Sunday, March 29, 2009

Rock garden help needed

From David Mitchell:

Elizabeth Reid is seeking help to maintain the rock garden created by Toni and Bob Wilkinson that sits in front of her cottage at Kendal. She can be reached by phone at (607) 257-4330.

Trip to White Pine Camp in June

From Carol Eichler:

The Chapter is planning to return to White Pine Camp this June to work on the Heutte Rock Garden there. Depending on how many of us go, the work is likely to take about a half-day of clean-up, weeding, planting, and watering. Then it's time on your own to enjoy the Camp and nearby attractions. Because of the distance, this will be a 2-night overnight. There's a possibility we could schedule one garden stop "on the way." Chapter members Dick and Mary George are currently serving as innkeepers at WPC and they spearheaded the restoration of the historic Heutte RG.

If you are interested in going to help, we need to firm the dates ASAP. Here are the choices: June 4-6 or June 11-13. Please get back to me by April 15th (my apologies for the short turn-around) if you plan to go and which date is your preference. Depending on the configuration of singles and couples, the cottages can accommodate 10 - 17. Once I book, I will need payment in full, estimated at no more than $107 per person plus tax. Contact me: Carol Eichler, ceichler@twcny.rr.com or 607.387.5823.

What else can I tell you? Those of us who went last year - David Mitchell, John Gilrein, and me - had a great time. The 100-year-old Camp is beautiful, cottages are roomy and come with full kitchen, and the place is on a lake surrounded by state land. We really enjoyed the lady slipper orchids in bloom everywhere! There are canoes and kayaks available. It is located in the high peaks region, very close to Paul Smith's and the Visitor Info Center - a wonderful place with trails, exhibits, and gardens. Plenty of birding, hiking, and fishing opportunities. To investigate on your own check out these resources: whitepinecamp.com and visitadirondacks.com

Sunday, March 8, 2009

March newsletter

The March newsletter is available in printer-friendly .pdf format here:
http://remarc.com/acnargs/newsletter/200903.pdf

More good reading

The Trillium, the newsletter of the Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. is available online – including back issues back to 2006. Find links to the .pdf files on this page: http://www.nargs.org/meet/chap_pd.html

Our Plant of the Month coordinator, John Gilrein, recommends It’s all in who you know... , a story by Scott McMahan about his plant expedition to China with Ozzie Johnson and Dan Hinkley. You can read it in the Feb. issue:
http://www.nargs.org/meet/chap_pd_february_2009.pdf

March Plant of the Month – Woodland Plants

From John Gilrein, Plant of the Month Coordinator

For our March 2009 meeting, the plant of the month will be a mix of woodland plants. Our March selection from Eastern Plant Specialties includes:
  • Hepatica acutiloba (sharp-lobed hepatica)
  • Uvularia grandiflora (large merrybells, large-flowered bellwort)
  • Trilliums, T. grandiflorum (white Trillium), T. luteum (yellow Trillium), and T. sessile (sessile Trillium)
  • Adiantum pedatum (Northern maidenhair fern).

In general, all these plants want part shade conditions and a good, moist, well drained soil and are native to the Eastern U.S. Shade of deciduous trees and soil enriched with organic matter are beneficial.

Hepatica acutiloba is hardy in zones 3-8, height 6 inches, flower color pale to dark violet, blooms in early spring. This plant is found in rich woods and favors alkaline soils.

Uvularia grandiflora is hardy in zones 3-8, height 12-16 inches, flower color pale to medium yellow, blooming in early Spring. U. grandiflora also favors lime rich soils.

Trilliums are hardy in zones 4-8 (T. grandiflorum is hardy in to zone 3), height 6-20 inches, and flower in mid-Spring. T. grandiflorum has white flowers and is native to a wide area of Northeastern North America; T. luteum has yellow flowers is native to the Southern Appalachians; and T. sessile has maroon flowers is native to the Midwest. Both T. luteum and T. sessile are sessile species (the flowers are stemless, nestled in the leaves and the leaves are mottled). Soil pH preferences based on my references are: neutral to alkaline for T. grandiflorum, neutral for T. sessile, and acidic to neutral for T. luteum.

Adiantum pedatum is a graceful fern fond of calcium rich soils (a lime lover) but tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Height is 1 to 2 feet. It has black stems and is a slow spreader. This will tolerate more shade than the flowering plants above.