Southeastern Conifer Quarterly December 2017

Transcription

1 S. Horn Volume 24, no. 4 American Conifer Society Southeast Region Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia From the Southeast Region President The winter edition of our newsletter is always one of my favorites. It gives us a chance to reflect on our accomplishments, and look forward to our goals for the upcoming year. We have had another active year in the ACS SE. Our regional conference and auction in Bowling Green was a great success, and much preparation has been done for the upcoming 2018 national conference in Raleigh, NC. The Winter 2017 newsletter features two very different articles on bonsai, showcases some conifers for winter interest and decoration, and also contains information on our 2018 elections for the Director and Vice President positions. I would like to say thank you to all of those that have made contributions to our newsletter in This is a great tool for us to connect with our membership. The submissions we receive from public gardens, growers, nursery professionals, and others make this publication possible. I would also like to send a warm thank you to Sandy Horn, our co-editor, for all she does to make our little newsletter one of the best in the ACS! Thanks Sandy! As 2017 draws to a close, please take time to recognize the volunteers and people in your area that make public horticulture possible. These non-profit organizations and gardens throughout the Southeast make it possible for us to experience plants and gain information for our personal experience. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It is my pleasure to serve as your regional president, and I look forward to another wonderful year in 2018! Bradley Roberts In this Issue From the Southeast Region President by Bradley Roberts Page 1 About the Southeast Region Seeking Newsletter Co-Editor; Elections; The Latest from Lucy - SE Facebook Page Page 2 Call for National Meeting Sponsors Call for Auction Plants and Haulers Byron and Hazel Richards Garden by Byron Richards Page 10 Conifers in the Winter Landscape by Carl Simmons Pages Conifers in Winter Festive Decoration by Irina Pieppi Pages Page 3 SE Reference Garden List and Map 2018 National Meeting Highlights by Jeff and Jennifer Harvey Pages 4-5 All About the 2018 Post Meeting Tour Pages National Meeting and Post Meeting Tout Registration Form Pages 9 From Seeds to Bonsai by Peter Jones Page 15 Pages A Bonsai Tale of Two Scots Pines by Bill McReynolds Pages Newsletter Wrap- Up; List of SE Officers and Staff Page 18

2 Page 2 About the Southeast Region Looking for a Newsletter Co-Editor by Sandy Horn For the past couple of years, Bradley Roberts has co-edited the Southeast Quarterly Newsletter with me. My job is to edit the articles and do the layout for the newsletter, and Bradley has done all the legwork to make sure that we have quality articles and that those articles and their accompanying photographs arrive in my inbox by the deadline for the next newsletter. He also does the final proofreading of the newsletter, to catch any mistakes and typos I may have missed or made. Now that Bradley is our Southeast Region President, he has many other duties that take up his time, so we re looking for someone to take on his responsibilities as co-editor. If your contact list includes academics, professionals, growers, and knowledgeable, avid conifer gardeners, AND you re willing to approach them to write articles, remind them to submit what they ve committed to, and ask for lastminute clarifications as needed, please contact Bradley or me to apply or to request more information at the following addresses: Bradley Roberts (brobertsacsse@gmail.com) and Sandy Horn (littletrees@earthlink.net). Now Accepting Nominations The Southeast region has two officer positions that will be available in 2018, that of Director and Vice President. If you have an interest in serving on our regional board or know someone that may be suited for one of these positions, please contact myself (brobertsacsse@gmail.com) or Jeff Harvey (jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com) by February 1st. Service to our organization is a great way to stay connected to the horticulture community, and it provides us an opportunity to give back. We will be holding elections after the ACS national board meeting in February. Bradley Roberts President, ACS Southeast Region The Latest from Lucy The Southeast Region Facebook Page by Lucy Contreras The American Conifer Society Southeast Region s Facebook page is an excellent way to stay up to date with the latest happenings in our region. We love to share upcoming meeting and conference announcements, as well as images and updates from our extensive network of Reference Gardens in our region. If you have not already, be sure to like us on Facebook by searching for the American Conifer Society Southeast Region and clicking Like. Our Facebook page is a great way to not only see what s going on, but to also share with your fellow Coneheads your conifer questions, thoughts, or just talk about some of your favorites - we would love to hear from you. See you on Facebook!

