Table Of Content

California, GARDEN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 Volume 88 No. 5 $1.50 HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR SEPT. 9 DecorativeGourdBasket.NewClass.K.Walsh. •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION Seepage 151. 232-5762. $40. Basket Class. Small Appalachian, Natural OCT. 18 Materials. Seepage 151. 232-5762. $15/$20. CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SEPT. 14 Annual Plant, Bulb & Seed Sale. Casa del SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL COUNTY IRIS Prado, BalboaPark. Sat. 10am-2pm. SOCIETY Plant Sale (Rhizomes). Casa del OCT. 18 Prado, PatioB, BalboaPark. Sun. 10am-3pm. THE HUNTINGTON Chrysanthemum Show. SEPT. 14 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino. Sat. 10:30am- AMERICANBEGONIASOCIETY,Palomar 4:30pm. 626/405-2141. Admission. $7.50. Branch.FlowerShow.QuailBotanicalGardens OCT.21 Foundation, 230 Quail GardensRd., Encinitas. •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION EckeBldg. Sun. 10am-3pm. $3. Quarterly Dinner Meeting/Program. Casa del Sept. 16 Prado, Balboa Park. Cary Sharp, SD Wild •SANDIEGOFLORALASSOCIATIONCoil Animal Park, Horticulturist. "The Heart of Basket, Natural Materials. M. Rosenberg. See Africa." Tues. 5:45pm Social. RSVP232-5762 page 151. 232-5762. $15/$20. $5or$7 atDoor. SEPT. 20 OCT22-26 •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM Tour.LakeArrowhead,HomeTour. Sat.Lunch FOUNDATION 1997 L A Garden Show. 301 NotIncluded. 232-5762. $45&$48. North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 9am-5pm. Seepage 155. 818/447-8207$8. SEPT. 23 OCT. 25-26 •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION ICHIYO SCHOOL OF IKEBANA 15th Topiary Holiday Wreath. K. Walsh. See page Anniversary Show & Bazaar. Casa del Prado, 151. 232-5762. $25/$30. Balboa Park. Sat. & Sun. 11am-4pm. SEPT. 27 Demonstrations 12:30&2pm. BothDays. THE HUNTINGTON 14th Annual Succulent OCT.27 Symposium. 1151OxfordRd.,SanMarino.Sat. •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION 9am-5pm. 626/405-2140. Fee. Tour"WorldFlowerFestival,"Pasadena.Floral SEPT. 30 &OCT. 7 Design&Luncheon. 232-5762. $46&$49. •SANDIEGOFLORALASSOCIATIONTwo Seepage 155. Ring Basket. M. Rosenberg & K. Walsh. See OCT28 page 151. 232-5762. $40. •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION SEPT. 27-28 FinishItUpBasketClass. K. Walsh. SAN DIEGO BONSAI CLUB 32nd. Seepage 151. 232-5762. $5. AnniversaryFallShow.CasadelPrado,Balboa NOV. 3 Park. Sat. &Sun. 10am-5pm. Free. PALOMAR DISTRICT DESIGN FORUM OCT. 6 FloralDesigner: BrendaParsons, England.The PALOMAR DISTRICT DESIGN FORUM Courtyard, 16935 West Bernardo Dr. 1-3pm. Floral Designer: Robert Gordon, San Luis 760/749-7654. $8. Obispo. The Courtyard, 16935 West Bernardo NOV. 4, 18 &25Series Dr. 1-3pm. 760/749-2654. $8. •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION OCT. 13 AmericanContemporaryFloralDesignV.West. SANDIEGOHORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Bringmaterials. 232-5762. $35/$40. "The YucatanPeninsula," JohnBlick. Satellite •INTERNATIONAL FLORALSHOWS* Wagering Facility, Del Mar Fairgrounds. 630- MILANITALY 7307. FreeAdmission. SEPT. 18-21 OCT. 14 &21 MILANOGARDENSHOWFlower,Furniture •SAN DIEGO FLORAL ASSOCIATION (continuedonpage132) 130 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 CALIFORNIA GARDEN California s,nce i9°* SanDiegoFloralAssociation GARDEN CasadelPrado,Room105 BalboaPark Mail-2125ParkBlvd TLIeBlRAeRpYhOoFnCOeNG6R1ES9S/NO2.3I2SS-N5007086-12116 SManonDdiaegyotChrAou9g2h1F0r1i-d4a7y92 10:00amto3:00pm VOLUME 88 NUMBER 5 Publishedby SanDiegoFloralAssociation THEMAGAZINE FOR THE HANDS-ON GARDENER for87Years SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 PUBLICATIONSTAFF EDITOR JacquelineColeman FEATURES CALENDAREDITOR 135 Chrysanthemum, theGoldenFlower S. Mack JeanE.Johns 136 GardensDownUnder R. Horwitz NOWISTHETIMEEDITOR 137 ThemBluesAin'tNecessarilyBad