California, GARDEN MARCH-APRIL 1991 Volume 82 No. 2 ISSN 0008-1116 N5§>0 $1.50 si HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR March SANDIEGO NATURALHISTORYMUSEUM Canyoneers OutdoorProgram Weekends Freeguidednaturewalks. Information/brochure: 232-3821. Mar.2 &3 SANDIEGODAYTIMEAFRICANVIOLET SOCIETY 10th Annual Show CasadelPrado, MajorcaRoom, BalboaPark. Sat.: 1-5p.m.; Sun.: 10-4p.m. Free. Mar. 13 * SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION Basketclass CasadelPrado,Room103,BalboaPark. MarthaRosenberg,PineNeedleBasket,IntermediateClass. $10SDFAmembers, $12 non-members. Call MarieWalshtoregister: 298-5182. Mar. 15 * SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION Bus Trip toEast County Pickup at Balboa Park & La Mesa. Visit home & garden ofEl Cajon artist Dennis Torzeski & Cuyamaca College Horticulture Dept. $18 members; $20 non-members. Includes lunch. Reservations/information: 232-5762. Mar. 16 AMERICANBAMBOO SOCIETY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER, Show & Sale Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Morethan50 kindsofbamboo on sale. Expertstogiveadvice. 11-3p.m. Free. Parking$1. Call 453-0334or534-2853. Mar. 16 & 17 IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL, CHAPTER 11923rd Annual Spring Show CasadelPrado,MajorcaRoom,BalboaPark. Flowerarrangingdemonstrations;displayofkimonos. & Sat. Sun.: 11-4:30p.m. Free. Mar. 20 * SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION FlowerArrangingwith Adrienne Green Casadel Prado, Room 103, BalboaPark. $15. Limitedclass. Call MarieWalsh: 298-5182. Mar. 22-24 SANDIEGO COUNTYORCHID SOCIETY 45th Annual Show ScottishRiteCenter, MissionValley. Fri. preview: 6-10p.m.; Sat.: 9-6p.m.; Sun.: 9-4p.m. $3. Mar. 22-24 SANTABARBARABOTANIC GARDEN "WildflowersinFocus" Lecture&PhotographyWorkshop. 1212MissionCanyonRoad, SantaBarbara. Three-partprogram on art ofwildflower photography by John Smithers, nationally known photographer. Fee: $80. Lectureonly: $20. Registration/information: 805/563-2521. Mar.23 DESCANSO GARDENS FestivalofSpring Flowers toApr.21 1418DescansoDrive, LaCanadaFlintridge. Thousandsofannuals&bulbswillaccentthegarden. 9-4:30p.m. daily. Admission: $3. Call 818/952-4400. Mar. 23 &24 BALBOAPARKAFRICANVIOLET CLUB 16th Annual Show Casadel Prado, MajorcaRoom, BalboaPark. Sat.: 12-5p.m.; Sun.: 10-4p.m. Free. Mar. 30 &31 EXOTIC PLANTSOCIETY 13th Annual Show Casadel Prado, MajorcaRoom, BalboaPark. Sat. &Sun.: 11-4:30p.m. Free. April SANDIEGO NATURALHISTORYMUSEUM Canyoneers OutdoorProgram Weekends Freeguidednaturewalks. Information/brochure: 232-3821. Apr. 3 * SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION Basket Class Casa del Prado, Room 101, Balboa Park. Martha Rosenberg, Appalachian basket with natural materials. $18 members, $19non-members. Call MarieWalshto register: 298-5182 Apr. 4 THEHUNTINGTON FirstThursday Garden Talk 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Ways using roses to give an "English cottage garden" look to SouthernCaliforniahomelandscapes. 2:30p.m. Free. Call 818/405-2147 Apr. 6 DOS VALLES GARDENCLUBHomeTour & MiniFlowerShow ValleyCenterCommunityHall, 28246LilacRoad, Valley Center. Incudesbakesale,plantsale & basketsale. 