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(Mfernia, GARDEN JULY-AUGUST 1998 Volume 89 No. 4 $1.50 HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR THROUGHJULY5 Sun. 10am-5pm. Free. DELMARFAIRFlower&GardenShow. Viade AUGUST 19 FlaeeVa&llEentwreasntcetoFeFea.irgrounds. 793-5555. Parking NEW LEAF NURSERY Lecture. Scent-sational JULY5 Geraniums. 2456FoothillDr.,Vista. Sat. 9:30am. BALBOA PARK ZORO GARDEN EVENING 760/726-9269. Free. bNeAtTweUeRnECasPaRdeOGBaRlAbMoa.BldBga.ts&-FaRc.tsH.&FleetMyBtlhdsg,. AUGPSU.rSadDTo.,22BH-aO2l3bNoaNPaOrNk. SBatO. &CLSUunB. 1S0haomw-.5pCma.saFredee.l Sun. 7:30pm. Call235-1121. Free. AUGUST29-30 JULYQU7AIL BOTANICAL GARDENS Subtropical SS.hoDw..TCUasRaTLdeEl P&raTdoO,RBTaOlIboSaEPaSrOk.CISEatTY&2S4utnh.. Fruit Garden Tour. 230 Quail Garden Dr., Encinitas. Tue. 10:30 AM. Free, information ONG9OaIm-N5GpmE.VFErNeeT.S JULY7601/1753-6757 evenings. QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS 230 Quail DESCANSOGARDENSAFestivalofBugs. 1418 BGaLrUdeEnSDrK.Y, EEncCinOiLtaOs.GI9aCmA-L5pmR.E4S3E6-R4V0E32.Walks. JULYD1e2s1:c13-a01np2ms.oRDrS.V,PLa81C8a/n9a4d9a-7,98F0li.ntFreied.ge. Sat. 10am- TPoHwEayH.USNatT&INSGunTO9aNm.Sa4n8M6a-r7i2n3o8..NewChildren's THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL CACTUS & Garden Workshop Series. Sat's. in July. 9am- SMaUrCinCoU.LSEatN.T&SSuHn.OW1.0:301a1m51-4:O3x0fpomr.d St., San B1AS1LA:3NB0OpDmA.IEP62GA6RO/K40J:5A-2PO2AN7N2G.EOS$I1EN0GFFeRePI.RENODGSRHAIMPS JULYNwiEt1h8WGLeEraAnFiuNmsU.RS24E5R6YFLoeoctthuilrleSDerr.i,es.VGisatrad.enSiantg. SAT.GARODFEFNSHDOocOeTntTTOouUrRs.SInlfHor.23M2e-e27t80B.otaFneiec.al JULY9:3108-a1m9. 760/726-9269. Free. TUES. LIaNtThEHRouPsReE.T1I0VaEm.W2A35L-K11S21.RanFgreeer.guided. SS.aleD..CCasOaUdNelTYPraOdRo,CHBaIlDboaSOPaCrIk.ETSYat.Sh1o2wAM&- TOUR UMeCeStDViEsiXtoTrEsNCeSnIteOrN. 1Au0satmr.ali2a3:5-A1n211O.rcFhriede. JULY4P2M5.-;26Sun. 10am-4pm. Free. LRoSvVerP's61A9d/v5e3n4t-u8r0e4.2A.ugust31toSeptember18. SANDIEGO BROMELIAD SOCIETY Show& Deadline forsubmission to Sale.CasadelPrado,BalboaPark.Sale10am-4pm. HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR for ShowSat. 1-5pm; Sun. 10am-4pm. Sept./Oct. issue is July 15. SAN DIEGO AUGUST 1-2 FLORAL ASSOCIATION isnot responsiblefor S.D. COUNTYDAHLIASOCIETY58thShow. changes that are submitted late by the Casadel Prado, BalboaPark. Sat. organizations. 1-pm; Sun. 11am-4pm. Free. AUGUST2 BALBOA PARK ZORO GARDENS. Nature Program. FascinatingInsects ofBalboaPark. Sun. Noon-lPM. SeeJuly5thfor information. AUGUST 4 QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS Subtropical Fruit Garden Tour. 230 Quail Garden Dr., Encinitas. Tue. 10:30AM. Free, seeJul 7 AUGUST 15-16 S. D. FERN SOCIETY Plant Show. Casa del Prado, BalboaPark. Sat. 12:30-5pm.; Mimulus(monkeyflower) 98 JULY-AUGUST1998 CALIFORNIA GARDEN 1 California s,nce i9o« SanDiegoFloralAssociation GARDEN CasadelPrado,Room105 BalboaPark MAIL-2125ParkBlvd TLIeBlRAeRpYhOoFnCeONG6R1ES9S/NO2.3I2SS-N5007086-12116 SaMnonDdiaegyotChrAou9g2h1F0r1i-d4a7y92 10:00amto3:00pm VOLUME 89 NUMBER 4 Publishedby SanDiegoFloralAssociation THEMAGAZINE FOR THE HANDS-ON GARDENER for88Years JULY-AUGUST 1998 PUBLICATIONSTAFF EDITOR FEATURES JacquelineColeman 101 ThreeExoticTreesforSanDiego T. Piergrossi CALENDAREDITOR 102 TheFragrantGarden F. Liljeblad JeanE.Johns 104 Carnations B. Jones NOWISTHETIMEEDITOR 105 TrainingJapaneseBlackPines H. Ochi MarianneD.Truby 110076 VAieRtonsaemebsyeMPaenrsypeOctthievreINsaDmiefsferent C. LG.raPhhaamn AFFILIATELISTINGEDITOR 108 Untamed MonkeyFlowers, Rampaging Snapdragons, LynnBeyerle andtheBuckeyeButterfly P. Pawlowski BOOK&VIDEOREVIEWEDITOR 110 YourTravelingGardenerinGlasgow R. Horwitz RosaleenCox 11 YourTravelingGardenerGoestotheIsleofBute . . R. Horwitz 116 AquariumPlants: DrowninginAssumptions G. Stewart TOURSEDITOR 118 A VisitwithRosemary Verey M. Howard-Jones AnnWaters 119 Sundials B. Jones 120 TheKateSessionsIRemember M. Wheatley ADVERTISING DEPARTMENTS JacquelineColeman 98 