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California, GARDEN/ HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR Cont. - THEHUNTINGTON "AnEnglishArcadia" Exhibition Nov. 10 1151 OxfordRoad, SanMarino. Artworkrelatingtothehistoryofgardens&buildingsnowowned by the National Trust in GreatBritain. Public lectures in conjunction with exhibition. Tues.-Fri.: 1-4:30p.m. Sat. &Sun.: 10:30-4:30p.m. $5 donationsuggested. Call 818/405-2141. Nov. SANDIEGO NATURALHISTORYMUSEUM Canyoneers OutdoorProgram Weekends Freeguidednaturewalks. Information/brochure: 232-3821. Oct. 31, THEHUNTINGTON FallPlantFestival Nov. 1 &2 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Wide selection oftrees, shrubs, flowers, & bulbs suitable for SouthernCaliforniagardens. 1-4:30p.m. Free. Call 818/405-2282. Nov.2 CALIFORNIAMACADAMIASOCIETYFieldDay Pacific Tree Farms Nursery, 4301 Lynwood Drive, Chula Vista. Seminars & guest lecturers on growingthemacadamia in California. 9-3 p.m. $13 advanced reservations; $15 at event. Lunch included. Call728-8081. Nov.2 &3 QUAILBOTANICAL GARDENS AnnualPlantSale 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Drought tolerant plants, succulent wreaths, dried flower arrangingmaterials. Seminars&demonstrations. Sat.: 10-1p.m.memberspresale(membershipssold at door) & 1-4 p.m. general public; Sun.: 10-4 p.m. general public. Free. $1 parking. Information: 436-3036. Nov. 5, *SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION FlowerArrangingClasses 12, & 19 Casadel Prado, Room 102, BalboaPark. VelmaWest, instructor. 9:30-3 p.m. $25 members, $30 non-members, forseriesof3 classes. Classlimited. Registration: 232-5762or298-5182. Nov. 8 &9 SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDENHolidayintheGarden 26300Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula. Plant&food sale, giftshop. Sat. 11-2 p.m. fashionshow&luncheon. Fri.: 7-11p.m.; Sat.: 10-4p.m. Reservationsforfashionshow/luncheon: 213/544-1847. Gardenadmissionfee. Information: 213/544-6815. Nov. 15 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE SeminaronPests intheLandscape 900 Otay Lakes Road, Room 801, Chula Vista. "New Pest Control Methods & New Pesticides." 5:30-10p.m. Free. Information: 421-6700, Ext. 371. Nov. 16 & 17 SANDIEGUITO GARDENCLUB 15thAnnualStandardGardenShow Ecke Family Building, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Floral design arrangements, exhibits, plantsale. Sat.: 1-5p.m.; Sun.: 10-4p.m. Free. $1 parking. Call756-1708or942-8161. Nov.24 SANDIEGO MUSEUMOFARTMughal GardensLecture Copley Auditorium, MuseumofArt, BalboaPark. Dr. EllenSmart, usingdetailedpaintingsinthe BinneyCollection, will reveal clues totheoriginalplantings inthese 16th& 17th Century gardens. Spectacularones, such as Shalimar, couldbereplantedfromtheseclues. 2:30p.m. related musical ordanceperformance; 3:30p.m. lecture. Free. Requiredreservations: 232-7931, Ext. 173. Nov.26 *SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION ThanksgivingBasketClass Casa del Prado, Room 102, Balboa Park. Random weave basket. Kathy Walsh, instructor. 9:30-3 p.m. $10members, $12non-members. Classlimited. Registration: 232-5762or298-5182. Dec. SANDIEGO NATURALHISTORYMUSEUM Canyoneers OutdoorProgram Weekends Freeguidednaturewalks. Information/brochure: 232-3821. Dec. 3 LAJOLLA GARDENCLUB AnnualChristmasTea&Bazaar LaJollaWoman's Club, 715SilveradoStreet, LaJolla. Program, Christmasmusic, bakedgoods& giftsforsale. 12:30-3:30p.m. $7.50donationgoesto CommunityProjectFund. Call 459-1430. Dec. 5 THEHUNTINGTON FirstThursdayGardenTalk, Tour, &PlantSale 1151 OxfordRoad, SanMarino. "BehindtheScenes": raretourofnursery&greenhouses. Learn how the staff collects & cares for the Huntington Botanical Gardens plants. 