12-5p.m. Tour: $7.50. Flowershowentries: free. Call 749-9587 Apr. 10 * SANDIEGO FLORALASSOCIATION Lei HuietypeHat Band Class from Dried Flowers CasadelPrado,Room 102,BalboaPark. JeanJones, instructor. Allmaterialsfurnished Forprice andregistrationcall MarieWalsh: 298-5182. Apr. 10-16 SANTABARBARABOTANIC GARDENSpringtimeTourofPacificNorthwest Apr. 13 & 14 SAN&12C1S2aLnMEiJMsusEainNonITsCElaannGdysA.oRnPDRicoEtauNdr,eCsS/LaitnUitnBaerBSaartryabnoadrnaarred9q3uF1els0to5.w.erWVriSisithteogwoarr&dcealnPlsla8in0nt5W/Sa5as6lh3ei-n25g2t1on BritishColumbia &Cosponsor: SanClementeParks&RecreationDivision. SanClementeCommunityCenter DelMar Apr. 13 & 14 COROSNevAilDleOStFreLetOs.RASLat.A:SS1-O5CpI.mA.T;ISOunN.:66t1h1-F5lpo.wme.r7&14G/a49r2d-e6n00S2hoorw492-5096 Apr. 13 & 14 SANSApdrDuelIctkEslGe$s1O.P5Ra0r;OkS,ChEOilrSdarOnegCneI$EA0v.T2eY5n.u6e4FtbrheeetAwnpenaerunkail6ntghS.h&ow7th, Coronado. Sat 1-5 nP m '• Sun 10-4Pn*mm' BalboaParkClub, BalboaPark. Sat.: 2-6p.m.; Sun.: 10-5:30p.m. $1.50; under 12 free. (Continuedonpage59) 34 CALIFORNIA GARDEN California SINCE 1909 SanDiegoFloralAssociation& GARDEN GardenCenter CasadelPrado,BalboaPark SanDiego,CA 92101-1619 MondaythroughFriday LIBRARYOFCONGRESSNO.ISSN0009-1116 10a.m.6t1o91/223a2n-d5716t2o3p.m. Publishedby VOLUME 82 NUMBER 2 SanDiegoFloralAssociation for81Years MARCH-APRIL 1991 PUBLICATIONSTAFF EDITOR ASSJoIhSnTJA.NGTagEliDaIrdTiOR 34 Horticultural Calendar MaryJordan LucyWarren 37 San-Kei-En Ernest Chew EDITOREMERITUS 39 BalboaPark's FirstJapaneseTea Garden .... LucyWarren AlElleitzhaebeMtahcGDloovnearld 41 TheYearoftheCosmos DianeWindisch ASSOCIATEEDITOR 43 NewPerennial forSouthern California BettyNewton DonaldBoyer 44 Fennel: NewSpecialityVegetable JamesE. Simon PRODUCTIONEDITORS 45 ASnaptoGrow Kathleen Smith JoLhuncJy.WGaagrlrieanrdi 46 HorticulturePumps Billions intoEconomy . . . Forrest Cress CONSULTANTS 47 SanDiegoTopiary Conference StaffEdited BettyNewton 48 TheOcotillo DavidL. Epple Dr.GeorgeHerring 49 FlowerDevelopments LucyWarren FrancesClare STAFFWRITERS 51 BookReviews MaryLou Orphey PennyBunker 54 Bus Trips Helen Gagliardi MaTirnyekLeouWiOlrdperhsey 55 NowistheTime PennyBunker MaryJordan 60 Affiliates Nancy Cottingham LucyWarren COORDINATORS Advertising LynnBeyerle Renewals BillRathmann The cover illustration, a sketch ofthe Tekisui-En Garden, PRINTEDBY: NishiHongawji Temple, Kyoto, was contributedby Celia A. NeyeneschPrinters,Inc. Hansen who isagraphicdesigner. She studiedFine Artin 2750KettnerBoulevard Nevadaand Texas. Celiaalso hasa GraphicDesign degree SanDiego,CA92119 fromPiattCollegeinSanDiego, andcurrentlydoesfreelance Manuscriptsareinvited. Deadlineis90-dayspriortopublicationdate. design work. Celia canbereachedat619/482-2346. Allmanuscriptsandillustration!submittedwillbehandledcarefullybut wecannotassumeresponsibilityfortheir safety. Allsubmissionsmust bedoublespacedandaccompaniedbyreturnedpostage,ifyouexpect themtobereturnedtoyou.H.OHUSThirdIStheauthorityfor aelxlpbroetsasneidcaalrenatmheosseusoefdthinetahuitshmoargsaaznidned.oAlnlotopdioniononts SinglecopiesofthecurrentissueofCALIFORNIAGARDENmagazinecanbepurchasedfor$1.50atthelocations necessarily reflect the views ofthe editors of the lCiAstLedI.FORNIAARBORETUMFOUNDATION,Inc.,447-8207,301NorthBaldwinAve.,Arcadia,CA91006. CaliforniaGarden. MISSIONHILLSNURSERY,295-2808,1525FortStocktonDrive,SanDiego,CA92103. OUCHINURSERY,2263-6114,5003ImperialAve.,SanDiego,CA92113. AddrCeassliaflloerdnitioariaGlamartdereinalto: PSAACNIFDIICEGTOREFELFOARRAMLS,GA4R22D-E24N00C,E4N3T01ERL,yn2w3o2o-d57D6r2i,veC,asCahudlealVPirsatdao,,CRAoo9m2011005.,BalboaPark,SanDiego, SanDiegoFloralAssociation