HorticulturalCalendar J. Johns RENEWALS 100 Gleanings B. Jones JoanRoman 112 NowIstheTime M. Truby 122 Communications Editor MAILING 123 BookReviews R. Cox LynnBeyerle 125 Affiliates L. Beyerle EDITORIALADVISORYBOARD MortBrigadier FRONTCOVERpicturescarnations,theofficialfloweroftheCityofSan RobertHorwitz Diego. BarbaraS.Jones BettyNewton Claimsandopinionsexpressed byadvertisers donotnecessarily reflecttheviewsoftheeditorandpublisherofCaliforniaGardenmagazine. MMaanrucshc,ripMtasy,areJulinyv,iteSde.ptDeemabdelri,nesanadreNtohveem2b0etrh.ofCaJlainfuoarrnyi,a CopiesofCaliforniaGardencanbeorderedbymailfor$1.50percopyplus$1.00postage. 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Allmanuscriptsandillustrationswillbehandledcarefully,but SinglecopiesofthecurrentissueofCaliforniaGardenmagazine wecannotassumeresponsibilityfortheirsafety.Submissions canbepurchasedforadonationof$1.50atthelocationslisted. mustbedoublespacedand/oronacomputerdiskfromIBMor CALIFORNIAARBORETUMFOUNDATION,818/447-8207,301NorthBaldwinAve.,ArcadiaCA91006 compatible,inWordPerfect5.1.Allopinionsexpressedare DORISWOODCOTTAGEGARDENANDNURSERY,760/789-1543,744PileStreet,RamonaCA92065 thoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsof MISSIONHILLSNURSERY,298-2808,1525FortStocktonDrive,SanDiegoCA92103 theeditorsofCaliforniaGarden.Noendorsementofnamed OUCHINURSERY,263-6114,5003ImperialAve.,SanDiegoCA 92113 pthraotduacrtesniostimnteenntdieodn,endo.riscriticismimpliedofsimilarproducts WSAANLTDEIREGAONFDLEORRSAELNANSUSROSCEIRAYT,IO2N2,4-283227-15,736624,2CaEsntaerdperliPseraSdto.,,SRamn.D1i0e5g,oBCalAboa92P1a1rk0,SanDiegoCA92101 Sendalleditorialmaterialandchangeofaddressto: FLOWERSHOWS: ShowchairmancontactCaliforniaGarden,232-5762ifyouwantthe CaliforniaGarden magazinesoldatyourshow. SSaann2DD1ii2ee5ggoPoaFCrlokAraBlo9uA2ls1es0vo1ac-ri4dat7i9o2n yC9e2Aa1rL0sI1,-F4fO7oRr9e2Ni.IgnAcdGeSlAainRveDDriyEeNagdod(FIl$So6Sr.Na0l00A0ps0se8or-c1yiea1at1ri6,o)nib,syp1u9Sb9al2ni.sDhiAeledlgBoir-iFgMlhotonsrtarlhelsAyesrsfvooecrdid.aotnPieaortnii,ood2nis1c2aol5fs$P7Pa.ors0kt0aBpgoeeurlpyaeeivadarradot,rS$Saa1n3nD.Di0i0eegfgooorCtCAwA.o POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoCALIFORNIAGARDEN,2125ParkBoulevard,SanDiegoCA92101-4792. CALIFORNIA GARDEN JULY-AUGUST1998 99 Gleanings . . . NEWSPAPERCOMPOST . . . been a lot ofspace concerning the Unfortunately, no trees are being Newspaper can be used in your growing of a salsa garden. This planted to replace them. There are compost pile, but it must be in seems to consist, according to many trees that are drought small pieces and mixed well with them, of growing tomatoes and resistantthatcanbeused. All over the other materials, leaves, grass chilies, with a smattering of SouthernCaliforniaformerwooded clippings, etc. If packed together, cilantro. Apparently, they have a areas and roadsides are now the newspaper will form hard different salsa. Out here in San becoming bare and ugly. It is time lumps.Mostnewspapersareprinted Diegowealwaysputchoppedgreen that the citizens start a "hue and with soy based ink, so there is no onions inoursalsa. Thewritersdo cry" anddemandthatifonetreeis dangerfromtheink.Donotusethe not mention the trouble it takes to cut down, another be planted to shinypaperfoundinmagazinesand remove the outside coating from take its place. Only that way will advertisements.Thispaperhasbeen chilies before they can be used. we keep Southern California from coated with a material to make it (Most of us use the canned, again becoming a treeless semi- shinyand itisnotbiodegradable. choppedgreenchilies). Ifyougrow desert. yourown, remembertheouterskin NEWCLIVIA . . . must be blackened by a flame to EDIBLEFLOWERS . . . The price of choice new yellow remove it and then the chile is Part of "California Cuisine" clivia has gone down from one chopped and boiled for a few includestheuseofflowers in food thousanddollarsperplanttoseveral minutesbeforeitisused. So, ifyou preparation, particularly in salads. hundred. A regular