P. Pawlowski MarianneD.Truby 139 Wired! (Subtitled: GettingOfftheGround) C. Zinsky 141 Howto MakeaTerrariumorDishGarden D. Scott AFFILIATELISTINGEDITOR 142 WaterWand M. Brigadier LynnBeyerle 143 Sunburn, BugBite, Itch —HerbstotheRescue . . . T. Hinkley BOOK&VIDEOREVIEWEDITOR 148 TreesofLife P. Sigg RosaleenCox 149 HistoricPalms inBalboaPark B. Jones 151 GrowingandPruningDavidAustinRoses B. Newton TOURSEDITOR AnnWaters DEPARTMENTS ADVERTISING JacquelineColeman 130 HorticulturalCalendar J. Johns 134 Gleanings StaffEdited RENEWALS 144 NowIstheTime M. Truby JoanRoman 150 SanDiegoFloralAssoc. Classes D. Elwell 152 Communications Editor MAILING 153 BookReviews R. Cox LynnBeyerle 155 BusTours A. Waters EDITORIALADVISORYBOARD 156 Affiliates L. Beyerle MortBrigadier RobertHorwitz FRONT COVER sketch of a chrysanthemum is by Marilyn Hoff Stewart. BarbaraS.Jones ReprintedfromNovember-December1972. BettyNewton BACK COVER photographofdayliliesby NancyPetitti CatherineZinsky Claimsandopinionsexpressedbyadvertisersdonotnecessarily Manuscriptsareinvited. Deadlinesarethe20thofJanuary, reflecttheviewsoftheeditorand publisherofCaliforniaGardenmagazine. March, May, Jury, September,and November. California AGlalrdmaennursecsreirpvtessatnhderiilglhutsttroateidointsawniyllanbdeahlalnsdulbemditctareedfmualtleyr,ibaul.t SinglecopiesofthecurrentissueofCaliforniaGardenmagazine wecannotassumeresponsibilityfortheirsafety.Submissions canbepurchasedforadonationof$1.50atthelocationslisted. mustbedoublespacedand/oronacomputerdiskfromIBMor CALIFORNIAARBORETUMFOUNDATION,INC.,447-8207,301NorthBaldwinAve.,ArcadiaCA 91006 compatible.Encloseself-addressedpostpaidenvelopeifyou MISSIONHILLSNURSERY,298-2808,1525FortStocktonDrive,SanDiegoCA92103 eefoxxrppreaeclstlstebhdoetamarnetioctahbloesreneaotmfuertsnheeduastuoetdhyooriusn.aHtnhodertdmuoasgnTaohztiinrnedec.eisssAtalhrleilaoyuptrihenofirloientcyst WOSUAACNLHTDIEIRNEUGARONSFDELERORYR,SAE2LN63AN-S6U1SRO1S4C,EIR5A0YT0,I3O2IN2m,4pe-2r83i2a27l-15,A7v36e62.4,,2CSaEasnntaeDrdipeerligPsoreaCSdtAo.,,SR9a2mn1.1D31i0e5g,oBCalAboa92P1a1rk0,SanDiegoCA92101 theviewsoftheeditorsofCaliforniaGarden.Noendorsement ofnamedproductsis intended,noriscriticismimpliedof similarproductsthatarenotmentioned. FLOWERSHOWS: ShowchairmancontactCaliforniaGarden,232-5762ifyouwantthe Sendalleditorialmaterialandchangeofaddressto: magazinesoldatyourshow. CaliforniaGarden CALIFORNIAGARDEN(ISSN0008-1116)ispublishedBi-Monthlyfordonationsof$7.00peryearor$13.00fortwo SanDiegoFloralAssociation years,foreigndeliveryadd$6.00peryear,bySanDiegoFloralAssociation,2125ParkBoulevard,SanDiegoCA 2125ParkBoulevard 92101-4792.*SanDiegoFloralAssociation,1992. Allrightsreserved.PeriodicalsPostagepaidatSanDiegoCA. SanDiegoCA 92101-4792 POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoCALIFORNIAGARDEN,2125ParkBoulevard,SanDiegoCA92101-4792. CALIFORNIA GARDEN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 131 — — &Machinery Show. FieraMilano ExhibitionGrounds, Fridays StartsSeptember5, 1997 8:50AM-Noon Milan. Information, http://www.fieramilano.com VEGETABLE GARDENING, Instructor: Joyce Gemmell, 8 weeks, $15.00, at Foothills Adult ONGOINGEVENTS EducationCenter, Room53, 1550MelodyLane, QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS 230 Quail ElCajon, 579-4795 GardenDr., Encinitas. 9am-5PM. 436-4032. — BLUE SKY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE Fridays—StartsOctober31, 1997 8:50AM-Noon Walks. Poway. Sat&Sun9am. 486-7238. FRUITTREES, VINES, ANDBERRIES BALBOA PARK: ONGOINGPROGRAMS Instructor:JoyceGemmell,8weeks,$15.00,atFoothills SAN DIEGO JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN AdultEducationCenter, Room53, 1550MelodyLane, (by Organ Pavilion) DocentTours Tues., Fri., ElCajon, 579-4795 Sat., Sun. Open 10am-4pm. 232-2780. — — Donation. Saturday September20, 1997 9:00AM-Noon SAT. OFFSHOOTTOURSOnehour.MeetBotanical PLANTS-FOR-FREE (Propagating), LathHouse. 