3 Page 3 Call for Sponsors for 2018 National Meeting! By Jeff and Jennifer Harvey, 2018 ACS National Convention Chairs The Southeast Region is excited to be hosting the National American Conifer Society meeting in Raleigh, NC on June th This year is also the 20 th anniversary of the founding of the Southeast Region as the fourth region in the American Conifer Society. We are thrilled to be sharing this milestone with the entire society. There are many fun and exciting events and garden tours planned, and we are seeking sponsors to help us make each of them even more special. All donors will be listed on the website and during the meeting as well. We would like to invite you to be a sponsor for one of the opportunities below and/or donate items to our auction. The opportunities for sponsorship are: Meeting Tote Bags - Your company logo on tote bags $400 Meeting Badges - Your company logo on badge holders $300 Cash bar - $300 for one night (two available) - Sign on bar area Silent Auction Pens pens printed with company logo $200 Bus Hospitality - $100 for one day (four available) Lecture Series at meeting - $200 (three available) Notebook for badge holder - $100 Table decorations - $100 Supporter - $50 Auction Plants - As many as we can get! If you need assistance in transporting plants to the conference, just let us or Barbie Colvin (see article, below) know! Your donations to our organization will help promote conifers through the support of public gardens. The ACS is a Notfor-profit 501(c) (3) organization, and your donations may be tax deductible. Contact Jeff and Jennifer Harvey to register your sponsorship and any other donations you wish to make. Jeff and Jennifer Harvey 2910 Poplar Hill Rd., Watertown, TN Jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com Calling All You Plant Rustlers and Haulers! By Barbie Colvin, Plant Auction Coordinator If you are attending the National ACS meeting and can really pack your vehicle chock-full of plants with no damage, we need you! We are always looking for members to help deliver auction plants to the meeting site. Inevitably we get donations from growers or members who will not be attending the conference. If you are driving to Raleigh for the June 14 ACS meeting and are willing to 'haul' plants, we'd like to hear from you. If you know of a grower, nursery or garden who would like to donate an auction item, please contact us. Our plan is to have one member in each of our states responsible for securing donations. If you can help with this effort, let us know. Our Region is known for securing great plant material for our silent and live auctions and if you've attended our regional meetings, you know what I'm talking about. Join us in Raleigh and if you can offer some auction assistance, please contact me at colvinbc@gmail.com.

4 Page 4 The Big Picture 2018 National Meeting Highlights Text and photos by Jeff and Jennifer Harvey The Southeast Region hosts the 36th Annual ACS National Conifer Meeting June 14-16, 2018, followed by a post-meeting tour on June 17-18, Our host city for the main conference is Raleigh, NC, and we will be staying at the Embassy Suites-Raleigh Durham Research Triangle in Cary, just outside of Raleigh. This article highlights the events and gardens. To learn more about the speakers and gardens, see the June and September editions of the SE newsletter, related articles in this edition, and the Summer and Fall editions of the Conifer Quarterly, as well as the ACS website. Here is a link to our article on the Southeast Events page, which contains links to registration and hotel sites, as well as links to more detailed descriptions of the events: southeast.conifersociety.org/events/event/2018sarah P. Duke Gardens, one of our Friday stops. national-meeting-highlights-raleigh-nc/ Thursday If you get in a little early and want to see two great gardens to start off your weekend, stop by Amelia Lane s and Brandon and Ashlee Duncan s gardens. We just could not fit these great gardens on our tour, so I hope you can. Our meeting will officially start with dinner Thursday night. Dr. David Creech from SFA gardens in Texas will be speaking about Taxodium distichum (bald cypress). David spoke at the Southeast Region meeting in 2015 in Chattanooga. Many of us are growing plants he brought with him to test in other areas of the country. David will be giving us an update on his work. The silent auction will open on Thursday evening, too, and you will be able to bid on some very rare and unusual plants. The SE Region has twenty official reference gardens and many fine conifer nurseries that generously supply our auctions with great plants. Friday Friday morning, after a great made-to-order breakfast, at the conference hotel we will be heading to the Chapel Hill area to see the gardens at The Unique Plant. Sarah P. Duke Gardens will be our stop for lunch. Make sure you look for the huge Metasequoia while at Duke, reported to be one of the original seedlings planted in the early 40 s. After lunch, we will be touring nurseryman John Monroe s private garden. John is owner of Architectural Trees. Dinner will be at the hotel, and Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery will inform and entertain us with Landscaping for Collectors, a topic we can all put to use as we plant our winnings from the auctions! John Monroe s Garden. (continued on next page)

5 Page 5 (Continued from page 4) Saturday If you didn t get enough to eat yet, you will have another opportunity to enjoy the made-toorder hotel breakfast. After breakfast, we will tour the gardens of members Harrison Tuttle and our own newsletter editor, Sandy Horn. Both are truly unique and really amazing. Afterwards we will head to JC Raulston Arboretum for lunch and a tour of the gardens. We will then go to world famous Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Gardens for the afternoon. You will be able to tour the gardens and shop at Plant Delights, but save some money for the auction. Don t worry! You will still have time to bid on those silent auction plants. The silent auction will end around dinnertime. Dinner will be followed by Mark WeathingThe Unique Plant ton s presentation, Collecting Conifers Around the World. Mark is Director and Curator of Collections at the JC Raulston Arboretum. The final event is the much anticipated LIVE AUCTION, where some of the finest and rarest plants at the conference will be up for bids. Then comes the crazy half hour in which all of the silent auction plants are distributed to their new owners, who can leave with their prizes and whatever change remains in their pockets. Harrison Tuttle s Garden Juniper Level Gardens Sunday Well, the meeting is officially over Saturday night but in the Southeast Region we have something called the Morning After Sale. We can t talk about it here but if you ask any of our members they will tell you all about it. Please check out the articles and website for additional information. If this has not set everyone into conifer overload, take a peek at what we have planned for the post tour in the next article! JC Raulston Arboretum

