QBARS - v6n1 Gifts to the Trial Garden of the American Rhododendron Society at Crystal Springs Lake Island

Gifts to the Trial Garden of the American Rhododendron Society at Crystal Springs Lake Island

The American Rhododendron Society was the, recipient of 32 species Rhododendron plants, a gift from the University of Washington Arboretum, Seattle. These plants were raised from seed which was collected by the Arboretum from such sources as the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, Mount Omei Shan, Szechuan, China and from various private collectors of species rhododendrons. The plants are now from five to ten years old. Many have never been seen in bloom in the United States. As these plants are all seedlings it will take several more years for the majority of them to be old enough to get buds; however such plants as R. chartophyllum var. praecox, deleiense, flavidum etc. bloom at a very early age.

Among the varieties grown from the seed sent from the Royal Botanic Garden are: R. alutaceum, caucasicum, chloranthum, euanthum, hormophorum, prattii and vilmorinianum. From the well known Mount Omei. Shan, situated in the southwestern corner of Szechwan province, China has come such varieties as R. chengshienianum and Hemsleyanum, the latter grows as a small tree in dense thickets and can stand very strong winds which is rather unusual for a rhododendron. From our own North-west growers, Carl E. English, Jr. and Mrs. Else M. Frye of Seattle have come R. cyclium and cerulean.</p>

The American Rhododendron Society is most fortunate to receive these species to be added to their growing collection of some 700 hybrids and species now planted in the Test Garden. Most of the rhododendrons and azaleas have been donated by private individuals and nurserymen, but this is the first time another organization has contributed to the establishment of our Rhododendron Test Garden. Many members of the University of Washington Arboretum Foundation are members of the American Rhododendron Society, as is the curator, Mr. Brian Mulligan, through whose efforts these plants were obtained.  

Mrs. Harding, a Charter member of the American Rhododendron Society graciously contributed not only a specimen plant of Loderi Venus but also a sizeable plant of campylocarpum. These plants can now be enjoyed by everyone who visits the Test Garden during the blooming season.  

In recent weeks specimen plants of both Rhododendron and Azaleas have been generously contributed by various members of the American Rhododendron Society. Plants have been sent in from as far away as Fort Bragg, California.  The Commercial growers who have donated plants this Fall have been Irving Lincoln, Mrs. Marguerite Norrbo, Henry Swanson, Theodore Van Veen, P. J. Van Bruggen, Nicholas Radovich, Ben F. Lancaster of Camas. Wash. and John S. Druecker of Fort Bragg, California.  The Amateur growers who have donated plants have been Mrs. A. H. Harding, Mrs. Sophie Cason, Mrs.. M. E. Klahn, S. L. Burnaugh, C. I. Sersanous and Russel Gaynor of Newberg, Ore. and Cecil Smith of Aurora, Ore.

Among the species transplanted this Fall are a six foot venerable specimen of R. souliei, four 7-foot plants of R. fortunei and two 8-foot plants of Azalea pontica. Two plants of R. campbelliae, in the Arboreum Series might be classed as the most rare of the species donated this season.

The Hybrid rhododendrons transplanted this Fall include many outstanding names in both the old and new hybrid list. Some of the larger plants include such names as 'Britannia', 'White Pearl', 'Lodauric', 'Rosamund Millais' and 'Beauty of Littleworth', to name a few.

From Fort Bragg, Calif. has come a fine plant of R. johnstoneanum, a small plant of the Umbrella Pine, (Sciadopitys verticillata) and a plant of the very rare Crinodendron patagua. The Crinodendron, a native tree of Chile, is now planted as a companion to the Embothrium which was donated last year to the Island planting.

These plants as well as the hundreds of others already planted there can be seen by the public in the spring, as the Island is always open during the blooming season. The Test Garden is located on a four acre Island located in Crystal Springs Lake. The entrance to the Island is from S.E. 28th Ave. and Carlton Streets and is clearly marked by a large sign. Visitors to the Island must do so on foot as no vehicles are allowed due to the narrow entrance road and the lack of parking space.