10am. 235-1121. Free. Instructor: Connie Beck, one day, $20.00, at Foothills TUES. INTERPRETIVE WALKS Ranger guided. AdultEducationCenter, 1550 MelodyLane, Ei Cajon, MeetVisitorsCenter. 10am. 235-1211. Free. roomnumber availableatarrival, 579-4795 ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES DeadlineforsubmissiontoHORTICULTURAL asschedWuleesstwreorneglnyotadfviirsmeacthetcikmienogfwtihitshotfheprsicnhtoionlg.s DCIAELGEONDFALRORfAorLNAoSv.S/ODCecI.ATisIsOueNiissSneoptt.res1p5o.nsSiAblNe for changes that are submitted late by the Tuesdays—StartsSeptember2, 1997—6:20-9:30pm organizations. LANDSCAPING:Trees,Shrubs,andFlowers (FallEmphasis) Instructor: BettyNewton, 15weeks,$23.00,atGrossmontHighSchool,Room51, ^^>%W^ 1100MurrayDrive, LaMesa, 579-4795 ¥) ofDCEBANA — — WednesdGaAysRDESNtaIrtNsGSeptWeImbTeHr3,H1E99R7BS6:I3n0s-t9ru:c4t0oprm. —SsK^itTE SanDiegoChapter Kathleen Smith, 6 weeks, $13.00, at Foothills AdultEducationCenter,Room12, 1550Melody 1F5LTOHWAENRNSIVHEORWSAARNYDIBKAEZBAAANRA Lane, ElCajon, 579-4795 — — WednesdWayAsTERStIarNtsGOctoSbYeSrT15E,M1S997 FO6R:30-9Y:O40UpmR OCTOBER25&26 SATURDAY&SUNDAY LANDSCAPEInstructor: KathleenSmith, 6 weeks, $13.00. Foothills Adult Education Center, 11:00AMTO4:00PM Room 12, 1550MelodyLane, ElCajon, 579-4795 Wednesdays—StartsSeptember3.1997—6:30-8:30pm CABSAALDBEOLAPPRAARDK,O,SRANOODMIE1G0O1 HOMELANDSCAPING, Instructor THEME: AUTUMNVISION Connie Beck, 18 weeks, $20.00, at Santana Adult AKINOGENSO Center, Room 1305, 9915 North Magnolia Avenue, Santee, 579-4785 DEMONSTRATION: — — 12:30PM Thursdays StartsSeptember4, 1997 8:50AM-Noon 2:00PM FLOWER GARDENS: Year-Round Color with Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Old- FREEADMISSION Fashioned RosesInstructor: BettyNewton, 12 weeks, $23.00 at Foothills AdultEducation Center, Room 12, 1550MelodyLane, ElCajon. 579-4795 132 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 CALIFORNIA GARDEN The Flower and Garden Show at the 1997 Del Mar Pair THANKS ITS EXHIBITORS FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR, WalterAndersenNursery Nguyet-MaiDinh KRCRock,Inc. SanDiegoRoseSociety ArgoStone&SupplyCompany EastCountyRoseSociety LaniLambert FayScheidandLaurieTrinca KathrynTurner-Arsenault AnneEngert LionInTheSun...FloralsUnique NancySchibanoff BassettOrchids BaldomeroEscobedo MasterComposters KarenR.Schlehuber TenayaBecker EvergreenNursery MidnightRose EdSimpson,Horticulturist BlueHorizon F.T.D.Florist MiraCostaCollegeHorticulture WendySlijk BonitaOrganicGardenClub FeatherAcresFarmandNursery NatureDesignsLandscaping CherylSmith BuenaVistaAudubonSociety FlowersbyJeanAnn NewLeafNurseries SolanaBeachFlorist KimberleyBurns FreshwaterFlora&Fauna NoelEnterprises SolanaSucculents CactusKingNursery CindiGlenn Nurseryland TinyPetalsNursery CaliforniaAssociationofNurserymen, BarneyGonsalves PatrickO'Grady TopToBottomLandscaping NorthCountyChapter DarleneGonsalves JayneOlson TropicalNetwork CaliforniaCoastalRoseSociety RosemarieGonsalves PalomarCactusandSucculentSociety DaveVogel CaliforniaRareFruitGrowers DianeGonzales PaulEckeRanch MaryJaneVoegl DonaldE.Callard GrowingDevelopment LitPhan Weidners'Gardens,Inc. CityBeautifulofSanDiego WayneHerder ProfessionalTreeCareAssociation SanDiegoWildAnimalPark- ClevelandNationalForest KimberlyHill QuailBotanicalGardens SamiaRoseTopiary KarenChristian HomeDepot RanchoSantaFe,Escondido, ElCapitanHighSchoolFFA ColorSpotNurseries TeresaHurley NorthCountyFireDepts. EscondidoCreekStudentCommunityAction CordovaGreenhouses InternationalPalmSociety "Runnin'fortheRoses"Society EscondidoFFA ACgoruinctuyltoufrSeaWneiDgihetgso,&DeMpeaarstumreenstof JKe&ntT'sIBmrpoomretsliDardieNdurFsleorwyers SSaannDDiieeggooCCoouunnttyyFCyamrbmiBduiruemauSociety FOarlalnbgreooGkleFnFAHighSchoolFFA ShelleneDiAnda MarthaKimbrough SanDiegoFernSociety RegionalYouthEducationalFacility EarleenEllenDiaz SanDiegoNonBoClub CONGRATULATES THESE AWARD WINNERS AmericanHorticultureSocietyAward SanDiegoFernSociety SanDiegoCountyAward SanDiegoCountyFarmBureau