NARGS Rock Garden Quarterly: Spring 1998

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Rock Garden Quarterly

Bulletin of the North American Rock Garden Society

Volume 57 Number 2 - Spring 1999

Features

A Baker's Dozen
by Baldassare Mineo

A highly regarded plantsman and owner of a specialty nursery lists for us his 13 favorite plants. Most of them are perennials but a few woodies are included. Each is described and in an additional paragraph Baldassare tells why he selected them. Most of the plants are intended for zones 5 to 9. Some very exciting news contained in the article is that Baldassare's book Rock Garden Plants--A Color Encyclopedia will soon be published. Those who believe as I do that a picture is worth many, many words will be eagerly awaiting its appearance.

Sweet Little Buns
by Phyllis Gustafson.

Some of these "sweet little buns," the Acantholimons, are not so sweet but are handsome much admired plants in spite of their thorny nature. Dianthus buns which are similar in appearance are much softer and easier to handle. Several species of both are described. Phyllis tells us how she plants Saxifraga from the Porophyllum section in holes drilled in pumice. She describes other species and named varieties of Saxifraga. The spring yellow of the drabas is always a cheering sight. Several are described.

Phyllis also tell us how to increase each of these by cuttings. A fine article covering all aspects of the plants discussed.

Some Are Easy... Some Are Not
by Kirk Fieseler.

When we consider the "easys" we need to remember that Kirk is gardening in Fort Collins, Colorado. So what is easy for that area may or may not be easy in your area. In the "Easy and Successful" list: Androsace primuloides var. chumbyi; Amsonia jonesii, Clematis hirsutissima, Clematis columbiana ssp. tenuiloba, and Pelargonium endlicherianum. We are given good descriptions and propagation instructions for each species. In "Some Success, Usually in Pots: A Struggle in my Rock Garden" Kirk tells of some triumphs and what he did to have success with Aquilegia jonesii, Dicentra peregrina, Europys decumbens, Primula angustifolia and Telesonix jamesii.

The lovely photos and growing directions may tempt all of us to try these plants.

On the Edge
by Jeff Wagner

Although we all have long known that woodland edges are a most appealing site for many plants, Jeff points out many other edges that we may not have considered. He mentions many plants and the environments in which they do best. Changes in elevation also provide edges, something we should think about when constructing our rock gardens.

He also quotes from Kingdon-Ward and mentions botanical gardens which display a good use of edges.

Lovely photographs of plants in various habitats and geographic locations accompany the article.

Summer Vignettes: Towards a Year-Round Rock Garden
by Panayoti Kelaidis

Here is an article to help us cope with the "down time" in the rock garden in the summer months; the season when there is little but green. And when the worst occurs, brown.

Panayoti has suggestions for plants which will flower during this time, and also how they may be combined for best effect.

Some very fine photographs show us how our plants will look planted singly or in the combinations suggested. This excellent article should help us to have colorful gardens throughout the growing year.

Raised Beds in Shade: A Novel, Humus-building Technique
by Jim McClements

Over ten years ago John Neumer of Hockessin, Delaware, wrote about a technique he had developed for creating optimum conditions for growing plants in shady areas. Jim McClements of Dover, Delaware, tried the method, was delighted with the results and is now working on some refinements. The basic procedure is to create a sandwich of peatmoss and sand over a bed of leaves. Jim has put down a weed barrier to discourage tree roots before he starts the bed with the leaves. Creating such a bed gives the plants the best possible conditions for growth with minimal exertion for the gardener. Jim also lists the genera with which he is currently most successful. This fine description is easy to follow. We should all have several of these beds!

Cocos nucifera: Is This Plant for Your Rock Garden?
by Barney Barnett

Well, definitely not, but Coir the byproduct of the coconut just might be. Barney describes the process by which the coconut fiber dust is created and how he uses it in making up his potting mixes. He uses it in garden beds as well and claims he has neither used peat moss nor sold it in his nursery for two seasons. With the current concern about exhausting the peat beds, we should all read this carefully detailed article and perhaps give serious thought to substituting Coir for peat.

The Worst Plants: You'll Wish You'd Never Let Them In
A Symposium

Curious about what are considered the "bad boys" by a panel of very knowledgeable gardeners? Read what Ev Whittemore, Bob Nold, Marlyn Sachtjen, Rich Bishop, David Hale, Gwen Kelaidis and Daphne Guernsey have to say about some plants they wish they'd not encountered.

