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Meet Marsha Russell

Marsha is a well-respected propagator and long-time NARGSNE member, who has graciously shared several photos of plants she has propagated.
Marsha was a musical prodigy and rapidly lost her hearing.  As a result of her hearing loss she started gardening and noticed Trillium luteum seedlings coming up in her lawn.  After doing some research, she discovered that nobody knew how to grow them from seed.  It was thought that the seeds needed double dormancy or more.  She gathered fresh pods and squeezed the seeds at the base of the parent plant which germinated the following spring.  This was the beginning of her propagating journey, starting with Trilliums and spreading to other plants.

 
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Marsha

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Paeonia anomala

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Anemonella thalictroides ‘Jade Feather‘

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Gentiana angustifolium hybrid, Leach ‘Scotty’

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Daphne cneorum, only about 6” tall x 5’ in diameter

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Spirea morrisonicola

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Trillium vaseyi

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Trillium freemanii type

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Anemone oreganum

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Narcissus asturiensis

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Narcissus rupicola

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Anemone nemorosa 'Blue Eyes'

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Close-up of the Symphyotrichum ericoides flowers

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Montia siberica flowers all season

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Corydalis malkensis

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Corydalis solida

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Digitalis obscura

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Pogonia ophioglossoides

This is a bog plant that is currently grown in a pot
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'Congo Dance'

Mark has produced a stunning new hybrid Korean Mum, an addition to his Mum "dance series". It is a double quill style of Mum with a gorgeous autumnal color.
To enlarge the photo, click on the photo
 
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Elizabeth Zander at home

I was fortunate to have a tour of Elizabeth’s extensive rock gardens in October this year.

Elizabeth has served as president of the North American Rock Garden Society and is now the society’s webmaster.
Judy Leamy
 
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When Phyllis and Judy are not gardening, they enjoy singing 

 Phyllis and Judy sang  with the Bachtoberfest Choir this October at Mechanics Hall, Worcester.
Singers from across the country gather in Worcester for an annual choir performance to conclude the 2025 BACHtoberfest weekend. The BACHtoberfest Choir assembles for this concert  performed three of Bach’s cantatas. The ensemble aims to unite voices from everywhere in song, with a shared passion for the music of J.S. Bach.
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Traveling Speaker October 2025

We welcomed  Traveling Speaker Paul Cumbleton with his co-presenter, Colin Everett, on Saturday 4 October 2025.  Paul gave two talks,  ‘Alluring Alpines’ and ‘Our Odyssey with Bulbs’ and Colin shared photos of his extensive Fritillary collection.
For more information about our speakers, please visit our late summer newsletter on the members' page
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Paul Cumbleton

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Paul and Colin Everett

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Paul's go-to potting mixes

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Paul's recommendations for alpine gardens

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Blue Nasturtium

Seeds available online
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Galanthus Peshmen II

One of hundreds of plants that Paul and Colin grow
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It's lunchtime!

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An informal chat

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Priscilla and Susan

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Paul and Colin's second presentation

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 Colin discussed his extensive collection of Fritillaria species. Originally given at an Alpine Garden Society Bulb Day Conference

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Information sources

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Estelle and Marsha

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Ellen and friend

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Sally, Regie and Dianne

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Nancy and Priscilla

Photo Gallery

Our third garden, owned by Cynthis Chapra, is also located in Weston

In 2009 the property,  purchased by Cynthia and her partner, came with a 100-year-old colonial farmhouse nestled in beautiful plantings and some specimen trees on three acres of land. At that time, only half an acre was accessible.

For more information about Cynthia's gardening journey, please visit
https://www.gardenconservancy.org/garden-directory/open-days/cynthia-s-garden
 
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Hostas

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Non-hardy fern

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Doublefile Viburnum

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Clematis

Member's photos 2025

The summer would not be complete without a trip to Cochato Nursery in Holbrook
Photos taken by Judy L
www.cochatonursery.com
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Paeonia japonica

Woodland Peony 
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Woodland Peony seed pod

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Woodland Peony seeds

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This beautiful peacock watches you with a beady eye

Is it live or Memorex?
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Arisaema triphyllum

Jack-in-the-pulpit seeds
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Kirengshoma

Yellow wax bells
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Name that tree

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Feather Falls

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Hyacinth bean vine

What do our members do?
When NARGSNE members meet we talk about interesting topics related to plants, and show and tell is a fun way of sharing what we get up to.
NARGSne photo. Lathyrus versus. Photo taken by Susan Anthony
Lathyrus versus. Photo taken by Susan Anthony

Lathyrus vernus 

One of Susan's many plants
Erythronium ‘White Beauty’ Photo taken by Susan Anthony
Erythronium ‘White Beauty’ Photo taken by Susan Anthony

Erythronium

‘White Beauty’

Another stunning photo taken by Susan
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Primula 'Lemon Buns'

Bred by Marty and Jan
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Mark talks about some of his cacti collections

Mark McDonough has many plant passions and regularly shares what he is presently hybridizing
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Show and Tell.