DeeBennettRoseAward SanDiegoRoseSociety SanDiegoCounty CuyamacaCollege WaterAuthorityAwards 1st ShelleneDiAnda BotanicalSocietyAward NatureDesignsLandscaping 2ndEscondidoCreekStudentComAction DelMarFairThemeAward BonitaOrganicGardens 3rdFayScheidandLaurieTrinca DonDiegoTrophy MiraCostaCollege SanDiegoFloralAssociationAward SanDiegoNonBoClub PaulEcke,Sr.Trophy WildAnimalParkSamiaRoseTopiary SanDiegoHorticulturalSocietyAward...SanDiegoFernSocietyandSolanaSucculents EdwinFrazeeAward Weidners'Gardens Superintendent'sTrophy ColorSpot FloralNicheAward SolanaBeachFlorist UniqueLandscapeAward NurserylandandK.R.C.Rock HardscapeFeatureAward TopToBottomLandscape WaterFeatureAward EvergreenNursery IrrigationAward HomeDepot OutstandingYouthLandscapeGarden....RegionalYouthEducationalFacility LandscapeContractor'sAwardfor BonsaiBestofShow SR.Murphy MostPracticalLandscape TopToBottomLandscape SpecialAward JackieandLittleJohnBasset LandscapeContractor'sAwardfor FloralDesignerSweepstakes AryBraun MostCreativeLandscape.....^ EvergreenNursery AmateurFloralDesignerSweepstakes...TinaTmdell LightingAward WildAnimalParkSamiaRoseTopiary MiniatureFloralDesignerSweepstakes..SandiLord Manager'sTrophy BlueHorizon DahliaSweepstakes GeraldWolfe MassachusettsHorticulturalSociety GoldMedalFreshwaterFloraandFauna GladiolusSweepstakes SherryDallman NewExhibitorAward RegionalYouthEducationalFacility OrchidSweepstakes Jackie&LittleJohnBassett PatioGardenAward BarneyandRosemaryGonsalves RoseSweepstakes PhilipAsh RoyalHorticultureSocietyAward SolanaSucculents AND APPRECIATES THE GENEROSITY OF THESE SUPPLIERS A-GSodFarms,Inc. Dramm&Echter Kent'sBromeliads ShinodaDesignCenter Ades&Gish Ferrarri'sGreenhouses MellanoandCompany SoilRetentionSystems ArgoStoneandSupply TheFlowerAuction OliveHillNursery SunletNursery,Inc. CaliforniaProteaManagement RobertHall PremierColorNursery TayamaWholesaleFlorist,Inc. CalPacificPlantFarm K.R.C.Rock,Inc. R.C.PBlock&Brick,Inc. YoderBrothers CALIFORNIA GARDEN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 133 Gleanings SOWANDPILLBUGS . . . forsalealongtheroads insmall four or five garlic cloves Sometimesgardenersworrythat villages. That is so the city (sections) two inches deep those little brown sow and pill visitors can pick up the equidistantaroundeachbushwill bugs are harming their plants. droppings from the wild ponies do the trick. After the garlic (Pillbugsroll-up.)Probablynot. (that are pretty tame) that run begins to grow the rose root Thedamageisusuallycausedby freethroughthehamlets.Several system will take up garlic other "creatures" that attack at people, when asked, remarked characteristics and send them night and these little bugs are thattheyweretakingthemhome throughout the rose bush. justthereinthemorningandget to make Beef Tea for their Apparently invaders don't like the blame. Actually, if not too plants. garlictastingroses. many, they are helpful because If this doesn't work, then theyfeed onrottingordecaying SOILpH . . . another gardener-grower matter and help to break-down Theacid-alkalinityofthe soil is recommends using a bug spray decayingvegetablematter. They expressed in the term pH. made of 1 teaspoon garlic are related to crayfish, live in Neutral, neither acid nor powdermixedwith 1 tablespoon damp soil, and breathe through alkaline, is7. Ifthevalueisless ofliquidhand soap. Thisisthen gills. Children often enjoy than 7 it is acid, over 7 it is dissolved in 1 cup ofwater ina playing with them because they alkaline. Thereare 14pointson largecontainerandzappedinthe don'tbiteand thepill bugs will the scale, but this can be microwavefortwominutes.This perform (rollup)whentouched. misleading, because it is a liquid isdiluted inonegallonof logarithmic scale. This means water and used as a daily spray BEEFTEA . . . that5is 10timesmoreacidthan on any pest infected area until Members at SDFA's section of 6 and 100 times more acid than the pests are gone. Another theInformationBoothattheDel 7. (Common