	A Baker's Dozen by Baldassare Mineo A highly regarded plantsman and owner of a specialty nursery lists for us his 13 favorite plants. Most of them are perennials but a few woodies are included. Each is described and in an additional paragraph Baldassare tells why he selected them. Most of the plants are intended for zones 5 to 9. Some very exciting news contained in the article is that Baldassare's book Rock Garden Plants--A Color Encyclopedia will soon be published. Those who believe as I do that a picture is worth many, many words will be eagerly awaiting its appearance.
	Sweet Little Buns by Phyllis Gustafson. Some of these "sweet little buns," the Acantholimons, are not so sweet but are handsome much admired plants in spite of their thorny nature. Dianthus buns which are similar in appearance are much softer and easier to handle. Several species of both are described. Phyllis tells us how she plants Saxifraga from the Porophyllum section in holes drilled in pumice. She describes other species and named varieties of Saxifraga. The spring yellow of the drabas is always a cheering sight. Several are described. Phyllis also tell us how to increase each of these by cuttings. A fine article covering all aspects of the plants discussed.
	Some Are Easy... Some Are Not by Kirk Fieseler. When we consider the "easys" we need to remember that Kirk is gardening in Fort Collins, Colorado. So what is easy for that area may or may not be easy in your area. In the "Easy and Successful" list: Androsace primuloides var. chumbyi; Amsonia jonesii, Clematis hirsutissima, Clematis columbiana ssp. tenuiloba, and Pelargonium endlicherianum. We are given good descriptions and propagation instructions for each species. In "Some Success, Usually in Pots: A Struggle in my Rock Garden" Kirk tells of some triumphs and what he did to have success with Aquilegia jonesii, Dicentra peregrina, Europys decumbens, Primula angustifolia and Telesonix jamesii. The lovely photos and growing directions may tempt all of us to try these plants.
	On the Edge by Jeff Wagner Although we all have long known that woodland edges are a most appealing site for many plants, Jeff points out many other edges that we may not have considered. He mentions many plants and the environments in which they do best. Changes in elevation also provide edges, something we should think about when constructing our rock gardens. He also quotes from Kingdon-Ward and mentions botanical gardens which display a good use of edges. Lovely photographs of plants in various habitats and geographic locations accompany the article.
	Summer Vignettes: Towards a Year-Round Rock Garden by Panayoti Kelaidis Here is an article to help us cope with the "down time" in the rock garden in the summer months; the season when there is little but green. And when the worst occurs, brown. Panayoti has suggestions for plants which will flower during this time, and also how they may be combined for best effect. Some very fine photographs show us how our plants will look planted singly or in the combinations suggested. This excellent article should help us to have colorful gardens throughout the growing year.
	Raised Beds in Shade: A Novel, Humus-building Technique by Jim McClements Over ten years ago John Neumer of Hockessin, Delaware, wrote about a technique he had developed for creating optimum conditions for growing plants in shady areas. Jim McClements of Dover, Delaware, tried the method, was delighted with the results and is now working on some refinements. The basic procedure is to create a sandwich of peatmoss and sand over a bed of leaves. Jim has put down a weed barrier to discourage tree roots before he starts the bed with the leaves. Creating such a bed gives the plants the best possible conditions for growth with minimal exertion for the gardener. Jim also lists the genera with which he is currently most successful. This fine description is easy to follow. We should all have several of these beds!
	Cocos nucifera: Is This Plant for Your Rock Garden? by Barney Barnett Well, definitely not, but Coir the byproduct of the coconut just might be. Barney describes the process by which the coconut fiber dust is created and how he uses it in making up his potting mixes. He uses it in garden beds as well and claims he has neither used peat moss nor sold it in his nursery for two seasons. With the current concern about exhausting the peat beds, we should all read this carefully detailed article and perhaps give serious thought to substituting Coir for peat.
	The Worst Plants: You'll Wish You'd Never Let Them In A Symposium Curious about what are considered the "bad boys" by a panel of very knowledgeable gardeners? Read what Ev Whittemore, Bob Nold, Marlyn Sachtjen, Rich Bishop, David Hale, Gwen Kelaidis and Daphne Guernsey have to say about some plants they wish they'd not encountered.