Garden notes : Northwest Horticultural Society

16 Pages·1993·6 MB·

by  Northwest Horticultural Society

NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
t
Za
e
Polystichum setiferum
Plumosomultilobum Group
Photo by Richie Steffen
The Mukai Farm & Garden represents a blending of two dis-
tinct cultures. Denichiro “B.D.” Mukai, a Japanese immigrant,
became a successful Vashon business owner and entrepreneur,
while his wife, Kuni, expressed her ethnic heritage by design-
ing and installing a traditional Japanese stroll garden around
their very American-looking home. The family balanced their
Japanese heritage with a newly adopted American lifestyle. Their
house, Japanese garden, and strawberry barreling plant all reflect
this successful assimilation. Today, the Mukai Farm & Garden
reminds us of the powerful contributions of the Mukai family
and the broader Japanese American immigrant community
to 20th-century agriculture, business, and community life on
Mukai Farm & Garden - Historic Image — www.flickr.com -
Vashon. Washington Trust — Friends of Mukai
Over the past 20 years, Whit and Mary Carhart have created
a 2.5 acre sloped Northwest style garden on wooded acreage
which overlooks Quartermaster Bay. Multiple sculptures accent
the garden with diverse woodland plants, Japanese maples,
thododendrons, and unusual conifers amongst unusual peren-
nials, grasses, and ferns. Paths have sitting places to reflect on
naturalistic plantings around the hillside waterfall and pond.
An antique Indonesian garden shed adds an Asian touch to the
garden. Visitors should wear comfy shoes and be prepared to
walk on gentle slopes and/or stairs.
Whit & Mary Carhart Garden
Cindy & Steve Stockett
Froggsong Garden, a five acre estate garden, is a blend of formal
and informal design. Rose pergolas, a roundel garden, parterre
garden, a stone “ruin” and a knot garden share a space that
frames and defines the senses. Cindy calls this type of garden
"Northwest Formal.” The Queens Garden, with repeating arches
of hornbeam trees, is reaching maturity. A Hydrangea Walk was
completed this spring. An Earth Works garden was completed
in 2015 which consists of four elements: a passageway, cairns, a
wind garden and a labyrinth. This garden has been featured in
numerous magazines, including Sunset, Fine Gardening, Better
Homes and Gardens and Pacific Northwest Magazine.
Jonathan & Lisa Morse
Nestled on the shores of Fern Cove, the Morse garden weaves
its way through a 24-acre property surrounded by forests of tall
Douglas fir, red alder, and Western red cedar. Initially estab-
lished in 1998, the garden of Jonathan Morse is a labor of love
that has transformed the property that has been a part of his
family for three generations. Taking cues from materials found
on site, Jonathan has created a series of gateways and unique
garden environs throughout the site. From an alpine garden
filled with a blanket of succulents to a working potager sur-
rounded by abundantly colorful perennial borders, every corner
of the garden is individually attentive to the specific condition
the site dictates.
Pat & Walt Riehl
Pat & Walt’s property is six acres with most left in its natural
state. When they bought the land in 2006 there was bamboo,
nettle and a weedy lawn. The garden started with a fern stum-
pery in 2007, inspired by a visit to The Stumpery at Highgrove
Royal Gardens in the United Kingdom. Lush garden beds
followed from areas of the lawn and were dug out by hand.
Collections of choice epimedium, small conifers, ferns, schef-
fleras and saxifrages are abundant amidst a myriad of other
plants in the stumpery and garden beds. The garden continues to
be refined and expanded in a serendipitous fashion. ow
Justin Galicic is a board member oft he Northwest Horticultural Pat & WAlt Riehl Garden
Society.
Dryopteris erythrosora (Editor's Note: Sue Olsen introduced this fern into US cultivation!)