acids are vinegar gardener adds a cup ofrubbing Mar Fair often received queries and lemon juice, common alcohol and claims it works about what is Beef Tea. An alkalies are baking soda and better. Wonder if it works on unmanned exhibit mentioned it. ammonia.) whiteflies? SDFA is not sure what the Mostplantsgrowbetterand exhibitor had in mind, but for are more disease resistant if SEASONALALLERGIES . . . many years Beef Tea is the grown in soil that is neutral or September and October are the "delicate" name for a liquid very slightly acid or alkaline. sneezing months. This is the made by steeping steer (beef) San Diego soil and most ofthe season when most ofthe native manure in water and using the water we use is alkaline, so ragweeds and plantains are ensuing liquid to water plants, plants often have a harder time spreading their pollen. Did you usuallyhouseorcontainer-grown adjusting. This is why garden knowthatpollenofragweedcan plants. (Justdumptheremaining experts advise the use of soil travel 500 miles? Most of the residue in the garden—good amendments, usually acid, for locals seem to start sneezing mulch.) someplantsinthisarea. when the Santa Ana winds start One lady who grows There are inexpensive kits blowingfromtheeast. magnificent African violets available, so if you are having Authorities claim that the makes her own version ofBeef trouble, you might look into majority of the people in our Tea. She pours the water from using one ofthem to check the area that have allergies are themeatpackagesshegetsatthe pHofyoursoil. allergic to the ragweeds and grocery into her watering can plantains. Many find that the andusesthatasaliquidfertilizer ROSES ANDGARLIC . . . grayish dust that forms in the forherprizeplants. If you are an organic gardener fall ontheeucalyptusleavescan If you are ever in the you probably have heard about causeproblems,too.Fortunately Cotswolds ofEngland you may usinggarlic inyourrosegarden our air is pretty healthy and see quart size plastic containers forcompanionplanting.Planting peoplesufferminordiscomfort. 134 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 CALIFORNIA GARDEN CHRYSANTHEMUM, THE GOLDEN FLOWER by SUZANNEMACK CALL THEM CHRYSANTHEMUMS, or simply yellow leaves and white and pinkor tanblisters on mums, you are talking about a flowering plantthat theundersideoftheleaves. Itwasfoundinonlyone has been cultivated for over two thousand years chrysanthemumnurseryinVista(apparentlyimported beginning in China and Japan. The Mikado, the oncuttingsfromoutsideourcounty). Becauseitwas ancient ruler ofJapan, adopted the chrysanthemum learned of so early, there is reason to believe this flower as his emblem in 797. Japan celebrates the problemhasbeen, you'llexcusethepun, "nippedin feastoftheChrysanthemuminOctober. thebud." Mums are short-day plants. They bloom when thehours ofsunlightbecome shorter infall. In San Diego,chrysanthemumswillbloombeginninginlate .R& summer and intofall. Thereareover 160speciesof chrysanthemum, somesodifferentfromoneanother as to be hardly recognizable as chrysanthemums at all. Flowerformsincludespider,daisy,pompom[or pompon], semi-double, to name a few, and all in almostanycoloryoucouldwish. gardeMnuamnsdcmoanktaeinleorngp-llaansttsi.ngWceuttafkleowtehrse,matsowferilelndass <.<•' *.*/ Uf \*>,.."*•>* inthehospitalandpresentthemtothehostesswhen invited for dinner. We associate them with fall, Thanksgiving,andfootballinthewayweconnectthe poinsettiawithwinterand Christmas. Theybrighten darkcorners, welcomingvisitorswhenplacedonthe porchwithafewpumpkinsnestledaround. Fromthe WhiteHousetoLaJolla,you'llfindchrysanthemums gracingmantles andsideboards. Chrysanthemums are hardy, and, once established in youryard, they will thrivefor years. Buy mums in pony packs or 4-inch pots, and plant A rainbow of chrysanthemums will begin them in well-prepared soil with good drainage. showing up in local nurseries in late August. Use Fertilizewithabalancedliquidfertilizeruntilblooms