May
Meeting
by Evelyn Weesjes
Al Smith got his introduction to Pleiones, those lovely semi-hardy terrestrial orchids, when he received a bucket of tiny bulbils from Ed Lohbrunner who had a nursery specializing in alpines.
Pleiones are native from the Himalayas through China and into Burma and Thailand. They grow in moss on trees or on mossy rocks with very sharp drainage and in a climate that is wet in summer and dry in winter. The species from higher elevations are more difficult to grow but many of the species are relatively easy if their special requirements are met. These requirements are shade or semi-shade, a light gritty organic mix with excellent drainage, no fertilizer added to the mix, keeping the bulbs cool and dry in winter, and no watering until after flowering and the leaves are developing. The roots of Pleione bulbs die in the fall and do not start growing again until after flowering.
It is possible to grow Pleiones outdoors here provided they are protected from winter wet. Al covers his in winter with 8 inches of oak leaves which besides keeping them dry protects from excessive winter cold. He grows his bed of Pleiones in the dappled shade of oak trees.
For growing in a greenhouse, Al uses a mix of 1/3 sand, 1/3 peatmoss, and 1/3 perlite for potting up the bulbs in February. Absolutely no chemical fertilizer is used in the mix. The bulbs are planted quite closely with their tops above the mix preferably in wide, shallow pans with added drainage. Very little or no watering is done until leaves develop. Then feeding is started with liquid fish fertilizer, 1 film capsule (2 tbsp.) to 1 gallon water. In addition, in summer, 2 light feedings of 20-20-20 HiSol at 1 tsp. per 2 gallons water is given. The bulbs can be stored over winter in the refrigerator but make sure they do not shrivel.
The Pleiones most commonly grown are P. speciosa, a deep reddish-purple which multiplies well; P. formosana in many varieties and usually paler pinks; P. limprichtii a deep purple-red with tiny bulbs which are very hardy; and P. confusa with yellow flowers.
by Robin Hopper
Robin
Hopper arrived in Victoria in 1977 from Eastern Canada and settled in Metchosin
where he opened Chosin Pottery. His property was an old 6-acre farm with a
magnificent stand of Douglas firs and a semi-derelict farmhouse.
While living in the East, Robin had developed several gardens but had not settled long in one place. His desire was to build a beautiful and special garden reflecting his life’s work and travels. Over the years as he became famous for his pottery and travelled around the world, he accumulated ideas for his garden and was strongly influenced by Japanese gardens. His creation which he describes as an Anglojapanadian garden is composed of several themes rich in symbolism and sculpture reflecting his artistic talents.
Robin started by renovating the old farm house and building his studio. Development of the garden was limited to times between his pottery and travel and constrained by funds. Near the house he built a pond, later developed into 3 connecting ponds with a recirculating pump. This area became his Japanese garden, a tranquil enclosed area with Japanese maples, architectural plants and two bronze herons. Combined with it is the meditation garden with scented flowers and a tea house.
Early on he planted under the Douglas firs many large rhododendrons he acquired from Stu Holland, including R. sino-grande, grande, and calophytum. Robin’s excellent slides gave us a tour of his garden through the seasons, starting with his rhododendron section. From here you enter onto a curving stroll path, symbolic of the river of life with more symbolism in the fan-shaped stones set in the path and continued into a fan-shaped arbour. Several large sculpture pieces are set on the lawn near this path. The path leads to a lawn area, symbolic of an ocean, then through a transition area to the gladiatorial tunnel, a recent addition, with a Graeco-Roman pergola at its end surrounded by wild flowers. More sculptural works in the form of pillars covered in intricate designs made from willow twigs are set near the pergola. Here is the Mediterranean xeroscape garden with wild flowers and grasses. The latest addition is a raised walkway over a bog area planted with Japanese iris.
Robin has made use of many architectural-type plants such as the Japanese Umbrella plant (Petasites japonica) and large-leaved hostas. The
Japanese maples in his Japanese garden are marvellous in fall colour. Particular attention was paid to detail in the Japanese garden where Robin made ceramic lotus bud finials, symbolic of rebirth, for the bridges. Plants were selected either for their architectural form or for interest at different times of the year.
Robin has created a garden of many themes representing his life’s travels and with his artistic eye has tied them all together into a collage of beauty year round.