March/April 1988 LuAnn B. Munns a, < bHO, nO Los Angeles County Department of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens BALDWIN BONANZA OFFERS NEW PLANTS FOR HOME, GARDEN IKE A GOOD LANDSCAPE, plans for Baldwin Bonanza XVIII at the Los Angeles State and County Ar- boretum are taking shape around a framework of trees and shrubs. By the time the sale arrives on May 1, a wide selection of unusual plants in many different categories will have been added for shoppers who want their gardens to reflect their own individual interests. For the woody backbone of the garden, the Arboretum has been growing several types of small trees with distinctive features for Bald- win Bonanza. Among those with conspicuous flowers are the Chinese fringe trees (Chionanthus retusus) with masses of white flowers and the Tabebuia species that have yel- low or lavender trumpet-shaped flowers each spring. Other trees on sale have other unusual features like the graceful weeping branches of Acacia pendula and A. saligna or The unusual plant Hydnophytum formicarum, for sale at the Baldwin Bon- anza, develops its lumpy trunk when it is quite young. subtle bark patterns like the snake- bark maple (Acer capillipes) which provides guaranteed fall color in Southern California. During field trials on the Arbore- tum grounds these trees have prov- en that they grow well in Southern California, but few nurseries in the area carry them. Baldwin Bonanza offers the best opportunity to obtain these unique plants without search- ing for them. Among the shrubs and vines, other staples of a beautiful garden will be a selection of hibiscus including ‘Double Red,’ originally collected in Hawaii. This small-leaved, tidy bush has ruffled, clear red flowers. Other hibiscus for sale will be H. cooperii cultivars with leaves that are either splotched with green and white or have a novel metallic sheen. The Arboretum introduction Com- bretum fruticosum, a vigorous vine that produces flowers shaped like fluffy orange caterpillars, will be available in both one and five gal- lon size containers. An even newer introduction from the Arboretum is a relative Combretum coccineum, on sale for the first time. Another vine with unusual flowers is the glorybower (Clerodendrum sp.) with ribbed foliage and heart-shaped flowers. Regional edition of Garden LASCA 1 Because gardeners are always look- ing for new plants for the home or landscape, there will be an eclectic assortment at the Bonanza. From the Arboretum introduction list comes the agapanthus hybrid ‘Wal- ter Doty,’ a tall, sky-blue lily of the Nile. An unusual bulb Habranthus robustus with trumpet-shaped flow- ers like its relatives within the ama- ryllis family, adapts so well to Cali- fornia gardens that it may natural- ize. Part of the fun shopping at Bald- win Bonanza is looking for plant od- dities that show up unannounced each year. The first one chosen is Hydnophytum formicarum, a pecu- liar epiphytic shrub from Malaya. Raised indoors, the globular base grows to about a foot in diameter, eventually looking like a melted ex- traterrestrial creature with a green top-knot of leaves. Palms will be well represented, both with hardy types like Pritchar- dia and tropical Chamaedorea spec- cies for indoors. Other indoor spec- imens include several lobster-claw plant species (Heliconia) including the red-leaved H. indica. At Bald- win Bonanza, serious collectors al- ways compete with casual plant lovers for staghorn ferns (Platycer- ium), collectors because they know that unusual species are available every year, and plant lovers because they admire the dramatic look of the flaring, antler-like fronds. This is just a sampling of the note- worthy plants, both essential land- scape specimens and extraordinary accent pieces, that will be for sale in limited quantities at Baldwin Bonanza XVIII. To have the best chance of obtaining a particular plant, plan to be at the Arboretum for the preview party the evening of April 30. Invitations will soon be in the mail to California Arboretum Foundation members. Call the Foun- dation at (818) 447-8207 for further information. LuAnn B. Munns Lorraine Saylor looks over some of the Teak se coliecesiiny, species that will be offered at Baldwin Bonanza XVIII. FOUNDATION MEMBER TRAVEL PROGRAM ANNOUNCED 6¢°T" we Arsoretum Foundation’s