PLANTS DONATED TO THE A. R. S. TEST GARDEN

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PLANTS PURCHASED
Magnolia parviflora
Magnolia veitchii
R. 'White Pearl'

Donor: MRS. M. E. KLAHN Donor: JOHN S. DRUECKER Donor: P. J. VANBRUGGEN
R. 'Mrs. G. W. Leak' R. johnstonianum R. 'White Pearl'
R. 'Langly Park' Sciadopitys verticillata (Umbrella Pine)  
R. 'Mother of Pearl' Crinodendron patagua Donor: THEODORE VAN VEEN
R. fortunei   R. 'J. G. Millais'
  Donor: NICK RADOVICH R. 'Rosamond Millais'
Donor: MRS. SOPHIE CASON R. 'Gills Crimson' R. 'Brittania'
R. fortunei  

R. 'Azor'</td> </tr>

R. 'Lord Roberts' Donor: IRVING B. LINCOLN R. 'Mme. de Bruin'
R. discolor hybrid R. 'Antoon Van Welie' R. 'Beauty of Littleworth'
R. 'Kate Waterer' R. 'Bulstrode Park' R. 'Mrs. R. S. Holford'
R. 'Loders White' R. 'Chevalier Felix de Sauvage' R. Lodauric
R. Mucronatum sokederi R. 'Dr. A. Blok' R. souliei
R. occidentale hybrid R. 'Annie E. Emdtz'  
R. pontica R. 'Jan Dekens' Donor: MRS. A. H. HARDING
R. mollis

R. 'Borde Hill'</td>

R. 'Loderi Venus'
  R. 'Peter Koster' R. campylocarpum
Donor: HENRY SWANSON R. 'Marinus Koster'  
R. discolor

R. 'Max Sye'</td>

Donor: CECIL SMITH
R. fortunei R. 'Prof. J. H. Zaayer' R. 'Fabia'
R. wilsonae R. 'Purple Splendor' R. 'Mme. F. Chauvin'
  R. 'Hollandia' R. 'Mrs. G. W. Leak'
Donor: S. L. BURNAUGH R. 'Mrs. Chas. Pearson' R. 'Loderi Venus'
R. 'Cynthia' R. 'Marcell Moser' R. 'Lady Bligh'
R. 'Gomer Waterer'   R. 'Dr. O. Blok'
R. Rock seedling (red) Donor: C. I. SERSANOUS  
unknown (illegible label) R. 'White Pearl' Donor: CHARLES SKINNER
R. 'Mrs. Lindsay Smith'   R. californicum
  Donor: BEN F. LANCASTER R. occidentale
Donor: RUSSEL GAINER R. 'Mrs. R. S. Holford'  
R. 'Cornubia' unknown (unidentified)  
R. 'Ivery's Scarlet' unknown (unidentified)  
R. 'Sarita Loderi'    
R. 'Loderi King George' Donor: MRS. MARGUERITE NORRBO  
R. 'Gills Crimson' R. thomsonii  
unknown (illegible label) R. campbelliae  
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SPECIES DONATED BY U. OF WASHINGTON

alutaceum</td>

croceum</td>

jucundum</td> </tr>

ambiguum</td>

cucullatum</td>

maximum</td> </tr>

argyrophyllum</td>

cyclium</td>

morii</td> </tr>

cerulean</td>

deleiense</td>

niveum</td> </tr>

calophytum</td>

diaprepes</td>

pholidotum</td> </tr>

caucasicum</td>

euanthum</td>

polylepis</td> </tr>

chartophyllum var. praecox</td>

flavidum</td>

Prattii</td> </tr>

galactinum</td>

sheltonii</td>

chengshienianum</td> </tr>

glischrum</td>

sutchuenense</td>

chloranthum</td> </tr>

hemsleyanum</td>

vilmorinianum</td>

cinnabarinum</td> </tr>

hormophorum</td>

yedoense var. poukhanense</td>