Tasmanian Garden Treasure

Joy Stones and Ted Cutlan May 2005

Speaker Biographies

Joy and Ted are proprietors of Jubilee Nursery in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Being plant enthusiasts, they are always in search of the new and exotic while revering their indigenous flora. Their nursery grows a huge number of rhodos but also specializes in camellias, magnolias, pieris and conifers. Joy and Ted are featured speakers at the Silver Salute, during the prior week.

The post convention talk by Joy Stones and Ted Cutlan was an extension of the convention euphoria. Tasmania, an English penal outpost is a contrast with its beautiful Eucalyptus trees, white sandy beaches, its pristine parks comprising one third of the total island, to depressing brick boxes with formal English gardens all built by free convict labour. Ted and Joy live mid way up the 4200 ft mountain (like the North and West Vancouverites below Grouse Mt.) next to designated parklands. The city of Hobart sprawls below them, a fine seaport by the Derwent River. Water for the city comes from the Derwent and is free. Tasmania, once known as the Apple Isle, has had its rise and fall of fortunes in mining, fruit and fishing, but now there is optimism that tourism, supplier to Antarctica and the wine industry will add to the country's prosperity once more.

Their slides included the brilliantly coloured Superb Fairy Wrens and the small but fierce Kookaburras who are territorial and eating the young Fairy Wrens.

Slides of native plants and imported rhododendrons were most interesting: The climate, so aptly suited to rhododendrons, makes pruning a must, and the specimens we saw were busy and healthy with tremendous bloom. The Eucalyptus trees form the backdrop in the gardens but as they rob the water from the garden beds, they are not invited in. Some of the plants I enjoyed were Papaver neopalense with huge wrinkled leaves; Chinese Pistachio (Pistachia chinensis) a beautiful deciduous tree with bright green alternate pinnately compound leaves that turn flaming reddish-orange like a Biblical Burning Bush; Cyaphoides, an alpine plant with bright red berries; the heather-like Embothrium coccineum from Chile with its flaming 'red fireworks' flowers set against lush new green growth; and the Xanthorea johnsonii (grass trees known as Blackboys) looking like hairy aliens just alighting .

The culture of rhododendrons is thriving in Tasmania due in part to our guest lecturers' enthusiasm. The Mayor of Hobart allows the society to hold their Rhododendron Show and Sale in the Town hall, a glorious twenty-foot gold and green ceilinged wonder and the towns folk come through in droves. They in turn give thanks to people like Jim Bartlup, friends who have helped them with tissue culture and seed exchange. The draconian Customs of Tasmania subject their bare rooted rhododendrons to thirty minutes of high temperatures and sprayed with insecticide making importation of rhododendrons financially hazardous. Now all U.S. import is cut off because of sudden Oak Death. These measures are now better understood after hearing the talk by Dr. Eric Allen at the convention and the threat to our beloved plants and trees. Many thanks to these far from home guest speakers.