2:30 p.m. Free Call 818/405-2282. (Continuedonpage 190) 162 CALIFORNIA GARDEN California s,nce ,9°9 SanDiegoFloralAssociation& GARDEN GardenCenter CasadelPrado,BalboaPark SanDiego,CA 92101-1619 MondaythroughFriday LIBRARYOFCONGRESSNO.ISSN0008-1116 10a.m.6to191/223a2n-d5716t2o3p.m. Publishedby VOLUME 82 NUMBER 6 SanDiegoFloralAssociation for81Years PUBLICATIONSTAFF NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 EDITOR JohnJ.Gagliardi ASSISTANTEDITOR LucyWarren 162 Horticultural Calendar MaryJordan EDITOREMERITUS ElizabethGlover 164 ThePlants and ColorsofChristmas StaffEdited AlletheMacdonald 167 TheHoliday Cacti StaffEdited ASSOCIATEEDITOR 168 Mr. Poinsettia StaffEdited DonaldBoyer 170 Botanical Red fortheHolidays LucyWarren PRODUCTIONEDITORS JohnJ.Gagliardi 171 DracaenaDracoinSanDiego CarolGreentree LucyWarren 173 Bus Trip-Weidners' Garden Helen Gagliardi CONSULTANTS 174 TheLivingSucculent Wreath Teddy Colbert BettyNewton 176 WhatMakes Bromeliads Number One StaffEdited Dr.GeorgeHerring FrancesClare 177 FloralClasses MarieWalsh STAFFWRITERS 178 WhatevertheWeather JeannieFernsworth PennyBunker 179 NowistheTime PennyBunker MaryLouOrphey TinekeWilders 182 BookReviews StaffEdited MaryJordan 185 1991 Index StaffEdited LucyWarren 189 Affiliates Nancy Cottingham STAFFARTIST CeliaHanson COORDINATORS Advertising LynnBeyerle The cover illustration, "The Holidays," was contributed by Renewals BillRathmann CeliaA. Hansen who is agraphicdesigner. She studiedFine Art in Nevada and Texas. Celia also has a Graphic Design PRINTEDBY: degreefrom Piatt College in San Diego, and currently does N2e7y5e0neKestcthnePrriBntoeurlse,vIanrcd. freelancedesign work. Celia canbereachedat619/482-2346. SanDiego,CA92101 Manuscripts are invited. Deadline is 90-days prior to publicationdate. Allmanuscriptsandillustrationssubmitted willbehandledcarefullybutwecannotassumeresponsibility afocrcothmepiarniseadfebtyy.reAtlulrnseudbmpiossstiaognes,miufsytobueedxopuebcltetshpeamcedtoabned SinglecopiesofthecurrentissueofCALIFORNIAGARDENmagazinecanbepurchasedfor$1.50 returnedtoyou. HortusThirdistheauthorityforallbotanical atthelocationslisted. nothfaemteheedsiatuuostreshdoorifsntathnhedisCdamolaginaoftzoirdnnoei.anoAGtlalnreocdpeeisnsn.airoinlsyerxepfrleecstsethdeavrieetwhsosoef CMOIAUSLCSIHIFIOONNRUNHRIISALELARSRYNB,UOR2R2S6EE3TR-6UY1,M142F,9O55U-020N83D0IA8m,TpIe1r5Oi2Na5l,FAoIvrnect..,S,t4So4ac7nk-tD8oi2ne0Dg7ro,i,v3eC0,1ASNa9on2r1tD1hi3e.Bgaol,dwCiAnA9v2e1.0,3.Arcadia,CA91006. Addressalleditorialmaterialto: PACIFICTREEFARMS,422-2400,4301LynwoodDrive,ChulaVista,CA92010. CaliforniaGarden SANDIEGOFLORALGARDENCENTER,232-5762,CasadelPrado,Room105,BalboaPark,SanDiego, CasaSdSaealnnPDrDiaieedggoooR,FolCoorAmal91A20s15s0,o1cB-ia1alt6bi1oo9anPark WCFAALLO9TW21EE0RR1-AS16HN1OD9W.ESR:SEShNoNwUcRhSaiErRmYan,c2o2nt4a-c8t27C1a,li3fo6r4n2iaEnGtaerrdpernis,e2S3t.2,-5S7a6n2Diifeygoou,wCaAnt9t2h1e1m0agazinesoldatyour Postmaster,Sendchangeofaddressto: nextshow. BaClabsoCaaaldPieaflrokrP,nriaSadaoGnaRDroideeognmo,,1C05A $ESCn1eAt3cLe.oIr0neF0ddOfCRaolsrNaIstsseAwcoPoGoynAsedtaRracsDgl,aeEsbspNyami(aSdtIatSanetSrDN,Sia0Den0ge0ocD8ie-Feml1gobo1re6.a)rl,A8a,ssn1ooc9ni1-ap0triaootfnit,thpeIunbScl.ainScaiDtniigeolgne,ocioPsoppsyutbisOlfi$fs1ih.ce5ed0.ubniFd-oemrornfttohhreeliAygcfntodroe$fl7iMv.ae0rr0ycpahedr3d,y$e16a8.r709o0.r. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 163 THE PLANTS AND COLORS OF CHRISTMAS EditedbyStaff CHRISTMAS FOR AMERICANS TODAY is a Europeitwasusedtostuffmattresses -itwas supposed mosaic oftraditions from many lands and many eras. torepel fleas. With the coming of Christianity, people all over the TheNorwayspruce(Piceaabies)wasusuallycalled world dedicated the plants they knew and loved to the a fir inthe legends because "fir" is the layman's term Holy Family. Our "traditional" Christmas includes forallevergreens, andfewofthosewhotranslatedthese customs from Greece, Rome, the Near East, Britain, tales knew anything ofbotany. In most cases the tree Germany andtheNorsecountries. wastheNorwayspruce, thekingoftheconiferforests. Most of our Christmas customs originated in the In England it was symbolic of life enduring. In forested northland ofEurope. The Christmas tree, the Germany it was decorated lights, flowers and colored Yulelog,thecarolsandothercustomswereincludedin eggs. One legend says the "fir" was the original Tree the tradition the English colonists first brought to ofLife in Eden and had big leaves and blossoms until America. Later, groupsfromotherpartsofEuropeand Eve ate of its fruit. As punishment, its leaves were the world broughttheir own lore. America added the shrunkento needles, its fruit to cones. Another story turkeyandthepoinsettia. says it bloomed again the night of the nativity and Plants have always been an important part of becamethefirstChristmastree. Christmas, as symbols and as decorations. They were Theoak(Quercusrobur)isperhapsthemostwidely plants that people knew well; some had traditions of respected and revered of all trees. Jews, Greeks and healingpowers,otherswerenotedfortheirsupernatural Romans considereditsacred, andtheCelts dedicated it virtues, andmanywereindailyuseasfuel, tools, food to their gods. Oaks were preeminent in northern orbuildingmaterial. Europe, symbols of strength and immortality. They Plants of Christmas were not a suggestion of the evenimpartedspecialvaluetoplantsthatgrewonthem, Bibleitself. IntheaccountsofthebirthofChrist,there such asmistletoe. TheYulelogskindledonChristmas is no mention of any plant, with the exception of Evewerealwaysoak. frankincense and myrrh -preciousfragrantresinsfrom European mistletoe(Viscum album) legendsreach Asiatictrees. back to Norse mythology. Mistletoe was the Druids' TheGlastonburythorn (Crataegusmonogyna), is goldenherb. Itsymbolizedpurityandstrengthandwas a common Englishhawthorn, but legend says thatthis hunginhousestobringhappiness,promoteromanceand particular tree grew from a staffJoseph of Arimathea enforcepeace. Ifenemiesmetbeneaththemistletoethey thrust into the soil when he arrive to Christianize disarmedandkeptatrucethatday. TheChurchbanned England. It thrived and came to bloom at Christmas, it from Christmas ceremonies because of its pagan andtreesfromitscuttingswerebelievedtohealallwho associations, but its magic was thoughtto be so strong touchedthemonChristmasday. thatpeopleused it in secret. Monks evenwore itas a InElizabethantimes aPuritanwhotriedto destroy hidden amulet. European mistletoe grows on oaks. the parent tree was blinded by its thorns as it fell. American mistletoe, ofthe same family buta different Glastonbury thorns continued to bloom at Christmas species, growsonmaples andblackgumtrees. until 1752. England adopted the Gregorian calendar. English holly (Ilex aquifolium) was known and This change shifted the date of Christmas by eleven reveredbyearlyBritishDruidsandRomanpagans. The days. When the famous thorn failed to bloom on the Druidsthoughtitaspecial favoriteofthesunbecauseit new Christmas date, therewas abriefrebellionagainst was evergreen. The Romans thought it capable of thenewcalendar. warding off lightning and evil spirits and believed its Legends say that Sainfoin (Onobrychis vicufolia) blossomscouldrepel poison. They sentsprigsofholly was much ofthehay inthe manger onthenightofthe to theirfriends during Saturnalia, thewinterfestivalof nativityand cameto bloomincelebration. Onelegend thegodSaturn. TheearlyChristianChurchforbadethe says that it formed a wreath around the head of the use ofholly, butthe Romans largely ignored the ban. Babe. Thecommon name, sainfoin, means wholesome TheBritishbeganthecustomofhangingsprigsofholly