AI NA CS Bet URAL PDE EAD a AN IE

Nye House

NYE HOUSE, 3545 Dowsley Court, (formerly 230 Carisbrooke
‘Road East), North Vancouver, B. c., built 1912. For story see

fa

EX RRITSCRETIRY TIPO Pe

ria’s unique presence’
makes priceless winter effect .

DOES ANYBODY out there know Harry: Lauder? And
can you tell me why the corylus avellana ‘‘Contorta’’ is
supposed to remind me of his walking stick? Is he just a
little screwed up, or maybe he has a peculiar bent, if not

outright twisted?

At any rate, my heart goes out
to the poor old soul. If his lot in
life means that the only support
he’ll get on his walk through life
is this rather deformed excuse for
a cane, then he. deserves all the
sympathy | can provide.

Now if Harry were using it as a
garden plant, that would be some-
thing else again; instead of my
sympathy, he would be receiving
my admiration...

The branches of Harry Lauder’s
Walking Stick are worthless when
used as a walking stick, but they
are absolutely priceless) when
viewed in the garden, especially
during winter. ;

This plant offers an unassuming
presence over the summer months.
While not unattractive, the overall
appearance of this large shrub
clothed in large, dark-green leaves
can not be considered cye-cat-
ching. ;

There are no showy summer
fiowers, no fabulous fall. colors
and no bright. winter berries. So
what is the big deal? ‘ :
. The big deal is not seen until
the foliage falls and reveals the
incredibly twisted branches hidden

, beneath them.

When seen against a “snowy
background,: few plants can com-

created by the contorted stems. | —,
1 believe its’ other common
‘name, the Corkscrew iazel, is

t

‘pete -with the intricate patterns:

Geoff

Tobiasson

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

more descriptive of the character
and charm offered. by ‘ this
uniquely attractive plant. :

{ts twisted branches look as’.

though’ Mother Nature went on a
drinking binge while’ she. was
designing this one.

_Another plus is’ the delicate
display of, catkins which first ap-
pear in fall ‘and. remain right
through winter.

* Although not normally , consid- |

“ ered flowers, they will. indeed

“blossom’’ in early’ spring,’ pro-
viding a rich display of pendulous,
yellow color.

. This plant will grow well in’ sun

or shade but the best results occur
when it is grown in full sun.

The plant tends to “‘reach’’ for
the light in darker locations, caus- -
ing straighter | stems and fewer
catkins.

It likes average water and will
tend to show leaf burn if allowed
to get too dry during the summer
months. i

Even though » it can” tolerate.

-some slightly: wetter environments, :

you are best to plant it where it
can get reasonable drainage; after
all,.this is supposed to be one of
the wet ends of the world.

* Contorta is a very strong state-
ment in the garden and,’ as such,
care should be taken when work-
ing it into the design.

You should try. to position it
where it will not compete with ‘or:
receive too, much - competition
from other trees or shrubs that are.
this conspicuous during the late
fall, winter® and early spring
months.

There. are many examples of
plantings which. can’ make . ffec-
tive use of a plant such as this...:".

One idea would be to place it in“
the middle of.a large (eight feet or
more) circular. bed and surround it,

‘with a’ groundcover. or ‘a mass of.

low evergreen shrubs « which ... will

>» ftower © in late: spring ‘or. early’

summer. :
‘Combining plants such: as Jap-, lit

“anese ' azaleas‘ (azalea. japonica);
:- kinnikinnik (arctostaphylos uva-'

ursi ‘*Vancouver Jade”) and a few |
Bluebells (scilla siberica) can make

an ‘outstanding underplanting: for.
feature plants such as these. -
lt just Brows | to show you

@ Designer Fabrics | Direct to You From. All Over

~ the World!

Walls of Selection. rere
@ Professional In- House Decorator on Staff.

25% OFF ALL KIRSCH CONTINENTAL
_& DECORATOR RODS ~

| ‘ On Most Fabrics |

° Fabrics Stretch From Floor to Ceiling Creating