Rich Aaring speaking with Nolan Blansit
Nolan Blansit, a chapter member who does garden design for a living and
rhododendron hybridizing as a hobby.
Rich: Nolan, are there any
particular problems with landscaping the standard city lot?
Nolan: Yes. The big problem with rhododendrons is that there are not enough
good plants
from which to choose from. My biggest focus in hybridizing is plants for the
standard city lot.
Rich: So what should one do?
Nolan: I prefer a mixed border. I object to a purely perennial border
because
it is empty in the winter. One should strive for a border that is interesting
all year.
One needs to add dwarf conifers, small deciduous trees, and evergreen shrubs
including rhododendrons. I like lots of color, both in foliage and flower.
But colorful foliage can be overdone – one must be careful. And try for color
contrasts that combine well, like Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ (Full Moon
Maple)
and rhododendron ‘Purple Splendour’.
Rich: Do you have any favorite dwarf rhododendrons?
Nolan: ‘Cupcake’, ‘Crimson Pippen’, yakushimanum ‘Koichiro Wada’,
Warren Berg’s ‘Queen Bee’, and pseudochrysanthamum are good.
Rich: And perennials?
Nolan: Lilies mix well: narrow, early and dwarf. You could try allium
karataviense
for the foliage, a wide blue leaf. Or any of the agapanthus that die to
the
ground in winter. Iris bucharica is fun though difficult to find.
Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny’ is a grass that is nice. That is not a
complete list.
Rich: You mentioned evergreen shrubs and small deciduous trees
earlier.
Nolan: Hebe x pimeleoides ‘Quicksilver’ (which goes well next to Black Mondo
Grass),
cotoneaster ‘Cooperi’, and any of a number of dwarf conifers.
For small trees, try the ‘Full Moon Maple’ and acer palmatums
‘Ukigumo’ and ‘Chishio Improved’.
Rich: Any other advice?
Nolan: Get dirty!
"The park's main attraction is the Rhododendron Garden..."
Beneath a canopy of Oregon white oaks is a woodland garden with over five thousand rhododendrons and other ornamental plants, meandering walkways and secluded seating areas. In the early winter, witch hazels, magnolias, bulbs, and other early blooming flowers begin the long garden year. The rhododendron season extends from February through July and peaks in April and May. Many other beautiful and unusual trees, shrubs, vines and perennial flowers make this garden inviting throughout the year.
Hendricks Park is Eugene's first city park. Atop the forested ridgeline of Southeast Eugene, Hendricks Park overlooks the Willamette River, the University of Oregon, and the City of Eugene.
The 77 acres of forested park land contain Douglas fir trees over two hundred years old and hiking trails that wander through a rich forest flora of ferns, trilliums and other wild flowers.
Hendricks Park was created in 1906 when Martha and Thomas Hendricks, realizing "the necessity to procure such a park at the present time while it was available in its natural state," purchased 47 acres of forested ridgeline and granted it to the City as park land. The City purchased an adjoining tract of 31 acres and the entire property was dedicated as Hendricks Park.
Founding members of the Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society proposed that the Eugene Parks Bureau establish a garden of camellias and rhododendrons at Hendricks Park. These local enthusiasts were North American pioneers in the culture and collection of rhododendrons and donated many outstanding plants to begin the Rhododendron Garden in 1951. Today, the garden has grown to include nearly fifteen acres.
The garden is maintained by a full-time staff headed by garden supervisor, Michael Robert. Members of the Eugene Chapter often provide support services and donate new plants.