2008 SANDWICH CLUB MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
The Sandwich Club will hold its twentieth annual meeting and rhododendron rooted cutting auction on Saturday May 31st, 2008 in the meeting room of the Shaker Antique Car Barn at the Heritage Museum and Gardens, 67 Grove Street, in Sandwich, MA.
Sandwich, MA is located on Cape Cod just over the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6, Exit 1, Route 6A. The meeting will be from 9:30 AM through 12 noon. Specific directions are available on line at
http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.
Goals of the Sandwich Club.
· Select and evaluate the better Jack Cowles/Tony Consolini rhododendron hybrids.
· To publish a key to the names, numbers and synonyms to the Jack Cowles plants.
· Make available some of these exceptional and rare cultivars as rooted cuttings to grow and evaluate for hardiness. We need your input on which cultivars are doing well and which are not. Please email or mail information to me at my address at the end of this document.
Most Cowles/Consolini hybrids are now growing quite well in zone 6B with the possible exception of Yellowgate and Butter and Eggs, both having poor root systems. Money obtained from the plant auction is donated to Heritage in support of their summer intern program. Last years donation to Heritage was $2,200.
Overnight Lodging in Sandwich
Our group from “out of town” usually stay at the Shady Nook Inn (14 RT. 6A Old Kings Highway, Sandwich, MA (508) 888-0409 located near Heritage. Other lodging is available close by at a range of pricing.
Selection and Registration of the Better Heritage Cowles Hybrids
The SC has named and registered over twenty-five of the better performing Cowles/Consolini hybrids including Bellringer, Consolini’s Windmill, Cape White, Jeanie Gillis, Don Kellam, Peggy’s Freckles, Jack Cowles, Shaker Sunrise, Spectacular, Tocatta, Butter and Eggs, Bog Bridge, Bea MacDonald, Elsie Howard, Heman Howard, Frosted Opal, Kabuki, Marshall Stilwell, Peach Petticoat, Tosh, Pride of Cape Cod, Big Dome, Pilkington Strawberry Parfait, Eveline Pilkington and Beryl Coronet. There may be some hybrids on the sale list that follows which may be added this year.
Local Gardens Open
Several outstanding gardens are scheduled to be open for you to visit (by appointment) on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. We recommend that you try to come a day early or even stay an extra day to take advantage of an area where rhododendrons thrive.
Saturday Plant Auction
For this years meeting, John and Donna Delano and Henry and Barbara Wrightington have selected approximately 65 of the better Cowles, Consolini and Pilkington hybrids from the Sandwich area. The plants selected are listed by name and number below. Probably not all will be available due to rooting failure of some of the more difficult to root or graft clones, but the majority of plants on this list should be available. A final tally will not be available until a few days before the meeting. Plants selected for rooting this year are listed on the next page.
Photos of these cultivars will be available during the meeting or they may be viewed online at http://www.picasaweb.google.com/Beaunorm
2008 Sale Plants
Name ID # Synonyms
Shaker Sunrise
HP 311-69
HP 27-94
Peach Petticoat
HP 152-70
Days End Pink
HP 309-71
Dexter’s Glow
HP 200-72
Dexter
Red House
HP 243-75
Dexter
ETC 2-88
HP 147-2002, 74-86
Peggy’s Freckles
HP 37-94
109-86, HP 86-80
HP 54-94
BG-9, (EC) 33-84, (EC) 85-F3
Main Street
HP 56-94
89S-15, 15-86
JB’s Buff
HP-74-2002
HP 57-94, 24-84,
15-83
LL (Lower Level)
HP 53-98
97(S)-6
Campfire Peach
HP 61-98
97 S-3 (3-97S),
108-86
Best Peach
HP 74-98
31-92
Jack Cowles
HP 77-98
FO 25-88, 25-86,
BG-44
RG-1
HP 65-2002
CP 2-89, SC 93 RG-1,
BG-39
Coral Candy
HP 73-2002
JD 117-99
Dottie
HP 75-2002
BM 106-86
Cowles Yellow
HP 90-2002
2H 126-87 BM
Crème de Menthe
HP 103-2002
JB 6-87, JL 8-88,
BG-24
Don Kellam
HP 112-2002
HP 21-94, 10-84
HP 140-2002
CP 122-87, JB/BM 144-87, HP 6-94
HP 141-2002
JD 121-99
The Real Evie Cowles
HP 17-2003
(EC) 51-91
Double Petaloid
HP 18-2003
JD 51-03
HP 110-2004
Donna’s Fancy Pink
HP 114-2004
JD 114-2004
Sandwich Starfish
HP 114-2005
1H 1392
Golden Ager
HP 116-2005
BM 35-91
HP 119-2005
BG-38, (EC) CP 29-87
6-96S
Left of Bench at Ticket Office
HP 125-2005
JD 116-2005
Deep Throat
HP 22-2006
JD 104-2001, 4-87
Mountain Cove White
HP 31-2006
JD 117-2006
Plum Surprise
HP 111-2007
JD 111-2007
JB’s Jewel
HP 124-2007
Better than Accomac
Consolini Freckle Face
Bald Hill #80-37
Eveline’s Favorite
Consolini #303
Harold’s Favorite
Consolini #95
365 Peach
Consolini #365
Pilkington Strawberry
Parfait
HEP #66
Eveline Pilkington
HEP #167
Big Dome
Consolini #266
“Red”
Consolini #353
Pink Smudge
HEP #?