CA92101-1619. CasadSealnPrDiaedgooR,oCoAm9120150,1B-a1l6b1o9aPark WFALLOWTEERRASHNODWESR:SEShNoNwUcRhSaiErRmYan,c2o2nt4a-c8t2C7a1l,i3fo6r4n2iaEnGtaerrdpernis,e2S3t.2-,5S7a6n2Diifeygoou,wCaAnt9t2h1e1m0agazinesoldatyour nextshow. Postmaster,Sendchangeofaddressto: CALIFORNIAGARDEN(ISSN0008-116),anon-profitpublication,ispublishedbi-monthlyfor$7.00peryearor CaliforniaGarden, $13.00fortwoyears,bySanDiegoFloralAssociation,Inc.Singlecopyis$1.50.Forforeigndeliveryadd$3.00. CasadelPradoRoom105 Enteredassecondclassmatter,December8,1910attheSanDiegoPostOfficeundertheActofMarch3,1879. BalboaPark,SanDiego,CA SecondClassPostagepaidatSanDiego. MARCH-APRIL 1991 35 The San Diego County Orchid Society Presents V4J The 45th Annual & Show Orchid Sale Friday, March 22, 1991 - 6PM TO 10PM Saturday, March 23, 1991 - 9AM TO 6PM Sunday, March 24, 1991 - 9AM to 4PM ADMISSION $ 3.00 FREE PARKING Children Under 12 FREE If Accompanied By An Adult Scottish Rite Memorial Center 1895 Camino Del Rio South In Mission Valley 36 CALIFORNIA GARDEN SAN-KEI-EN Ernest Chew THERE IS A NEW ATTRACTION in Balboa Park. onwhatthegardenwastobe. Aseriesofthreeannual ItiscalledSan-Kei-Enand isnestledontheeastsideof garden festivals in Balboa Park, and some private theOrganPavilion. Itisthecompletedfirstphaseofthe donations, brought in enough money that in 1984 the Japanese Friendship Garden and is open to the public search for a landscape architect could be made and free of charge on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and seriousleasingoftheproposedsitecouldbeundertaken. Sunday. It is amazing how easy it is to write those few sentences to cover public availabilityofsomethingthat hastakenyearsoftime,laborandtravailandalittleless thanamilliondollarsto accomplish. % *^\." M«I«*» IN* M * # « Nowtheworkbegan. Inreality, althoughthegarden »;. had longbeen adream, thework thathas broughtitto m thispointhas all beendoneinthepastsixyears. With the selection of the landscape architect, Mr. Ken PhotosbyJohnGagliardi Nakajima, ofTokyo,andourlocalarchitect, Mr. Hiroo TherearemanywhohavewalkedpastthatJapanese Kurano, whowoulddotheprojectdrawings,thegarden Gatesinceits erectionin 1968thatceased seeingitand startedtosolidify. Withthesigningoftheleasewasthe theproclamationnexttoitthattherewastobeagarden firstbigbreakthroughinfundingthroughapledgefrom developed there, became an idle promise. No more! KyoceraInternationalof$500,000andapersonalpledge The dream has begun to form out ofthe hearts ofthe of $100,000 from Dr. Kazuo Inamori. In 1986 the believers and although only a part of that vision has masterplanwas approvedbythecityandadopted. On materialized,therestofthedreamisalreadyformingin August29, 1990,withthefinancialhelpofmany, many themist. friends, PhaseOneopenedtothepublic. Ithas notbeen an easy birth. Atthe time the gate What kind ofagarden did thisJapanese Friendship was erected on the site chosen by the city, the garden Garden Board decide to build? The decision was not was aconcept andprojectofthe San Diego SisterCity entirelytheirs. UnderadvisementbyProfessor(retired) SocietywhosecounterpartinJapanisYokohama. Itwas MitsuoYokoyama,theirJapaneselandscapeadvisor,and aprojectthatwas muchtoo massivefortheSisterCity theadviceofKenNakajima,thelandscapearchitect,the organization to handle. In late 1980, a Japanese designofthegarden best suitedto the area and terrain FriendshipGardenBoardwasformedandtheSisterCity