DEL.ICIO.USMARTHA TATE
Horticulture maven shares her top choices
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Virginia Almand has done as much as anyone in Atlanta to promote the love of horticulture and gardening.
The Birmingham, Ala., native became interested in all aspects of growing things when she headed up a spring vegetable gardening project for students at the Atlanta Speech School in the early 1980s.
MARTHA TATE/Special
Illicium anisatum, or Japanese anise, at Virginia Almand’s home. ‘My favorite of the anise shrubs,’ she said.
MARTHA'S PICK
Butcher's Broom
Botanical name: Ruscus aculeatus 'Wheeler's Variety'
About the plant: A relative of poet's laurel, the 4-foot-high shrub has prickly evergreen foliage held rigidly along the stems. In winter, bright red fruits are the size of cherries.
Use in the garden: A great plant for dry shade. Virginia Almand uses the foliage and red fruit for Christmas decorations.
Planting and care: Grow in semi-shade.
Source: Plant Delights Nursery Inc., 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. 919-772-4794, www.plantdelights.com
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An accomplished gardener, Almand was at the first planning session for the Atlanta Flower Show (now the Southeastern Flower Show) and has been an active part of the event since its 1988 debut. Every year, she has held a leadership position, including horticulture chairman, head of the children’s division and adviser for judges. She is an enthusiastic member of the Southeastern Horticultural Society, which is sponsoring the show, running at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
“I’m excited about the new location,” Almand said. “It’s so easy to get in and out of, and the space is great. I especially love the free parking.”
A tireless volunteer for many causes (the Atlanta Speech School, where she has served as chairman of the board; the Trust for Public Land; and Skyland Trail, the residential arm of the George West Mental Health Center, to name a few), Almand is also a member of the Cherokee Garden Club and a judge for the Garden Club of America.
Because she has been an integral part of the show for 22 years, I asked Almand to list some plants she’s come to know through the horticulture division and the garden displays:
• Stachyurus praecox: “One of my favorite plants. I saw it for the first time at the show. It has beautiful yellow racemes that hang from the branches. The shrub is so unusual. You’re just struck by it.”
• Pieris phillyreifolia: “This is a native pieris. It’s a climbing form I never knew existed until I saw it at the show.”
• Viburnum davidii: “One year, the landscapers used this low-growing viburnum a lot.” The plant is evergreen and has white flowers in spring followed by blueberries.
• Illicium anisatum: “My favorite of the anise shrubs. The yellow-green flowers are lovely.”
• Tulipa ‘Apricot Beauty’: “This tulip is easy to force. In October, I went over to Skyland Trail’s south campus and helped pot up some bulbs for the show. ‘Blue Jacket’ hyacinth and ‘Dutch Master’ narcissus are also good for forcing.”
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