plant sells for want to grow a salsa garden here, Notallflowersareedible—bewary approximately forty dollars. This grow somegreen onions with your before eating. Peppery nasturtium clivia has a clear bright yellow tomatoes and chilies. (Incidentally, flowershavebeenusedforyearsin floweranddesignersclaimitblends cilantro is the leaves of the salads and forfood garnishing, but better with other flowers. I guess coriander.) roses, scented geraniums, tuberous "they" do not have the lovely, begonias, day lilies, violets, and iridescentorangeflowersthatgrow EUCALYPTUS . . . carnations are tasty, pretty, and here. Just a single stem of our The eucalyptus are evergreen trees fun. Carnations have a clove like locally grown clivia with several native to Australia. Many of the taste; day lilies, roses, violets, and green leaves makes a magnificent largeSouthernCaliforniatreeswere gardenias are sweet; tuberous arrangementthatwilllastfordays. planted in the 1870s and 80s. begonias are lemony sour. Be sure Grovesoftenhadover10,000trees. to wash flowersbeforeusing. TOOLCARE . . . Within a few decades the trees After using garden tools they reachedheightsof200feet. Atfirst BALBOAPARK GARDENS should be washed, dried, and itwasfeltthattheywouldbeuseful TheSanDiegoParkandRecrea.ti.o.n coated with a light oil. One local for furniture, buildings, railroad Department has two new self- gardener keeps a largecan ofsand ties, and firewood. The wood was guided walks ofBalboa Park. One mixed with a little light oil inside too brittlefor furniture, the trunks guide identifies and locates on a his garage. He sticks his shovels, were too twisted for ties, but the map twenty-five trees on the west forks, etc. in it after using them. woodisveryusefulforfenceposts, side ofthe Park. The guide, Self- Heclaimshehasnorustandunless firewood,shade,andaswindbreaks guided Walk of the Gardens of hehashitsomething,thetoolsstay to protecttheorangegroves. After BalboaPark, has an excellentmap sharp. aeucalyptustreeis70yearsold, it locatingtheeightspecialtygardens. SALSAGARDEN . . . btehgrionusghotoutbtehceosmteateamparnoybloefmthaensde Tgahrededensscrairpetieoxncselalnednthiasntodriheosuorfstohef In the popular publications older trees are being removed. visiting are listed. The guides are produced on the East Coast for (ManyofourBalboaParktreesare available at the Balboa Park general consumption, there has reaching the 100 year mark.) AdministrationBuilding. 100 JULY-AUGUST1998 CALIFORNIA GARDEN THREE EXOTIC TREES FOR SAN DIEGO BY TOM PIERGROSSI BY FAR THE BEST climate in which to grow plants, andwillgrowjustaboutanywhereitissunnyaslongas for me, is San Diego. By altering our growing it is frost free. C. surinamensis is not commonly conditions, amending our soils and watering regularly, available, but should be. However, ABC, a wholesale we can grow a rich diversity ofplants. Exotic sounds nursery, has championed the cause and now growsthis rareand unusual, butin fact mostplantswe're familiar plant. Askyourlocal nurserymantoorderyouone;you with are exotic, that is, not from here. Many are won'tbesorry. surprised to learn thattheplants we associate with San ThesweetshadeorHymenosporumflavum isfrom Diego are actually from somewhere else. The southwest Australia. It is a relative of our familiar Eucalyptus is from Australia, the Jacaranda is from Pittosporumtobira(fromChina).Itisoneofmyfavorite Brazil,andErythrinas(coraltrees)arefromMexicoand trees,beingevergreen, fragrant, openinhabit,butthick South Africa. I am a landscape designer and what enough to provide screening. From first sight, most follows isadiscussionofsomeofmyfavorites. Ichose peoplelovetheshinyfoliageandyellowflowersthatare themfortheirbeauty,easeofgrowth,and,whenplanted more golden than brassy. They bear in clusters at the intherightspot, low maintenance. ends ofthebranches beginning in April and continuing While San Diego is well touted as having a through early summer. Most references list it as