Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA:

Flora of Orange County

Bird of Paradise:


Jade plant in bloom:










Ice with yellow jacket:

Zoysia grass:









Pink powder puff:
California poppies; poppy with bees:

Orchids

Nov. 11: Orchid enthusiast and judge Ken Meier of Orchid Enterprise, Inc. (above) told the November meeting that the secret of orchids was to find the right variety for the condition of your growing location. With the caveat that there was an exception to every rule, Meier's general rules were (1) always re-pot new orchids after they bloom and then once each year thereafter, (2) keep the roots moist but not wet, (3) move an orchid away from sunlight whenever the leaves are warm to the touch, (4) fertilize with evenly balanced NPK but watered down to a quarter of suggested strength, and (5) lower nighttime temperatures 20 degrees below daytime temperature for at least 3 weeks to get Phalaenopsis to bloom again. When re-potting, one should remove any deteriorated roots and any decomposed matter.












Elizabeth Eby (below r) introduced Meier. Margaret Missiaen spoke briefly about invasive vines. She said the omnipresent "bindweed" was actually a morning glory and urged everyone to dispose of seed pods before they open.

Bulb Sales

Eastern Market, Nov. 8: A sunny, warm fall day surprised workers for the bulb sale finale.

Landscape Lighting and Site Visit to Capitol Hill Yard with Spectacular Crape Myrtle

Oct: 14: Oxley, president of Outdoor Illumination, Inc., in Bethesda, presented an overview of outdoor lighting to enhance outdoor landscaping at night. While showing examples of the firms' work in the DC metro area, Oxley discussed uplighting and downlighting, forelighting and backlighting, avoiding glare and overkill. He said it was better to error on the side of less. In terms of equipment, Oxley urged members to opt for quality. He discussed the need for an outdoor transformer with an internal circuit breaker, 12 volt multi-reflector bulbs, wiring and an electrical source.

Following the meeting, Oxley led about two dozen members over to 6th and D SE to view the landscape lighting in a side garden which features what is believed to be the oldest winter-hardy crape myrtle in the United States.

Several varieties of crape myrtle grow in the United States. The common crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) was introduced in the 1750s from mainland Asia. A Japanese variety (Lagerstroemia fauriei) was introduced in the 1950s and was used by the U.S. National Arboretum in the 1960s to develop a strain of winter hardy, disease resistant crape myrtles with decorative cinnamon--brown bark.









The tree on 6th street is apparently one of the earliest of these Lagerstroemia fauriei. It towers above the adjacent two-story row houses and is uplit. The transformer is below left:

Oxley distributed this handout at the meeting:

Fall in the Shenandoah

Chrysanthemums (below l) at the home of Patsy Cline.



























For more of Patsy Cline go here and for the Blue Ridge bonfire go here.