onthelease inBalboaParkwouldbeonecalledbythe Society transferred the concept and responsibility for Japanese a Kaiyushiki Garden. It is ofthe circuitous developmentofthegardentotheBoard. strollingstyleand is a greatfavorite withtheJapanese Little had been done in the twelve years since the today. Itsymbolizestheworldinminiature. gate had been raised. It was actually a job from San Diego's garden will feature a central pond 'scratch' that had been taken over by the new board. surrounded with strollingpaths, apastoral scene and a Since no fund raising had been done, money was not mountainretreat. Primaryconsiderationwillbegivento available to do anything. There weren't any drawings the promotion and understanding of Japanese culture MARCH-APRIL 1991 37 throughtheactiveuseofcultural facilities: ateahouse Thecanyonbranchtotheeastwillhousethepastoral and garden, a cultural center, an arbor and an exhibit sceneofthegardenandwillbeagraduallyslopingarea building. To broaden the aesthetic and educational ofrural Japaneseappearance. Thiswillbethesunniest impactofthegarden, astudycenterwillbedeveloped. area and willhouse agood bitofcolor from flowering In Japan it is often customary for the landscape trees andshrubstoperennialsand annuals. architectwhodesignsthegardentogiveitaname. The Tothewestthecanyonbranches upward atafairly decision was turned over to Professor Yokoyama, the steep grade and will house the fast moving mountain garden'sadvisor. Theprofessor, inagreementwithken streamwithitscascadingwater,akoipondandplantings Nakajima,thearchitect,namedthegarden"San-Kei-En" oftrees withthefeelingofamountainretreat. (Three-Scenery-Garden). Though pronounced exactly Still wrapped in the mist of the dream, these the same as that ofa famous Japanese Garden in San developments arejust as possible as the part that has Diego's sister city of Yokohama, the Yokoha garden materialized. Itwilltakethecooperation andhelp ofa name is translated as "Three-Ravine- Garden." In the lot ofpeople, both private and commercial, to make it San Diego name the characters refer to three features; allhappen. Tremendousinteresthasalreadybeenshown pond, pastoral andmountainous. by the public. In December there were over 8,000 Amajordecisionfortheboardwastodecidehowto visitors in the sixteen days thatthe ExhibitHouse was proceed with the garden. Should all ofthe money be open. Manyofthemhavebecomemembersthroughthe found and the garden done all at once, or should itbe newmembershipprogramthathasbeenstartedforthose done on phases. The phasingprocedure was accepted who wishto showtheir supportofwhat isbeingdone. because it was felt that ifthe garden was started and A forthcoming newsletter will be sent to members to people could see some accomplishment they would be keepthem informedofthedevelopments andhelpthem moreopentodonatingthefundsneededtofinishit. tobetterunderstandthefeaturesofthegarden. Phase One is now complete and is known as the Membershipinformationisavailable. Callthegarden ExhibitBuilding. Itis asmall areaoflessthananacre office-619/232-2721. and features a Sand and Stone (Sansui) garden and a buildingofJapanesedesignwhichpresentlydisplaysthe ErnestChewisahorticulturalconsultant. Hehasbeenamemberofthe modelofthecompletegardenanddrawingspertinentto HBoearvodluonftDeierrescthiosrstiomfethaesJhaoprtainceusletufrrailenaddsvhiisporgatrodtehneSgoacrideetny.formanyyears. thegarden'sdevelopment. Itwasoriginallyplannedthat