6 Page 6 All About the Post Meeting Tour 2018 National Meeting and Post Meeting Tour Highlights Compiled and Edited by Sandy Horn from Materials Provided by Jeff and Jennifer Harvey This year s Post Meeting Tour (PMT) is in the Asheville, NC area a totally different city and part of the state than the National Conference. If you have a car or a rental, you get to drive across the great state of North Carolina for about 4 hours along I- 40, into the Great Smoky Mountains. If you are a conehead, I-40 is better known as the conifer highway, because there are so many great gardens and nurseries along its length. There will be time to stop at a few, but not all, on the tour. Plan on an extra day or two to Chuck and Eileen Hutchison s Garden - photo by Chuck Hutchison explore on your own, if you can. So why Asheville? It all started when one of our members Missy Galloway approached our planning group and asked if she could host a tour of her garden. She wanted it to be on tour in 2018, but the 2018 National Meeting was already planned for Raleigh, and the tour gardens were already lined up. We needed a Post-meeting Tour. So, here we come Asheville! Sunday afternoon, after everyone arrives at the Doubletree Hotel, right in downtown Asheville, we will be boarding buses to go to Chuck and Eileen Hutchison s garden. Chuck was a NFL football player for the Cleveland Browns and we will be spending the evening in his gardens and enjoying the dinner the Hutchison s are hosting. This is how Chuck describes his garden: This stunning landscape is the vision and work of the owners Chuck and Eileen Hutchison. The total makeover of the 1.65 acres has been ongoing since the owners took possession eight years ago. The grounds have many faces - woodland, intimate pathways, an expansive yard, a natural boulder waterfall, a cutting garden overlooking the pool, and dry creek beds in both the front and back of the home. Residing in the spaces are a unique blend of styles, statuary, and plants. An emphasis has been placed on junipers and conifers such as Pinus strobus Loveable Fuzz Ball, Pinus thunbergii Thunderhead and Green Elf, and Pinus flexilis Vanderwolf s Pyramid, to name a few. Our garden is an example of what can be created with the help of 50 tons of stone, 125 cubic yards of top soil, 80 cubic yards of mulch, great plant material, the love of nature, and a strong back. Monday morning, after breakfast, we will be getting on the bus for a fun day at the world famous Mr. Maples Nursery and their uncles private garden. Here s a little bit about Mr. Maple and the Nichols brothers: Tim and Matt NIchols of MrMaple.com are brothers who run a mail-order nursery out of East Flat Rock, NC. They specialize in Japanese maples, producing from their collection of over 1000 different cultivars of Japanese maples. Matt is the current president of the North American Branch of Maple Society and Tim sits on the executive board. Matt and Tim travel across the United States and the world in search of the newest and neatest Japanese maples and other trees, making multiple trips to Japan. They have been featured on Japanese television and also on NC TV. They recently were filmed in an episode of Growing A Greener World that will air nationally in Their passion and excitement for Japa-

7 Page 7 nese maple is contagious, so buyers beware! The Nichols brothers' passion does not end with Japanese maples. They also produce quite a list of conifers. Matt and Tim graft about different cultivars of dawn redwoods, including many variegated and dwarf selections. Their favorite dawn redwood is 'Schirrmann's Nordlicht', one of the 2015 ACS Conifers of the Year. Tim and Matt also produce over 150 different types of ginkgo trees. They have weeping, dwarf, columnar, variegated, and full form ginkgo trees. While most of their selections are male non-fruiting selections they do offer a few female types for the brave individuals who consider the nuts a delicacy. Their conifers don't end there, producing unique forms of bald cypress, Thujopsis, Chamaecyparis, and any other Hill Stone Arboretum (above and below left). Photos courtesy of MrMaple. unique conifers that take their fancy. While the nursery itself is quite a collection of plants, MrMaple has two display gardens. One is called Maplewood Gardens and is the home of Matt and Tim's parents. This garden is filled with over 300 Japanese maples and even a few ginkgo trees. The second garden is HIll Stone Arboretum, the home of Matt and Tim's uncle, Glenn Hill, who is a retired master stone mason. Needless to say, Hill Stone Sardens are filled with Glenn Hill s work and Matt and Tim's plants, including the Bomar Conifer Collection. Among the notable plants at Hill Stone is a 10ft + Acer palmatum 'Mikawa yatsubusa', which is considered one of the biggest of this variety of dwarf Japanese maple, anywhere. Another notable tree is Pinus strobus 'Biltmore Blue' which was found as a dwarf witches broom mutation on a native white pine on the Biltmore Estate. This garden is filled with Japanese maples, conifers, ginkgo, and a large assortment of other unique plants to delight in. On the way to MrMaple, we will be stopping at long-time Southeast Region members Byron and Hazel Richards garden. They have been gardening on their property in Hendersonville for about 30 years. Byron and Hazel have built their house and gardens from scratch over the last thirty years--everything except the roof shingles and every bit of it by themselves! As members of the ACS they have met such great nurserymen as Talon Buchholz, Chub Harper, and Larry Stanley, just to name a few. This will give you a bit of insight to the variety of mature conifers we will be seeing in their garden. As every gardener will tell you, the garden is a work in progress. Just recently their son commented that a location on the property would be a good place for a fish pond. Several months later, a 90 x 70 foot koi pond with a pond cypress in the middle was created. Words of advice from these great gardeners include making sure you get the plants in the ground as quickly as you can and acquiring the best equipment you can afford. They are very excited to have us (continued on next page) Richards Garden. Photo by B. Richards

