'^- 



pected to do consistently well here in our climate. The 

 list includes many oldies as well as more recent intro- 

 ductions. I suggest that hardiness claims made on many 

 recent introductions (like "Bud-hardy to -20F"| do not 

 have a sound basis. My observation is that, most particu- 

 larly, those from the West Coast have not actually been 

 tested. Thus I have learned to be a skeptic unless 

 they've been tested in gardens for a period of years — or 

 by the University of Minnesota labs. 



It is important to note that the temperature below 

 which flower buds will be damaged is not a simple call. 

 For example, warm fall weather followed by a severe 

 temperature drop will damage buds that would normally 

 survive a much lower temperature were they hardened 

 off with colder fall weather. Other factors that affect bud 

 hardiness are understood little, if at all. However, the re- 

 porting system does have the advantage of providing a 

 uniform record of what is happening to rhododendrons 

 growing out in ordinary conditions in ordinary gardens. It 

 should also be pointed out that the peak flowering data 

 varied according to the weather and the latitude. Flower- 

 ing can be expected to occur, however, within the range 

 of dates shown on the list. 



]oe hybridizes rfiododendrons and has upwards of a thousand of 

 them in his garden in Dover, NH {Zone 5A). He is president of 

 the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society 

 and a member of the Garden "Writers Association of America. 

 NHPGA members are welcome to call him at 603-749-4498 

 regarding rhododendrons and to visit the garden. 



-?*- 



EfZ 



Control 

 Worb! 



And here's who to contact so it can work for you: 



The Green Spot. Ltd., Dept. of Bio Ingenuity 



93 Priest Rd., NotUngliani. NH 03290 6204 



Tel: 603/942-8925 Fax: 603/942 8932 



Plecisant View Gardens 



LJrowers of Quality Liners 

 ^ & Finislned Material 



7316 PLEASANT STREET LOUDON NEW HAMPSHIRE 03301 



603-435-8361 OR 1-800-343-4784 



FAX 603-435-6849 



THE PLANTSMAN 