slow, Mediterranean climate, many plants from Asia also do but I have seen them grow to twenty five feet in two verywell here. OneoftheseistheMicheliadoltsopa, a years from a fifteen- gallon container. In youth, loose magnolia relative from the Himalayas. It's a signature staking canhelpuntil itsrootscatch—alittleshapingto treeinaSinJengarden. SinJenbeinganoldtimelocal develop a good branch structure—and eventually they landscapernowinhisnineties. Itisavariableevergreen canreach fortyfeet. Itgrowsbestoutoftheoceanwind tree, relatively slow growing to abouttwenty fivefeet. butwillgrowalmostanywhereelseinSanDiegoCounty Ithasaconicalshapeandtheheadcanbeopenedupand except for our highest mountains. There is a good developed into a nicely rounded crown. Michelia exampleofa young specimen infront ofafirehouseat doltsopa bears flowers along the branches and covers University and Ninth Avenues, in Hillcrest. itselfwith fragrant, creamy white flowers in February Hymenosporum?, are seed grown and can be found and March, with some repeat in the fall, just when locallyatVillageNurseriesinDelMarandBrigg'sTree manyofusneed aliftinourgardens. Micheliadoltsopa Nursery in Vistaor askyourlocal nurserymento order has a somewhat stiff architectural habit and makes a one. Remember to plant responsibly, too often people wonderfulaccenttree, whileitalsolooksverynatural in don'tthinkoftheeventualsizeofaplantatmaturityand a grove setting. Some young specimens are planted by often end up cutting them down, or have to prune the old Gymnasium in Balboa Park. Like magnolias, frequently to keep them within bounds, wasting time, they prefer amended soil and good drainage, with money and precious landfill space. People liketo plant regular watering and feeding for the healthiest trees. somethingfamiliar,sogetyourselffamiliarwithsomeof Also try some other members ofthe same family, M. thesetrees,n champaca(ofperfumefame),M. alba,andM.figowith flowers thatsmell ofbananas. TomPiergrossiisalocallandscape Another tree popularized by Sin Jen is the designerwithasmallwholesale Calliandra surinamensis, a relative ofthe popular C. nurseryinhisbackyardinEncinitas inaequilatera(C. haematocephala),orredpowderpuff, (openMondays, 760/753-3208). whichbloomsinourwinters. Itbloomsyear-roundwith pinkand whitepowderpuffs and has an attractiveopen V-shape. Theevergreentreehassoftpinnateleavesand iseasilykeptto aboutfifteenortwentyfeetwithannual lacing(apruningtechniquethatartisticallyopensupthe plant), but it has the potential to reach thirty feet or moreifleftunrestrained. Itgrowsrelativelyquicklyand canbegrownfromseedorcuttings,toleratespoorsoils, HymenosporumflavumdrawingbyRoland S. Hoyt CALIFORNIA GARDEN JULY-AUGUST1998 101 THE FRAGRANT GARDEN BY FREDRIK LILJEBLAD THE SENSE OF SMELL, they say, is the most soreleasetheirappetizingaroma.Scented-leafgeraniums evocative of all our senses. Deny it if you will, the such asPelargoniumtomentosum,P. 'Tutti-Frutti', and image ofthe most radiant camellia, the most glorious P. radens 'Dr. Livingstone' are also popularused as a orchidfadesfrommemorywhencomparedtothestrong, path edging, where their leaves may be bruised by exotic perfume of a fragrant plant. Some people, it's passingfeet. true, find certainfragrantplantsoverpowering. Mostof Below aresomeofmyfavoritefragrantplants, all us,however, areenthralledbyallfloralscents,however of which I grow here in San Diego, but this is only headytheymaybe. Nearlyall fragrantplantsarequick scratching the surface. There are many others, less to reward us with their scent, so it's no major exotic, perhaps, butstilldelightfullyfragrant. undertaking to add a few specimens to an existing Cestrum nocturnum (night-blooming jessamine). garden, or to create an entire garden room devoted This isn't everybody's favorite exclusivelytofragrance. fragrant plant. Some people just As a rule, fragrant plants are relatively can'ttake its insignificantgreenish- undemandingofculture, and anaddedbonusisthatfew white