8 Page 8 visit their garden and house while we are there. See more details about the Richards garden in an additional article, in this newsletter. And now we move on to the initial reason for planning the post-meeting tour in Asheville Missy and Wayne Galloway s gardens, where we will spend the rest of the afternoon. The Galloways have been working on and planning their summer retreat just outside of Asheville, on the very top of a mountain, for the last eight years. They have recruited help from our members and great nurserymen Bruce Appledoorn, Michael Balogh, and Larry Stanley. Not only will we be seeing one of the most spectacular conifer gardens anywhere, but the Galloways will be hosting us for a farm-to-table dinner on Monday night, and to top it all off, Larry Stanley will be bringing a few choice rare plants for a The Galloway Garden post-dinner mini auction. He hasn t said yet what they will be but I am sure they will be spectacular. For a complete description of the Galloway Garden and more photos, see the article in the June 2017 edition of the Southeast Conifer Quarterly. How will I get to the post tour? Ok, so you want to fly to the national then go to the post tour, how is that going to work? SER member Jessica Roberts, (jes.hales@gmail.com), will help you find a ride. Please contact her if you can offer to take someone to Asheville or if you need a ride. Don t wait to register, since we are limited to the first 90 people who sign up, and if you attend the National Meeting, you get first preference. Biltmore Tour Finally, if you just haven t had enough of conifers and gardens and really want to make this a trip of a lifetime, we were able to arrange a special tour of the gardens at the Biltmore. The tour will include a discount ticket and tour of the conifer gardens. If you have never been there it is well worth it! The guided garden tour is limited to the first 40 people, but if you don t want to take the tour, you can get a discount general admission ticket. There is no limit for the general admission tickets. For questions or more information, please Jennifer or Jeff Harvey, the national meeting coordinators, or call Jeff at CONVENTION HOTEL Embassy Suites Research Triangle 201 Harrison Oaks Blvd, Cary, NC Code: American Conifer Society ACS rate of $132 + tax (guaranteed until May 14th or sold out) Includes full made-to-order breakfast Online reservations can be made using the link on the ACS website. POST TOUR HOTEL Double Tree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC Code: American Conifer Society ACS rate of $129+tax (guaranteed till May 18th or sold out) Includes breakfast The Best Ever Christmas Present! Buy Yourself a Conference and Post Meeting Tour Registration! You know you want to! Send in your registration NOW. Registration form is on the next page and the website.

9 Page 9 Questions about the meeting? Contact Convention Chairs Jeff and Jennifer Harvey Jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com or / Registration questions? Contact the ACS Office: Steven Courtney nationaloffice@conifersociety.org or (763)

10 Page 10 Profile of a Post Meeting Tour Garden Byron and Hazel Richards Garden, Hendersonville, NC by Byron Richards Our friends keep telling us we should write a book about our many activities and accomplishments. That won't happen as even this brief dissertation is a trying effort for me (everyone has a story to tell and we are ordinary people). Our first significant introduction to a collectible conifer had to be in the 1960's. At that time I had never heard of a Hinoki Cypress, to say nothing about Chamaecyparis obtusa. I made an effort and soon had several dead plants, as the Skaneateles, NY winters can be very challenging. Those winters and very high taxes prompted us to move to a more southern climate, and we moved to Hendersonville, NC about 30 years ago and love it here. The dead plants were mostly my fault! I was a few months behind the charter membership honor in jointing the American Conifer Society. And of course the acronym ACS means a lot things to the general public besides "Conifer". It took a few years to become infected with the conifer bug, but we eventually did and have always appreciated the marvelous support received via the bulletin and especially the knowledgeable masters in the trade that share so much so willingly with us amateurs. To name just a few of our conifer mentors, we consider Chub Harper, Bruce Appeldoorn, Larry Stanley, and Talon Buchholz and many more dear friends! For years we would apologize for our garden because we were busy building our own home (a complete DIY project that included all aspects of building except the roof shingles). We learned early on the importance of getting plants in the ground and we still push that philosophy to all new conifer enthusiasts. My only regrets are the many plants that I didn't treat properly in the early years and wish I had today. Live and learn folks! We consider our garden a work in progress. Several oldies that unfortunately grew beyond the allowed space are now too big to move. We do everything ourselves, with no help of any kind. The property, three building lots in a subdivision, translates into three acres with fortunately quite a few native plants as well. The natives include oak, tulip popular, white pine mountain laurel, rhododendron, and flame azalea. We don't like to include a good growth of poison ivy, but! We tell everyone that we prune and shape every plant every year. It is nearly true! One other aside is that we have more elevation change on our three acres than there is in the state of Florida. Bring good walking shoes! Our collections include the conifer families, Japanese maples, and at least 23 different cultivars of beech trees. We also have plenty of others including fruit trees, berries, and a number of grasses. The one grass we do not like is our neighbor s bamboo (too invasive and prolific). We have a number of trees that were two inches DABH and now I can't get my arms around the trunks. Don't let people tell you that trees grow too slow, just get them started and viola, a big tree! It helps to stay in one location 28 years. Favorite plants would make some plants jealous, so suffice it to say it s an interesting assortment. Perhaps the most interesting plant is the Fagus sylvatica Contorted Weeping (beech). It has extreme branching contortions, as well as a strongly weeping shape. Our gardens are constantly evolving. A son's passing comment of "Gee, Dad, that would make a good site for a fish pond, led to a huge project. After a bit of planning and a lot of work, we ended up with a 70 x 90 foot Koi pond that is 12 feet deep and holds 350,000 gallons of water. There is a Pond Cypress in the deepest point, surrounded with water lilies. After all these years, we take some pride in our efforts, and we d love to have you tour the gardens and house. We look forward to seeing you during the Post Meeting Tour.

