San Fernando Valley Iris Society

SFVIS MEMBER LOREN ZELDIN MAKING NEWS

2008-05-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Showy garden reveals Reseda man's adventurous streak

BY JOSHUA SISKIN, Columnist
Article Last Updated: 04/19/2008 10:03:10 PM PDT
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_8974709
(Reprinted by permission from the author)

On the surface, Loren Zeldin would seem to be an outstanding example of predictability.

Fifty-five years old, he has lived in the same house in Reseda his entire life. He has held but one job since graduating from college 33 years ago, working as a substitute teacher.

But when you enter his half-acre garden, all semblance of predictability vanishes. Under his mild-mannered exterior, Zeldin reveals an adventurous persona, a swashbuckling horticulturist who has intrepidly assembled flora from the four corners of the globe. He has many exotic plants that you likely have never seen before and probably will never see again.

When you walk around Zeldin's garden, you are quickly convinced of his passion for plants. Taking care of the roses alone, which number more than 400 varieties, would seem to be an all-consuming enterprise.

Indeed, it takes the entire weekend to water his garden. Yet, as in all great gardens, the principle of "less is more" holds sway. Other than the roses, which require an extra weekly soaking during the summer, his plants are watered only once a week, including the Abutilons.

I always considered Abutilons, also known as flowering maples because of their leaf shape, to be somewhat needy where watering was concerned. Not so. "Abutilons will die from too much water," Zeldin informed me.

This observation about extending a plant's longevity through a parsimonious water regime is not idle talk. When I visited
Zeldin's garden nine years ago, he had several magnificent, seldom-seen mature Abutilon hybrids - lemon yellow, deep salmon, and giant-flowered varieties. Those same plants are still flowering heavily today.
Another case in point is Cestrum elegans. This arching shrub produces masses of tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, orange or yellow but it, too, is not known for longevity. Yet Zeldin's aging Cestrums are more than 8 feet tall with many stout branches.

Normally, Abutilons and Cestrums do not last more than a few years in the garden. Zeldin's success with these and many other typically short-lived plants may be explained by three cultural practices: a single weekly watering, an annual early spring application of slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote), and allowing plants to grow in close proximity to each other. Don't get me wrong. Zeldin gives his plants plenty of room to develop. It's just that they grow so large, they end up touching each other.

It is well-known that the health of a plant starts with the condition of its roots. When roots are unstressed, plants flourish. During our long, hot summers, roots stay unstressed if they are minimally watered and shaded by mulch or by the growth of surrounding plants. Roots can be stressed from either too much sun and heat or too much water. Roots that are always wet as a result of daily sprinkler application leak chemicals that attract pathogenic soil fungi. In the Valley, the untimely death of garden plants is nearly always the result of excessive irrigation.

A caveat here: When Zeldin waters, his plants get soaked. He does this either with a hose or with hose-end sprinklers that he moves around the garden. No underground or automatic sprinklers are used. Roses do receive extra attention early in the morning, but only for disease prevention, when their foliage is doused with a hose.

"Early morning hosing rinses off dust, dew and fungal spores," Zeldin says. "Unless they are knocked off the leaves of roses, the combination of these three brings on powdery mildew."

Ninety-eight percent of his roses are mildew free. Only a variety or two, due to strong genetic proclivity for mildew attraction, show the cloudy white foliage that characterizes this disease.

None of his roses, however, has aphids. Aphids or plant lice are ubiquitous this time of year in Los Angeles rose gardens. The reason Zeldin has no aphids is due to the presence of birds in his garden. Abutilons and Cestrums, for example, attract hummingbirds that are ravenous consumers of insect pests.

There are patches of grass between Zeldin's massive aggregations of roses, woody perennials and bearded irises but, due to his ongoing planting projects, he confesses to being a victim of what he calls "vanishing lawn syndrome."

He never directly waters his lawn, which consists of Bermuda and Kikuyu grass, but it does receive some overspray when water is applied to the surrounding flora. He also is reluctant to mow his lawn in places where feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium), violet-blue annual larkspur (Consolida ajacis), and plum-colored Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) have sprouted as volunteers.