the Charles Dail Gate be used as the entrance to this area, butbecauseofitsfragility, itwasdecidedtobuild asecond gatefordailyuse. Whentheentiregarden is completed the main gate will be at the bottom ofthe PACIFIC canyon. Thetheory isthatenteringagardenshouldbe TREEFARMS anupliftingexperience which wouldbedefeated ifone walksdownintoit. What's next? First and foremost, the present momentum has to be maintained. At 1988 prices the cost estimate for construction alone ofthe rest ofthe CATALOG11W garden is overeleven milliondollars. A fundingdrive Ourtreesareselectionsofthebest toraisethemoney isofprimary importance. performingvarietiesavailable. Constructionforthenextphase entailsplacement of ClosedTuesdays all utilities needed: electrical, sewer, water and the raising of the canyon floor about seventeen feet. At present the canyon is too steep and the bottom too FRUIT • NUTS • BERRIES narrow to house the garden and lake. By raising the ForMildClimates tchainsynoenedfslotoorbaemduocnehbweifdoerreabnaysegawirldlenbecoanvsatirluacbtlie.oncAalnl SroToOtNsEtoFcRkUITTREES-ManyonZaigersemi-dwarf tblwisheioegtwaihTesnrhep.aaei.cnsawetnaoTytnihoeesenrlr.lafeanendaIwtttieculrworlninelbnalweeticbltatelheesbdraeewnmtadtiothneebitresh'macesacejhnebotderagaonecff.dohcaaabAlqybluopsioaeaoittnpwtlilonaailnonenddtniteenhondgef JPoSCmJAIP:•i*PPTtkkPh^AR,,EsEY^URl«?MAS.uSAh-~tIMls•6MAJuv5n,AM'Dn°Ov'EaEa1iWTN<rnECiSAvDeS'Ot,oL-hiBrnLeNessAe6UmLesNeT"•vAraA,-rTGFNiAoEe"LAltoLOidv'eMvSeRsUnON.I.nTNADdGDIAACohH.Lr«BrSd9.CLonUHnCc•E,EHhBSEGmETrERRaNR.RnURIMn,TFyOE*YS:PAECAN bridge. 4301 LynnwoodDr.,ChulaVista92010 (619)422-2400 38 CALIFORNIA GARDEN BALBOA PARK'S FIRST JAPANESE TEA GARDEN Lucy Warren Moving into the twentieth century, Japan had shed its earlier isolationismandbecame awillingparticipant inbothoftheCaliforniaexpositionscelebratingthetrade opportunities of the opening of the Panama Canal in 1915. As earlyas February, 1913 ithad announced its willingnessto install a"splendidexhibit"inSanDiego. Nearlythwartedbyanti-Japanesesentimentfollowingthe announcement,Japanperserveredandcreatedoneofthe fewexhibitsintendedtoremainpermanentlyinthepark. Many San Diegans still remember having refreshments in the Japanese tea pavilion and enjoying the pleasant gardenbehindtheLath Botancal Building, anareanow includedwithintheSanDiegoZoo. From 1916to 1942 theHachisakuAsakawafamilyleasedandmaintainedthe garden and pavilion to the delight of residents and visitors. The garden was of classical Japanese design and higharch allowsfloodwaterstopassunderiteasily included an exact reproduction of the 2,000 year old withlessopportunityto wash itaway. Bysuperstition, KatsuratempleofKyotowithfewconcessionstocurrent ifoneisableto crosss—uch abridgewithoutslippinghe construction methods, the only one of its kind in isassuredoflonglife thus itsmoniker. America at the time. Its features included a steeply The bridge crossed a lagoon which was fed by a arched folo bridge, the Bridge of Long Life, without fountain,indicatinganeverendingsupplyofwater. An which no temple garden is considered complete. Like assurance which is always welcome but less certain in manyJapanesedetails,bothpractical and symbolic, the SanDiego, evennow. THE TESTED PRODUCTS FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY GARDENING! MILORGANITE - Since 1928 the only salt free organic fertilizer. LOAMEX - The professionals choice in long lasting organic soil amendment. FERTI-PILLS - Feeds trees and shrubs safely for 2 years. SARVON - The enzyme, humic acid penetrant that reduces water usage. Ideal for slopes, container and all garden plantings. ASK FOR THESE PRODUCTS AT YOUR FAVORITE NURSERY. MARCH-APRIL 1991 39 Garden accessories included many carved stone lanternsofvarioustypes. Sachifishonthetempleroof symbolizedgoodluckand inJapanweresaidtodevour devils. Figures of cranes enhanced the garden symbolizinglongevity, as thecrane was consideredthe . longestlivingbird. The garden designers brought many plants from Japan for the garden from trees to grass, shrubs to flowers. In Southern California we are familiar with many "typical" Japanese plants such as bamboo, wisteria, azelea, and evergreen pine, juniper, cedar. The garden was graced with a sacred Icho tree, "Soeki"Shape Soiva"Shape. seemingly a variant of the maidenhair tree (Ginkgo For many years the Japanese Garden in Balboa Park biloba). But they also made do with new world inspired gardeners in San Diego to include plants and vegetation in some areas, easily keeping the look and elements ofthese beautiful environments in their own textureofatraditionalJapanesegarden. gardens. Wearepleasedtobeabletoonceagainenjoy For in-depth reading on the features of Japanese aJapaneseGardeninthePark. gardens of the period, I highly recommend the book Landscape Gardening in Japan originally written by LUCYWARREN-GardenwriterandassistanteditorCaliforniaGarden. ADDITIONALINFORMATION: Josiah Conder in 1893, revised in 1912, and currently Gorton,G.R.,"MonthlyExcursionThroughExpositionGardens,"California availableinpaperbackfromDoverPublications. Garden,October,1915,pp.8-10. McFadden, Dorothy Loa, Oriental Gardens in America, Douglas-West Publishers,Inc.,LosAngeles,CA,1976. PATCHESANDPOTS/583ElCajonBlvd./Dept.AV/ElCajon,CA92020/(619)442-7037 OYAMA"SELFCONTAINED"PLANTERS Size NumberofPlanters i 6 12 18 4" $2.25 $12.00 $21.00 $27.00 5" $2.50 $13.50 $24.00 $31.50 5vr $3.00 $16.50 $30.00 $40.50 Colors:White, ForestGreen, Brown.Colorsmaybemixed. Eachplantercomeswiththecorrectamountofperlite. CALIFORNIARESERVOIRSANDMINIPOTS Pols Reservoirs Size Description Number For4TO- 1VrOpening ForT05- 1%"Opening .10 25 Amount Price ForT06- iyrOpening l'/4" 44TTOORRdd//SNaoucSearucer $$33..2055 $$66..7255 101 $1$01..0250 AmFoourn5t.5A l7/8"OpePnriincge 2'2/"i" TT0056RRdd//NNooSSaauucceerr $$11..1100 $$22..5500 Th2es5ereservoirsinclud$e2w2ic.k5.0 101 $1$31..5500 2'/r 5.5A Rd/NoSaucer $1.10 $2.50 TheIK"and1ft"holesi2«maybe 25 $31.25 Color:AllTerra-cotta combinedforquantitydiscount. Thesereservoirs(DoNot) includewicks. Colorsforallreservoirsare:Lavender,Watermelon,Crystal,LightandDarkBlue,LightandDarkGreen,Gold,Yellow and Red.Thesearetransparentcolorssowaterlevelisvisible. Pleaseindicatesizeholeyouwish. MMaIyNIbeATorUdRerEedSIwiNtNhIsNupGpIliAeSs.(WhiteSpriteorPustllaavailableduringshippingseasonfor$2.50eachineggterrarium. SHIPPINGINSTRUCTIONS:48States$3.25.Hawaii,Alaskaandallotherareasactualcost.UPSchargeforCOD$275 California cTroeisdmieed,enZatonsndea.dpdhCosananleaesdnituaamxn.boeMrradseatresmruwCseatlrcdfo,omrVeia.lslaWoharondldeerAssam.leePrhipocrnaicneeEolxrispdtreaervssasiglalacabcdlelepytfeaodcr.cebFpuotsreindce.rsesPdeihsto.cnWaerrdi(t6oe1r9df)eorr4s4i2sne-fn7od0r3ma7alltfiiornnof.mor6maAtiMonuonnticlar6dPSMtrePeatcifziicp 40 CALIFORNIA GARDEN THE