11 Page 11 Southeast Region Reference Garden Conifers in the Winter Landscape by Carl Simmons, Norfolk Botanical Garden Horticulturist If we were to play the word association game and I said conifer, you might immediately respond with Christmas tree. I must admit that the Rockefeller tree at this time of year is magnificent. However, conifers are much more than a symbol of the holidays. Here at Norfolk Botanical Garden s (NBG) Conifer Garden, we try to show our visitors the value conifers can provide in year-round color, dramatic differences in form, and winter interest. It s hard to miss the Blue China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Glauca ) when walking through our ACS Reference Garden. It s one of the largest trees at NBG, and its bright blue foliage is impossible to miss. The China fir is a great example of what a conifer can add to your landscape. Its size is impressive, but its foliage is the real show stopper. Blue foliage is a great way to break up the repeating green vegetation of a garden backdrop. Although its beauty is inspiring, the sharp needles it sheds are messy and painful, so I would not recommend planting this tree next to a pathway or sidewalk. Sander s Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis 'Sanderi') is a conifer you might overlook in the summer. During the summer months, this shrub doesn t stand out as remarkable. It s only in the late fall and winter months that this conifer takes on a new character. The winter chill gives this plant a bright purple hue that makes it stand out against its dormant surroundings. When designing a landscape, it s important to keep in mind the dynamic changes the plants will go through as the seasons change, and the Oriental arborvitae does a Cunninghamia lanceolata Glauca great job of transforming into a showcase shrub during the winter months. One of the biggest misconceptions about conifers is that they are all evergreen. There is a small group of coniferous trees that drop all of their needles during the winter months. The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one of the best known deciduous conifers. They are native to the southeastern United States and are mainly found growing in swamps, along rivers, and in poorly drained soil. The cultivar that is shown here is called Cascade Falls (see next page for photo), a weeping form that is used as a specimen plant and showcased at the entrance to the conifer garden. One of the advantages of planting bald cypress is their ability to thrive in wet conditions. Keep this Platycladus orientalis 'Sanderi' (Continued on page 12)

12 Page 12 (Continued from page 11) tree in mind if your garden has problems with drainage or flooding. Our newest addition to the conifer garden is the Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis). This tree is thought to be a living fossil because the Wollemi pine was considered extinct until its discovery in 1994 in a forest in Australia. Although it s native to Australia and New Zealand, we have found a home for this tree among the conifers here at NBG. Norfolk Botanical Garden s conifer collection is a nationally recognized Wollemia nobilis Taxodium distichum Cascade Falls American Conifer Society Reference Garden. This spectacular garden is a great location to view a host of different conifer cultivars in a landscaped setting with companion garden plants such as ornamental grasses, sedums, and other perennials. We host a wide range of dwarf cultivars that would be great in containers, as well as species that tower over all other plants. To learn more about our conifer collection and the American Conifer Society please visit our website at idignbg.org About the Author Carl Simmons is a horticulturist at Norfolk Botanical Garden who manages many of the collections including the Conifer, Camellia, Holly, Hydrangea, and Rose Gardens. Carl studied horticulture at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Southeast Region Conifer T-Shirts Make Great Christmas Gifts! Order yours now! T-shirts are available in Ivory and Taupe from Medium to XXL. All shirts are $20 and $5 shipping. Multiple shirts can be shipped to one address for $5. Please send check made out to ACS Southeast Region to Jeff Harvey, 2910 Poplar Hill Rd., Watertown, TN If the shipping address is different than the one on the check, please send the shipping address with your order. Indicate the number you want next to the color and size. Ivory M L XL XXL Taupe M L XL XXL