Taj Mahal
Consolini #279
Cream on Nly Path
Maple Tree Cream
HEP #218
HEP #69
Peach on Nly Path
Consolini
Brick Pink
Pink Puff
Consolini #481
Betty Hume’s Sister
Better Than Pride
Rose Red Bicolor
Consolini #320
Jean’s Pink
Consolini/Pilkington
Purple Petaloids
Consolini/Pilkington
Reverse Windmill
Consolini
Better Than Spice
Pilkington
StewartiaPink
Consolini #126
Red Behind Lath House
Consolini #480
Mystery Plant #1
Mystery Plant #2
.
Cowles Identification Numbers. The present SC numbering system used to identify Cowles hybrids use HP letters to designate Heritage Plantation followed by the plant number and then the year entered into the Heritage log that is on file (e.g. HP 20-2007). Since 1969, when the Cowles plants were first recognized as a group with potential, the identifying numbering system was very confusing to many of us. Early enthusiasts visiting Heritage (e.g. the Stilwells, Don Kellam, Jonathan Leonard, Ed Collins, Bea MacDonald, Bob Hickey, Jeannie Beutler, the Gustafsons, Elmer Morris, Bob Hickey and others) in many cases used their personal IDs to identify cultivars. This is what caused the confusion. In 1990, we took some of J. Beutler’s plant notes and combined them with input from the above group and developed a document listing registered and unregistered names with Heritage Garden numbers (=HP numbers) and the various synonyms used. This list has helped prevent collecting multiple samples of the same plant under different numbers This list, an Excel spreadsheet document, is updated yearly using information collected by John Delano on his weekly visits to Heritage . The latest edition “Sandwich Club Notes #15a” is available from me by e-mail at no cost or for a hard copy or CD, there is a $5 supply charge.
Consolini Identification Numbers
Following Tony Consolini’s death in 1971, Harold and Eveline Pilkington, purchased his home in Sandwich, dug, and transferred 480 of the important cultivars to their 3 acre home in nearby Monument Beach. Eveline numbered and described these cultivars starting with Consolini #1 through Consolini #480. The hybrids that were left at Consolini’s Sandwich address sometimes have an S- prefix. Those moved to their monument Beach home are preceded with an “MB”, a “P” or no prefix.
Pilkington Identification Numbers
Mrs. Pilkington also kept notebooks describing characteristics of the Consolini hybrids and a separate notebook on her 200 personal hybrids derived from Consolini parents. She used an HEP prefix before the plant number. We have copied her notes and detailed descriptions. Unfortunately she used a separate set of numbers for her crosses using e.g. HEP #1 through HEP #200 and in some cases these numbers can be confusing.
Briarwood Garden ID Numbers and Descriptions
Jonathan Leonard’s 44 “BG” numbered Briarwood Garden descriptions of the Cowles cultivars he offered before the nursery closed in 1993.
JACK COWLES HYBRIDS from BG (=Briarwood Gardens) as of 2/91 (revised in 2008 to include post 1993 assigned names
.)
BG #1 Fragrant yellow blooms with red centers. Probably a wardii hybrid and will not be propagated any longer.
BG #2 Full trusses of fragrant multihued peach colored flowers.
BG #3 Fragrant white-peach-yellow blooms with some striping. Pictured in ARS Journal Vol. 44, #1. Other designations: BGEC 85F1.
BG #4 Huge trusses of brilliant red and white flowers. May have been hybridized by Consolini. Other designations. (EC) 85F2
BG #5 Red flowers with chocolate eye. Good in deep shade. Other designations. HP 55-94; (EC) 24-85.
BG #6 Pink flowers have red buds producing the effect of the red budded mountain laurel. Other disignations: HP 49-94; BGEC-17C.
BG #7 Very pretty flowers opens an appleblossom pink and fades to white, leaving a blotch in the middle.
