Monthly Archives: March 2016

‘Orchidelirium’! New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show

Marc Hachadourian agrees that his job makes a lot of people envious. As curator of orchids at the New York Botanical Garden and director of the garden’s Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections in Bronx, N.Y., he cares for more than 10,000 plants, including roughly 7,000 orchids.

For the garden’s annual Orchid Show, Hachadourian participates in what he calls “the display, theme-ing, and interpretation” of the spectacle. Planning for each show begins about a year ahead of time. The theme for this year’s dazzling exhibition, timed to coincide with the celebration of the NYBG’s 125th anniversary, is ‘Orchidelirium.’ The title refers to the period in 1880’s Victorian England when orchids were highly coveted but hard to come by. Successful orchid propagation was, as yet, unheard of, and the competition to find plants and ship them to collectors was steep. Tales of derring-do and dastardly, sometimes deadly deeds abound. (For a terrific write-up, read William Grimes’ ‘Orchidelrium’ in The New York Times, and, best of all, see the show for yourself.)

nybg_The centerpiece of the 'Orchidelirum' show is a recreation of a mountain of volcanic rock, complete with%2
The centerpiece of the ‘Orchidelirum’ show is a recreation of a mountain of volcanic rock, complete with waterfall and smothered in orchid blossoms.

The show, which runs through April 17, fills the better part of the garden’s iconic glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Its centerpiece is a recreation of a mountain of volcanic rock, complete with a working waterfall, that is smothered in orchid blossoms of all colors and sizes. Hachadourian estimates that the show includes 3,000 to 5,000 orchids at any one time. Plants are swapped out regularly so those with fading flowers are returned to the greenhouses and plants in bloom are added to the show. Getting thousands of orchid plants to blossom almost simultaneously is part of Hachadourian’s job, and he does it by “manipulating light, temperature and water, and understanding what the plant is so you can speed it up or slow it down,” he says.

Interspersed among the orchids, creating the lushness of a rainforest, are many of the plants that grow alongside them in their natural habitats: ferns, palms, bromeliads, and aechmeas.

The show’s designer Christian Primeau, who is manager of the conservatory, has layered the plants to spectacular effect, creating arresting vistas that flatter but never upstage the orchids. Scale is its own star, with giant palm leaves serving as canopies or contrasting elements for smaller orchid blossoms, and large-blossoming orchids nestled beside the miniatures.

nybg_Part of the wonder of 'Orchidelirium' is the way in which designer Christian Primeau plays with color an
Part of the wonder of ‘Orchidelirium’ is the way in which designer Christian Primeau plays with color and scale.

Threaded throughout the show are stations designed to outline ripping tales of orchid hunting, the transport of plants across the high seas, and the scientific progress that led to the eventual cultivation and hybridization of these treasured plants.

One station details the contributions of London doctor Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward,  who accidentally stumbled on what became the world’s first terrarium. The doctor had a side interest in entomology, the study of insects, and, in 1829, he sealed a moth chrysalis and a bit of soil inside a bottle. A week later, he found fern and grass seedlings sprouting inside, and was able to conclude that the sheltered environment with constant moisture was conducive to supporting plant life. Ward experimented with larger cases made of glass and wood. Ultimately, he set two cases aboard the top deck of a ship bound for Australia. Six months later, the cases and the plants had arrived intact, and his Wardian Case became instrumental in ferrying plants from one climate to another in overseas voyages that could last for many months.

The propagation of orchids is chronicled in another vignette, which explains that in the 19th century, “scientists discovered that orchid seeds need nutrition from fungus near their roots in order to germinate.” American scientist Lewis Knudson is celebrated as “the first person to germinate orchid seeds using an artificial culture of nutrients in laboratory conditions,” according to show materials. Knudson’s discovery made it possible “to raise orchid seedlings by the millions,” and it opened the door to the development of today’s orchid industry.

nybg_Show designer Christian Primeau has layered plantings to great effect, combining orchids with bromeliads, fern
Show designer Christian Primeau has layered plantings to great effect, combining orchids with bromeliads, ferns, palms, aechmeas and other plants that are companions in their native habitats.

The hazards of orchid hunting and collecting were many. The naturalists and hunters who voyaged into strange lands faced the threats of disease, wild animals, accidents, and, of course, the dastardly deeds of their more ruthless competitors. To foil rivals in the trade, hunters were known to harvest as many plants as they could then destroy those left behind, a scorched Earth policy that led to the destruction of the plants’ natural habitats.