theminpots,aspartofaperennialflowergarden, as form. After the blooms are spent and the foliage aborder, or createahugeballofahangingbasket. beginstolookalittletired, trimplantbackto afew Once you have grown chrysanthemums, you may inchesabovetheground.Fertilizeandwaterwelland want to propagate your own plants from cuttings. plants should begin their comeback almost Takeashortcuttingfromahealthyplant,removethe immediately. Even when not in bloom, the dark- bottomleaves, dip cut end in rootinghormone, and greenfoliageisveryattractive. Tallplantswillneed plantinpotsofporouspotting-mix. Keepthesepots to be staked to keep their flower heads upright. moist and out ofdirect sun until plants are rooted. Tryingtoproducethelarge,show-stopping,corsage- Cuttings are an excellent way to obtain different size mums takes more dedicated care than your varieties from the gardens offriends and neighbors average chrysanthemum; with extra fertilizing, foryourgarden,n staking, debudding (pinching off side-buds), and always awatchful eyeforgardenpests. SuzanneMackgraduatedfromtheMasterGardener Althoughhardy,mumsaresusceptibletothrips, Program in 1996. A long-time resident ofthe San leafminers,aphids,andverticilliumwilt(asoilborne Diegoarea, shegrowsflowersandvegetablesather fungus). In June of this year, a new malady was homeintheDel Cerro/San Carlosregion. discovered in San Diego County. It is called SketchbyBridgetS. Mack, anartstudentatSan chrysanthemum white rust, a fungus marked by DiegoState University. CALIFORNIA GARDEN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 135 THETRAVELINGGARDENER by ROBERT HORWITZ GARDENS DOWN UNDER YOUR TRAVELING GARDENER HAVING England.ItmakestheshowattheDelMarFairlook stoppedoffinHawaiiforafewdays,thenwentonto somewhat small in comparison. Not daunted by Australia, endingup inMelbourne. Firstimpression autumn, someexhibitorsimportedspringtulipsfrom ofthisbeautifulcityisthathereisSanDiegowitha Holland, along with many other spring flowers. riverrunningthroughit,butaclimatethatseesmore Insidetheexhibitionbuilding,which is inthecenter extremes than SanDiego's. Whatmakes itso much ofthepark, were impressivedisplays ofplants that likehomeisthatmanyoftheplantsandtreesthatwe growthroughoutAustraliaandNewZealand. grow here came from Australia originally; the Onanotherexcursion,wewenttoaplacecalled eucalyptusfamilybeingagoodexample. Petty's Orchard. The remarkable thing about this A visit to Victoria Gardens was one of pure placeisthattheygrowtwohundreddifferentkindsof delight. The gardens are laid out much like their applesandexperimentwithwaysofpruningthetrees Englishcounterpartsandtherewas acertainamount toimproveproductionandminimizepests.Thisman, ofemphasisonBritishroyalty,suchasagreatrowof Petty, was the equivalentofour Johnny Appleseed. old, majestic trees that were planted by visiting There was a museum on the grounds that covered kings, queens, and their offspring. One particular onehundredyearsofappletreegrowing,culture,and area caught my fancy. It was the fern forest. Huge fruithandling. To top offthevisit, we weretreated Australian tree ferns reaching a heightof20 to 30 tomanysamplesofvarietiesofapples. feet with trunks a foot or more in diameter were Withinanhour'sdriveofMelbourne, thereare everywhere. Interspersed amongst these and many atleastadozenhugeparks andnaturepreservesthat other ferns were tall palm trees from which a loud encouragevisitors. Seeingplatypuses, wombats, and chirpy-chattering noise emanated. Hanging upside all sorts of marsupials in the wild is an exciting downfrom the fronds ofthepalms werehugebats, thing.Onealsocanfindhugerhododendronplantings called flying foxes, which were the source of the along with camellias and daffodils set off by the noise. native trees. And, yes, we saw some wild koalas WhileinMelbourne, wewentto ahugeflower contentedlychewingawayoneucalyptusleaveshigh and garden show in their exhibition park. It was up inthebranches,a interestinginthattheywantedtohavetheshowin their spring. (It was the start of autumn while we RobertHorwitz isa retiredaerospaceengineerwho were there.) However, the exhibition area was not gardensinPointLoma. PhotobyJ. Coleman. availableuntilApril. (Theseasonsarereversedfrom oBruirtsi.s)hTEhmispisrheowexciseptthethleargoenset fatloKweerwshgaorwdeinnsthien PPahrekt,enobretlhoewasgtivoefsLaanwnimBporwel*i*nigwiGriefenAsust-raleiMa,grbouvtesrfri'ftpiaflmSsa,neuDciaelgyop,tusB,alabnoaa1 ethers. 