I would instead like to mention an event one of my colleagues is involved in. The Tour de Trees is the primary source of revenue for the TREE Fund, which is used to "identify and fund projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees and the environment." Since 1992, the Tour de Trees has accumulated more than $2 million for the TREE Fund, which is used to distribute more than $200,000 for research grants and $12,000 for scholarships annually. The acronym in its name stands for Tree Research and Education Endowment.

The Tour de Trees begins Aug. 1, but I wanted to mention it now so that potential arboricultural advocates can investigate and hopefully sponsor this event. This impressive bicycle tour begins in Jackson, Miss., follows the historic Natchez Trace Parkway and ends 500 miles away in Nashville, Tenn. Every rider must generate a minimum of $3,500 in pledges to ride.

During an internship in summer 1988, I was a student of Doug Anderson, of Anderson's Tree Care in San Jose, who will ride in the Tour de Trees for the second time. He actually sent me this information, including the websites for the TREE Fund (www.treefund.org) and the Tour de Trees (www.tourdetrees.org). Anyone who would like to sponsor Doug Anderson may contact him directly at doug.anderson@sbcglobal.net.

Links to almost any arboricultural concern may be found at the website of the International Society of Arboriculture at www.isaarbor.com. Incidentally, this website also features a directory of certified arborists. From this list, the most local arborists may be selected for any particular area. There are actually many more within the Santa Clara Valley than those who happen to be my distinguished colleagues. (The list may seem to lack my name because my first name is not actually "Tony.")

The open house at Bay Laurel Nursery continues two more Saturdays, April 30 and May 7, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The rhododendrons blooming these last two weeks will be different from those that were blooming earlier. I will continue to be available for horticultural consultation throughout the open house. Bay Laurel Nursery is located at 1554 Bean Creek Road in Scotts Valley. More information may be obtained online at www.baylaurel
gardens.com or by calling 831.438.8770.

Flower of the Week:
Wake Robin

I prefer to discuss species that can be enjoyed by most garden enthusiasts, rather than species that are exotic, obscure and too rare to be found at more than a few specialized nurseries. However, I have been impressed by this particular wake robin, Trillium chloropetalum, that has bloomed during the open house at Bay Laurel Nursery for the last few years. It and another, better-known species (Trillium ovatum) are native to the area, but are only rarely found in nurseries that specialize in native species.

Only those of us who appreciate these small perennials would notice them below the larger and brightly colored rhododendrons, where they are quite happy to be ignored. They enjoy the same conditions that rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and many ferns prefer, with more shade. Rhizomes may be dug and relocated, but they recover and become established so slowly that, once relocated, they should be left to multiply naturally without much division. Those found in the wild may be deceptively deep rooted.

Like most native species, wake robin is most active as new growth emerges during early spring. Three symmetrical leaves that are approximately 3 inches long are suspended as high as 1 foot by soft stems. Leaves may be considerably larger in darker shade. The small pale flowers are held upright above the center of the three leaves. They are initially pale white and fade to pink or maroon.

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