YEAR OF THE COSMOS Diane Windisch MODERN GARDENERS TEND TO THINK of Although there are 20 known species of cosmos, two cosmos asthey were ingrandmother's cottagegarden- annual species, Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos tall, sprawling plants that needed staking and were bipinnatus, aremostfamiliartohomegardeners. relegated to the back ofthe border. Thanks to recent These two species are most easily differentiated by breeding many varieties of cosmos have been down- leaf structure and flower color. The leaves of C. sized, whileretainingtheirairyandcolorful qualities. sulphureus are long, with narrow lobes and hairy Thecultivarsaresovariousthatanannualbedcould margins. The flower colors ofthis species are always be crafted solely with cosmos and yet retain a diverse shadesofyellow, orangeorred. TheC. bipinnatushas look. Cosmos may be tall or short, produce single or leavesthatarefinelycutintothreadlikesegments. The semidouble flowers and have petals mat are daisylike, foliagelookssimilartoferns. Theflowersarewhiteor quilledoranemoneshaped, itscolorpalettebeginswith variousshadesofpinktodarkrose. purewhite, shades intoallthepastelhuesandendswith Cosmossulphureus-Thenativespeciescanrangein brightyellowsto reds. height from 4 to 7 feet butthe cultivated varieties are notastall. Theflowerheads arecomposedofdiscand rayflowers. Thedisc,orcenterflowersareyellow:the ray, or outerpetals rangefrom paleyellowor mustard toorange-scarlet. Red is arelativelyrecentadditionto the colorrangeofC. sulphureus. Thenativespecies is golden-yellowto orange. 'Sunset,' aGoldMedal AAS winner in 1966, was the first step in the direction of pureredflowers. Cosmosbipinnatus-Nativespeciescanreachheights of 7 to 10 feet but most cultivated varieties are considerably shorter. The flower heads can be 4 to 6 inches acrossthebloom. Thecenter (disc) flowers are yellow: the ray (outer) petals are white, rose, pink or crimson. Cosmos, like many of our warm weather annuals suchasdahliasandmarigolds, originatedinMexicoand South America. Spain plays an important role in the introductionofcosmos to Europe. In 1788, Charles II ofSpain, sent an expedition to the colony of Mexico. Several years were spent identifying and cataloguing nativeformsunknowninEurope. Seedsofcosmosand otherNewWorldplantsweresenttoEuropebuthistory does not tell us if Europeans brought cosmos back to NorthAmerica. Spanishpriestsgrewcosmosintheirmissiongardens in Mexico. The evenly placed petals led them to christen the flower "cosmos," the Greek word for harmony or ordered universe. In 1897, the Plant IntroductionCenterinWashington,D.C. wassearching Cosmos is easy to startfrom seed. Eventhenovice forplantsadaptabletoUnitedStatesclimaticconditions. gardenerwillberewardedwithlittleeffort. Rich,fertile They brought the cosmos north ofthe border where it conditions are notnecessary to grow cosmos, adequate becameknownastheMexican Aster. drainage is. When preparingagardenbed with ahigh Cosmosbelongsto thatvastfamily ofplants known claycontent,amendthesoilwithsphagnumpeatmossor asCompositae. Compositeflowersincludemanygarden gypsumto improvedrainage. The seeds may be sown favorites such as marigold, aster, dahlia and daisy. outdoorsafteralldangeroffrostispastandthesoilhas MARCH-APRIL 1991 41 warmedto atleast65°F. Scattertheseedsrightwhere appearancetothegardenbed. Useatwotothreeinch thecosmosaretobedisplayed. Firmtheseeds intothe