list of membership benefits will be enhanced in a very meaning- ful way with the addition of a Foun- dation-sponsored travel program,’ according to Board of Trustees Pres- ident Alice Frost Thomas. After a comprehensive review of travel agencies, the Foundation has selected Ask Mr. Foster/Friendly Hills Travel Center in Whittier, California to be its officially desig- nated travel program coordinator. “In business since 1974, Ask Mr. Foster/Friendly Hills Travel Center has specialized in leisure travel, and brings a truly professional as well as personal touch to travel arrange- ments, which is so important to menue Roepe said Alice Thom The Sine offering of the Foun- dation’s new travel program will be a deluxe, in-depth study tour of Ha- waii, hosted by a _ representative from the Arboretum. The two week adventure and learning experience is scheduled for February of next vear, and will include stays on three or four of Hawaii’s major islands. Many unique and special arrange- ments are planned including visits to horticultural sights not us- ually available to the general pub- ic. The “Hawaii in Depth” program will be followed in September, 1989, by a fall foliage study tour to one of America’s most popular des- tinations, Eastern Canada and the New England states. “All tours to be offered through the Foundation’s program will be deluxe and built around our mem- bers’ common interest in_horticul- ture and nature’s beauty,” Alice Thomas said. “As a bonus, a por- tion of the revenue from each book- ing will be donated to our Founda- tion building fund.” Detailed information pertaining to the program’s initial study tour to Hawaii in February, 1989, will ap- pear in the June/July issue of Gar- den Magazine, to allow for advance travel planning. Questions regarding the travel program should be directed to Ask Mr. Foster/Friendly Hills Travel Center, located at 14831 East Whit- tier Blvd., Whittier, CA 90605. The telephone number is (213) 698- 0511, and collect calls from out of the area will be accepted. 2 LASCA OLD OAK, XMAS OPEN HOUSE CASUALTIES OF WINDSTORM F LYING PALM FRONDS, downed ees and broken branches forced closure of the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum and cancellation of the Queen Anne Cot- tage Christmas open house on Dec. 13. For the first time in three years, the Arboretum was closed by debris from a windstorm that blocked road- ways and made the grounds too dangerous for visitors. An arctic storm with winds up to 80 miles per hour swept into South- ern California late Saturday night and continued Sunday, felling sev- eral significant trees at the Arbore- tum and damaging a number of other important specimens. Bill Hawkinson, Arboretum assistant su- perintendent, noted that unlike most winter storms, these December winds damaged trees throughout e groun “Usually the Australian Section on LuAnn B. Munns the north takes the brunt of it,” Mr. well as in the Australian Section.” Hawkinson said, “but this time the Trees lost to the storm included winds hit all over, causing damage the large Engelman oak beside the in the Jungle and on Tallac Knoll as Aquatic Garden, a 30-year old Eu- When they were flying Weal the air on Dec. 13, thousands of palm fronds like these stacked near the Queen Anne Cottage forced the Arboretum to close for the day. Lhe Arboretum staff spent weeks removing debris from damaged trees. LASCA 3 calyptus microcorys and two trees by the Santa Anita Depot — a 30- foot Acacia baileyana and a 25-foot Paulownia tomentosa. Major limbs were torn from the Enterolobium contortisiliquum on the main lawn and many other trees. Final counts showed that 25 trees were destroy- ed and at least 20 noticeably dam- aged. About 25 shrubs were also destroyed. While the staff was still assessing damage done by the winds, a record- setting cold snap set in. On 14 of the 19 days immediately after the wind- storm, nighttime low temperatures hovered near freezing, with a low of 27 degrees on the night of Dec 26. John Provine, Arboretum superin- tendent, said that it seemed by mid- January that most of the damage to the plant collections was superficial. Fronds on some cycads in the Pre- historic and Jungle Garden were frosted, he said, but the trunks re- mained firm, not mushy, indicating that the plants are basically sound. Although extent of