In 1906, German-born orchid collector Frederick Sander, the so-called Orchid King, rattled off a list for The New York Herald Tribune of orchid collectors in his employ who had come to bad ends. Grimes quotes the following passage in his article in The New York Times: “Among my collectors who have died in harness I remember Falkenberg in Panama, Klaboch in Mexico, Endres on the Rio Hacha, Wallace in Ecuador, Schroder in Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa, poor Arnold on the Orinoco, Digance in Brazil and Brown in Madagascar. All these have met more or less tragic deaths through wild beasts, savages, fever, drowning, falls or other accidents.”

Grimes’ article also makes note of a hunter who, upon meeting a competitor aboard a ship bound for Venezuela, was instructed by his boss to follow the man, collect the same orchids, and urinate on his rival’s plants.

Other hazards waited on the return trip home. Plants could die, glass cases could shatter in a storm, and entire boats could be swallowed by the sea.

Nowadays, orchid hunting and orchid growing are far simpler. While there remain a handful of orchid hunters who take their chances in undiscovered corners of the globe, most of us can rely on a few clicks of the mouse to bring a beautiful orchid to the front door.

nybg_The New York Botanical Garden's Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is filled with 3,000 to 5,000 blossoming orchid
The New York Botanical Garden’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is filled with 3,000 to 5,000 blossoming orchids for the show.

The adventure now lies in keeping them well and supporting them properly so they thrive. This can be a challenge for many in the typically hot, dry environment of the average home.

Although Hachadorian has a greenhouse in the backyard of his residence in New Jersey, he is adamant when he says, “You definitely don’t need a greenhouse to grow orchids.”

Hachadourian has a bit more practice growing plants than most, having begun his botanical experiments as a child. “I still have the first Sansevieria my grandmother gave me when I was 3 or 4 years old,” he says. “It’s in a coffee cup. It survived a house fire and keeps on going. I’ve divided it many times. I’m 43 now, so that means it’s almost 40 years old.”

When growing orchids at home, Hachadourian has several recommendations:

“First and foremost, match the plant to the conditions you have. It’s just like choosing plants for your outdoor garden,” he says. “Orchids are such a diverse group of plants.” (He estimates that there are “over 30,000 naturally occurring species with over 150,000 man-made hybrids.”) “There is an orchid for every location.” Light, temperature, and the amount of care you’re willing to give your plants all factor into the choice. Do you have sun or shade? Warm temperatures or cool? Are you neglectful of plants, or do you find pleasure in hovering over them?

For help in choosing the right orchid for your conditions, Hachadourian recommends “informing yourself” by reading books. (He politely declined to name any specific titles but did caution that there’s a lot of misinformation on the Web.) Hachadourian also suggests contacting any local nursery that grows orchids in your area. “Call the nursery and let them know what you have in terms of conditions. There are many orchid growers all around the country. The local nursery will know your conditions.” Too often people choose a favorite plant and force it to grow in conditions it doesn’t like, Hachadourian says. “But eventually favorites are the ones people have success with. Match the plant to conditions first, and you’ll have greater success.”

For our recommendations, click here to see our  Orchid Growing Guides.

For information about the New York Botanical Garden’s ‘Orchidelirium’ show, visit www.nybg.org.

For more information about orchids, visit the website of the American Orchid Society, www.aos.org.

To involve yourself with a local orchid group, check out the CT Orchid Society at http://ctorchids.org.

The Store Is Open for the Season!

After weeks of unseasonably warm weather here in Morris, CT, the White Flower Farm Store opened Monday, March 21, just in time for what we hope was the last snowstorm of the season. We were spared the worst, and the dusting of snow (which, we confess, looked absolutely beautiful on trees and shrubs), melted away before noon.

IMG_3206
Adromeda ‘Brouwer’s Beauty’ is ready to burst into bloom.

So, what’s on offer at our plant nursery at this time of year? Our remodeled, expanded display space has more room than ever for lovely spring-flowering trees (most in landscape size, which means 5- to 15-gallon specimens), evergreen shrubs including the budded and blossoming Andromedas that are great for year-round structure and color, espaliered fruit trees that can be used to create living “fences” around or in a vegetable garden or soften the existing walls of a home or shed, and container pots that add interest and color to porches and patios. While here, be sure to see our selections of berry plants as well. We offer three types of Grape vines, numerous Blueberries, and at least four different Raspberry selections, all of which will have you harvesting delicious fresh fruit from your garden.

