle and

co-owner of the Old Goat Farm in

Graham.

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SUMMER 2008

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Pacific HorticultureTHE MAGAZINE FOR WEST COAST GARDENERS

G R E G G R A V E S

PATIENCE MAY BE A VIRTUE, but luck isindispensable to the gardener. I wasnew to the Pacific Northwest andlucky enough to visit Ann Lovejoy’sBainbridge Island garden. Her lushmixed borders were a revelation. Butwhat impressed me more than theseemingly miles-long border, or thetowering brugmansia I stood under tosmell, was the generous clump ofcreeping yellow sorrel (Oxalis cornic-

ulata var. atropurpurea) that Ann hadleft to grow wild.

I had just spent a mind- and finger-numbing day trying to eradicate thatsame oxalis from a client’s rockery. Inmy tense mission I did not stop toadmire the culprit’s purple heart-shapedleaflets and bright yellow flowers. Myattitude was a weeder’s attitude. Andoxalis was the weed. Oxalis is the largestgenus in Oxalidaceae with 850 mostlytropical and subtropical species. Manyare worldwide weeds. Four invasivespecies are recorded in our area, thoughnone have made it onto the state’snoxious weed list.

In addition to the weeds, Hitchcockand Cronquist (Flora of the Pacific

Northwest) list three natives: redwoodsorrel (O. oregana), western yellowoxalis (O. suksdorfii), and trillium-leavedwood sorrel (O. trilliifolia), ranging fromnorthern California to Vancouver Island.Redwood sorrel, or Oregon oxalis, isoften found in Puget Sound gardens. Igrow the pink form of O. oregana undercedars where it is an unfailing groundcover with large, soft pink flowers. Whenit starts to bloom in March, groceries lineup little pots of “shamrocks.” You canbuy the good luck clover (O. tetraphylla)or many cultivars of purple shamrock (O.

triangularis subsp. papilionnacea). Both

are native to Central and South America,not Ireland.

The word “shamrock” appears earlyon in Arabic as shamrahk, a type ofclover and also the heraldic trefoil, andin Celtic as se’amrog, meaning “youngclover.” The Germans call oxalissauerklee, or sour clover, evidence of thecontinual confusion between oxalis andclovers. When St. Patrick demonstratedthe trinity to the early Irish he plucked aclover (Trifolium repens), so botanistsbelieve. This simple symbol, whichconverted multitudes and stands as asymbol of Ireland today, was already apowerful talisman for the druids. Theybelieved the three leaves representedtotality: past, present, and future. Itseems the herbalist of seventeenth-century Ireland called common woodsorrel (O. acetosella) “shamrog,” finallyshifting the name away from clover.

Wood sorrels, rarely eaten now, werepart of many apothecaries and dietsfrom the Mediterranean to the PacificNorthwest. The leaves have a sharplemony flavor, as their name in manylanguages indicates. The Quinault call it

quoi’ets’stap, meaning simply sour.The French call it surelle, little sourone. The genus name comes from theGreek oxys, meaning sharp or sour.High levels of oxalic acid, toxic ifeaten in great quantity, give it the sourflavor. This oxalic tang can also befound in star fruit (Averrhoa

carambola), an arboreal member ofthe oxalis family.

You might not want to eat oxalis,or you might not feel particularly Irish,but there are oxalis species for you.

Beyond the thuggish natives or invasiveslie many of value. I use O. ‘SunsetVelvet’ as an edger in my perennialborders. It is my pot of gold in the fall.When the other annuals have backedoff, it steps forward. The golden orangecolor complements the changing leavesand continues to glow after the leaveshave fallen. I use the charminglyminiscule O. magellanica ‘Nelson’ incontainers under small trees. The almostblack O. ‘Charmed Wine’, the gracefulpalmlike O. palmifrons, and the orange-flowered O. massoniana, rare andcurious, are useful for containers.

I still weed the lovely yet obnoxiouscreeping yellow sorrel from my clients’gardens, though less vehemently. I gotlucky when I visited Ann Lovejoy’sgarden seventeen years ago; I got anattitude adjustment better than a shot ofIrish whiskey.

And ended up a little drunk on thegenus Oxalis.

Daniel Mount writes regularly for

Garden Notes, exploring the relationships

between plants and people. He works as

a gardener and designer in the Seattle

area. You can reach Daniel at

daniel@mountgardens.com.