the frost- caused dieback on the rest of the grounds can not be determined un- til later in the spring when speci- mens begin leafing out, the cold not have caused much damage collections is an indication of how well specimens have been chosen for field trials at the Arboretum. By the time a plant is selected for in- roduction into the nursery trade, it will probably have endured at least one winter like the one just past. y by surviving all the vagaries of Oe Sa California weather can a plant take its place among the se- lect plants introduced by the Ar- boretum. LuAnn B. Munns Winds wrenched major limbs from this ear tree (Enterolobium contortisili- quum) on the main lawn LuAnn B. Munns Electrical circuits on vita Knoll were Saeed vive the Se ve tree sup- porting the wiring blew o 4 LASCA (LASCA continues after page 32) Coloring California for Forty Years CAF NEWS CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER “4 CPLIFORy, oy a; ~ baad” SAMUEL AYRES JR., A MAN WHO LOVED COLOR ITH THE PASSING of Dr. Samuel Ayres Jr. on Nov. 16, 1987 at the age of 94, the Arboretum lost a long-standing and most dedicated friend. During a recent interview at the California Arboretum Foundation office, Dr. Ayres’ son, Dr. Samuel Ayres, III, provided a_ personal Dr. Samuel Ayres Jr. This article is based on those recollec- tions. glimpse of his father’s life. Dr. Ayres Jr. began his associa- tion with the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in 1947. A love of color, sparked during his child- hood when young Ayres sold flow- ers while other young friends were selling lemonade, grew when he and Mrs. Ayres discovered the flow- ering trees of Hawaii during a trip there in 1939. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he began to search for an area that would nurture a new arboretum in Southern California. This led to his discovery of an ex- panse of land in Arcadia. The par- cel of land was perfect. Developed by E.J. “Lucky” Baldwin at the turn of the century, the beautiful es- tate of 127 acres had been cultivated by a man who appreciated nature's beauty. Harry Chandler, at that time the publisher of the Los Angeles Times, owned the estate and was prepar- ing to subdivide the area into resi- dential lots. Dr. Ayres approached Mr. Chandler with the proposition of establishing an arboretum on the Baldwin estate. Mr. Chandler agreed, and in the fall of 1947 with the help of County Supervisor John Anson Ford the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum was official- ly established. An area was to be created where residents and visitors to the greater Los Angeles area could enjoy the splendor of nature and benefit from the studies and research planned for the new ar- boretum. Finally, Dr. Ayres’ dream — to introduce flowering plants into the Southern California landscape— began to unfold. During the 40 years that followed about 100 flowering trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers were introduced by the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum. Dr. Ayres’ support and participa- tion in Arboretum projects contin- ued throughout his life and was a great source of pride to him. In 1982 a new building on the Arbor- tum grounds was dedicated to Sam- uel Ayres Jr. and Helen Ayres. Dr. Ayres’ partnership with the Arboretum has not ended with his death. As a tribute to Dr. Ayres, a memorial fund has been created in his name. Contributions are wel- come. Please make checks payable to the California Arboretum Foun- dation and send them to the Foun- dation office at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006. For further information, contact Beverly Rouse, Director of Development at (818) 447-0184. CAF ANNOUNCES FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Coloring California for Forty Years is the theme of the fortieth anniversary celebration of the Cali- fornia Arboretum Foundation. Created in 1948 to support the Ar- boretum’s growing needs, the Foun- dation is proud of its many accomp- lishments and contributions to the Los Angeles State and County Ar- boretum’s development. We look forward to a yearlong celebration beginning with a Birth- day Party at our Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 8th. Watch your mail for announcements of our up- coming events. LASCA 5 It has been years