13 Page 13 Southeast Region Reference Garden Conifers in Winter Festive Decoration by Irina Rieppi, Assistant Horticulturist, Atlanta Botanical Garden Conifers and other evergreens have been a part of winter festivals since ancient times. They represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. Today, they are used indoors and outdoors, both as live plants and as fresh greenery in holiday decorations. People used evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life and to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. Pagans decorated their homes with conifer branches during the winter solstice (December 22, the shortest day of the year), believing it This village in the ABG Train Garden is nicely encircled by conifers (from left to right): Thuja occidentalis Green Giant, Cupressus macrocarpa Goldcrest, and Thuja occidentalis 'Congabe' (Fire ChiefTM Globe Arborvitae). invoked the spring. The Romans used conifers to decorate their temples during the festival of Saturnalia. Tree worship was common among pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity. Even in modern day Scandinavia, customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year are Christmas decorated Picea glauca Conica is the focal point in the Santa s Workshop section of the ABG Train Garden. remnants from the past to ward off evil. Today, decorating for the holidays with fresh greenery is more prevalent than ever. Conifer branches add a fresh look and natural scent to indoor and outdoor decorations. Firs hold their needles best, so they are the first choice for festive winter garlands, wreaths, Christmas trees, candle rings, and swags. Junipers may be adorned with attractive blue berries, and cypresses and cedars bring redolent aromas to the holiday season. Those who wish to adorn the outside of their homes look to conifers from the Pinaceae family. Pines are exceptionally cold hardy and can be grown Conifers around the Ice House in the ABG Train Garden are a part of permanent planting. From left to right: Xanthocyparis vietnamenas holiday trees outdoors in the landscape. Here in the Southeast, the climate is warmer and sis,upright Juniper, Juniperus squamata Blue Star, Cephalotaxus harringtonia Fastigiata, and Pinus mugo. (continued on the next page)

14 Page 14 (Continued from page 13) members of the Cupressaceae family can live outside as well. This gives Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) the opportunity to play with a wide selection of conifers. They are used as winter ornamentals to add holiday flavor to flower beds. The ABG Train Garden (photos on previous page) employs dwarf cultivars and small young trees as outdoor ornamentals. They are used in the model train scenery because their shape emulates mature specimens. These ornamental pines and cypresses lend our displays a realistic look. Given the selection of conifers available in the trade today, it is easy to play with color and texture to liven up this toy world. Conifers stand up well to Atlanta s zone 8A winter and give the Train Garden a truly festive touch! Many conifers make excellent winter container thrillers. Some good examples are Picea orientalis Skylands ; Picea omorika Bruns ; Chamaecyparis obtusa Wells Special or Kosteri ; and, Chamaecyparis pisifera Paul s Gold. They can be kept in containers throughout the year but offer their greatest value in winter. ABG uses conifers as centers in most winter containers because of their variety of size, shape, and exceptionally textured foliage. They also provide colors from all shades of green to pale yellow and almost blue, and they Conifers in containers contrast well with the bright colors of cold season flowers. pair well with fall and While the reasons for using conifers in holiday décor today winter flowers. are not the same as in ancient times, conifers remain excellent plants as winter festive ornaments. Both as cut and live plants, conifers take first place among winter plants, both inside the home and outside in the landscape. About the Author Conifers add both texture and color to ABG s winter container gardens. Irina Rieppi started her career in horticulture after moving to the US from Siberia, Russia. Since then she has become a Georgia Certified Plant Professional (certification by the University of Georgia Extension Office). She is now an Assistant Horticulturist with Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), working in major display garden areas, with a particular focus on the ABG Conifer Garden. Irina is also a member of Georgia Native Plant Society.

15 Page 15 ACS SOUTHEAST REGION CONIFER REFERENCE GARDENS Gardens of the Big Bend, Quincy, FL Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA Armstrong State University Arboretum Conifer Garden, Savannah, GA Lockerly Arboretum, Milledgeville, GA Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, GA The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, GA Baker Arboretum, Bowling Green, KY JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC Hatcher Garden-Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg, SC Moore Farms Botanical Garden, Lake City, SC East TN State University Arboretum, Johnson City, TN Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis, TN University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville, TN Plateau Discovery Gardens, UT Gardens, Crossville, TN West Tennessee Research and Education Center Gardens, Univ. of TN Jackson, Jackson, TN Al Gardner Memorial Conifer Garden, Reynolds Community College, Goochland, VA Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk, VA State Arboretum of Virginia, Boyce, VA Map of all SE Region reference gardens, with complete addresses: When you go to the Southeast Region Reference Garden Map via the link provided above, clicking on the name of a reference garden in the list on the left zooms the map to that garden s location and provides information on the garden you clicked. Click on a star to identify gardens in locations you may want to visit. Depending upon what s available, you will see any or all of the following: the physical address, phone number, web site, photos, and a link to click if you need directions. Our Reference Gardens are a treasure! Visit soon!