One of Zeldin's special garden treasures is a canary bird bush (Crotalaria agatiflora).

If you like bright buttery yellow, this is your plant, since it blooms 10 months out of the year with canary-plumed flowers. Its status as a legume means it does not require fertilization.

Other noteworthy plants in Zeldin's garden include a fiery-flowered Mexican flame vine (Senecio confusus), which has clambered up a `Seven Sisters' rose bush; a `Milestone' rose whose flowers smell like crushed raspberries; a sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora), which is a blue version of the more widely seen orange Thunbergia vine; and a `Cornelius' musk rose, mildew-resistant and called "the most fragrant climbing rose" by Zeldin.

He also has a red Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria); `Witches Wand,' a dark-purple bearded iris with an orange spot at the base of each petal; a Clematis jackmanii' vining up into a scarlet-flowered, bark-exfoliating Melaleuca elliptica; an exotic Aloysia species whose plethora of white flowers smell like baby powder; and a 40-year-old, double-flowered yellow Rosa banksiae `Lutea' that has grown 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide and has completely inundated a western red bud tree (Cercis occidentalis).

Zeldin's favorite nurseries, from which he has procured most of his plants, are West Valley Nursery (Tarzana), Sperling (Calabasas) and Worldwide Exotics (Lakeview Terrace).

Joshua Siskin's column appears every Saturday. He welcomes questions from readers and will answer them in his column once a month. If you have a question, please send an e-mail to Joshua@garden18.com. Include your full name and the city you live in. His Web site is www.garden18.com.

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Tip of the week

Annual larkspur is a wonderful plant to have around the garden since it self-sows with ease. It is available in many shades of blue, pink and white.

Zeldin recommends annual larkspur for vase arrangements because "as a cut flower, it lasts up to two weeks, as long as Alstroemeria."

Pete DeSantis - SFVIS Hybridizer

2007-06-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Pete at Portland AIS Convention 2006
Pete DeSantis was born February 28, 1917 in the town of Long Branch, New Jersey to Italian parents, who were avowed gardeners.

His father grew tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, all salad plants and pole beans. His mother had her own flower garden with all types of flowers including iris. In those days iris were called blue flags and one could only find blue, white and yellow iris.

As a child, Pete loved to work in the garden, helping his father and mother. He also liked to read all types of books. His favorite was about Luther Burbank, who was a hybridizer of fruits and vegetables. Burbank’s work fascinated him.

Pete’s first gardening experience started when his father gave him a small plot of land and told him that he could plant anything he wanted. Pete chose to plant popcorn. The popcorn plants grew tall and plentiful and it was a big success.

Several years later Pete served in the U.S. Army for four years during World War II, including eleven months on Okinawa, Japan. Even after returning to New Jersey, his heart was still on California where he had spent time training in Camp Santa Anita before going overseas. Pete finally returned to California where he married Frances, who unknown to Pete was also an avowed gardener. He purchased a home in Reseda with a nice backyard and started a garden.

Pete and Fran were invited by her sister (also an iris grower) to an iris show at the Los Angeles Botanical Gardens. There were all types, colors and arrangements of iris, and as of that moment they were hooked. They went home and planted all the iris they had purchased.

In the early 70’s through Fran’s sister, Pete and Fran joined the Southern California Iris Society and that started what Pete called “the wonderful world of iris.” They also joined a new Iris Society in the San Fernando Valley, closer to their home in Reseda, where they attended all the functions and activities. Later they became officers.

Before becoming a hybridizer Pete first participated in the artistic arrangements section of the annual iris shows. At one of the first shows they attended, Pete and Fran saw an iris arrangement. In Pete’s opinion, it was awful and in a loud voice said to Fran, “it was an awful arrangement.” Unbeknownst to Pete, the woman who made the arrangement was next to him and in an unfriendly voice said, “I suppose you can do better?” Pete replied that he had never made an arrangement, but that he thought he could. Being a fierce competitor, he started looking up books on flower arrangements and at the next show he entered seven arrangements. To his amazement, he won best of show, sweepstakes, and best theme. The woman (who later became a good friend) said to him, “you don’t have to get so mad that you win everything.”