since mem- bers of the California Arboretum Foundation experienced an_ in- However, it became necessary in 1988 to raise the cost of annual memberships because of the escalating costs faced by the Foundation. Joan Malafronte, Office Mana- ger for the Foundation Office, reported that virtually all opera- ting expenses have risen drama- tically from just five years ago. “In order to continue to provide quality service and programs for our members, we must increase the cost of our annual member- e Free admission to the Arbo © One Coast Botanic fee oe oft Robinson Garden; 10% Bee scd | in “al ami Sho e Private docent- pulled tour of the Arbo Sponsor M * Two free tickets to ¢ Invitation to a private © Reserved parking pro the Baldwin Bon Benefactor — $1,000 e Your name try way CAF MEMBERSHIP DUES INCREASE IN 1988 ships.” The new rates have been low. Sr. Citizen Individual Couple Family Individual Couple $30 ~ $50 $25 $30 * 10% discount in the Arboretum Gift Shop on * Special rates for special presentations and lectures at the Arboretum Sustaining Member — $100 All benefits listed above plu e 4 GARDEN EXPRESS eh ne provides free admission to the hat gardens maintained by the Department of Arbor ved Botanic Gard wi Git Shoes per year by reservation only to the Virginia most item ember — $250. All mtr listed above plus: Baldwin Bonanza Preview e VIP tickets to special presentations and lectures Affiliate Member — age All benefits listed above plus: ur of the annual — Garden Show . All benefits as above one © Two complimentary tickets to the annual Benefactor Part inscribed on a handsome Benefactors’ iil in the Arboretum’s Rotunda En- in effect since January 1, 1988 and are reflected in our members’ 1988 renewal notices. ere have also been new membership categories added along with the changes in the benefits which CAF members en- joy. A new Senior Citizen cate- gory has been added which in- cludes special rates for members 62 and older. 1988 celebrates the Founda- tion’s Fortieth Anniversary. We hope you will continue to sup- port the Arboretum by renewing your CAF membership. Our membership categories and cor- responding benefits are listed be- ens: Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, South CAF SETS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TABLE Las Voluntarias of the California Arboretum Foundation were given the “Most Beautiful-First” award at the St. Edmund’s Table Fashions Tea held at the San Marino Wo- man’s Club. “Happy Ruby Anniver- sary’ was the title of the prize win- ning table design which comple- mented the theme of “Forty Years of Fun and Fancy.” Las Voluntarias member, Joan Fagan, created an elegant table set- ting by combining the colors of : ruby, pink and white. Mrs. Fagan has participated in the St. Ed- mund’s Tea for many years, and this year was assisted by her daughter, and Eva Shepard, a Las Voluntar- ias member. LET. GAP HELP YOU |... When you need to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, a gradua- tion or another special occasion for a relative, friend, or business ac- qaintance, give a gift that will bring an entire year of continuing educa- tion and pleasure. A California Arboretum Founda- tion gift membership will open a new “window of discovery and ex- ploration” of the botanical collections and historical buildings found at the Los Angeles Arboretum. A beauti- ful card will be sent to inform the recipient of the gift. Please call the Membership Office at 818/447-8207 to find out how to give the special gift of an Arboretum Foundation Membership. For someone who is already a member, consider a gift in his or her name to the Arboretum’s Capital Campaign. A memorial fund, a last- ing tribute that honors the memory of friends or family members, can also be established. For additional information, please call the Develop- ment Office at 818/447-0184 P “Happy Ruby Anniversary,” the Beautiful-F irst” award. 