16 Page 16 From Seeds to Bonsai Text and Photos by Peter Jones Since joining the Northern Virginia Bonsai club in 1972, I have wanted a Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki Ccypress) bonsai. Most such plants are grown for landscaping and can be quite costly. After seeing so many different Chamaecyparis obtusa in the Gotelli collection at the National Arboretum, I decided to educate my self on these plants and others that are grown in the Gotelli collection. Back in the 70 s, I found small rooted cuttings of Chamaecyparis obtusa for sale, which I purchased and planted. As they grew, I used several for landscaping our front yard. Over the years, they began producing seeds about every third year, so I decided to collect the seeds so I could plant them. In the two pictures right and below, one can see how seed cones develop on this plant. I started these two Hinoki cypresses from seeds 22 years ago, and because of their growth characteristics, I planted them in our front yard. Below, you can see the cones on the second Chamaecyparis obtusa that is planted in our front yard. These cones will be ready to collect in October. I do hope that some of the younger club members will develop an interest in growing and identifying notable plants for bonsai training. The pictures below show what can be accomplished with a little effort. Training a plant that one has grown from seeds is most rewarding and gratifying. After years of observing several plants from this seed batch, I selected this Chamaecyparis obtusa to style with Roy s help. This is how the tree looked at the Roy Nagatoshi workshop in April of 2017, before and after training. The tree is responding well to the care I am providing. Next spring the tree will be planted in the red bonsai container on the left. It is quite satisfying to know that I grew this Hinoki Ccypress from seed and now will train it as a bonsai. That makes this small bonsai that much more enjoyable. This fall, I should have quite a few seeds from the two plants in our front yard. However, I have also learned over the years that one does not get a high germination rate from Chamaecyparis obtusa seeds. However, the reward of variation in the plants that seeds produce is most fascinating. No two plants will be alike. One will get all types of variations. Years ago, I started developing a dwarf conifer/evergreen garden for Arling(continued on the following page) (Continued on page 17)

17 Page 17 (continued from previous page) ton County at the Walter Reed Community Center (WRCC). My thinking was, and still is, that as the trees developed, some could be used by the club for bonsai training. Three years ago, while I was still recuperating from hip replacement surgery, I was told by the people at the Walter Reed Center, that some of the dwarf conifers I had planted had to be removed because the space was needed for a flower garden. I wish to thank Roberto, Carl, Ted, and Cecilia for their help in getting those pines dug and potted. Since they dug the pines, they got to keep some for themselves. I kept the Chamaecyparis obtusa you see here, which I started from seed 15 years ago. Next spring, I plan to take it to the Nagatoshi workshop. I already have a Sara Rayner bonsai pot for this tree. I wish to thank Chuck Croft for bringing Roy Nagatoshi, of Fuji Bonsai Nursery in Hinoki Cypress grown from seed by the author, soon to be trained for Bonsai. California, to visit us this fall. Roy and I go way back to the mid 80 s, and I do appreciate his opinion on plants I am growing for bonsai training. Both Chuck and Roy liked this tree. I think it will make a lovely bonsai. While Roy was visiting, I showed him the parent of the Banshosho Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)i sent him three years ago. I may write a separate article about selecting good quality pines to grow for bonsai training. The beauty of growing your own bonsai plant materials is that you have more control over root development, and you can provide some direction as the trunk grows. If only I had learned this lesson some 30 years ago. Finding good, unique plant materials for bonsai training has not been easy, but I have found enough named variety true dwarf conifers and evergreens to keep me busy for years. About the Author Peter Jones and Master Roy Nagatoshi in April 2017, after styling this beautiful Pinus parviflora. Peter Jones got started in bonsai in 1972 after seeing pictures of some of the outstanding bonsai trees in Japan. He made countless trips to the Gotelli Collection at the National Arboretum, which led him to the American Conifer Society, in search of knowledge and sources for true dwarf conifers and evergreens.

18 Page 18 A Bonsai Tale of Two Scots Pines Text and Photos by Bill McReynolds Volunteer Bonsai Curatorfor the Norfolk Botanical Garden Bonsai Collection This is a story that will tell the best of times, and yes, the worst of times, for two Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) in their journey to become Bonsai trees. Our story begins on one early fall day in 2014 at the Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG). Two Bonsai volunteers were walking through the horticultural compound to end their day, after conducting various tasks in support of the Bonsai collection. One of them spied a deep patch of green needles sited on a wooden pallet, and curious as to what this little shrub actually was, ambled over to take a closer look. He located the identification tags on two trees recently accessioned to NBG and called his friend over to take a closer look with him. Dense green foliage was gently parted to reveal the treasures that lay hidden beneath. These were beautifully formed, grown out trees! An interesting trunk of some size and character is one of the primary features for any tree or shrub in consideration for development as a Bonsai tree. The two recent arrivals to the garden certainly displayed those desirable and rare qualities and had the potential to make interesting Bonsai trees. These were good trees! One pine showed a more elegant trunk, with a slender, somewhat sinuous aspect. This is considered a more feminine type of Bonsai tree. The other Scots pine exhibited a bolder, more muscular aspect to its trunk, lending it a more masculine appearance. They would be developed in ways to complement those aspects and had great potential as prospects for addition to the NBG Bonsai collection, if all went well. To begin their new career as Bonsai trees, both Scots pines were temporarily transferred to the private residence of Mr. Brian Hollowell, an NBG Bonsai Volunteer. This talented Bonsai artist was ready for the challenge of initially performing the work to develop these trees into the Bonsai they would (hopefully) one day become. All was going well, and then disaster struck. A virulent strain of needle cast fungus, most likely Cyclaneusma minus, attacked both trees. All Scots The tree with the more feminine form. pines are known to be very susceptible to this disease, but this infection was particularly quick acting and vicious. Once symptoms of the dreaded disease were identified, Brian aggressively initiated treatment in the form of antifungal copper sprays that were followed up almost immediately with the stronger measure of Daconil. But unfortunately, the tree with the longer, more elegant trunk succumbed to the infection and was lost. It was the worst of times! However, the Bonsai game wasn t over yet. The other Scots pine with the larger trunk was much less affected by the fungal onslaught and ultimately went on to a full recovery, once anti-fungal treatment was applied. Subsequent to that successful, initial treatment, a regimen of Clearys 3336 DG, (Turf) antifungal has been applied once yearly in midsummer for the tree, with no recurring problems. In the winter Pinus sylvestris with a more masculine aspect. of (continued on the next page)

