Tulipa 'Menton' planted with Muscari armeniacum. photo courtesy of Brent and Becky Bulbs

Tulipa ‘Menton’ is a Division 5 (single late) tulip. The oval flowers are perched on straight stems rising 24 to 28 inches. Blooming later than many tulips, ‘Menton’ has petals with a suffusion of pink, violet, salmon, and rose. In a typical season it should bloom in late April to early May. The ‘Menton’ tulip makes a perfect cut-flower and is ideal for planting in large masse or can be used in small clumps for accents in the perennial garden. This tulip makes for a nice combination if allowed to grow up through lower plants such as purple pansies, Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, and Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’.

Plant the bulbs 8 to 10 inches deep in late October or November. In areas where squirrels are prevalent you may want to cover the planted area with chicken wire or plastic mesh to keep the squirrels from digging. In the spring, as the foliage emerges, you may also want to consider spraying a deer repellent since tulips are a delicacy of deer.

Scott Associates members can pick up their bulb dividend at the Fall Celebration on Sunday, October 19. photo credit: R. Robert

Members of the Scott Associates can pick up their plant dividend Tulipa ‘Menton’ this fall at the Fall Celebration on Sunday, October 19 and enjoy the presentation of the Scott Medal Award to local horticulture celebrity, Jane Pepper.

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A ribbon of daffodils bloom among the trimmed winter foliage in the John W. Nason Garden. photo credit: R. Robert

Daffodils can truly be described as deer resistant.  Bulbs can be planted in the fall at a depth of 4 to 5 inches.  They will thrive best in full sun or under a high, light deciduous canopy.  After flowering, allow the leaves to turn yellow.  It is important to allow the foliage to photosynthesize and produce carbohydrates to be stored as energy in the bulbs to provide nutrients for the subsequent year’s flowers.

Narcissus 'Katie Heath' is named for plantsman Brent Heath’s mother, Katie Heath. photo credit: courtesy of Brent and Becky Bulbs

This Sunday, members of the Scott Associates can pick-up their fall dividend, Narcissus ‘Katie Heath’, at the Scott Associates Fall Festival. This is an exciting new selection of daffodil from the Virginia-based bulb purveyor, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs.

Narcissus 'Katie Heath' has a striking ivory color and very soft pink floral tubes. photo credit: courtesy of Brent and Becky Bulbs

Named for Brent Heath’s mother, Katie Heath, this is a selection from the Triandrus group of daffodils which is characterized by two or more pendant flowers with the perianth segments reflexed.  The reflexed perianth segments are a striking ivory and the floral tube is a very soft pink.  ‘Katie Heath’ reaches 10-12 inches tall in April and makes an excellent cut flower.

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Differing from the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) G. woronowii has interesting and wide, shiny green leaves.

This species of snowdrop is native to Turkey, Russia, and The Republic of Georgia and named in honor of the Russian plant collector, Georg Woronow. Differing from the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) G. woronowii has interesting and wide, shiny green leaves. The striking, nodding, fragrant white flowers reach 12 inches tall above the foliage. The flowers have three pendant white outer petals and the center inner floral segments are tipped in green. Snowdrops, like other members of Amaryllidacea, are resistant to browsing from rabbits, squirrels, and deer.

Galanthus sp. have naturalized along the paths of the Wister Garden. photo credit: R. Robert

This snowdrop will bloom in March. Small clumps make beautiful additions to an intimate courtyard or small garden. Larger masses can be used to create naturalized effects in the garden.

These bulbs can be planted in the garden in late October. Plant them 3 to 4 inches deep and space them 3 to 4 inches apart. Snowdrops prefer well-drained soil and will flower best with ample amounts of sunlight; however, they can be planted in deciduous shade because they flower before the leaves emerge on the trees.

This Sunday Scott Associates will receive their fall dividend, Galanthus woronowii. photo credit: R. Robert

To receive your own G. woronowii, join us for the Scott Associates Fall Festival on Sunday, October 21 at 4 pm in the Lang Music Building. David Culp, a well-known local horticulturist with an extraordinary home and garden in Downingtown, will be discussing his new book The Layered Garden and how he uses bulbs in his “layers.”