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The Story of Plants: OXALISD A N I E L M O U N T

Oxalis oregano is a native that growswell under cedars.

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AS MANY OF YOU know, gardeningsuccess is often achieved throughendless trials and embarrassing errorsthat we’d rather keep secret. Bountifulbooks, publications, lectures, and tipsfrom the local master gardener orgarden center provide a wealth ofinformation to help us get started, but inthe end we will always rely on ourpersonal experience and that everfascinating element of chance.

THE RED OAK BED

When I started working as the Soestperennial gardener at UW BotanicGarden here at the Center for UrbanHorticulture about a year ago, I was

asked to figure out a more aestheticsolution to a space that, while quitecomfortable to visitors, lacked visualinterest. A large red oak resides on thenortheast corner of the garden, creatinga fairly dense canopy of filtered shade.The base of the tree was inhabited bymoss and lichens mulched over withwoodchips, and a wooden bench hadbeen recently installed. Double-floweredwood anemones (Anemone nemorosa

‘Vestal’) and dwarf blue columbines(Aquilegia sp.) seeded themselves

amongst the overly aggressive sweetwoodruff (Galium odoratum). Besidesrainfall, the only water source isoverspray from the adjacent lawn that’sirrigated twice a week.

PLANTING STRATEGY

Designing and planting a garden underthis massive oak presented severalchallenges: lack of sunlight, the oaktree’s sensitivity to root disturbance andthe lack of soil in which to actually digand plant, and minimal water. To

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SUMMER 2008

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AN EXPERIMENT IN DRY SHADE GARDENING

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On the way to your next NHS meeting at the Center for Urban Horticulture, you can seehow the dry shade bed is progressing as you walk from the east parking lot to NHS Hall.

SOEST HERBACEOUS

DISPLAY GARDEN AT CUH

Dry Shade Bed

F F F NHS Hall

East ParkingLot E E E

address these issues, I developed a two-part plan: I wouldidentify plants that will thrive with minimal sun, soil, andirrigation; and in those areas where plants absolutely will notgrow, I would recycle some rough stone pavers and river rocksto create an attractive dry stream bed alongside the plantings.In addition, I planned to follow the well-known guidelines forplanting underneath any established tree or shrub: start withsmall plants with young root systems, and keep them wellwatered until they are rooted in well. To prepare the bed, Iadded a one- to two-inch layer of compost to the sections thatwould host new plants, and I covered the rest of the area withwoodchips to continue protecting the tree.

PLANTS TO TRY

Wanting to fill in these areas with a diverse palette of plantsthat would tolerate dry shade, I consulted Judith Jones of FancyFronds nursery for advice. She generously donated a few selectferns that would withstand these tough conditions, includingPolystichum munitum, Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum’,Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis, Dryopteris x separabilis, andDryopteris marginalis. Several epimediums were added to themix, which included the Great Plant Pick’s selectionEpimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’, Epimedium

acuminatum, and a generous donation of Asian specieshybrids from the former Heronswood Nursery. And a shadegarden wouldn’t be complete without spring ephemerals suchas creeping forget-me-nots (Omphalodes verna), bloodroot(Sanguinaria canadensis) and bulbous plants such aserythronium and clumps of Cyclamen hederifolium and C. coum.

Although we had a fairly cold winter and extended cooltemperatures this spring, the plantings seem to be thriving.Their true drought- and shade-tolerance will be put to the testthis year, as I plan to cut back on watering and simply let themtake off. So far the oak is leafing out normally with no majorsigns of stress, which is a positive sign.

While the plants appear to be establishing well in their newhomes, it will be an ongoing process to determine if they willcontinue to develop. Based on my personal experience, youwill win some and lose some, but that’s what seems to be thefun of gardening in difficult situations such as dry shade. Beginwith what works for you, slowly add and edit, and finally, takea chance. You might be pleasantly surprised, as I’ve been so far.

Rizaniño “Riz” Reyes is an NHS Board Member and the peren-

nial gardener at UW Botanic Gardens. For a complete listing of

plants in this garden and to offer ideas and suggestions on his

experiments, email Riz at rhr2382@u.washington.edu.