hay, notholy hay. Also inthe stable's legendary hay aboutthehouseasplaces ofhidingfor Christmas elves was lady's bedstraw, a member of a family of weeds andfairies. InGermanyamoreseriouslegendevolved common in America and often called cleavers. In abouttheholly,whichwascalledchristdorn,orChrist's 164 CALIFORNIA GARDEN crownofthorns. Theberrieswerebelievedtobewhite andmental disorders, itwas strewnaboutthehouseto untiltheywerestainedby Christ'sblood. dispelevilspirits. Ivy(Hederahelix) washeldtobeawoman'splant, One legend has it that a little shepherd girl wept ashollywas considered aman's plant. TotheGreeks, becauseshehadnogiftfortheBabeonthenightofhis ivy was an emblem ofhappiness and honor. Its black birth. An angel tookpity and, with a lilyfor a wand, berries were thought to be a remedy for the plague. commandedtheHelleborusnigertoblossom. Itdid,for Throughout Europe ivy was used as a decoration for thefirsttimeever, andthelittlegirlgatheredanarmful churches and homes at Christmas, but only for outer and took them to the stable at Bethlehem. She was passages and on doorways because of its pagan elated whentheBabeturnedfromthegiftsoftheMagi associations. ItwasputuponChristmasEveandtaken andreachedfortheflowers. down onthe second day ofFebruary, Candlemas Eve. The poinsettia (Euphorbiapulcherrima), native to Polestwinedwithivyandholly; thewoman'splantand theNewWorld,isoneoftheveryfewstrictlyAmerican theman's weresetup forChristmas sportsandgames. plants that have been absorbed into the body of The laurel (Laurus nobilis) ofthe legends is the Christmasstories. IthasbecomeatraditionalChristmas European species, not America's laurel-magnolia, also plantchieflybecauseofitsbrightredcolor. Thereisa calledsweetbay,orourfloweringmountainlaurel. The Mexican folk tale about the poinsettia that is closely laurelwaschewedbythepriestessesofDelphitoinspire relatedto thelegend aboutthe Christmas rose. Inthis visions and prophecies, and its leaves wereburned for version, a little child ofa poor peasant family was on incense. Poets andheroes were crowned withlaurels - herwayto churchonChristmasEveandwassadatnot we still speak of "winningthe laurels." Doctors were having a gift to place at the altar that she wept. An crowned with laurel in the berry stage when they angel heard her weeping and told her to gather an finished their studies. From this, bacca plus laureus armloadoftwigsfromtheroadside. Shedid, andwhen came "baccalaureate" and "bachelor." she reached the church they were in full bloom, an Inlatertimes, aftertheadventofChristianity,laurel armload ofpoinsettias, a beautiful gift to place at the wasusedto decoratechurches andhousesatChristmas, altar. and in some places in Greece is still spread on church * * * floors on Holy Saturday. It is also used to ward off SOURCES:PlantsofChristmas,HalBorland,ThomasY.Crowell, thunderstorms, witches and devils. Weusetheleaves, NewYork,1969. TheLegendoftheChristmasRose,EllinGreene, bayleaves, incooking. HAsosloicdiaaytioHno,uPslee,asan1t9v8i9l.le,ANeFwamYiolryk,C1h9r8i4s.tmas, Reader's Digest Rosemary(Rosmarinusofficinalis). Thefablessay that, onthe flightinto Egypt, Mary was shelteredby a rosemarybush, andhencerosemarybloomsontheday YOUAREINVITEDTOSUBSCRIBETO.... ofChrist'sPassion. Itwaslongusedtodecoratehomes and churches at Christmas. It was a symbol of CGaliAforRniaD. EN remembrance, andwascarriedbymournersandplanted near graves. It was also a token ofhappiness, often used in bridal bouquets. The Romans wove rosemary into garlands fortheirguests and statues oftheirgods. MAGAZINE Since 1909 Over the centuries, it has been a kind of all-purpose Thtperfectgiftto*frhnd,nlativ*orneighborI herb, elixir, tonic andpurifierofdreams, andhas even 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION $ 7.00 served as incenseinhumblecountrychurches. 