Pete later gave up arrangements and let Fran take over so he could focus on the horticulture section and hybridizing of irises. Since the late 70’s to early 90’s Pete received 14 silver medals, 13 bronze medals, 3 queens of shows, hundreds of ribbons, and a show case full of trophies. He also hybridized and introduced 12 irises. The most well known Tall Bearded Iris Pete has introduced is Schoonchee, named after his grand daughter. Pete also introduced the following Spuria Irises: Franakins, Hasarya, and Hocka Hoona.

Spuria Iris Franikins (DeSantis 1995)

Spuria Iris Hasarya (DeSantis 1999)

Spuria Iris Hocka Hoona (DeSantis 1999)

Frances has passed away and Pete at age 91 does not compete, but helps his grand daughters make iris arrangements. He still grows iris and has Spuria and Tall Bearded Iris seedlings, which he continues to work on.

Pete also is a life member of the Southern California Iris Society, the San Fernando Valley Iris Society, and is a member of the Aril Society International, the American Iris Society, the Spuria Iris Society, the Louisiana Iris Society and the AIS Region 15.

Tall Bearded Iris Scoonchee (DeSantis 1997)

Tall Bearded Iris Reseda Moon (DeSantis 2004)

SFVIS Spring Garden Trek 2007 - Karen Sussman's Garden

2007-05-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Karen Sussman's Garden

Tall Bearded Iris Local Color (Keppel 1995)

Who knew? Peonies, yes peonies in L.A.!

Spring Garden Trek 2007 - Zeldin's Garden

2007-05-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

Zeldin's Garden

A picture-perfect day for a Garden Trek

Spuria Iris Evening Dress (Ghio 1983)

Tall Bearded Iris No Doubt (Lauer 2004)

Tall Bearded Iris Stairway to Heaven (Lauer 1992)

Tall Bearded Iris Lovely Senorita (Shreiner 2002)

Tall Bearded Iris Changing Seasons (Shreiner 2004)

Spuria Iris Custom Design (Hager 1981)

Rosa Mermaid

Tall Bearded Iris Supreme Sultan (Shreiner 1988)

Spring Garden Trek 2007 - Fred Dragan's Garden

2007-05-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Fred Dragan's Garden

Fred Dragan and Peggy Carpenter

Pete DeSantis

Unknown Tall Bearded Iris

Dykes Medal Winner Tall Bearded Iris Conjuration (Byers 1989)

Tall Bearded Iris Michigan Pride (Berg 1976)

Tall Bearded Iris Vibrations (Dunn 1989)

Tall Bearded Iris Vanity (Hager 1974)

Classified as Tall Bearded Iris Thornbird (Byers 1989)

Judith Gasser

A huge blooming euphorbia

Black Calla or Corpse Flower (don't they call this one stinky plant?)

Spuria Iris Imperial Gold (McCown 1978)

Spuria Iris Janice Chesnik (McCown 1983)

Spring Garden Trek 2007 - Al Denney's Garden

2007-05-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Al Denney has created in the San Fernando Valley, a replica to his house in Manaus, Brazil (center of the Amazon Rain Forest). Many of us who have never been to Al's house were pleasantly surprised by this very unusual garden.

Al Denney's Garden
A proud gardener, Al Denney

Baby hummingbirds were the center of attention

Club members Betty Squires and Pat Tjosaas

Dietes iridioides, or Fortnight Lily (was called Morea, and still is by many gardeners, although it is no longer Morea) has been reclassified as Iridaceae or part of the iris family

There's a house in there somewhere!