136 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 CALIFORNIA GARDEN THEM BLUES AIN'T NECESSARILY BAD© byPAT PAWLOWSKI TODAY I'M GOING TO tell you how to get the "birthoftheblues." blues. Firstcomesthetinyturban-shapedgreenishegg, Nothanks, yousay?You'vehadtheblues, you laidbyafemalemarineblueonaleafofaplumbago, say, andyoudon'tlikethem?Yousaytheonlyblues thehostplant. Thereasonitis called ahostplantis youlikearethosethatareofthesongvariety? because it will play host to the newly emerged Take itfrom me, you'll liketheseblues. They caterpillar, also knownas alarva, providingitwith are butterflies. Although there are many types of food and housing until the caterpillar turns into a "blues," each variety with its own particular host pupa, or chrysalis. Oncethe caterpillarhas turned plant or plants, the type we'll talk about here are intoapupa, itjusthangs aroundattachedtoahandy marine blues {Leptotes marina). They are the ones surfaceuntilthetime comes when itwill emerge as you are most likely to see in the San Diego area. aspiffylittleadultmarineblue. Although they are not as big and glamorous as As an adult, the marine blue will fly off in monarchs or swallowtails, they have their own search of flowers that provide nectar, the only particularcharm. nourishmentthatthegrown-upbutterflyneeds. Once Firstofall, they haveBambi eyes. Ifyou look it locates nectar-bearing flowers and has sipped its very closely at a marine blue (and you can, ifyou fill, the blue will embark on its true mission: to includetherightplantsinyourgarden scheme), you provide the world with new little marine blue willseethosejet-black,spellbindingeyes, somewhat butterflies. shaped like a triangle. When you are face-to-face To do this, it will need to locate a member of with a marine blue, the word that most comes to the opposite sex, which it may encounter in your mind is "cute." veryown yard. Thusweseethatto attractthemost Size-wise, marineblues arepretty small. From blues, we need to provide both host and nectar wingtip to wingtip, adult butterflies measure about plants. one-halftoone inch. Inthemale, theupper surface ofthewingsisapurplish-bluecolor;theundersideis comprised ofpalebrown andoff-whitestripes, with darker spots alongthe wing margins. Thefemale is amottledbrowncolorwithabitofblueontheupper surfaceofthewings. As you can tell by the size and the color description, the marine blue is not the most noticeable of butterflies; yet it is an extremely appealing little butterfly in the yard. As these itty- bitties flit around the host plant (plumbago), they impart a sense of sparkle. Plantings, however beautiful, become even better with some twinkling movement around them. Up close, marineblues are extremely pretty to look at, as I found out after planting one of their favorite nectar plants, spicy jatropha. Melissablue, similarinappearancetothe Now, for those who do not understand the marineblue, onmilkweed. PhotobyBill Howell. definition of "host plant" (also called larval-food plant) and "nectar plant" (as they relate to butterflies), here comes a refresher course in the HOSTPLANTS butterfly life cycle. Ifyou have heard it all before, Cape plumbago, or Plumbago auriculata (P. well, toughturnips—grinandbear itorputonsome capensis) istheprimaryhostplantinurbanareas. In EllaFitzgeraldorMuddyWatersortheJuniorWells myopinion, itisoneofthebestplantsaround, forit Chicago Blues Band as the rest ofus talk aboutthe fulfills many needs. For