layer oforganic mulch such as dried grass, peat moss, soil, cover with a thin layer of fine soil and water shreddedbarkorwoodchips. Mulch afterweedingand gently. Seeds willgerminateinfiveorsixdays. watering. In areas that are usually frost-free, such as coastal Cosmos is generally a trouble-free annual seldom California, Florida and thedesertSouthwest, seed may fallingpreyto diseasesandpests. Thebestoffenseisa besowninthefall. Cosmosdoesnotrequirelongdays gooddefenseinmaintaininghealthyplants. Insummer for flowering, it will bloom during the winter. Sow and fall, many insects lay eggs on perennial weeds. seeds inSeptemberwhentemperaturesfallbelow 80°F. These eggs canoverwinter and emerge inthespringto Ifthereisnokillingfrost,cosmoswillflowerallwinter. newly planted seedlings. Keep the garden beds weeded Oncetheplantshavetwosetsofleaves,thintoabout and free ofplantrefuse. Fungal diseasestend to spread onefootapartto allowenoughroomforfuturegrowth. under wet conditions. Avoid overhead watering as it Winter weary gardeners may wish to start cosmos wets the foliage. Always water the soil, notthe plant seeds indoors. Here's a chance to enjoy welcome leaves. greeneryweeksbeforeoutdoorgardeningcanbeginand to have larger plants available once warmer weather NATIONALGARDENBUREAUwrittenbyDianeWindischeditedbystaff. comes. Seeds may be started about six weeks prior to the dateofthelastfrost. Thereisawidevarietyofsuitable TROPICAL containers. Use items such as peat pots and cubes or plasticflatsortrays. As analternative, recyclekitchen CACTUS itemssuch asmilkcartonsorstyrofoamcoffee cups. Keepplants evenly moist. Afterthefirstsetoftrue leaves emerge, seedlings can be fertilized on a weekly We're specialists in Flowering Jungle basis,usingwatersolublefertilizerat V*strength. When Cacti—Epiphyllums/Rhipsaiis/Hoyas + theplantsareabout2 incheshigh,transplantto alarger Haworthias. Over 178+ COLOR photos in container. 76-page 1991-92 plant/and cactus Cosmosisasunlovingannual; itwillnotproduceas bookshopcatalogs.Allforonly$2.00.($4.00 manybloomsifgrowninshade. Choosealocationthat forforeignrequests)Hurry!Ordertoday: receivesatleastahalfdayofsunlight. Cosmosisnota RAINBOWGARDENS Viee/MesiercerdWelcome heavyfeeder; excessfertilizationwillcauseittoproduce 1444E.TaylorSt Weshipworldwide! leaf growth at the expense of flower production. A Vista,CA92084 12thyearinbusiness 5-10-5 fertilizer may be worked into the soil prior to plantingorfourto sixweeks aftersowingseeds. — Cosmos needs onlybasic care to provide a colorful ""* ** **" "^ "» abundance of blooms all summer long. Gardeners in many parts of the country are becoming increasingly McDANIEL'S concerned about water conservation. Droughttolerant MINIATURE ROSES plantsareneeded inareas wherethereislittlerainfall. Cosmos isdroughttolerant,providingabundantblooms withlesswaterthanotherannuals. A mulch willhelp conservemoisture, retard weedgrowthandgiveaneat BUSH•TREE• DAYLILIES OFTOMORROW CLIMBER• HANGING ^mi^^ourowwfnneatnnueerwwingIHnybrids- BASKET VisitoneoftthheeffiinneessttDaylily cColRleEctAioTnsEinYSoOutUheRrnOCCaallWiiffNoornia HARDYANDEVERBLOOMING TROPICALLOOKINGGARDEN SHIPPEDALLYEAR Ea»ycare,ful(lcarn*naql«toofbecoglorro.wBnlionocmosntMaianyertsh)ruDecember 7523ZEMCOST. DON&MARYHARDGROVE LEMON GROVE.CA91945 1656NSecondSi.(betweenGreenfield&PepperDr.)ElCajon•447-4922 PleasiPhont(619)4694669 OpenTuesday•Sunday10am•5pm 42 CALIFORNIA GARDEN