GardenNOTES

Mr. & Mrs. Don G. AbelGail AdamsPhoebe AndrewLois AndrewsAlison AndrewsBarbara AsmervigCharlotte L. BehnkeMr. & Mrs. BirrellSusan BogertConstance BollenMrs. Edgar O. BottlerShelly & Paul CapelotoWhit CarhartG. Maria CarlosDeborah CheadleChristianson’s NurseryMichael J. CoieTam CrockerStacie CrooksNancy DaarLynn & Ralph DavisMarsha Davis-ThomsenTanya DeMarsh-DodsonBobbie DeVoreSue DicksonTina DixonDragonfly Farms NurseryAnita DunnMrs. Phil DuryeeDominique EmersonJanet & Mike EndsleyDave & Cindy FairbrookFar Reaches Farm

Betsy FitzgeraldLorene Edwards ForknerKathleen FriesNoreen R. FrinkMarilyn GlennGreg GravesPamela K. GreenJoanne HardingJoyce HawkinsNancy HecklerDeborah HegColette Highberger, Upright

Construction, Inc.Cathy HillenbrandMelody HooperJocelyn HorderDarlene & Dan HuntingtonLisa IrwinBecky JohnsonAnn E. KellerHarold KempenKemper/Iversen, Ltd.Sydney KohlmeierKarin KravitzMary Helen Krock

& John MacKeanLaura KvasnoskyDenise LaneRaymond J. LarsonBarry & Susan LatterAlice LauberJulie LawrenceJeanne Marie LeeDorothy LennardAnn LeVasseur

Janet LewinsohnKiKi & Dave LewisMartha LindbergRobin F MaassTheresa MalmangerHans & Tina MandtJames K. MarshallJudy MassongMcComb Road NurseryMyra McEwanPam & Roger McNairKathy MeislahnRenee MontgelasMaureen MorrisCiscoe MorrisAlexandra & Charles MorseSue Moss Garden DesignLee & John NeffChuck OgburnAnn OrmsbyMary PalmerChitra & Zakir ParpiaJanet & Keith PatrickNorma PattersonRose PeckPeg PearsonMaryann & Charles PemberLois PendletonSusan PicquellePhyllis PierceBeverly PiersonDianne PolsonKate PooleSashi RaghupathyRavenna GardensBarbara ReisingerM. Gayle RichardsonPat RiehlNita Jo RountreeMichelle ScannellGale & Marcel SchwarbSteve ScottBarbara SheldonJean SkerlongPeggy StanlickRichie SteffenRebecca StewartPhilip & Susan StollerNancy StrahleSunnyside NurseryMary Kay TalbotLynne ThompsonShelagh & Phil TuckerMary M. TurnerFlorence ValentineRalene WallsMarie WeilerWells Medina NurseryWendy WelchJoanne WhiteCarolyn & Art WhittleseyMadeleine WildeLois WillmanMartha WoodmanJohn A. Wott PhDJennifer WyattKathy Yerke

~ THANKS TO OUR 2008 PATRONS ~

The Wednesday Evening Lecture Series would not be possiblewithout the tremendous support of our patrons.

Their generosity helps NHS provide a world-class educationalprogram for Northwest gardeners. Thank you, patrons!

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Work in Progress—AnExhibit of Student Projects

ARE RARE PLANTS more susceptible toinsect damage? Why is one of our nativefritillarias (Fritillaria camschatcensis)becoming rare? What planting methodswill increase the survival rate of newlyplanted conifers in an urban forest?

Fourteen UW Botanic Gardensgraduate students are trying to findanswers to these questions and more,and they present their research in thecurrent exhibit at the Elisabeth C. MillerLibrary. Work in Progress aptly describesthese small posters that capture manymonths or even years of hard research.

Do wordy displays turn you off?These won’t. Colorful and informative,the succinct posters allow the students tohone their skills at presenting highlytechnical and detailed information to ageneral audience.

Wendy DesCamp, collections managerof the Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium, isreviewing the invasive qualities of thegarden ornamental, yellow archangel(Lamium galeobdolon). While listed in2007 as a Class C weed on the KingCounty Noxious List, more needs to beknown about its “potential spread andpossible methods of eradication.” Reedcanary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) isanother invasive plant—HannahKinmonth-Schultz asks if the effects ofclimate change will increase or curb thistendency.

The Washington Park Arboretum isbeing scanned using an aerial laser(LiDAR or Light Detection and Ranging).What will this discover? Jeff Richardsonis hoping to determine how effective thisurban forest is at removing carbon

dioxide and pollution from the air, andat slowing runoff from rainfall.