Ir ALL BEGAN IN 1989 with a group of over-caffeinated fern We would call it the Hardy Fern Foundation.
enthusiasts gathered in my Bellevue, Washington living room. So,
what did we want to do? That was the easy part. Our goal was to Looking back, I marvel at how much energy and effort by our
provide a means to share information and inspiration to fellow small, but dedicated, group went into establishing the orga-
fern growers and encourage would-be fern growers. nization and accomplishing our goals. We had excellent help,
of course, including encouragement from our friends and
And how would we do this? This was where it became a bit fellow enthusiasts across the country along with the Northwest
more complex! However, in the spirit of optimism and "noble" Horticultural Society, the American Fern Society and advice
purpose we decided that it called for an organization with long from Dr. John Mickel, Curator of Ferns at the New York
term goals dedicated to "establishing a comprehensive collection Botanical Garden.
of the world's hardy ferns for display, testing, evaluation, public
education and introduction to the gardening and horticultural Although it was understood that for practical purposes our pri-
community." To achieve this purpose, many species, hybrids and mary gardens would be in the greater Seattle area, it was clear that
varieties — both common and rare - were to be propagated and we also wanted and needed national test sites and display gar-
tested in selected environments for their different degrees of dens representing a variety of climatic conditions. We were very
hardiness and ornamental value. pleased to find immediate interest from a number of excellent
Osmunda regalis ‘Decomposita’ Gymnocarpium dryopteris 'Plumosum
botanical institutions from across the country. program whereby we sent ferns to affiliated gardens for evalua-
tion and we offered ferns for sale to members.
Membership drives and solicitations, descriptive brochures, lots
of paperwork, including legal obligations and more legal obliga- From this modest beginning growth and enthusiasm as well as
tions, obtaining plants, planting plants, researching potential test generosity grew. We were really on our way!
sites, and, yes, especially pursuing funding, followed intensely. We
were on our way. As the years progressed, our activities expanded. Ihe Northwest
Horticultural Society sponsored the very first Fern Fest in 1973.
One of our first projects was to launch a newsletter (now a quar- Back then, to display the material, we carried tables (4 x 8’ ply-
terly) to keep members up to date with activities as well as to wood sheets) supported by sawhorses, down and — mind you
present information on cultivation, fern travels and a great variety — back up to the storage attic of our hosts, Seattles Washington
of articles of general fern interest. Park Arboretum. It has, of course, long since expanded
and moved to the more accommodating Center for Urban
Growth and progress continued and happily things went very Horticulture on the University of Washington campus. We
well. By the end of our first year, I was able to report the follow- joined NHS in a mutually delightful cooperative effort for many
ing notes of progress in our newsletter: years and, with their approval and continued support, took over
the sponsorship of Fern Fest in the early 20005. This festival con-
“We are pleased to report that in January of this year the sists of a major (reputed to be the most comprehensive in the US)
Northwest Horticultural Society gave us a grant in the amount of sale of ferns and companion plants as well as a featured speaker.
$5000 as seed money to make our proposals a reality. Our mem- The festival is now enjoyed annually in late May to early June.
bership is approaching 250 and is truly national in distribution
(33 states plus Canada). In cooperation with the Rhododendron Classes and tour opportunities have increased over the years
Species Foundation, the Hardy Fern Foundation planting and are very popular. The varied classes have featured everything
became a reality this past spring with a groundbreaking in June. "ferny" from growing ferns from spores and fern identification to
189 generously donated ferns representing 56 species and variet- creating and planting a fern table. Of the garden tours, in addi-
ies were arranged in the Lower Study Garden and pond area. A tion to local attractions, a number of exciting excursions have
second work party in October added another 115 ferns. Our first been jointly sponsored by the HFF and British Pteridological
spore list will be published in conjunction with the American Society. These include the Pacific Northwest, the East Coast,
Fern Society. Requests to be considered for satellite garden Texas, Germany, the Southeast and California.
status have been received from seven institutions representing
a considerable divergence in climatic conditions. In addition, We complete our year with an annual fall potluck social, a fun
offers of cooperation have been received from as far away as The and educational gathering with an extensive informational frond
Netherlands, Great Britain and the former East Germany.” display artistically arranged by Richie Steffen plus a lecture which
usually involves tempting us with travel.
