| | Introduction | Garden design and maintenance | Cultivar evaluations | Collection of data | Acknowledgements | Rating system
Introduction
In the past ten years the interest in herbaceous perennials has increased dramatically in Alberta. Retailers in the industry have responded to the public interest and have started introducing many new varieties and cultivars of perennials of unknown hardiness and landscape quality. The Calgary Zoo and Botanic Gardens, in partnership with Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association Retail Operators Commodity Group and Crop Diversification Centre South, developed the Herbaceous Perennial Trial Garden to evaluate these new perennials.
The objectives of the project were as follows:
- To evaluate new species and cultivars of herbaceous perennials.
- To determine their hardiness under Calgary’s unique environmental conditions and to determine their landscape performance qualities.
- To compile and publish the results of the project for presentation to the public, retailers, growers, and landscape professionals.
- To increase the knowledge of the public, retailers, growers, and landscape professionals about the new perennials and their landscape value in Alberta.
- To contribute to the horticultural education of three students over the period of the project by providing a unique work experience at a public garden that will enhance the students’ skills and build knowledge through research.
The Calgary Zoo was seen as an excellent location for the trial garden. Located near the heart of downtown Calgary, the Zoo is visited annually by a million people. The Zoo has also had a tradition of woody and herbaceous plant trials, and experience in creating and maintaining trial gardens.
Garden Design and Maintenance
The Perennial Trial Garden is a long narrow strip at the south end of the Dorothy Harvie Gardens with the approximate dimensions of 100 m x 6 m (328’ x 20’). Groups of five plants of each species or cultivars were then loosely arranged by colour and species to be an interesting border that was also effective for data collection. Similar to the care given by the average gardener, the plants were fertilized only once at their initial planting. The garden was irrigated in addition to natural precipitation throughout the growing season. Plants were weeded and insects or diseases were recorded and then controlled as necessary. Throughout the three years, regular maintenance was provided though in the summer of 2000 there was an irrigation break and the garden flooded. As a result, some heavier maintenance was required and the plants suffered minor setbacks to their normal growth.
Cultivar Evaluations
Collection of Data
Data collection began in early spring of each year with the evaluation of winter survival. The plants were closely monitored for their growth throughout the season with their height and spread being measured once every two weeks. Once a week the plants were monitored for blooms; whether or not they had buds, flowers, or seeds. All this information was compiled into the format used later in this document. Insect infestations or occurrences of disease were also recorded. Notes were taken on the peculiarities of each plant, why the performance was poor or exceptional, etc. All this information gives an accurate description of the growth of each plant and its hardiness here in the Calgary Chinook Zone.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to all the people who were involved with this project from its conception to this final document production. Special thanks to all the Master Gardeners who helped with the project.
Olivia Johns, Dipl. Hort, Zoo Horticulturist
Christine Murray, Ph.D., Nursery Crop Specialist, CDCS
Hildur Childs, Chair, LANTA Retail Operators Commodity Group
Jasmine Qureshi, Dipl. Hort, 1999 Perennial Trial Intern
Jennifer Wang, cand. B. Sc., 2000 Perennial Trial Intern
Jen Hill, cand. Dipl. Hort, 2001 Perennial Trial Intern (Editor)
Ken Eadie, Botanical Operations Manager, Calgary Zoo
Sanna Barlem, Ornamental Gardener / Propagator, Calgary Zoo
Dorothy Harvie Gardens Crew
Tian Dalgleish, Conservation Research Assistant, Calgary Zoo
Michelle Woodard, Publication Coordinator, Calgary Zoo
Boyd Nave, Acting Manager, Botanical Operations (2000), Calgary Zoo
Sponsors
Calgary Zoological Society
Alberta Agriculture Research Institute – On Farm Demonstration Program
Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development – Crop Diversification Centre South
LANTA (Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association) Retail Operators Commodity Group
LANTA Growers Group
Alberta Ornamental Research Foundation
Cheyenne Tree Farms Ltd.
ELJAY Irrigation
JVR Landscape Inc.
Millcreek Nursery Ltd.
Natural Landscapes
Ornamental Garden Supplies
Paridon Horticultural Ltd
Contributors of plant material
Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.
Edward’s Garden Centre
Golden Acre Garden Sentres South
Greenland Nursery & Landscaping Ltd.
Greenview Nurseries & Tree Farms Corp.
Jeffries Nurseries Ltd.
Parkland Nurseries Ltd.
Skagit Gardens
Terra Nova Nurseries Ltd.
Valleybrook Gardens Ltd.
Van Noort Bulb Company Ltd.
WIS Perennials
Notes on the Rating System
The plants have each been rated in each of the following three categories:
- Blooming: 0 points (0% of plants bloomed), 1 point (20% plants bloomed), 2 points (40% plants bloomed), 3 points (60% plants bloomed), 4 points (80% plants bloomed), 5 points (100% plants bloomed). Only for those plants which are known to bloom.
- Insects/Disease: 0 points (100% incidence), 1 point (80% incidence), 2 points (60% incidence), 3 points (40% incidence), 4 points (20% incidence), 5 points (0% incidence)
- Overall Quality: 0 = dead, 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent
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