40th Anniversary Issue

African Violet Chimeras

By Sue Mandeville

My husband and I planned a remodel of our master bath, going from a narrow poorly laid out dark room to a large bath with skylights and a plant shelf all around the room. It was designed to be a sunroom master bath. The fun part was researching what plants to put in the new bath that would give the lush jungle/greenhouse atmosphere we wanted. I bought a book called Tempting Tropicals by Ellen Zachos. On page 273 was a photo of a named pink-leaved African Violet called Tradition.

Greenhouse Construction

By Tom Karasek (First Published Summer of 2001)

We build our own greenhouses for a number of reasons including low cost, satisfaction, expand ability and perhaps special features. I’ll briefly list a few considerations then get into construction.

We live on the Kantishna river in the interior of Alaska and enjoy a greenhouse that is as much a product of this land as anything could be.

It is 300 miles by river to Fairbanks, the nearest place we can get supplies.

FRUIT FLIES IN THE KITCHEN: If you see a small fly attracted to ripe or overripe fruit, it’s a fruit or Pomace fly (Drosophila), useful in laboratories because it multiplies so fast (10 days) and in such large numbers. It not only is attracted to overripe fruits, but also to amyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid (vinegar), lactic acid and other products that occur in fermenting fruit. They are called pomace flies because the larvae (“lar-vee” or “worms”) live in decaying pomace in cider mills and wineries.

Dahlias in the Greenhouse

John Handley (Summer 1999)

Dahlias are a great garden plant and are very much appreciated for their beauty from July through October. In order to see them bloom in late May and early June it is necessary to start them early under lights in your basement and in the greenhouse. There are two techniques that I have followed. One tried and true and the other brand new to me.

Introduction to Cacti and Succulents

by Peg Spaete (Fall 1996)

Have you ever heard someone in a cactus and succulent nursery or at a cactus and succulent show and sale remark, “I never knew there were so many different cactus!”? What they really mean is ... so many different succulents. Cacti represent only a portion of the very large group from many plant families that are classified as succulents.

Bonsai for Beginners

Text and Pictures by Elsie Smith (First Published in THE PLANTER 1986)

Bonsai art originated in China around or slightly before the 11th century. At first  deformed trees were thought to be good art. By 1600 the art of bonsai was established in Japan and by 1850 the bonsai art turned to the natural forms we use today.

How to Grow Desert Rose

By Laurelynn Martin and Byron Martin of Logee's

Adeniums are well-loved for their gorgeous flowers and their bulbous, caudiciform trunks. They are highly sought after plants and can remain a manageable size for years making them valuable container plant. Adeniums are arid land plants native to sub-Saharan Africa and although there are several species, Adenium obesum is the one that's frequently grown as an ornamental. The common name is Desert Rose and when plants are in bloom, they create a spectacular floral display.