Most of the projects only hint at thepotential answers, but some are alreadyyielding tangible, usable results. AmyLambert’s PhD research has identifiedways to improve the chances of survivalfor the very rare—thought to be extinctfor over ninety years—island marblebutterfly (Euchloe ausonides insulanus)found on only a couple of the San JuanIslands. Introducing more of the nativehost plants for the larvae, and protectingthe plants from deer, may save thisendangered and quite attractive butterfly.

All the work in the world won’t domuch good if it isn’t coordinated withsimilar efforts by others. Justin Howell isresearching the development of a web-based depository for all restorationprojects—over 350 are registered—within the city of Seattle. His hope is tocreate a “clearing house for bestmanagement practices as well as a forumfor open communication.”

These students are all based at theCenter for Urban Horticulture, and manyhave benefited from NHS student grants.The exhibit runs through July 3, but ifyou miss it in person, it will remain as avirtual exhibit on the Miller Librarywebsite at www.millerlibrary.org. Lookfor the link under “What’s New at theMiller Library?”

Bits ‘n Pieces

THE NHS GRANT for a Curriculum

Collection (see the Spring 2008 Garden

Notes) has been instrumental ingenerating expanded interest in thechildren’s collection. Larry Howard andNancy Winder recently gave a comple-mentary gift of $500 for the purchase ofthirty-five new books for children. Larryand Nancy can be seen here relaxing atthe Preview Party for the Garden

Lovers’ Book Sale (itself a big success,raising over $7,000 for the library’s bookbuying budget).

Who said summer was quiet? ThisJuly and August we will present twoevening editions of our popular StoryTime family programs. Pajama Storieswill present Seeds, Wonderful Seeds onMonday, July 14, followed by Last Splashof Summer on Monday, August 11. Bothprograms will run from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.and are perfect for children aged 2 to 8 and their entire families.

Looking ahead, the Miller Library willbe a beneficiary of the West Seattle

Garden Tour (www.westseattlegar-

dentour.com) and will staff aninformation table at one of the tourgardens on Sunday, July 20 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. And mark yourcalendars now for the Elisabeth Carey

Miller Memorial Lecture on Thursday,October 23, which will feature world-renowned landscape architect KathrynGustafson.

Brian Thompson is the curator of

horticultural literature for the Elisabeth

C. Miller Library.

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SUMMER 2008

MILLER LIBRARY NEWSB R I A N T H O M P S O N

BRIA

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MPSO

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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)

RIC

HIE ST

EFFEN

NHS BULLETIN BOARDNHS BULLETIN BOARDBrunch in the Garden with Ciscoe

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008

10 A.M. TO NOON AND 2 P.M. TO 4 P.M.The Home of Ciscoe and Mary Morris

TICKETS: $85.00

NHS BOARD MEMBER CISCOE MORRIS will host two smallgroups of NHS members for a champagne brunch on July 27.Guests will enjoy champagne, wine, and fabulous food, alongwith a personal tour of Ciscoe’s exuberant garden. Proceedsbenefit the NHS endowment fund for the Elisabeth C. MillerLibrary.

Ciscoe, a popular radio and television personality, is wellknown for his encyclopedic horticultural knowledge. But noteveryone knows he has a passion for unusual and exoticplants. This is a rare chance to visit his garden and hear thestories behind his favorite plants.

Tickets are $85.00 per person, and each group is limited to twenty people. Have fun and support the library byregistering at nwhort@aol.com or calling (206) 780-8172.

Call for Grant ApplicationsTHE NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY is committed tohorticultural endeavors in the Northwest. We support thiscommitment by financially enabling qualified individuals,organizations, or institutions to further this goal. Our intent is toreceive, evaluate, and fund environmental, educational, and horticultural proposals. This year’s deadline for grantproposals is August 29, 2008. Applicants will be notified of thecommittee’s decision by October 15, 2008. Grants will beawarded at the annual meeting on November 12, 2008.

Thank you, Molbak’s! FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, Molbak’s chose NHS as thebeneficiary for their “Kick-off to Spring” weekend whereinMolbak’s donates a percentage of their profits to a non-profitgroup. This year, despite lower-than-normal attendance due tocold temperatures and relentless rain, they donated $2,931.00to us. Amazing!