Several years thereafter we began our annual fern distribution
$ NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
TUM ? ume UM [75.2 Ti; ua Do APIS "PT" z
AL EP "au die, h air 2 s 2528 m. de
i i i . z: V cu P n q, E
W 4 Ek n wr ç a a i , L^ ^ nl Lj i Fi e p» I ic = ip ] ROT d
* de URN wr EO na Eu. ou ANC "e
š LJ ÉE is =] r = = w i i LX a k s [ Tem i
* m C P Pid TE CETT - ME an ECCE o rem Lu e! *- E
X E É 5 F pr r be q 7 a s" H "A P 4 a E E “J Pig M 4 nid We i NIE ww E
MP. = H^ p A Y E j l taelF É! sP ñR a fT AY aye =T"d ! re i išj Ta s Ti : +F )do i m1 J E WX V k.. S 5<, : £L ) R^ ibs »3 — 4 :
ñ a ` 1 v 4 a = i a " "n 4 ae vi B ns. re T aped š
+ Mud ii T $9 : el X pi À Ea AN Ë q = zm — S a "S s
F cš Pt à zr » "rr aS
1 ue ie j wer a baV ESz e. a-m-
Ar A L Ë ai T v. x es # RE. ^: = É e^
a k £ Ns NX »| = ' E i ineht.E "
"IT š a E^.
Fa ¿ ef oe> N m A
T 4 : P ftu epe.
*
& Fi Wi ; i i sr
i rë 1 — x n SY E Ls
Dryopteris crispifolia Adiantum venustum
While initially it was our intent to install our primary test of some 140 “stumps” as well as a long horizontal viewing bench
garden at Lakewold in Tacoma, it was later decided that the created out of a fallen tree. The ferns and companion plants have
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, filled in handsomely, so it is a lovely year-round display. Do visit
Washington offered better opportunities for mutually comple- and enjoy a tour.
mentary displays of both the rhododendrons and ferns. Our
collection there expands annually but our singular most popular We enthusiastically invite you to visit our recently updated col-
attraction is the stumpery which was created in 2009. Composed orful website, www.hardyferns.org, where you'll find in-depth
of stumps and/or “root wads” that comfortably house displays details about “all things ferny” from the scientific to horticultural.
of our friends the ferns and covers over half an acre and consists You can see photos and learn more about the HFF and its affili-
Polystichum aculeatum Cristatum Group Dryopteris decipiens
Em "Uum= , WW — »$
y! h {NOTES SUMMER 2019
Ë =l ><
MN ~
h Wu d | — Ff
Ë
Blechnum chilense Adiantum aleuticum ‘Subpumilun’
ates, further resources, and membership plant distribution as well In closing, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the
as upcoming events of interest. NHS for your 30 years of support, friendship and encourage-
ment. Youv e been wonderful.. o
And so here we are now - thirty years old. We will be having a
special celebratory social for members and friends at the Amazon Sue Olsen is the founding member oft he Hardy Fern Foundation
Spheres in late October. While we no longer regularly meet for and still serves on the board ofd irectors and she is the owner of
coffee in my living room, members still gather for wine, camara- Foliage Gardens nursery in Bellevue, Washington.
derie and good cheer, yes, here in my living room.
Adiantum aleuticum Japonicun’ Blechnum spicant ‘Rickard’s Serrate’
The Miller Botanical Garden is pleased Miller, the founder of both NHS and the the Miller Garden to commemorate her
to announce the 25th Annual Elisabeth Miller Library, was a strong advocate for with an annual lecture celebrating Mrs.