flowers' truly intense of them are overly troubled by garden pests. When scent—tome, theysmellofbabyoil choosing widely hybridized varieties of fragrant with a dash of cloves—far more plants—nicotiana and heliotrope are perfect pleasant than it sounds. On sultry examples—trytogetthespeciesoranoldervarietysince nights in August and September, so many showierhybridshavehad much oftheirscent which is when itblooms, the night bredoutofthem. perfume is wonderfully heady and Exceptforroses andheliotrope,mostplantsnoted exotic. This is an easy-to-grow fortheirfragrancedonotcomeinstrikingcolors—white shrubby plant with vividly green isthemostfrequentcolor,followedbypalepinkorpale foliage. Averagesoil,fertilizer, and yellow. Nature, it would seem, does not believe in water, withlotsofsunandheatwill overkill. Becauseofthis, and becauseplantperfume is keep it happy. The one problem is often most potent at night, a garden area devoted to its obstinately leggy growth—prune, prune, prune and fragrant flowers is often the ideal place for a sunset then pinch back some more. It's useful to remember drinkoranafter-dinnerstroll.Withsubtlenightlighting when pruning that flowers emerge from the leaf axils tohighlightthemoreattractiveoftheflowers,afragrant justbelowthetipgrowth, never atthetipsthemselves. garden atnightcan create amood ofenchantment. Or, TheonlytimenottopruneisfromJulythroughtheend if you like to sleep with the windows open, a few of bloom and then again in midwinter—December to fragrant plants strategically placed near your bedroom February. Otherwise, always keep those shears at the windowswill ensureascent-filledsleep. Becausemoist ready! air seems to promote the strength of plants' perfume, Daphne odora. This legendarily fragrant, locatingafountainorwaterfeaturenearfragrantplants late-winterbloomingwoodyshrub is a good idea. While we're on the subject of water, produces tiny clusters of dark water lilies, particularly tropical ones in general and red-pink, pointy buds that open night-bloomingtropicalvarieties inparticular, areoften into four-pointed, whitish-pink richlyfragrant. Onewordofwarningforthosewholike flowers with a unique and very to dine alfresco: don't place fragrant plants close to a potentperfume: sweet, fruity, but diningarea—you'llhardlybeabletotasteyourfood. somehow musky. Unlike most Althoughwenaturallytendto focusonplants with fragrant plants, daphnes can be fragrantflowers,thereisalsoanentiregroupoffragrant "difficult." The roots are very plantswhosescentcomesfromtheirfoliage.Herbssuch susceptible to root rot, and with as creeping lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) and our wet winters in Southern lemon verbena are part of this group, and thyme in California, there is a potentially particularisastaplegroundcoverbetweenpavingstones hugemortalityrisk.Theansweris whereitspungentleaves maybecrushedunderfootand raised beds with perfect drainage 102 JULY-AUGUST1998 CALIFORNIA GARDEN (much like proteas), or planting in tubs filled 1/3 up varieties: the large-flowered 'August Beauty', the with gravel. Control water in cold weather by planting slightly smaller 'Mystery' or 'First Love' (the latter, under eaves (daphnes are good espalier material) or especially, tendstoputonabigshowforafew weeks, coveringrootzonewithblackplasticwhenitrains.Once then pfft!), and the low-growing, super floriferous you'veachievedgooddrainageandtheplanthas "taken long-season bloomer, 'Veitchii Improved' with 2-inch hold," you'rehomefree. Givesununtilearlyafternoon flowers. Agreatcutfloweroncebudsareopen. orlightshade all day. Usehumusysoilwithgroundfir Jasminum polyanthum (Chinese jasmine). Each bark (not redwood bark) for added drainage—no peat year, Iwaitforlatewinterwithalmostamorouslonging moss: it's deadly in coastal or near-coastal Southern becausethat'swhentheChinesejasmineblooms,filling California because of its water-retentive qualities. Be notonlythegarden, butmyentirehousewithitsstrong sparingwithwaterall year—evenin