The September Meeting  2002

In the five minute talk which he apologized for stretching to nine, Joe Harvey treated his listeners to an illustrated cameo treatment of the finer points of R. pachysanthum, famous for its thick, whitish-tan indumentum (underside) and a 'lovely silvery tomentum' (topside).  Focussing on these features, he spoke of his development of crosses with R.bureavii. (Joe Harvey brings an occasional refreshing variation in pronunciation to plant names, hence bureavee-ee versus the usual bureavee-eye, and a haughty Rhododendrawn in place of the humdrum rhododendrunn).  For the best indumentum prospect, Joe recommended pachysanthum x yakushimanum, (to date 'un-Coxed'). 

Joe also registered an alert for the fearsome S.O.D. - Sudden Oak Death - Phytophthera ramorum that is devastating the live- and tan oaks in Northern California.  Mercifully, our Garry Oaks, of the white oak family, should be resistant, but fungal variations can have surprising effects.  An even greater concern was reported in the September 8th New York Times, reporting spores of this scourge being discovered in sprouts bursting from redwood stumps.  The giant redwoods of 2000 year vintage have seen off a lot of diseases, but the worry persists.  Douglas Firs are also feared at risk though no case has yet been listed.

Entitled 'Companion Plants for the Rhododendron Garden', Agnes Lynn's illustrated lecture provided a stunning array of plants and shrubs which might well serve as 'Companions of Honour' in any respectable garden. The list of some 64 examples is worth recording:

                                                                 Desfontainea spinosa                                              Evergreen azaleas
                                                                  Pieris japonica                                                       Enkianthus campanulatus
                                                                  Fothergilla monticola                                            Clematis Henryi
                                                                  Itea ilicifolia                                                           Osmanthus delavayi
                                                                  Korean Lilac (Syringa palibiniana)                        Phygelius Winchester Fanfare
                                                                  Chinese Wisteria  (Wisteria sinensis)                      Grevillea Canberra
                                                                  Deutzia Nikko                                                         Mock Orange (Philadelphus Belle Etoile)
                                                                  Weigela Abel Carriere                                            Weigela Versicolor
                                                                  Passion Flower (Passiflora caerulea)                    Himilayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
                                                                  Cistus purpurea                                                      Potentilla fruticosus
                                                                  Carpenteria californica Elizabeth                          Hebe Great Orme
                                                                  Hebe salicifolia                                                       Hypericum
                                                                  Bupleurum fruticosum                                            Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)
                                                                  Hydrangea Pia                                                        Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)
                                                                  Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)                         Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
                                                                  Clematis                                                                  Indigofera gerardiana
                                                                   Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)                                       Smoke Bush (Cotinus obovatus)
                                                                   Hydrangea aspera Villosa                                      Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens)
                                                                   Escallonia  Pride of Donard                                   Fuchsia magellanica
                                                                  Abelia Edward Goucher                                          Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
                                                                  Beauty Berry (Callicarpa bodinieri)                         Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
                                                                  Pernettya mucronata                                               Disanthus cercidifolius
                                                                  Flowering Red Currant (Ribes sanguineum)           Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Arnold's Promise)
                                                                  Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Jelena)                             Clematis armandii
                                                                  Dogwood (Cornus Midwinter Fire)                         Garrya elliptica James Roof
                                                                  Pieris japonica Mountain Fire                                Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Orange Beauty)
                                                                  Camellia Showa No Sakae                                      Fatsia japonica
                                                                  Winter Heather (Erica carnea)                               Viburnum tinus Spring Beauty
                                                                  Viburnum bodnantense Dawn                                 Daphne odora variegata
                                                                  Corylopsis spicata                                                   Chaenomeles japonica
                                                                  Camellia Donation    
                                                                  Chilean Firebush (Embothrium coccineum lanceolatum)
                                                                  Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus Compactus) & Mahonia Charity

Agnes provided a lively commentary on each plant, and members were undoubtedly delighted to recognize examples from their own gardens and wonder at those that were not: e.g that Bottlebrush which finally bloomed after 7 years; the Tree Peony which flowers for 15 minutes each spring; the 'gas-station' Potentilla  which though common, enriches many lives; a not-purple smoke bush; an Hypericum which was decidedly not St John's Wort. And an overall paradise for our two humming bird species - Anna's and Rufous.

At the outset, Agnes paid tribute to certain eminent gardeners who had inspired her over time: Hamish Robertson, Harold Senn, Al Smith and Tony
Wallner.  Their influence has borne rich fruit in her subsequent works.  Of course the great advantage of a well-companioned rhodo garden is its year-round splendour, and Agnes was kind (and brave) enough to

Listeners to witness the originals in their due season