19 Page 19 (Continued from page 18) 2015, the surviving tree was initially styled by Brian and then returned to the garden for daily care. Repotted in early spring of 2017 into a modified/cut-down, plastic Root Maker Pro pot, the tree was then refined at home again by Brian in late September of 2017 and is really beginning to take shape as the powerful Bonsai tree we hope it will one day become for the NBG Bonsai collection. As is evident from the picture, this once simple, landscape-bound specimen is on a clear path to becoming a very nice bonsai tree. In the spring of 2019, if the tree proves out healthy and strong after careful evaluation, it will be placed into its first, actual Bonsai Pot. Time and patience are the necessary tools of choice in the world of Bonsai. It has taken this Scots pine over three years of development to reach this point, which is perhaps a little more than halfway there. A couple more years of steady development and work should see this tree ready for its debut on public display! The surviving tree in 2017, after styling by Brian Hollowell. About the Author Bill McReynolds is a retired U.S. Navy EOD Technician with 27 years of active duty service. He is currently employed by the U.S. Navy as a government service worker, where he supports EOD advanced-level training programs as a Learning Standards Officer. A qualified Navy Master Training Specialist, he serves as the lead instructor for the Beginning Bonsai workshop class conducted at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and is assigned as the Volunteer Bonsai Curator for the NBG Bonsai collection and public display.

20 Page 20 Greetings, Everyone! I hope you ve had a wonderful Fall and that you and your garden are tucked in and cozy as the days become shorter and the nights fill up with holiday lights and the joys of friends and family. As for me, I get excited when I remember that the days will begin getting longer again only a week after this newsletter goes live. It ll be a while before we notice the difference, but our gardens will know. Nevertheless, we ll all see much colder days ahead, so I guess it s time to disconnect the hoses and do whatever needs doing to ensure that an unexpected freeze doesn t catch Sandy Horn, Co-editor us off guard is going to be a big year for the Southeast Region. It s our 20th birthday, for one thing, and we re hosting the 36th Annual American Conifer Society National Meeting in Raleigh, NC. The hotel is less than four miles from my house, and my garden s on the tour. (That part s terrifying!) As for the Post Meeting Tour, I m certainly going to be there, and you d be crazy to miss it, in my humble opinion. Jeff and Jennifer Harvey have outdone themselves this year, and you know how well they ve taken care of us in the past. All I can say is get ready to be even more impressed, this year. So best wishes to you and yours. May your days be merry and bright, and may dreams of Raleigh and Asheville fill your nights! Newsletter Wrap-up Happy Holidays! Sandy Horn Thinking of fall planting? You can order bulbs from Brent and Becky s and support the Southeast Region at the same time! Instead of going directly to the Brent and Becky s website, go to BloominBucks.com and select American Conifer Society Southeast Region from the dropdown menu. You will then be taken to the Brent and Becky s website, and 25% of anything you spend there will go to the Southeast Region! You don t pay anything extra for your bulbs, but your purchases will support the Southeast Region. Is that cool or WHAT? Submit questions, comments, articles, photos, or suggestions for the next newsletter to Bradley Roberts (brobertsacsse@gmail.com) or Sandy Horn (littletrees@earthlink.net) Remember! Deadline for the March 15th newsletter is February 15th! President: Bradley Roberts Curator of Herbaceous Plants Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk, VA brobertsacsse@gmail.com Vice President: David Poston postondav89@gmail.com Southeast Region Officers and Staff Regional Director, ACS Board: Jared Weaver City Arborist/Forester Bowling Green, KY loraxbgky@gmail.com Secretary Treasurer: Jeff and Jennifer Harvey Owners and managers of Dirt Dawg Nursery, Watertown, TN Jeff@dirtdawgnursery.com Reference Gardens Committee Chairperson: Barbie Colvin colvinbc@gmail.com Web and Newsletter Editor: Sandy Horn Avid gardener in Cary, NC littletrees@earthlink.net