example, besidesproviding CALIFORNIA GARDEN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 137 food forthecaterpillarstageofthemarineblue, the enjoy includeplumbago; our native wildbuckwheat plant offers nectar to other butterflies and (Eriogonumfasciculatum); and milkweed (Asclepias hummingbirds. sp.). Flower fanciers should love plumbago, OTHERATTRACTIONS especiallythenewvarietycalled'Royal Cape',forit Inadditiontotherightplants,marinebluesneed isagoodcutflower.Thebloomsof'RoyalCape'are sheltered areas, away from strong winds. They like agorgeousceruleanblue—theylooklikelittlepieces a pesticide-free yard. They crave warmth and of the sky that have been caught in the handsome sunshine;so,sensibleindividualsastheyare,theydo bright green leaves. The flowers appear throughout not make an appearance in the early morning, the year in hot areas; heaviest bloom is during the preferringtostayabeduntil 10amorso. summer. Plumbago isagooddrought-tolerantplant. Itis BLUESINTHEMORNING evergreen, unlessyouliveinanareathatgetsheavy One velvet morning, a delightful surprise frost—and, even ifitdoes get damaged by frost, it awaited me in the kitchen. Out ofnowhere, a little recovers quickly. Eventually the plant will reach bluebutterflyappeared. Howdiditgetthere? more than ten feet wide and six feet high, even Asmentionedbefore, plumbagoflowersmakea higherwith support. Ithas an archinggrowthhabit. heck of a nice bouquet, and they last a good long It provides good cover for banks and walls. All it while. Included in the branches ofplumbago I had asks for is warmth and sunshine. There is a white broughtintothehousesometimeagomusthavebeen variety, butwhy get whitewhen you canhave sky- a little stowaway caterpillar (the marine blue blue, especially since there are not too many heat- caterpillarresembles aplumbago bud). To this day, lovingshrubswithblueflowers. I don't know where it had pupated (does this say Although plumbago is the major host plant in somethingaboutmyhousekeepingabilities?) urban areas, other plants that may be used include Anyway,bluesinthemorningcanbewonderful. pea (Lathyrus sp.); alfalfa (Medicago sativa); and The discovery ofthe blue in the kitchen reinforced falseindigo(Amorphacalifornica),agraceful-looking mybelief(asifitneededanyreinforcement)thatit's native plant with bipinnate leaves and small purple an extremely interesting, inviting, exciting natural flowers. False indigo is also the host plant for the worldoutthere, and wejustbetter appreciate itand CaliforniaDogfacebutterfly. takecareofitbeforeitalldisappears. Becauseifwe don'ttreatourworldright,wemightallendupbeing NECTARPLANTS verysad. A favorite nectar plant is spicy jatropha So singthemblues, baby. And whileyou're at (Jatropha integerrima). I have ajatropha in an 18" it, besuretoplantthemgreens,n container sittingon thepatio, rightnextto a chaise lounge; sittingthere, you can'tgetawayfromthose TextcopyrightbyPatPawlowski, whoisawriterand summertimeblues. thewildlifegardendesignerforAnimatedGardens. A friend and I watched abluetheotherday as itquietly sippednectar. For whatseemed likeages, it was tipped forward into the heart ofthejatropha flower. Itseemed inastupor, lostinnectarecstasy. "Is it dead?" my friend asked. Apparently it wasn't; I lightly touched its wings and it flew off, maybe insearchofanotherjatropha. v ASWc»* mi mk Spicyjatropha is a relatively recent acquisition of nurseries in our area. It should be available, especially in local specialty nurseries; call first to makesuretheyhaveit. AmtoffiKslM BmttHaeir Jatrophaflowersarearosyredcolor.Theshrub has blossoms year-round, with the heaviest bloom TUBEROUS BEGONIAS duringthesummerandfall. Itisahandsomeupright 2545 Capitola Road evergreen, and likesfull sunand moderate water. It Santa Cruz, California 95062 doesverywell inacontainer. Other nectar-bearing plants that marine blues 18-page Catalog $1.00 138 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1997 CALIFORNIA GARDEN