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By Andrew Bunting and Becky Robert

This week the talk of the Philadelphia horticulture scene is the Philadelphia International Flower Show. This year’s theme Hawaii: Islands of Aloha, has gardeners dreaming of creating a tropical paradise in their own backyards. At the Scott Associates Spring Festival this weekend, members can choose between some wonderful tropicals to help create an island retreat in their gardens.

Our first option, Alpinia zerumbet ‘Variegata’, is a wonderful tropical plant grown for its bold strap-like foliage. The upright foliage has beautiful green and yellow variegation. It can grow in either sun or shade, but is particularly effective in shade where it will lighten a dark corner. It can be planted out in the garden or in a container in early May. It will grow to 3 feet tall in one growing season and should be brought in before the first hard frost in the fall.

Clivia miniata in bloom. photo credit: J. Downer

The bush lily or Kaffir lily (Clivia miniata) is an attractive houseplant from South Africa and another enchanting plant dividend this spring. It starts flowering in early spring with a round flower head of deep orange flowers and is a popular plant at the Philadelphia International Flower Show. It has wide, dark green, strap-like foliage.  This group of dividends was given to us by Eleanor Ford. Her late mother, Betty Kassab, was a notable local plantswoman who cultivated the Kaffir lily to sell in her booth at the Flower Show. Clivia can be grown indoors during the fall and winter in part-sun to shade. It enjoys being outdoors for the summer (but not in full sun).

Hemigraphes alternata and Zingiber malayensis 'Midnight' are showcase in last years summer containers in front of the Wister Center. photo credit: J. Coceano

Zingiber malayensis ‘Midnight’ is a tropical plant dividend with fine, upright, shiny black foliage. Reaching 2 to 3 feet in a growing season it makes a perfect addition for the small garden or medium-sized container. The fine foliage points skywards and the leaves have a shiny lacquered effect. It combines beautifully with light orange flowers or chartreuse foliage. It thrives best in part-sun to shade. It can be planted in the garden by early May and should be harvested before the first hard frost in the fall.

For those members who enjoy our spring staple, the Forsythia, we are offering Forsythia suspena as a fourth dividend choice. This cascading species of Forsythia is perfect for planting on top of a wall or bank where it will spill forward. Like other forsythias it is covered with an abundance of golden-yellow flowers in late winter, usually blooming at the end of March in Swarthmore. It is planted on the wall in the Nason Garden and on top of a wall in the Wister Center parking lot. In both instances it helps shroud a utilitarian-looking wall. It will thrive best in full sun.

Join us Sunday, March 11 at 4 pm at the Lang Performing Arts Center to hear talented horticulturist, William Cullina, the 2012 recipient of the Scott Medal and Award speak about issues he is passionate about and how these passions have shaped his life. Member can select their dividend during the reception following his presentation. To shop for more plants to create the tropics in your garden, attend our Unusual Tropicals and Annuals Sale on May 18 to 20.

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Usually around the first of January the wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox begins blooming.  At the Arboretum we grow the straight species which has pendant bell-shaped flowers which are a “dirty” white.  ‘Grandiflorus’ also has an off-white petal but the center of the flower is a deep maroon brown.

Chimonanthus praecox 'Luteus' in the Winter Garden. photo credit: R. Robert

The best cultivar that we grow is Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’, which has a bright yellow flower.  We have fine specimens of ‘Luteus’ in the Winter Garden as well as in the Scott Entrance Garden.  All of the Chimonanthus cultivars have a very inviting fragrance.  Just cutting a small branch and bringing it inside will fill your house with its delightful scent.

The golden yellow of Hamamelis vernalis 'New Year Gold'. photo credit: R. Robert

Just starting to flower in the Sibbett Garden is Hamamelis vernalis ‘New Year Gold’.  This golden yellow clone is one of the earliest of all the witchhazels to bloom.  Like other H. vernalis cultivars, this selection has great fragrance.

Mahonia x media 'Lionel Fortescue' with open sprays of yellow flower. photo credit: J. Coceano

In spite of the very cold weather many of the Mahonia x media cultivars are still revealing their panicles of striking yellow flowers.  These cultivars begin flowering in early November with open sprays of yellow flowers.  At the Arboretum, we have several outstanding cultivars including ‘Charity’, ‘Lionel Fortescue’, ‘Underway’ and ‘Winter Sun’.