As you peruse our selection of trees and shrubs, bear in mind that we now offer delivery service. If you purchase plants at our Morris store, we’ll be happy to deliver a van full for a small fee. We also offer tree-planting services for a nominal fee for any tree purchased at our nursery. Ask one of our staff members for details.

Air Plants and African Violets

Inside our freshly painted store, we’re welcoming the new season with a wide array of plants, gardening supplies, and gifts. The African Violets are particularly beautiful this year, their colors ranging from rich purple and deep pink to bicolor. They look marvelous alone or displayed with foliage plants. Many are available in tiny teacup-sized cachepots that would look just right on a desktop or bedside table. Distinctive flowering and foliage houseplants are a great gift or table decoration for the upcoming holidays.

IMG_3183
A teak wood bowl is filled with a variety of different Air Plants.

We’re offering a broad selection of beguiling Air Plants (Tillandsias), which subsist on nutrients in the air and the occasional spritz of water. Mary Valente, visual merchandiser and gift buyer for the White Flower Farm Store, is showing them suspended from the ceiling on fishing line, overfilling teak bowls, and tucked into displays here and there.

Fans of miniature gardens will find supplies aplenty – from miniature plants to miniature props – for creating tiny, highly personalized gardens under glass.

IMG_3060
Mary Valente, visual merchandiser and gift buyer for the White Flower Farm Store, loves this seed blend, which attracts hummingbirds.

For those who enjoy starting their own seeds, we’re offering a broad selection of packets for individual flowers and edibles (the majority organic), plus seed collections, including some that attract hummingbirds and pollinators.

IMG_3040
All the tools we offer are put to the test at the farm. These are some of the best.

In our Tools of the Trade section, we’re showcasing a selection of the professional-grade garden gear we use at the farm, along with the garden supplies we deem essential – from Tomato ties and blossom-boosting fertilizer to deer and rabbit repellent.

What else? There are bird feeders (including a new hummingbird feeder that invites hard-working flyers to perch on a raised rail as they feed), birdhouses, Lily bulbs, (the Dahlia tubers are arriving soon), stationery, postcards, garden hats, and glass hummingbird ornaments that, hung near a window, sparkle in the light.

A visit to the display gardens is a must on any trip to the White Flower Farm Store. It’s a bit quiet in the beds and borders, but there’s no question the garden is waking up. Some of the Hellebores are in full bloom. The Tulip foliage is way out of the ground. The colorful foliage of Heuchera plants can be seen bursting through the soil, and the spring-flowering trees and shrubs are covered in plump buds (only the Andromeda is in bloom as this scribbling occurs). As Mary put it, “It’s a great time to walk around the garden because you can see everything that Cheryl [our head gardener] is doing.” Which shrubs has she pruned? How severely has she cut them back? What is she planting now? Visitors who care to study the scene can watch how various plants shake off their winter slumber. Which bulbs blossom together? Which perennials arrive first? Which look best at this very early stage of the season? The display gardens are a great classroom and observatory for gardeners of all stripes, and the store’s staff members are delighted to answer questions. Keep a jacket handy until the mercury rises a bit, but come by and visit any time you like. The store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you. (Please note: We are closed March 27th for Easter Sunday.)

Do You Know Your Lily Varieties?

Lilies are one of the truly great garden plants for their flower forms, diversity, extended season of bloom, graceful stature, and reliable disposition. Their bulbs can be planted in spring for bloom the same year, or in fall for bloom the following year.

The sequence of bloom begins in early summer with the colorful Asiatics, Martagon Lilies (also called Turk’s Cap Lilies), and then continues until late summer with other Species Lilies and three tall, fragrant groups: Orientals, Orienpets (hybrids between Orientals and Trumpets), and Trumpets.

Here’s a primer to help familiarize you with the different types:

redtwin
Asiatic Lily ‘Red Twin’®: The large, 7″ salsa red double blooms of this Asiatic variety add fire to the summer border. Note the elegantly formed inner bloom with narrow reflexed petals.

