Newspaper Column Ideas and Bulb Info

**"Doreen Howard" g*@charter.net**

I attended a symposium last weekend called Bulbmania at Rotary Gardens in
Janesville, WI.  The reason I am writing about it is that one of our
listserv members was mentioned and five national experts gave extensive
information about daffs, tulips, minor bulbs, odd bulbs, tropical bulbs and
companion plants.  Several list members have said they were looking for
newspaper column material, and there was plenty at this symposium to fill
columns.

The speakers were Brent Heath of Brent & Becky's Bulbs, Galen Gates of
Chicago Botanic Garden, Scott Kunst of Old House Heirloom Bulbs, John Elsley
of Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm and Jim Shields of Shield's Nursery in Indiana.

Shields spoke on hardy spring bulbs and showed slides of arisaema he got
from GWL member Gene Bush. Gene got it from his mother-in-law, according to
Shields.  He said Gene has wonderful plants!  Shields is also developing a
new line of clivias for the American market.  He will be going to So. Africa
next month to procure suppliers for imports.  If you are interested in
clivas for a newspaper column or as an article subject, go to:
http://northamericanclivasociety.org
Shields wrote much of the site.  He can be reached at: jshields@indy.net

The following are some tips from the various speakers that may make
interesting column fillers.

John Elsley, who many of you met in Chicago at the symposium, did an
extensive slide show on companion plants for bulbs.  John developed the
"Royal Heritage" strain of hellebores in his So. Carolina yard over a period
of years.  It's a hellebore that will perform in any climate.  He said that
with any hellebore you want to cut off all the old foliage when new flower
stalks emerge.  This helps with vigor and makes for a neater garden.  He can
be reached through Song Sparrow Farms at (847) 551-3710

Galen Gates spoke on minor bulbs.  His tips included soaking anemone bulbs
24 hours before planting them, placing camassia bulbs in areas that get
plenty of summer moisture (which is opposite of what tulips and daffs
require) and buying smaller hyacinth bulbs.  He said to pick out the medium
or smaller ones, as they will produce a shorter flower that will not flop
over in the wind, as do the big blooms.  Gates can be reached through the PR
office at Chicago Botanic Gardens, (847) 835-5440.

Brent Heath revealed that daffodils DON'T need dividing when they multiply
to the point where they quit blooming.  They need fertilizer!  They've used
up all the nutrients in the ground.  He said he has never divided bulbs at
his third generation display and production garden in Gloucester, VA.  Brent
said the best fertilizer is compost, but anything will do.  Spread it around
and scratch it shallowly into the soil in mid-autumn.  Brent's email is:
bbheath@brentandbeckysbulbs.com

Scott Kunst is a treasure trove of heirloom bulb stories, and he is a good
interview.  There is a huge display of Victorian-era cannas from Scott's Old
House Gardens at Rotary Gardens that was absolutely breathtaking.  The
leaves are stars, and the flowers are almost insignificant.  It was like
walking in a tropical rain forest when going through the display.  Contact
Scott at scott@oldhousegardens.com or call (734) 995-1486.

Hope there is some material above for those looking for newspaper column
ideas.
Doreen Howard

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