6 LASCA 1\ Mrs. George Brumder THREE PASADENA TRUSTEES ADDED TO FOUNDATION BOARD HREE PASADENA residents have agreed to serve on the Board of Trustees for the California Ar- boretum Foundation. Their ap- pointments were approved by the Executive Committee during the November meeting. With the addi- tion of Nancy (Mrs. Ray) McCul- lough, Marilyn (Mrs. George) Brumder and Mrs. John Hopfield, the Board of Trustees now has 26 members. Mrs. McCullough, a graduate of the University of Southern Califor- nia, is owner of the F.T. Property Development Company, Inc. The busy mother of two young sons is also a member of the Childrens Chain at Childrens Hospital, the Marlborough Alumnae Council and the Junior League of Pasadena. Mrs. Brumder and her husband have been involved with the Pacific Asia Museum for many years, pur- suing an interest in Oriental culture developed during the years they lived in Japan. As a member of the Pasadena Garden Club, Mrs. Brum- der staged the smog exhibition at Mrs. John Hopfield the 1987 Los Angeles Garden Show. She is also past president and cur- rently active in the Pasadena Smith College Clu Mrs. Hopfield, a native of Prince- ton, N.J., moved to the area about William Aplin oA ’ ‘ ue ? : } 5 j pee eee | a a | i= Pa, Re eA: ig ei eae A q P ee FO" a ie ges he eee. ’ Soa ~ ly bs Mrs. Ray T. McCullough eight years ago with her husband who is a professor of chemistry and biology at Caltech. She is treasurer of the Pasadena Junior League Gar- den Club and active on The Wo- men’s Committee at Caltech. Lor a if 4 > “ REE aed hon _ tae Baldwin Bonanza XVIII features several Arboretum introductions such as Agapanthus ‘Walter Doty’ with tall stems and sky blue flowers. LASCA 7 ““A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS” THEME FOR HOLIDAY PARTY Holiday cheer filled Ayres Hall and overflowed onto the grounds the week before and the week after Christmas. Ayres Hall was dec- orated with trees festooned with or- naments handmade by students at six Arcadia elementary schools. Other displays illustrated Yuletide customs from other countries as dis- tant as Armenia and Denmark. Mrs. Gilmartin also scheduled a full program of entertainment for three-day weekends before and af- ter Christmas day. Beginning at 10 a.m. each day, singers, bellringers, bands, ae and handicraft ex- perts, among others, shared the Clinch: spirit at the Arboretum. Mitzi Gilmartin stands in the midst of a forest of Christmas trees decorated with ornaments hand made by Arcadia school children LOS ANGELES STATE AND COUNTY ARBORETUM, Arcadia MARCH 6—9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Insect Fair Lorquin mag oe gare Society MARCH 19—9 a o 4: p. Environmental Plucatod Fair State «ner Sra t of Education APRIL 2-3—Sat to 4:30 p.m. Su a.m. to 4:30 p.m. s Show ers California ay Aggeog APRIL ae . to 4:30 p.m. a) . vi to 4:30 p.m. ai Show Shohin omnes Society APRIL 16-17 Sat: 12 pt ped 4:30 p.m oo ‘o 4:30 p Amaryllis sor vi woe California Amaryllis & erocallis Society APRIL. 23. 24 sat. I P- m. to 4:30 p.m Ss 9 a.m, to 4:30 p.m Pacific Rose Show Pacific Rose Society APRIL 30 —5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. California Arboretum Foundation p Baldwin Bonanza Plant Sale California gage age e Foundation 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m MAY 15 — Epiphyll S fi Epiphyllum eee of America AY 28-3 . to 4:30 p.m nsai Show Santa Anita E Bonsai Society CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARCH, APRIL, MAY SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN, Palos Verdes Peninsula MARCH 6—2 p.m Making a ge Lined Basket for - Epiphyllum Cultur South Bay Epiphyllum Society MARCH 20 —2 Growing Geraniums i in Pots pa grinet Terrariums Bea Sut APRIL 7 — — 2 6 How to Grow Better Houseplants Shelagh M APRIL 24 — Music Con Palos Verdes ‘Syinphenke Band DESCANSO GARDENS, La Canada Flintridge MARCH =e A to 4:30 p.m. Flower Sho Flower Arraners Guild MARCH 12-13 — m. to 4:30 p.m. Daffodil Sho Southern California Daffodil Society MARCH 26 through APRIL 3— 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. oe Garden Show Descanso Gardens ‘Guild APRIL 16-17 — gr 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. n. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. e Show San panoend® Valley Rose fiona MAY 7-8 — 4:30 p Geranium Show Los Angeles Tecnelinast Geranium Socie MAY 21- 22 — Sat. 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sun a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rose Show Los fee Rose Society MAY 24 — 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Flower Show Judges Council of Southern California MAY 28-29 —9 a.m :30 p.m Chrysanthemum Plant Sale Glendale Chrysanthemum Society 8 LASCA