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A couple of years ago, at a Northwest Horticultural Society spring plant sale, I succumbed to the charms of hepaticas.\u00a0 I bought several, but my learning curve was steep.\u00a0 I was expecting them to be ephemeral, leaves disappearing in the summer like their close relatives, the anemones.\u00a0 I was surprised when the leaves persisted through the summer, and chagrined when a couple died because of insufficient water.<\/p>\n
Of course, I could have done more research in the Miller Library.\u00a0 That is much easier now with the addition of \u201cMy World of Hepaticas\u201d by John Massey, with scientific input by Tomoo Mabuchi.\u00a0 Massey is the owner of Ashwood Nurseries, located near Birmingham, England.<\/p>\n
This book is a treasure only available from Ashwood.\u00a0 Hundreds of sumptuous photographs demonstrate the beauty and variety of these flowers, including a myriad of hybrids and their often-delightful foliage.\u00a0 It is more than just a picture book, as I found guidance to ensure the well-being of future additions to my garden.<\/p>\n
The authors recognize ten species, and Massey describes each, typically from his trips to their native places around the globe.\u00a0 Sections titled \u201cfield notes\u201d chronicles these location visits, describing the ecological niches, but also his interactions with the local people who shared his passion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis book isn\u2019t just about hepaticas.\u00a0 It is in fact a huge adventure story, traveling the globe and, most of all, meetings lots of wonderful, exciting people.\u00a0 I often feel I am the luckiest person in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Profiles of many of these people are in a chapter titled \u201cThe Cast (Friends & Mentors),\u201d who like the plants, hale from many places.\u00a0 Throughout the book, Massey recalls fondly his visits to their specialty gardens, nurseries, and hepatica exhibits.<\/p>\n
Another story, told by a long-time Ashwood employee, tells of the challenges of mounting a display of hepaticas for the famous Chelsea Flower Show.\u00a0 Held in late May, this meant the early blooming plants needed holding back, an elaborate process involving cold storage and frequent monitoring.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, my surviving hepaticas do not need this much attention, but this book will likely entice me to buy more!<\/p>\n
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Reviewed by Brian Thompson in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society<\/em>, Spring 2023<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A couple of years ago, at a Northwest Horticultural Society spring plant sale, I succumbed to the charms of hepaticas.\u00a0 I bought several, but my learning curve was steep.\u00a0 I was expecting them to be ephemeral, leaves disappearing in the summer like their close relatives, the anemones.\u00a0 I was surprised when the leaves persisted through the summer, and chagrined when a couple died because of insufficient water. Of course, I could have done more research in the Miller Library.\u00a0…<\/p>\n