A big thank you to the volunteers who staffed the NHSmembership tables and to our many members who came toshop that weekend.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 10:00 A.M.—NOONDutch Colonial Meets Modern ArchitectureLOCATION: PRIVATE CAPITOL HILL GARDEN, SEATTLE

FEE: MEMBERS: $25.00 NON-MEMBERS: $35.00

Architect Holden Withington designed a modern addition tothis Dutch colonial home. The garden, designed by RichardHartlage, links the two styles of architecture, physically andvisually, in a bold style embracing modern constructionmaterials and a rich, complex planting scheme. Come tour thishome and garden to see how careful blending of architectureand garden design can create comfortable living and playspace for a young family.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 10:30 A.M.—12:30 P.M.New Construction Landscape

with Colette HighbergerLOCATION: GARDEN & CONSTRUCTION SITE/LAKE FOREST PARK

FEE: MEMBERS: $25.00 NON-MEMBERS: $35.00

You have just bought a beautiful new home and it looks likethe contractor ran out of money when it came time tolandscape—a few dying plants, compacted soil, poor drainage,steep slopes, and little in the way of design. ColetteHighberger of Upright Construction, Inc. will help you tacklethese all too common problems.

For more information about these classes and events, visit www.northwesthort.org.

To register, contact Karin Kravitz at nwhort@aol.com or (206) 780-8172.

— 2008 SUMMER CLASSES —

Wanted: Airline MilesIN 2003, DEBORAH HEG generously donated airline miles tofly Christopher Lloyd from London to Seattle so that membersof NHS would have the privilege of hearing him speak. Nowwe have the opportunity to hear one of the all time greats ofhorticulture: Roy Lancaster! We want to bring him to Seattle tospeak here in September 2009, and to speak in conjunctionwith our fundraiser at Windcliff, but we need your help.

In order to provide business-class tickets for Roy and hiswife, we are seeking a member-or group of members-willingto donate 240,000 frequent-flyer miles from Alaska Airlines (fora flight on British Airways) or 200,000 frequent-flyer miles fromDelta Airlines (for a flight on Northwest Airlines). In appreci-ation for your miles, you will be given VIP status at our eventsduring Roy’s stay.

Roy is a well-known writer, plant explorer, and broadcasteron BBC radio and television in England.

For more information, please email Nita-Jo Rountree atnitajo77@comcast.net or call (425) 889-2023.

11

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

P.O. BOX 4597

ROLLING BAY, WA 98061-4597

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSeattle, WA

Permit No. 4842

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

What a year NHS has already had, and we’re notfinished yet!

• For the Northwest Flower & Garden show, webuilt a fabulous display garden that made ourmembers proud to be a part of our organizationand helped recruit 120 new members.

• We held our first yearly spring ephemerals plantsale, and it was a smashing success. A specialthanks to Wells Medina Nursery for donating boxesfor yet another one of our plant sales—thoseboxes that we all take for granted are not cheap.

• Our spring symposium, “The Ornamental Plant:From Third Century Athens to Your Garden,” was one of the best ever, thanks to the MillerFoundation’s support. We laughed and learned all day long.

• In April, Molbak’s generously hosted us in their store for their Kickoff-to-Spring event anddonated $2,931.00 to NHS. Wow!

Then there was the fern stumpery class on Vashon Island and the artists’ gardens tour on CamanoIsland, the pizza party and lecture for new members, and the summer solstice fundraiser—all inaddition to our Wednesday night lecture series and creative classes.

Coming attractions include our annual Meet-the-Board Garden tour, a Bainbridge Island tour, anda garden party with Ciscoe to benefit the Elisabeth C. Miller Library. In the fall, we look forward tothe East Coast garden tour, our annual plant sale extravaganza, and more wonderful classes andlectures.

Put our website at www.northwesthort.org on your “favorites” list and read your NHS e-news forlate breaking opportunities. And stay tuned for 2009…

Nita-Jo

Visit the Sparler/Schouten garden during our Meet-the-Board Tour.

GARDEN NOTES EDITOR

Melody Hoopermelody.hooper@verizon.net

DESIGNERConstance Bollen

cb graphicscbg@speakeasy.net

CONTRIBUTINGTO THIS ISSUE:

Dan Corson

Anita Dunn

Greg Graves

Lisa Irwin

Karin Kravitz

Ann LeVasseur

Daniel Mount

Lee Neff

Rizaniño Reyes

Nita-Jo Rountree

Jeff Schouten

Daniel Sparler

Brian Thompson

PRINTERMike Klinke,

Impression Printing

Garden NOTES

i Telephone: (206) 527-1794 i Web: www.northwesthort.org i E-mail : nwhort@aol.com

DA

NIEL SPA

RLER