summer—andgive jasmine-spice scent. A tiny cluster in avase (ifall the averagedosesofbalancedfertilizerwhilemaintaininga budshavefattenedandcoloredup,they'llopenindoors) neutralpH, noteasy withour alkalinewater. You'll be willpermeatearoom.Thismoderate-growingvine(after rewarded with a wonderful perfume and handsome tying the main framework ofbranches, you'll have to foliage. Althoughtherearemanyhybridswithstunning, weavethetendrilsthroughthetrellis) likes alotofsun often variegated foliage, the species or D. odora and needs to be pruned lightly after bloom, which, 'Aureomarginata' hasthebestscent. togetherwithadoseofhigh-phosphorousfertilizer,often promotes asecond waveofbloom. Aheavypruningin n.i.g.hbte,caaugsearpdleanntapreerafduemveotiseodfttoenfrmaogsrtanptoftleonwterast yeeaarrl,y Aguigvuestitpraevebnatlsanicnetedriofrerdtiileibzaecrk.anFdoramdoesqtuaotfethteo is often the ideal place for a sunset drink or an pgoenoerrsoouislwwialltedro.—mLoorweerinbrhaontcwheeasthienre.vitAavbelryaggoebbaurte,nosto after-dinner stroll. plant something about 3 feet high in front. J. sambac, thejasmineofHawaiiandthetropics, needslotsofheat tothrive.Ifyouliveinlandanddon'tgetregularfrosts, Gardeniajasminoides [G. augusta]. From an all- it'stheplantforyou. roundpointofview,gardenias arethequeenoffragrant Lilium 'Stargazer' and 'Casa Blanca'. Many plants. For somereason, I've always had great success varietiesofOriental lilies arehighlyfragrant, butthese withthem,butifyoukeepafewguidelinesinmind,you two, deep pink and white, respectively, are truly shoulddowell. Understandtheirorigins,thesubtropical exquisiteand widely available. Plant as you wouldany forests ofYunnan province in China. This means that Oriental lilyfor latesummerblooms. Givefull sunand they're: 1) shallow-rooted and like well-drained, well-drained, slightlyacid soil. Besureto stakewell at humus-rich soil (camellia soil mix plus leaf mold and plantingtimeastheyflop overeasily. somegroundfirbarkisperfect); 2)theylikelotsofheat Micheliajigo (bananashrub). Oneofmyfavorites. and humidity—although mature plants will take Michelias are cousins to the considerable cold, as low as 25 degrees or so; 3) like magnolias,andhavemuchthe camellias, theypreferconstantmoisturebutnowetfeet. same culture. Fortunately, I givethem Miracid from bloomtimeto October, then their somewhat leathery a high-phosphorous fertilizer from February until the leaves are not as prone to buds are adecent size. A dose ofiron chelate once or marginalleafburnhereasare twice a year, given our alkaline water, doesn't hurt thoseofmanymagnolias. M. either.Forcontainerplants,agoodleachingjustpriorto figobloomsfromearlyMarch a feeding helps prevent leaf burn from mineral salts. tolateApril(althoughitoften Planthigh, againlikecamellias, andmulch. Unlike has sporadic blooms mostforestplants,gardeniasneed quiteabitofsun. An throughoutthe summer), and exposureopentotheeastand south, butprotectedfrom has small, pointed, creamy- the western sun is ideal (this is for the sake of the yellow flowers faintly edged flowers—the plants themselves can't get enough sun). inmaroon-purplewithastrongscentthatIthinkismore Alsounlikemostfragrantplants,gardeniasdoneed like a combination of apple and banana than just the regularsprayingagainstinsects—particularlymealybugs. latter. It will tolerate all day light shade or an open Preventantsbywrappingabitofstickytapeatthebase eastern exposure, and I give itmuch the same soil and of branches. For a long bloom season, plant several fertilizing routine as gardenias, although onlyonedose CALIFORNIA GARDEN JULY-AUGUST1998 103 of iron chelate per year. If you choose a plant that off easily, however. If you naturally has the proper shape, it makes a marvelous wanttocutasprayforindoors, espalier on an eastern wall. Float several blooms in a either sear the cut end quickly tiny bowl to perfume a room. Other michelias include in a flame, or cut shortly M. doltsopa, andtheverytenderbutexquisitelyscented