Asiatic Lilies

Asiatic Lilies are early-blooming, colorful, and vigorous. Colors range from the softest pastels to fiery reds and oranges that practically ignite in the sun. Blooms vary from simple open bowls to exquisite recurved flowers. Their straight stems and high bud count make them superb cut flowers.

Lilium ‘Star Gazer’: When Leslie Woodriff, a Lily breeder in California, created 'Star Gazer' a quarter of a century ago, it instantly set a new standard for Oriental Lilies. This fragrant hybrid grew beautifully in the average garden, and its large, upfacing blooms on strong stems were outstanding as cut flowers.
Oriental Lily ‘Star Gazer’: When Leslie Woodriff, a Lily breeder in California, created ‘Star Gazer’ a quarter of a century ago, it instantly set a new standard for Oriental Lilies. This fragrant hybrid grew beautifully in the average garden, and its large, upfacing blooms on strong stems were outstanding as cut flowers.

Oriental Lilies

Oriental Lilies are best known for their huge flowers and intense perfume. They come in a wide variety of heights, forms, and colors, and put on a magnificent, late-summer show.

Trumpet Lily ‘Ice Caves’: An abundance of big white blooms with frosty green throats are presented on long graceful stems. The flowers appear midsummer on statuesque plants about 5′ tall, and they produce a delightful fragrance.

Trumpet Lilies

As the name might suggest, these Lilies have lovely, trumpet-shaped flowers borne on long graceful stems. Their intoxicating scent can perfume an entire garden.

‘Silk Road’: Here is an Orienpet Lily with huge, intoxicatingly fragrant 8″ flowers that are borne on spires up to 2′ across for longer than you thought possible. It’s the winner of the North American Lily Society's popularity poll for 4 straight years.
Orienpet Lily ‘Silk Road’: Here is an Orienpet Lily with huge, intoxicatingly fragrant 8″ flowers that are borne on spires up to 2′ across for longer than you thought possible. It’s the winner of the North American Lily Society’s popularity poll for 4 straight years.

Orienpet Lilies

Orienpet Lilies are crosses between Oriental and Trumpet Lilies. They combine the best features of both groups — fragrance, large flowers, and sturdy garden performance — and they bloom about 2 weeks earlier than Orientals.

Lilium langkongense: These recurved, lavender-pink bells possess an exquisite charm and grace. They deepen in color as they age and are heavily spotted in maroon. This fragrant Species Lily comes from the mountainous regions of southwestern China, and prefers regular moisture, well-drained soil, and a bit of shade in the heat of the day.]
Species Lily langkongense: These recurved, lavender-pink bells possess an exquisite charm and grace. They deepen in color as they age and are heavily spotted in maroon. This fragrant Species Lily comes from the mountainous regions of southwestern China, and prefers regular moisture, well-drained soil, and a bit of shade in the heat of the day.

Species Lilies

Delicate and graceful Species Lilies carry their flowers on candelabra-shaped stems, and are generally more tolerant of shade. Their elegant show improves with each passing year. They combine well with perennials and annuals in a mixed border.

Claude Shride
Martagon Lily ‘Claude Shride’: A cherished classic from the 1970s, this Martagon (Turkscap) hybrid displays a tall candelabra of downward-facing, recurved, dark red blossoms highlighted with yellow-orange spots. Because the small, waxy flowers will bloom in light shade, highlight this fine variety with Hostas and other woodlanders.

Martagon Lilies

A subgroup of Species Lilies also known as ‘Turk’s Caps,’ Martagons are lovely and elegant plants whose graceful, willowy stature and shapely flowers are entirely captivating and perfectly magical in the lightly shaded nooks they seem to prefer. Traditionally this species has been known to be tricky to keep happy since it is slow to establish, but newer hybrids take hold more quickly.

Lily leaf beetle

Battling the Lily Leaf Beetle

Gardeners in the Northeast must be on the lookout for the Lily leaf beetle, which feeds on Lily foliage, buds, and flowers in both its larval and adult form. Luckily, both life stages are easily recognized: the adult is slightly less than ½” long, with a brilliant scarlet body and black head and appendages. The larvae look a bit like lumpy slugs but are orange, brown, or greenish yellow with black heads; they pile their black excrement on their backs as they feed. (Gross, right?) From March through June, look on the undersides of the leaves for the orange eggs and destroy them. Handpicking works if only a few plants are present; for a larger planting, neem products are effective for young larvae and will deter adults, and insecticides containing spinosad will control the insect (but avoid using these when bees are active). Occasionally, aphids will infect Lilies with Lily mosaic virus, which results in yellow streaking or mottling of the leaves; this virus is mainly problematic in the species. Watch for aphids and rinse off with a forceful water spray.