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION $13.00 Various plants have been called Christmas rose (Add$6.00paryearforpottagetoforeigndestinations) (Helleborusniger),butperhapsbestknownisthisblack ORBESCOAMNEADIMEEMGBOERFLOFO..R.A.LASSOCIATION hellebore. TheChristmas roseisnotaroseatallbutis relatedtothebuttercup. Ithasbeenusedas amedicine MEMBERSHIP .$10.00 andapoisonforthousandsofyears. FromEgyptitwas Magazine included takento early Greece andusedtotreatepilepsy, gout (PlowPRINT) Nam*. Ainttioinielli Brotlxeirs Address. TUBEROUS BEGONIAS CPlhioyo« SlST*. Zip 2545 Capitols Road SANDIEGOFLORALASSOCIATION Santa Cruz,California95062 CastdelPrado,BalboaPark,SanDiego.CA92101-1619 36-pagaColor Catalog $1.OO NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 165 •• • 1992 TOUR DEPARTS SAN DIEGO MAY 14th,1992 VISITING HOLLAND, BELGIUM AND FRANCE! Don'tml**youronce tnadecadechance to see thegreatestflowershowon earth! Onceeverytenyearspeoplefromthe Veryseldomhavesomanydifferent Dutch horticulture industry join to aspectsoftheDutchhorticulturalworld present a world showcase called been concentrated in one place at one FLORIADE. This display of bulbs, time. flowers, plants and trees will be The exhibition will open on April combined with interesting and 15th and close on October 11th. It educational exhibitions on the use of promises to be oneofthe mostpopular high-tech, energy andthe environment. international tourist attractions of Throughout the months of April and NorthernEuropein 1992. Maytherewillbespecialfloral exhibits featuring such flowers as tulips, daffodils, orchidsandchrysanthemums. For anyone with an interest in horticultureand gardening, either as an amateur or professional, FLORIADE 1992willbeauniqueopportunitytosee thelatestdevelopments. FLEET TRAVEL SERVICE 3725 Talbot Street San Diego, California 92106 Telephone: (619) 222-0383 Fax: (619) 222-6211 166 CALIFORNIA GARDEN THE HOLIDAY CACTI Editedby Staff THE ONE CALLED CHRISTMAS CACTUS is Thanksgiving cactus the alternate names of crab claw probably the most popular of all cacti grown in cactus orevenlobstercactus. containers. It is a long-lived plantthat canbe enjoyed TheThanksgivingcactusderivesfromSchumbergera fordecades, growinglargeryearby year. Afewyears truncata(formerlyZygocactus). Thegenusnamehonors backaspecimen in a 14-inch claypotwas described in the Frenchman Frederick Schlumberger, who, in the a popular magazine as being "4 feet wide and a yard 1950's, owned alargecactus collectionattheChateau- long," andamember ofourepiphyllumsocietyhashad des-AnthieuxinNormandy. onesince 1927thatis aboutthesamesize. Thethirdholidayto begracedby a closelyrelated Theplantis attractiveinitsownway, isfairlyeasy groupofplantsisEaster. TheEastercactusbloomsare to grow, takes littlecare, and around Christmas timeit symmetrical, unlike the flowers of the other holiday sendsoutitsownornaments-flowersofbrightpurplish cacti,buttheirstemsaresimilar;theyresemblethoseof pink. Christmas cactusinhavingroundedlobes,butaremuch While the Christmas cactus usually blooms during flatter andhavetinyhairsthatlooklikeaerial rootson the Christmas holidays, it may bloom as late as thetips. Valentine's Day. This cactus derives from * * * Schlumbergerarusselliana,aftertheRussellfamily,who ExcerptedfromanarticlebyRickLatimerinCaliforniaGarden, assembled atWoburnAbbey, England,oneofthefinest November-December1981 cactus collections oftheirtime. This cactus was found by one ofthe Duke's collectors, G. Gardner, whileon CfflOWQQQ® V anexpeditionto Brazil in 1839. Its naturalhabitatis in theOrganMountains. Theplantweallgrowisahybrid Sendyour change ofthisspecies andS. truncata. or address Inrecentyears, asimilarplantknowninthiscountry to ... as Thanksgiving cactus has increased inpopularitydue California Garden to thefactthat itblooms atthatholiday. This plant is CaBsaalbdoeal PParrakdo easily distinguishedfromthe Christmas cactus since its San Diego, CX 92101-1619 stems have pointed lobes while the Christmas cactus stemshaveroundedlobes. Thesesharplobeshavegiven T^- T wfruJi ySgfr—jjqfr^. Don't wait until it's too late! DRIP IRRIGATION ttThe Gar-dciz Doctor tt By: "THEGARDENDOCTOR":Consideredtobeoneoftheforemost expertsonMicroIrrigationinSouthernCalifornia! Custombuilt, stateoftheartlandscapeandgardensystemsforthehomeowner. HorticulturalConsultant SERVINGEASTCOUNTY "TheGardenDoctor" OrnamtntatColorgardenfDesign (619) MasterofllrBan9-(brticu£turt \€ OM-ifcorrtoicIurlrtiugraatliIonnspections 441-1468 3Ji7a5M5eAsvao,cCadAo9rB1C9v4d.1,Suite248 paItVniisdctehaset^ativenant^te.inatobin°oentoaofndTyetwHahiEle.7GeAOinRnlDtyhEteNhCeDofuOinnCteysTt.OquRWaeltiottypa,rkosevtiagdtreee-ahotfo-pmtrehieod-ewarnItnemroaustrewwriitoahrlktshaeannfdidnieensqtouhutorrptrmieecpunultttauatrraielonsuesorfevdui.cnecsoamtptrhoemmiossitnagffqouradalbiltey "Putalittle colorinyourlife! NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 167 MR. POINSETTIA PAUL ECKE SR., is credited with pioneering Paul exhibitedhis giftfortremendous foresightand commercial poinsettiaproduction. By devotinghis life intuitivewisdomwhenhepurchased40acresofdryland to selecting, breeding, distributing and publicizing the inEncinitas,becomingthefirstflowergrowerto locate poinsettia,hetooktherelativelyunknown,obscureplant inthisarea. Thewatercametothelandtwoyearslater, andcreated aglobalyuletidetradition. as he knew it would, and the poinsettia fields were Born in 1895 in Magdeburg, Germany, the second planted. son of Albert and Henrietta Ecke, Paul came to the Inthe early 20's, Paul madehis firstcoast-to-coast UnitedStateswithhisparents,brotherandtwosistersin trip to call on potential poinsettia growers. For many 1902. ThefamilysettledinthegreaterLosAngelesarea years after, he crossed the country annually, first by toengageinflower, vegetableanddairyfarming. As a train and later by automobile, visiting growers and young boy, Paul showed remarkable strength of sharinghisvisionforthefuture: anew,livingsymbolof character and commitment to hard work. Before and Christmas -thepoinsettia. after school, he milked the cows, tended the chickens The primary activity at the Encinitas Ranch was anddeliveredmilkandnewspapers producing field grown poinsettia onhisbicycle. All themoney he mother plants. These were harvested earned went to help support the in the spring and shipped to railroad familyfarm. box cars to greenhouse growers Whenhisfather died in 1919, located principally east of the Paul assumed total responsibility MississippiRiver. The growers used forthefamilybusiness. Following the mother plants as a source of a profitable Southern California cuttings for their Christmas flowering tradition, the Eckes had been plantcrops. raising poinsettias for years, but Thebusinesstookanewdirection the early varieties grown at that in 1963. Field production was time had a tendency to lose their reduced and greenhouses were built. foliage and bracts prematurely. The main effort became producing Paul decided to focus his efforts small vegetative cuttings in the on breeding longer-lasting controlled greenhouse environment. poinsettias that could be PAULECKE,SR. These cuttings are shipped by air successfully grown as indoor CourtesyEckePoinsettia freight to poinsettia growers all over potted plants. As he developed North America as well as to most of promisingnewvarieties, hehastenedto introducethem Europe,LatinAmerica,Australia,AfricaandtheOrient. togreenhousegrowersacrossthecountry. TodaytheEckeRanchprovidesover90% oftheworld's