beforeguestsarrive,n M. champaca and M. alba—both staples in Buddhist floral offerings throughout Southeast Asia and both Fredrik Liljeblad has been a available from Green Mart, a nursery specializing in professional writer for over Asianplants, located inOrange, California. twenty years. He is the author Polianthestuberosa (tuberose). Thespicy, musky, olfangnuuamegreousleatrexntibnogoksanodn intense perfume ofthe flower cookery, aswell asa producer spikesofthis Mexicantuber is of educational videos. He unforgettable. Theyareeasyto gardensatthewestern edgeof grow and will survive in the Sunsetclimatezone 23. ground inSunsetzones 23 and 24. What they need is a Drawings by Roland Stewart Hoyt from his book prolonged season of heat to OrnamentalPlantsforSubtropicalRegions [outofprint]. bloom well, so pick the sunniest spot you can find. Plant when ground is already (Coverflower) warm in fairly rich, well-drainedsoil.Don'tgetthe CARNATIONS popular double variety 'The Pearl'—itsflowersoftenfail to by BARBARA S. JONES open. The singlevariety is far more reliable and more Carnations, Dianthus caryophyllus, havebeen incultivation fragrant. Put a stake in each forover2000years. Theirprogenitorwasaperennialnative hole at planting time. Give tosouthernEurope.Therearemanydifferentvarieties,butthe plenty of water and acid ancestor of the variety we grow here is probably from a tfgeherettidlaiirrzreerac.tngFseoumrnenc(ututsuwfalhloelwryeeras,intokw-einelopl FbtloerocnetganhuceshceuUtviaStrlAiiisefet.eiyansdItye1v8wte5oa8ls.ogpreIvotdewrhiyaansnp1do8ap4ilt0uws.laasypCrsiacribynneaeftErninaoggnarlsaapnnwtodepfruleldoauwriremirpnfoglhroatwsteehrdae with cutflowers, butthis trick Elizabethanperiod,andQueenElizabethIissaidtohavehad works) and you'll thus avoid the borders of the walkway leading to her private quarters excessive bud drop. Perhaps planted with carnations (gilliflowers) so the dresses of the for practical considerations, ladieswouldtouchthemandpickuppleasantodors. (During these overwhelmingly fragrant that period people did not wash either themselves or their flowersarealwaysusedinabundanceatfuneralsinIndia clothesveryoften.) and SoutheastAsia, much asweusewhitelilies. San Diego did not have an official flower until the Trachelospermumjasminoides (starjasmine). One celebrationofthe200thyearofthediscoveryoftheareaby of the most well-behaved and rewarding (although Cabrillo. PartofthefestivitiesincludedthenamingofaSan grossly overused) of fragrant vines, with the added Diego flower. Since then, our official flower has been the bonus ofbeautiful, shiny emerald green foliage. It can carnation. Thiswasagoodchoicebecauseitgrowsoutdoors bcoevterra.inGeidvoenitaatvreelrlaisgeorsopielgagneddfdeortwilnizaesr,aatnadllissohmgerwohuantd iisntShaenCbaDerisnteatgmiooonnastndhneitesodapsvlauainnlstahbiflnreeommaonpsdotanoywfelptlahcedkrsya,eianrbe.udtscouilt.tiJnagnsuacrayn generous water. Prune only to keep it confined, and it be made from established plants in December. The willstillrewardyouwithintenselysweet-scentedwhite, recommended methodofmakingacuttingistobreakoffthe star-shaped flowers (smelling nothing like jasmine, uppersixinchesofastem, placeitabout2inchesdowninto unless you've never smelled a truejasmine) from late moiststerilesandorperlite. Keep thesoilmoistbutnotwet April through June and sometimes beyond. Full sun andinawarmbutnothotareaandinthreetofourweeksthe with, perhaps, late afternoon shade. The single stems should be rooted and can be planted into the open drawback: deadblossomshangonthevine. Theybrush gardenorintocontainersofplantingsoil.Q 104 JULY-AUGUST1998 CALIFORNIA GARDEN Natural Bonsai Form TRAINING JAPANESE BLACK PINES BY HIDEO OCHI [TheJapaneseblackpine,whichwillgrowto25feet hereand 200feetinits native habitat, can bekeptto5 or6feet. Throughtraining, itcan become and bekept bonsai-like, appearing gnarled and weathered beyond its real age. Ralph Philbrick, retired director of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, says