Page 10 - Free State Winter 2021

THIS BUSINESS OF OURS (Continued)

Kings Garden Fort Ticondaroga Photo page 9: Walled Garden At Pavilion Ticondaroga
Another thing I’m personally happy about is getting a regularly especially over the last 15-20 years. Some of them
perennial grower to take on the Annie J. Hemming hardy are definitely almost repeats, as you may have noticed.
hibiscus. After making several mentions in these articles This is not to say it should be condemned or stopped in
asking if anyone wanted to grow it and getting no anyway. Who knows what real golden attribute is on its
responses at all. I emailed a grower directly with my offer, way? But maybe we should take a leaf from the late Vern
which was for a token payment I would sell him this year’s Kohl of Angelica Nursery who refused to patent any plant
cuttings now growing nicely in #1 containers. My only he discovered. I understand the desire to make money
request was that he keep the name, otherwise, it was his from a hybrid you worked on. But I think there are some
to propagate and sell as he wished. I told him I wanted that are crossing a greedy line.
him to make money and help me not have the plant
It was so nice to have a nurseryman’s Field Day in
disappear. I was impressed by the enthusiasm he put into
September. It was a good one but with a smaller crowd
the idea, wanting to hear about the history of the plant.
because of COVID, I’m sure. It was held at Fieldstone
Plus, the history of the lady its named after to be told in its
Nursery in Parkton, Baltimore County. Fieldstone grows
advertising when it returns to a widespread market again.
an interesting mix of Japanese Maples and other rare and
I’m feeling good right now that my Grandfather Ernest
kind-of-rare plants both in ground and in containers. But
Hemming’s work hybridizing it will not be lost.
best of all it was great to see and talk with old friends and
I imagine that some of the many patented plants will get meet some new ones.
lost in the future. I’m sure some already have. When I took I haven’t noticed any plants except the usual ones in short
Ornamental Horticulture at Maryland in the years 1968 supply this year. At some point during every busy season,
to 1972 there were 900 named Japanese holly varieties. Knock Out Roses and such get in short supply for a time.
How many do we grow today 20 or maybe 30? Of all the We have tried our best to keep production up, thinking
patented hollies that have been brought to market in the that at least some nurseries cut production on purpose or
last 10 years, only one has impressed me. The Red Beauty had no choice in the matter. The nurseries I have talked
does fit in a smaller niche; it makes me wonder about to on the peninsula have not, so far, cut back production.
the number of new plants that are getting cranked out

10 WINTER 2021 • Free State News