Carey Miller Memorial Lecture on horticultural education and served as a Miller's commitment to education. The
September 12, 2019. Since the beginning driving force for bringing noted horticul- Miller Charitable Foundation wanted
of this event, the Northwest Horticultural turists and gardeners to the Northwest this to be a lasting gift to the horticultural
Society and the Elisabeth C. Miller to share their ideas in the early days of community and underwrites all of the
Library have been co-sponsors making NHS. Upon her death in 1994, the newly costs of the event so all interested garden-
this the largest continuous running hor- formed Pendleton and Elisabeth C. ers can attend for free.
ticultural lecture in the country. Betty Miller Charitable Foundation directed
Conservatory at Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia Commons
a
= JU LEM. vLZ
a L - = <
This lecture blossomed into the horti- our youngest speaker thus far, Peter Zale, as highly respected research and training
cultural highlight of the year under the Ph.D. of Longwood Gardens in Kennett facilities. Dr. Zale leads the curatorial
direction of Richard Hartlage, former Square, Pennsylvania. Dr. Zale is the activities of the Gardens with a special
Miller Garden director and Valerie Associate Director of Conservation, Plant interest in domestic and international
Easton, former Miller Library manager Breeding, and Collections, at Longwood relationships facilitating the exchange
and columnist for The Seattle Times. Gardens. of information, scientific collaboration
Under their initial direc- and the sharing of plant
tion, top luminaries of material between public
the gardening world gardens and botanical
were brought to Seattle institutes.
to share their knowledge
and experiences. The first Dr. Zale’s lecture is titled
lectures were held in NHS “Plant Exploration at
Hall at the Center for Longwood Gardens: Past,
Urban Horticulture, but Present, and Future.” A
as the popularity of the well-traveled botanical
lecture grew, it moved to explorer, he has also par-
Kane Hall on the main ticipated in over 25 plant
University of Washington exploration expeditions
campus, then finally to its throughout the United
current home, Meany Hall States, Japan, Vietnam,
for the Performing Arts, Myanmar, Republic of
one of the premier perfor- Georgia, Azerbaijan,
mance spaces in the Pacific Uzbekistan, and China.
Northwest. Using his experiences as a
foundation, Dr. Zale will
Historically, the Miller provide unique insights
Lecture has featured hor- from the last 60 years of
ticultural luminaries who botanical exploration led
have shaped the way we by Longwood Gardens.
think about gardening
as well as public garden This lecture is free and
professionals whose work NHS members will be
helps with the preserva- notified when tickets
tion and conservation of become available in early
plants around the world. August. Be sure to mark
Past speakers include Sir you calendars for this spe-
Ghillean Prance, Roy cial event, September 12 at
Lancaster, Penelope Meany Hall! ow
Hobhouse, Dr. Peter
Chimes Tower at Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia Commons
Raven, Helen Dillion and Richie Steffen is Executive
Anna Pavord, all repre- Director oft he Elisabeth
senting remarkable horticultural legacies. Holding a Master’s degree and Ph.D in C. Miller Botanical Garden and NHS
Although these professionals hold amaz- plant breeding and genetics from The past president.
ing garden credit, this year the lecture Ohio State University, Dr. Zale joined
will focus on the future by bringing to the Longwood Gardens staff in 2015.
Seattle one of the bright young talents in Longwood Gardens is one of the most
the world of public gardens in celebration preeminent public gardens in North
of Mrs. Miller’s visionary view for horti- America with over a thousand acres
culture for the area and to celebrate this featuring native habitat, beautifully culti-
special anniversary. We are excited to have vated gardens, and conservatories as well
$ NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
-y E iow
a. | À
A4 T
| B
if F. k. à E
Words "» | "
j \i pn - -
Am ae m
ker
==
$ F F
i ry
F
n——
Ficus carica “Desert King’ - Image courtesy Daniel Mount
HERE IN THE SNOQUALMIE VALLEY it is hard to grow plants But we can grow figs (Ficus carica). We grow both Ficus carica
from the Mediterranean basin. Our rosemary struggles and our ‘Brown Turkey’ and ‘Desert King: "Desert King’ (not “dessert”)
strawberry tree never sets fruit because the first frost kills all the was found in Madera, California around 1930 by Sisto Pedrini,
flowers. an Italian grower. He took cuttings and planted trees in Los Altos