Pinus thunbergiana is native to South Korea and may have indigenous populations on HonshuandKyushu,theJapaneseislandsdirectlyacross from Korea. "People have been planting it in their gardensforsomanycenturiesitconfusesthepicture,"he (abouejc/afiaJ2e±eblackfiine±nouj± multifilefatcanale±. \Jo states. kzs.fl foliage, comfiact, cut off canaLei. almost to bxancn in. i-fiiuzg. The following are Hideo Ochi's suggestions to homeowners trying to train this pine—keeping it small • With atreethatis already shaped, prunethevertical andlookingoldbeyonditsyears. Note: Bonsairefersto candlesofgrowthatleastonceayear. Cutcandles a tree or plant in a container. For a bonsai-Style toaboutone-eighthinchlongsotheywillfalloff garden oneusesthe samebonsai methods ofpruning naturally. The purpose of cutting the candle is trees. Round pompons offoliage have no place in the tostop the upward growth and to force the tree to natural bonsai style. The bonsai's overall shape is an grow sideways, like the palm of a hand. Pruning artistic onereflecting natural balance.] yourpinetreethiswayencourages ittogrowfrom side branches. Ifpossible, prune twice a year for TECHNIQUES OFPRUNING betterresultsinspeedingupgrowthandtomaintain INTHEBONSAISTYLE itsshape. • Whenstartingto workon anewunshapedtree, start by cutting outdead branches and thinningto let in sunlight. • Your goal is to form natural pads. Think of a fat beaver's tail. Look for potential pads as you thin the tree. It takes one to three years before a tree startsto showgoodform asthepadsdevelop. • Prunetoformthebestoverallirregulartriangleshape possible. • Usecopperwirefortraditionalbonsai(container)but forbonsai-stylegardentreesusebamboosticksand twinetobendbranchesto shapethetree. • InSouthernCaliforniaclimate, youcanprunealmost any time ofyear, but the best time to prune new growth isApril, May, orJune. I aM.onte.zumafilne, ihowlng canaLei. by JSetty<cNenjton CALIFORNIA GARDEN JULY-AUGUST1998 105 thegarden. [HideoOchiofChula Vista hasspentover twenty-five years shaping up some of San Diego's most attractive trees. His speciality is Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergiana [or thunbergii]). Ochi was responsible, in early years,forthecareofnatural bonsai-styleblack pines planted in the Wimmer and Yamada- designedlandscapesthatsurroundElCajonCity Hall, Council Chambers, and Performing Arts Center.] Jjoniaiih-cclmcni.grownbydVoima.(fya.xi.ha.in<t>cxifxfxl.<d\a.nch,byJB>.tyVcuvton Comments above in brackets byBetty Newton, andthe Cutwhere needles are, noton abare branch. Don't following: Many Asian cultures use the uneven-sided remove small growth on inside branches. These triangle in arrangements. Here we see a slightly small new growths are considered "treasures" for dissimilaremphasisinthe Vietnamese. thepinetree. They serveto fill inthetree's shape anddensity. ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE VIETNAMESE K Useironchelates (traceelements mixedwithbinding Heaven (13 ThienNhieh(Natur taogeknetes)patshefoglrieaegenscporlaoyroirnstohielpdirneencnhe.edTlheiss.isgood Man 4&j Ngifcfi(Man) Earth -Dat(Earth) NaTtuhreaylabdodnsaani-asrttyilsetictrfeoecsalarpeoiunstuoaflleymp4h-a1s0isf,eewthtialclh. VIETNAMESEPERSPECTIVEIS DIFFERENT is far more natural than agreat urn or fountain in InthephilosophyofJapanesebonsai, Heaven isat the top of the tree. Man is represented by some point in the middle branches, and Earth is at thebottombranch. Thetreepoints form ascalenetriangle, onewhose sidesareallofdifferentlengths. In Hon Non Bo, the points are interpreted very differently. The top is natural [Heaven] (sky, clouds, stars, moon) rather than a mythical heaven; the lowersection isEarth(representedbysoil,water, andmountains)andManisbetween the Natural (heaven) and Earth. In fact, thepersonbuildingHon Non Bo or the people walking around looking at Hon Non Bo represent Man. <=rfmix.oft%££±tnxtinsJGy cHlcLo Ochi,jikotoBy aut/iot 106 JULY-AUGUST1998 CALIFORNIA GARDEN