In Hollywood during the 20's, Paul established poinsettiastockplants. stands along Sunset Boulevard and sold the fresh cut Overtheyears,Paulremainedactivelycommittedto poinsettiaflowers straightfrom the open fields. Huge thegrowth and advancement ofthepoinsettia industry. bunchesofcolorfulpoinsettiasgreetedthedelightedeyes Hetraveled extensivelythroughouthis lifetimeto share ofhundredswho stoppedto buy. An earlyHollywood new ideas andtechnical informationto growersall over landmark, Paul Ecke's vast fields of blazing red theworld. His personal contributionsto local, county, poinsettias attracted dozens oftouristbuses during the state and national farm and floral organizations and busy holiday season. In 1923, Paul co-founded the universitieshavebeen instrumental infosteringquality- AmericanFloristsExchangeinLosAngeles, oneofthe conscious, research-oriented, professional brand of most successful grower-owned and operated wholesale horticulture. His professional achievements have been flowermarkets intheworld. recognized by his fellow plantsmen with countless ItwasinHollywoodthatPaulmethisbelovedwife- awards. In 1970, Paul received the industry's highest to-be, Magdalena, anativeofSwitzerland, whoworked honor when he was inducted into the Society of sidebysidewithhimintheflowerfields. Theymarried AmericanFlorists' FloricultureHall ofFame. In 1989 in 1924. That same year, Paul relocated thepoinsettia Paul Ecke Ranch Press published PROFILES IN business to San Diego County, to escape the rapid FLOWERS describing the floriculture history of San urbanizationand subdivisionofHollywood. Diego (seeBookReviews). 168 CALIFORNIA GARDEN Aside from his professional achievements, Paul's philanthropy ran deep with several decades of quiet givingtothecommunity. WhenEncinitaswasarapidly growingandlargelyneglectedchunkofcounty-governed territory,PaulEckefilledthevoid. Heprovidedparks, playingfields,botanicalgardensandfacilitiesthatmight otherwisenothavebeenestablished. TheEckefamily's extraordinary gifts have included 21 acres in Encinitas donatedtotheNorthCoastFamilyYMCA (renamedthe Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in 1988); 35 acres in Encinitasfor whatisnowtheMagdalenaEckegardens, a botanic garden administered by Quail Gardens Foundation; and 36 acres of beach-front property in Carlsbad to the State's Department of Parks and Recreation. Beyondthedonationofvaluableland, Paul gavefreelytonumerousaltruisticprojectsrangingfrom POINSETTIA 4-H Clubs to Tijuanaorphanages; placing ahighvalue Euphorbiapulcherrina ontheeducationofchildren. PaulEckedonated asubstantialsumofmoneyover who carried a large wicker basket full ofhome-grown the years to the Encinitas Union School District. His fruits to share with his employees, a man who in his involvementandleadershipopenedothers'pursestrings 90th year, could still be found roaming around the in the multiplier effect ofgiving. Throughouthislong greenhouses, pokinghis index finger in thepots ofhis life, Paul set anexamplebydoing allhe couldto make prized poinsettiaplants to check ifthey needed water. theworldabetterplacetobe. Mr. Ecke passed away on June 21, 1991 of natural Hehasbeencalledalegendinhisowntime,buthis causes. Hewas96years old. family, friends and associatesknewhimas aquietman * * * with simple tastes and pleasures. He will be fondly SOURCES:PaulEckePoinsettias, CaliforniaGardenmagazine, remembered asanelf-likemanwithamischieviousgrin Encinitasmagazine,Nov. 1990. DAYLILIES OFTOMORROW ' ourowfneatnuerwinhgybrids-—"^^^^^^^™ FREECATALOGIE-44COLOR PICTURES Includes 1990 roses: IRRESISTIBLE, LITTLE VisitoneofthefinestDaylily CAROL.RUTHSTALEY.andmorethan100other collectionsinSouthernCalifornia greatvarieties. CREATEYOUROWN DiscountsSoHnIPorPdEerDsUofPStenINor4m"orPeO.TS TROPICALLOOKINGGARDEN TINYPETALSMINIATUREROSENURSERY 489MinotAve. Easycare,ful(lcrananaglesoofbecoglorro.wBnlionocmosntMaianyertsh)ruDecember ChTuell:aV1i-s6t1a9.