Magnolia Branch

Forcing Branches for a Preview of Spring

Cherry tree blossom
Even a single branch forced indoors can bring a welcome preview of spring. This twig from a Cherry tree blossomed after three weeks indoors.

At this time of year, we’re always reminded of the benefits of having a variety of spring-blooming shrubs and trees in the garden. We’re midway through winter, and although it’s been a remarkably mild one here in the Northeast, the landscape of browns, greys, and whites has begun to prey on our spirits. To introduce a bit of vibrant natural color and beauty to our indoor rooms, and to do it economically, we force branches. You don’t need any special gear or know-how, just a pair of clean, sharp pruners and a few of the right trees and shrubs in your yard.

Witch Hazel in bloom
It’s been such a mild winter that the Witch Hazel had already bloomed outdoors before we went looking for cuttings.

Among our favorites for forcing are Witch Hazel (Hamamelis), Magnolia, Forsythia, Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Shadbush (Amelanchier), flowering Quince (Chaenomeles), crabapple (Malus), flowering pear (Pyrus), flowering Cherry (Prunus), Viburnum, and Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas).

Sometimes starting as early as January but more likely in February and March, we make regular forays into the garden. We choose days when the temperature is above freezing, and not only for ourselves. The milder temperatures help ease the transition the plants must make from outdoors to indoors. While enjoying the fresh air in our lungs and the physical exertion of wading through snow (if there is any), we cut our branches.

cutting branches
Using clean pruners, cut branches or twigs with plenty of buds on them. It’s best to do the cutting on a day when the temperature is above freezing.

The guidelines are very simple, the trees and shrubs generally very forgiving, and the results well worth the effort. Here’s how:

  • Cut only branches that are nonessential to the form of your shrub or tree, or make sure you confine your cutting to the back side of the plant, if there is one, or to crowded sections where a branch or two will not be missed.
  • Choose sections that are at least 1’ long and generously punctuated by plump flower buds. (In most cases, you will see leaf buds on the branches, too, but those are generally smaller and pointy at the tips.)
  • Use proper pruning techniques (see Pruning Tips below).
  • Bring the branches indoors and put them in a sink or sturdy vase or vessel full of warm water. (The vessel should be one that won’t tip when the weight and size of branches are added to it.)
  • Some gardeners recommend re-cutting the branches or goring the stems near the cut while the branch or stem is underwater. This can facilitate uptake of water and negate the possibility of air entering the stem and sealing out the water. We confess we do this only some of the time, and the vast majority of branches blossom either way.
  • Arrange your branches in the sturdy vase or vessel, and set it in a sunny spot indoors. Avoid locations atop radiators or near heat sources (although, we confess, we have broken that rule a time or two, and the buds still bloomed).
  • Replace the water in your container every few days. Bacteria will flourish and impede the progress of your forcing. Severe enough bacteria has the opportunity to set rot in your forcing branches.
fat buds of Cornus mas
The fat buds of a Cornus mas tree are almost ready to break open into yellow flowers.

Generally speaking, the nearer the date is to a plant’s natural blooming time, the sooner will begin flowering indoors.

Pussy Willow branches
Pussy Willows are a great choice for forcing indoors. They don’t require water, and they last for ages.

Pussy Willows can be cut in winter and brought indoors, too. Wait until the downy catkins have broken out of their casings. Cut lengths that measure at least 1’. Bring them indoors and put them in a vase with or without water. They will retain their good looks for a very long time either way.

Magnolia blossomo
A Magnolia blossom in full bloom.

The colors and natural beauty these branches bring to indoor spaces lift the spirits in winter. They leave no doubt that spring is on the march.

Pruners and vase
Cut branches and put them in water as soon as possible. Some gardeners recommend cutting stems again while they’re under water to prevent air from getting inside. We confess we haven’t always done this, and most of our branches bloom beautifully anyway.

Proper Pruning Techniques

  • Use a clean, sharp pruner
  • Make steeply angled cuts to encourage water uptake
  • Clean pruners with warm soapy water after each use