Called everything from 'blue missile' to 'tower of jewels,' Echiums are shrubby plants that bloom with a profusion of flowers on tall stalks.

Photograph by Shari Kaplan

Spring in Guadalupe Gardens, Rose Show coming in April

By Tony Tomeo

Every garden enthusiast who lives here knows the Santa Clara Valley is the best place for gardening.

The climate is perfect. Winters are mild, but cool enough for many deciduous species. Summers are pleasantly warm, with few hot days. Between winters and summers are the most excellent springs. Warm season annuals and vegetables can be planted earlier than in most parts of the country and start performing immediately.

There are consequently more horticulture-oriented events than even the most avid of garden enthusiasts can attend without making it a full-time career.

The American Rose Society has designated 2002 as "The Year of the Rose." It is, therefore, appropriate that the spring national convention will be hosted by the Santa Clara County Rose Society here in Santa Clara Valley--the greatest place in the universe, as well as a good place to grow roses.

The Rose Show at this convention will be open to the public April 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place in San Jose. Two public programs are also open to the public on April 27. "Easy Roses I" will take place 2-2:30 p.m. and "Easy Roses II" will be 3-3:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 300 people for each session on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is $5 for each session.

I will unfortunately be unable to attend this convention because I will be helping at the other event scheduled for April 27. Spring in Guadalupe Gardens will be at Columbus Park in Guadalupe Gardens at the intersection of Spring and Taylor streets in San Jose from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission and parking are both free.

The plant sale involves many local growers of specialty plants, who will be available for horticultural advice concerning their respective expertise. I will be helping at the Blackbird Hill Nursery booth and will also be available to discuss other horticultural questions or concerns.

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County will have many unique tomato and pepper plants available. Unusual roses, gourds, topiaries, Japanese maples and fruit trees will be available from other growers. Various vendors will bring garden art, books and birdhouses. Free bags of compost will be available from BFI while supplies last.

Docent-led tours of the Heritage Rose Garden, the Recycled Water Demonstration Garden and portions of the River Park will be conducted throughout the day. There will also be information and demonstrations of home composting and water-wise gardening techniques.

The Water Wizard Festival includes various educational activities for children. Participating children learn about the ecosystem of the Guadalupe River, pollution prevention and water conservation by playing games, winning prizes and planting seeds.

More information is available from Phil Cornish of Friends of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens at 408.277.8845 or at www.grpg.org on the Internet.

Flower of the Week: Tower of Jewels

When my father lived in Montara, I observed a very strange and very tall biennial species that the neighbors called "blue missile." It grew about 15 feet tall in two years. During the first year, the basal foliage stayed low, but the central stems quickly bolted into bloom during the second year. They seemed to complete their bloom cycle and die before their third or fourth year. They were not planted, but had naturalized throughout the Half Moon Bay area.

Although Echium pininana will always be "blue missile" to me, most know it by the common name of the related Echium wildpretii, also called "tower of jewels." They seem more common than they actually are because their bold form gets noticed. Seed is more easily obtained from gardens of friends or neighbors who have them than from nurseries. Individual plants exhibit few branches, if any. The long and narrow foliage is somewhat gray and hairy. Flowers are purplish blue. Direct sun exposure and good drainage are preferred. Dry conditions are easily tolerated.

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Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.

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