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The NAPCC is part of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA).  The NAPCC is an advocate for raising plant curation, plant records, and collections management standards.  It is also a seal of approval for plant collections found in botanical gardens and arboreta that exhibit exemplary collections of plants  throughout North America.

James R. Frorer Holly Collection is located on a south facing slope along the Crum Creek. photo credit: D. Mattis

The Scott Arboretum holds three NAPCC collections including Ilex, hollies; Quercus, oaks; and Magnolia. Our first collection to get NAPCC status was the holly collection.  The lion’s share of this collection is found in the James R. Frorer Holly Collection on the south facing slopes along the Crum Creek. This collection was donated by Swarthmore College graduate, James R. Frorer in 1974 from his property in Wilmington, Delaware.  Today, the collection represents over 290 different kinds of hollies.

There are some great rest spots found among the blossoms of the Magnolia Collection. photo credit: J. Jin

Another significant collection with NAPCC status is our Magnolia Collection. Historically, the “collection” existed around Mertz Dormitory, Worth Health Center, and the Benjamin West House.  Over the last 15 years due to growth of the collection we have expanded out magnolia plantings to the West Garden, Tree Peony Garden, Sharples Dining Hall, and the Pinetum.  The collection is rich in species, cultivars, and hybrids, representing over 150 taxa.

Fall color of the majestic Quercus phellos. photo credit: R. Manduca

Our most recent NAPCC collection is the oaks. We are part of a multi-institution group which represents the genus, Quercus in North America.  Because oaks are found in many  geographical regions of the world it is prudent to have a variety of institutions collectively hold this collection.  For example, the UC Davis Arboretum can grow the California and Mexican oaks while the Scott Arboretum can focus on Eastern U. S. native species along with European and Asian species and cultivars.

Quercus bicolor with lovely fall color. photo credit: R. Manduca

Each of the three collections span the entire Arboretum.  Exploring any of these collections will open your eyes to the range of plants growing here at Scott Arboretum.

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Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' is a PHS Gold Medal winner. photo credit: J. Coceano

The evaluation process is relatively simple.   We evaluate for “grower friendliness” on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being “easy” and  1 being “difficult,” and “impulse cosmetics” with 5 being “wow” and 1 being “ugly.”  We also record additional comments which often include notes on pest and disease problems.

Buxus sempervirens 'Newport Blue' has an attractive rounded form. photo credit: J. Coceano

For the 2011 National Boxwood Trials the following boxwoods received 5 in both categories in our trials: ‘Dee Runk’ and ‘Pyramidalis’ are beautiful upright cultivars.  ‘Jensen’ is a dwarf clone. ‘Vardar Valley’ is a PHS Gold Medal recipient. ‘Longwood’ and ‘Newport Blue’ are good rounded forms.

Buxus sempervirens 'Longwood' is also ranked highly as a rounded form of boxwood. photo credit: J. Coceano

Saunders Brothers, who specialize in boxwoods, have developed the National Boxwood Trial program by establishing official sites for evaluation. Trial sites are located throughout the United States and international gardens including Tbilisi Botanical Garden in the Republic of Georgia; Nikita Botanical Gardens, Ukraine and Langely Boxwood Nursery in England.

Buxus sempervirens 'Jensen' is a dwarf clone. photo credit: J. Coceano

In the United States, the 60 institutional trial sites are divided regionally including Northeast, Mid-Atlantic , Southern, and Midwest Regions.  The Scott Arboretum has been a participant for many years as part of the Northeast Region.

Buxus sempervirens 'Dee Runk' is a beautiful upright cultivar. photo credit: J. Coceano

Copies of this 129-page color report are available for $20.00 each.  Make your check payable to National Boxwood Trials and send to 2717 Tye Brook Highway, Piney River, VA 22964

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Colorful array of magnolia fruit collected from the Scott Arboretum, Henry Foundation, and Morris Arboretum. photo credit: J. Coceano

We have gathered seed from the Arboretum’s collections, as well as from the Henry Foundation in Gladwyne and the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill.

Stack of follicles bursting with magnolia seeds. photo credit: J. Coceano

Most magnolia seeds are found in large cone-like fruits called follicles.