Spring Garden Trek 2007 - Carole Kyle's Garden

2007-05-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Carole Kyle's Garden

In the absence of blooms, a picture made a welcomed replacement

Tall Bearded Iris Vibrations (Dunn 1989)

Randy and Mary Anne having a serious conversation

There are many tools in this garden!

Judith Gasser

Pete DeSantis, Peggy Carpenter and Jon Lauritzen

"Yes, there is an iris blooming in this garden!" -- Carole and Harriet

Spring Garden Trek 2007

2007-05-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to visit irisarians gardens, and this day was no different. Our club normally holds the Spring trek in April, but this year due to several events falling also in April -- the 2007 National AIS Convention in Oklahoma City, our own SFVIS Spring Iris Show, AIS's Region 15's Garden Trek, and Easter -- our club's own garden trek was pushed to May when most irises in our area normally stop blooming. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the company of our enthusiastic fellow irisarians and the plant variety of each garden. (Thanks to Jan Lauritzen for sharing some of her pictures -- they helped complete this photo blog).

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Squires Garden

2006-05-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

Super Dancer (Blyth 1989)

Wild Sharon (Sutton 1994)

Peaches in Wine (Pryor 1998) Louisiana Iris
Cordoba (Ghio 1998)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Lauritzen Garden

2006-05-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

Iris Japonica

Kathy's Karnival (Shepard 2005)
Tiger Shark (Maryott 1986)
Hawaiian Rain

Seedling 95-5 (De Santis - not yet introduced)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Moon Garden

2006-05-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Surely White (Lauer 1999)

Lady Friend (Ghio 1980)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Deaton Garden

2006-05-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

Double Vision (Ghio 1999)

Silk Brocade (Keppel 1999)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Gasser Garden

2006-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

With an interest in the art of dance, and in dancing, Judith has collected many irises with dance related names. Here are a few of them.

French Can Can (Cayeux 2002)

Pink Dancer (V. Wood 1995)

Charleston (Keppel 2002)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Bonino Garden

2006-05-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few highlights of each garden. Enjoy!

Bonino Garden

Wintry Sky (Keppel 2002)

Pond Lily (Jones 1995)

Harbinger (Terrell 1962)

Region 15 Trek 2006 - Introduction

2006-05-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

The San Fernando Valley Iris Society was responsible for organizing AIS’s Region 15 Trek for 2006. It was held the weekend starting Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23.

Most of the pictures covered here will be for the garden trek. Other activities were conducted at the hotel or at the gardens on a separate day, such as Eileen Fiumara's Judges Training on Artistic Design Friday evening, and AIS President Jeanne Plank Garden Judges Training on Sunday morning. I’m hoping that someone else captured those moments and will post them on the Web in the near future.

The garden trek was charming. Each location was unique and reflected the qualities of each designer/irisarian and “Master Gardener.” There were many compliments heard throughout the day.

Six San Fernando Valley Iris Society gardens were featured:

Joe and Jill Bonino, Glendale, CA.

In the picture below, Jill Bonino (left) is accompanied by AIS President Jeanne Plank, and her husband Bob.

Judith and Alan Gasser, Sylmar, CA.

Cheryl and Gary Deaton, Canyon Country, CA.

Brian Moon and Leigh Nicolai-Moon, Santa Clarita, CA.

Jan and Mike Lauritzen, Chartsworth, CA.

Randy and Betty Squires, North Hills, CA.

In the picture below Randy (left) is showing garden visitors some of his latest iris creations.

Welcome

2006-05-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

The San Fernando Valley Iris Society welcomes you to our photo blog site. We hope that you enjoy our pictures and description of our activities and iris gardens.

The above picture is of Batik (Ensminger 1985), a border bearded (BB) iris. The border bearded irises are shorter than the tall bearded, but bloom around the same time. The purple and white flowers have a yellow beard and bloom on stalks of approximately 24 inches. Batik's style is of broken colors, and is described as "white ground, striped royal purple B-yellow tipped white." HM 1988, AM 1990. This photo was taken at the Bonino Garden on the San Fernando Valley Iris Society's hosted Region 15 Trek 2006, on April 22.