-4C2A2-093189510 DON MARYHARDGROVE Sc 1656N SecondSt (betweenGreenfield&PepperDr.)ElCajon•447-4922 OpenTuesday•Sunday10am•Spm CLASSIC GARDENS J-ohn (f^oodfiaituic cTTOxticuLtwiiit & LandscapcsDesign Construction LANDSCAPE CARE MAINTENANCE •TREESERVICE Weareofferingacompleteservice LAWNRENOVATION •SOD&SEED inlandscapedesignandinstallation. PLANTING SPRINKLERSYSTEMS . CallQohn: (6iq) 542-0469 1619) 459-0316 ENTERA WORLDOF "dVo Q.oc {ZJoo Jlaxae. Oi \Joo <Smau OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT Licenseno>471422 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 169 BOTANICAL RED FOR THE HOLIDAYS LucyWarren CONTEMPLATING THEDEEPFORESTgreen and pure bright red traditionally used in holiday decorationsinspiresthoughtsonallofthedifferentreds withwhichnatureso abundantlysuppliesourSouthland overthewintermonths. Onlyinthemountainsandwith afewtreesliketheLiquidamberdoweachieve"autumn color"soprizedintheNortheast. Yetourlocallygrown poinsettiasaretreasuredthroughoutthecountry. Wecan make everlasting wreaths from succulent plants which redden with bright southern exposure. The berries of the local toyon or Christmas berry (Heteromeles), the imported Pyracantha from China and pepper tree (Schinus Molle) from Peru add color to our garlands. Ourtemperate climatepromotesBromeliads, several of LAUREL which make a fine show of red as they get ready to Laurusnobilis \ bloom. Even the Dracena draco or dragon tree has brightorangeberriesandredsaponcecommonlyknown asdragon'sblood. Chlorophyll (Greek: chloros, green, andphyll, leaf) provides the green pigment in leavesinthepresenceoflight. Twootherpigmentsare the pigment. Exposure to direct sunshine promotes a alwayspresentinleaves,ayellowpigment(xanthophyll) plant's natural tendency to blush, be it inleaf, fruitor andanorangepigment(carotene). Innormalleavesthe flower. approximate composition is 66% green (chlorophyll), Differentplantsvary intheirnatural shades ofred, 23% yellow (xanthophyll) and 10% orange (carotene). fromtheveryorangeandscarletredtotheblueredand Various stresses such as low temperature, drought, magenta, asthey spanthe spectrum. There arethree reducedlight, injuries, anddiseaseswillaffectthelevel common anthocyanidins - pelargonidin (red), cyanidin of the chlorophyll and modify leaf color. Seasonal (violet), anddelphinidin(blue). Inafewplantfamilies changes in late summer and autumn magnify these redpigmentcomesformevenmorecomplexcompounds stressesinmorenorthernclimates. known as betacyanins. These includeplants related to Butwhataboutred? Interestingly,thewater-soluble thegoosefood,cactusandportulacafamilies. Theredof trheedpcihgrmoemonptl(aasnttshowchyearne)itshefoortmheedripnigthmeenctelslasraep,fnooutndi.n beetsAancdobnotuegmapionrvairllyeaoafredDuaerwtionb,etaAclyfarneidns.Wallace, The presence of anthocyan in the cell sap makes the theorizedthatcolorsmayhavefirstappearedintheparts wholecellred, and anyorall ofthecellsmay develop oftheplantthatbecame adaptedto aparticularmethod ofpollination. Redflowers arepollinatedbybirdsand insects sensitiveto the longer light wavelengths. Red berries andfruitsattractbirds and animalsfortheir consumptionto scattertheseeds. And mankind enjoys thebeautyofitall. * * * LUCY WARREN is assistant editor and writer for California Garden. *** SOURCES:Fuller,HarryJ.etal,THEPLANTWORLD,5thEd., Holt,ReinhartandWinston,Inc., NY Proctor,Michael,THEPOLLINATIONOFFLOWERS,Taplinger PublishingCompany,NY ENGLISHHOLLY Raven,Peter,et.al.,THEBIOLOGYOFPLANTS. Ilexaquifolium TBroaonkseCaoum,pEadngya,rNNeYlson,Ph.D,SCIENCEOFPLANTLIFE,World Varley,Helen,Editor,COLOR,TheKnappPress,LosAngeles 170 CALIFORNIA GARDEN