Magnolia seeds removed from follicles and ready for soaking. photo credit: J. Coceano

Once the follicles open up and reveal the seed which is often red and covered in a waxy coat, the seed can be harvested.

Once removed from the follicles, seeds are soaked for three days. photo credit: J. Coceano

After the seeds are harvested, they are soaked in water for three days in order to loosen the seed coat. Our volunteers found the most effective way to remove the seed from the seed coat after soaking was to squeeze the fruit. The seed simply squirts out of the fruit.

Cleaned seeds are allowed to dry for a day. photo credit: J. Coceano

The seeds are then dried for a day or two. The seeds are packaged in slightly moist vermiculite and refrigerated. Do not store the seeds dry, because they rapidly lose viability under those conditions.

Arboretum Assistant (volunteer) Marianne DiPaulo packages seeds in moist vermiculite. photo credit: J. Coceano

The moist seeds are stratified for 2 to 4 months at 32 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit before planting. You can also fall- plant the seeds outdoors to allow nature to provide the cool, moist conditions for stratification.

Throughout the process it is important to keep the name and the source with the seed.  Those who subscribe to the Magnolia Society’s seed exchange will make their selections based on species and source. To learn more about the Magnolia Society International and to participate in the seed exchange go to: www.magnoliasociety.org.  Also, consider attending the next annual meeting in the Bay Area and Sonoma Valley.

As a whimsical aside on the wonders of seed germination, enjoy this video of our former summer intern, Jared Barnes impersonating our favorite super hero, Superseed. Happy propagating!

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Star-shaped flowers of Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant'. photo credit: Brent and Becky Bulbs

Chiododoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’ reaches only  6 to 8 inches tall.  However, the flowers are relatively large for a Chionodoxa.  The star-shaped, six-petaled flowers are bubblegum-pink and skyward facing.

At the Arboretum, we have used Chionodoxa among other “smaller bulbs” in the Harry Wood Garden.  In the panels at Wharton Courtyard, they create a groundcover of pink just as the magnificent saucer magnolias, Magnolia x soulangiana are coming into flower.

The bubblegum-pink flowers of Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant'. photo credit: Brent and Becky Bulbs

Unlike tulips, crocus, and hyacinths, all Chionodoxa are deer resistant.  Plant these bulbs three inches deep before early November.   They can be planted among other bulbs but also do well amid deciduous herbaceous plants such as Epimedium, Hosta, and Tiarella.

Members of the Scott Arboretum will receive this delightful bulb as their fall dividend at the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 15 at 4 pm. Become a member today to add this bulb to your garden.

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By Ray Rogers and Rob Cardillo

This new book is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in growing unusual annuals and tropicals in containers.  The book is beautifully illustrated with container designs from Chanticleer, the Scott Arboretum, etc.  Over 500 choices of plants are highlighted.

The A-Z reference covers everything from Abutilon to Zinnia.  For each entry there is a description of the plant’s attribute, several species or cultivar listing, beautiful color picture, and cultivating and overwintering information.

We are excited to have Ray Rogers and Rob Cardillo on hand for book sales and signing, and to serve as plant experts at the Unusual Tropicals and Annuals Sale on Saturday, May 21. Many of the plants featured in our sale are featured in their book including Abutilon, Acalypha, Aechmea, Alocasia, Begonia, Brugmansia, Cissus, Dahlia, Hedychium, Kalanchoe, Melianthus, Musa, Salvia, Solanum, Solenostemon (syn. Coleus), Strobilanthes, and Xanthosoma.

Ray Rogers is well known to many in the Delaware Valley for his exquisite plants at the Philadelphia Flower Show.  Over the last couple decades, Ray has won 397 blue ribbons and 88 top awards.  In addition to his most recent reference, Ray has also authored Coleus and Pots in the Garden.

Rob Cardillo is a professional horticultural photographer who was formerly the Director of Photography at Organic Gardening magazine.  Rob is widely published in both gardening books, as well as, in many periodicals including Green Scene, House and Garden, and Horticulture.

Come on May 21^st and to meet and talk to Ray Rogers and Rob Cardillo while doing one-stop-shopping from an incredible range of tropicals and unusual annuals. Pick up a copy of their book to inspire and inform your containers combinations.

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