BG #8 Huge trusses of fragrant white flowers with yellow centers.
BG #9 A fragrant white with some chartreuse and beautiful foliage.
BG #10 Excellent fragrant pink and white flowers. BGEC 4-86.
BG #11 Orange and white flowers selected by Don Kellam and known informally as “Kellam’s Orange”. Other Designators: Don Kellam; 10-84, HP 21-94; HP 112-2002.
BG #12 Bright coral trusses on a dense plant. (EC) 37-86.
BG #13 Apricot-orange blooms with showy orange eyes. Now registered as “Butter and Eggs”. Other designations: HP 24-94; HP 245-71; HP 323-71.
BG #14 Peach-apricot trusses on a dense plant. Designator: Other designator: “Third from Gate”.
BG #15 Unusual red and white bicolor on a dense plant.
BG #16 Purple flowers fade in the center to form a white star. A striking plant. Other designations: Beryl Coronet; BGEC 24-86.
BG #17 Apricot with a copper flare, open habit. Other designators: HP 6-94; EC 122-87; JB/BM 144-87.
BG #18 Beige-apricot flowers, well shaped plant. Other designators: Spectacular; HP 31-94; 207-93S; (EC) 14-85; 17-94.
BG #19 Yellow flowers on a well shaped plant. Other: HP 82-2002; 20-86; (EC) 36-85.
BG #20 Pale beige flower with yellow center. Very early, fragrant and floriferous. Other designators: (EC) 15-89; JL 3-88.
BG #21 Highly fragrant pale pink to white. Floriferous plant. HP 44-94. Gone from Heritage!
BG #22 Mostly white with pink edges, pale yellow toward the center. JL 5-88, (EC) 32-84.
BG #23 Ruby Hearts in snow white flowers, Pictured in ARS Journal, Vol. 44, #1. Other designations: The Morning After; HP 32-94; HP 17-94; (EC) 40-85.
BG #24 Full trusses of fragrant yellow-cream flowers. Other designators: Crème de Menthe; HP 103-2002; JB 6-87.
BG #25 Large bright pink with ruby center. Pictured in ARS Journal, Vol. 44, #1. Other designators: Super Pink; HP 22-94; JL 6-88.
BG #26 Huge, very fragrant white flowers. Other designation: JL 7-88.
BG #27 Deep pink with ruby throat. Other designators: HP 28-94; S207-90; JL 10-88. Plant gone from HP in 2007.
BG #28 Fragrant beige, pink and white flowers. Other designation: Pastel Perfume; BM 36-88; (EC) 85F1.
BG #29 Very large, fragrant tan and pink flowers. EC 53-87.
BG #30 Huge fragrant white flowers. HP 270-71.
BG #31 Large, fragrant flowers on full trusses.
BG #32 Full trusses of ruffled pink and white with maroon spotting. Other designators: Kabuki; HP 437-71; HP 10-94; 113-86.
BG #33 Fragrant pastel peach fading to white towards center, with a yellow throat. Other designations: JL 1-88.
BG #34 Brilliant pink flowers in ball trusses, floriferous. JL 1-88.
BG #35 Yellow flowers. Other designation: EC 35-89.
BG #36 Apricot flowers with copper blotch. (EC) 122-87, JB/BM 144-87. Other designation. (EC) 85F2
BG #37 Large fragrant beige to pink flowers, floriferous. JL 2-88; S216-90.
BG #38 Superior ruffled pale peach-apricot. HP 119-2005; (EC) 29-87.
BG #39 Mostly white with pink edges, white interiors, maroon spotting and red centers. Other designation: “ RG-1”; HP 65-2002; EC 2-89; SC 93 RG-1.
BG #40 Pale yellow flowers on plant with “China” parentage. Hybridized by Jack Cowles, grown by Jonathan Shaw. Very unusual. EC 3-89, JL 40.
BG #41 Very late pink, flowers about June 26th. HP 193-71.
BG #42 A fragrant pink double on fortune-type plant. HP 26-94; HP 1-71.
BG #43 A fragrant pink with dense growth habit, located next to Consolini’s Windmill. Floriferous. Photo ARS Journal Vol. 44 #1. HP 259-69.
BG #44 A favorite of Don Kellam. Peach colored blooms on a dense, glossy leaved plant. Jack Cowles; HP 77-98; FO 25-88; 25-86.
Dick Gustafson
As many of you know Dick Gustafson, the SC cofounder, passed away this past November. We would like to honor his memory by placing a garden bench memorial along a path at Heritage. I will be sending you more about this in a few days.
Norman Beaudry
Chairman, Sandwich Club
7921 Deepwell Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Tel: 301-365-0130
E-mail: beaunorm@verizon.net
