Epimediums with Norm Jacobs & Deb Zaveson

Norm Jacobs and Deb Zaveson, owners of Arbutus Garden Arts in Yamhill, Oregon, have gardened since they were of single-digit ages.  Norm Jacobs, a former math/physics tech-type, and Deb Zaveson, a former botanist/chemist lab-type, began their present garden in 1985.  The demands and possibilities of their dry hillside/woodland garden at a junction of conifer forest, oak savannah, and grassy meadow, grew into a small nursery with a focus on Japanese maples, dwarf conifers, epimediums, and a handful of other favorites.  Norm pursues his passion for Japanese and Chinese garden plants as well as design, while Deb's view is broader and more eclectic.  After finding that the first three epimediums thrived in the garden understory, they had the good fortune to meet Diana Reeck, Dan Hinkley, and Darrell Probst in the mid-1990's, and there began cultivation and experimentation with epimediums in earnest.  They have grown well over 100 varieties, killed some, grown bored with a few, and became exasperated with a few others.  But, as with the maples and conifers, those that pleased them in the garden became those that they grew in the nursery.

Exploring Unusual Bulbs with Jane McGary

Jane McGary has gardened near Portland for about 27 years, formerly in the Cascades foothills and now in Oak Grove.  Her specialty is species bulbs, most of which she has grown from seed.  For some years, she sold surplus bulbs by mail order, and she now maintains more than 1300 species in a specially designed bulb house.  She has traveled widely to see and photograph plants in their native habitats, learning much in the process about how to grow them.  She edited the journal of the North American Rock Garden Society for ten years and has been an officer of NARGS and of the Pacific Bulb Society, as well as speaking to NARGS chapters in several states.  With an academic background in classics and linguistics, she works as an editor of scholarly reference books and also compiled three contributor volumes for NARGS/Timber Press, including "Bulbs of North America."  She has written for Fine Gardening and Pacific Horticulture.

Alpines for Northwest Gardens with Truls Jensen

Truls Jensen is a passionate grower and propagator of alpine and rock garden plants at Wild Ginger Farm, the specialty nursery he operates with partner, Emma Elliott.  His interest in alpine plants developed over a lifetime of exploring the high mountains as a naturalist and also as a field researcher.  During his talk entitled "Alpines for Northwest Gardens", Truls will share some of his favorite alpines and the keys to successfully growing them in Northwest gardens.

Ferns with Judith Jones

Judith Jones is a pteridomaniac.  A regular vendor at HPSO plant sales, Judith offers the latest fern introductions, most grown from spores and often hybridized or selected right on her own grounds at Fancy Fronds Nursery in Gold Bar, Washington.  From the tiniest crevice plants to the largest tree ferns, from genera Adiantum to Zygophlebia, Judith will share her knowledge and enthusiasm for these plants.  Come hear Judith speak about ferns on Sunday, June 17th, and maybe you, too, will become a pteridomaniac!

Biographical information on Judith Jones can be found here, plus see this article, Fern Star, printed in the Seattle Times.

Vines with David Palmer

David Palmer is a local professional plantsman with eclectic horticultural tastes, who enjoys growing just about anything. In his presentation for the Gen(i)us Series, he will look at the world of creepers and crawlers, twiners and viners. Included will be vines for annual color, perennial vines, deciduous and evergreen ones for different situations, and pruning methods to keep them under control.  Palmer is a very knowledgeable gardener and is sure to enthrall us. 

David Palmer is one of HPSO's founding members and a long-time volunteer.  He is frequently behind the scenes at our programs, handling the projection machine.  This time, we'll have him right in front for everyone to see!

Autumn in the Garden with Dorothy Rodal

In Dorothy Rodal's own words, "My favorite time of the year is autumn.  And the reason I grow many of the things that I grow is because they make wonderful fruits – drupes (viburnums), capsules (euonymus, deciduous), berries (berberis), hips (roses), and many more.  Even now in January when we are in the middle of major bleakness, quite a number of plants still have their fruits – some a bit wizzled, but still there.  At this time of the year, anything is welcome."  Speaking of this past year, 2011, Dorothy goes on to say "From late August until mid December there were wonderfully colored leaves on many of the trees and shrubs.  It was a great fall, and as I look at the pictures we took then, I can live until spring revives other things in the garden."

Dorothy Rodal is a long-time, active member of HPSO, contributing in many ways.  She served on the Board of Directors.  She produced our newsletter for many years, and continues to be our chief editor, as well as a frequent writer/contributor, of the HPSO bulletin.  She and her husband, David, reside on Sauvie Island where they have a wonderful collection of trees and shrubs, many with fantastic autumn color.

Please join Dorothy and your HPSO co-members as we celebrate the beauty of "Autumn in the Garden".