Carlo shares his favorite gardening tools with the group
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Ernie describes his go-to gardening tools

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Arisaema sikkokianum

The seeds are poisonous, and it is recommended that you use tweezers to pick them up
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Ernie grew these Stellar Pelargoniums from seed

Stellar pelargoniums, Quantum seed strain, started May 2024.  Stellar, with its pointy foliage and star-shaped blossoms, is unique among zonal pelargoniums. Seed obtained from Hazzards  Plants and Seeds  https://www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com
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 Sue shows us three different types of witch hazel

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Marty explains how he and Jan created the primula  'Lemon Buns'

Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks are well-known plant hybridizers.
Check out their website  https://www.jpwflowers.com/
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Our new logo!

Designed and drawn by artist Chris Leamy
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Spring 

The following photos show what was thriving and in bloom in May, 2024
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Hyacinth Orchid

 Bletilla striata is native to Japan, Korea, Myanmar, and China
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White Iris

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Waterfall in the NY Botanical Rock Garden
Learn More
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Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'

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Cowslip

Genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae
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Iris sp.

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Lilium sp.

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Spider Web on Spruce

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Unusually pink iris and Geranium 'NH Purple'

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Clematis

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Miniature Alpine Gardens

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Iris in full bloom

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Lavender
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Japanese Morning Glory

Growing in Cheryl M's garden, Jefferson, MA
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Clematis

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Aslpenium platyneuron

Maidenhair spleenwort
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A selection of crevice garden plants

Spring Time 2025
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Lathyrus vernus

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Helleborus sp.

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Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder'

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Leucojum aestivum

Summer Snowflake

 Cultivars

NARGSSNE chapter members include botanists, plant breeders, and local experts who cultivate unique plants
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 Plant breeder Mark M at work

Mark M. cultivated this stunning Spigelia. It is very showy with bold and elegant, deeply recurved corolla lobes in chartreuse.
Photo provided by Mark M
For more information about Spigelias, visit www.missouribotanicalgarden.com
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Schlumbergera

The genus Schlumbergera is named after Frederic Schlumbergera. The genus has seven species, all of which are from Brazil.  Commonly known as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Cacti, there are several species.
Photo provided by  Mark M, a prolific cultivator of a variety of plants.
For more information, visit
https://www.schlumbergera.net/history/
 
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Leucojum aestivum 

summer snowflake
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Acer palmatum 'Peaches and Cream'

Growing at Mason Hollow Nursery
https://www.masonhollow.com/
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Tiarella (little turban), the foamflower, is in the Saxifragaceae family

Photo taken at Heritage Museums and Gardens May 18, 2025 by Judy L
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Rhododendron Festival at Heritage Museums and Gardens May 16, 2025. Rhododendron is from the Ancient Greek pooov meaning "rose" and oevopov meaning "tree"
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Brunnera macrophylla 

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Ellen arranges plants for our May 17, 2025, plant auction

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There was a wide variety of plants available to choose from and bid on. 

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One can never have enough plants

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And even more!

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Mums, Asters, and a garden kit

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Saruma henryi

The plant is commonly called upright wild ginger and is a clumping shade-loving perennial
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More assorted plants for our auction

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Donated plant books 
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Polygonatum. King Solomon's Seal

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Our plant auction is a major fundraiser for our group.  

Many hard-to-find plants are grown, propagated, and nurtured by our members for this important event
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NARGSNE and New England Botanical Garden welcome  plant explorer, author, and speaker Tony Avent

Tony Avent is an American horticulturist and plantsman.  He owns Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh, North Carolina
https://www.plantdelights.com/
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Plant Delights Nursery 2025 Spring Sales Catalog.  

Since 1986, the nursery has been THE source for unique, rare, and native perennial plants
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Tony and Ernie are having a deep discussion

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Susan introduces Tony Avent 

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Tony presents his talk to a well-attended audience
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Nancy, Vivien, Tony, Susan, Estelle, and Ernie

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One of Tony's plant recommendations

Ajuga reptans is a great ground cover. Zones 4a-8b
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 Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder'

Distinctive late-blooming species tulip
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Hellebore 

Hellebores are also known as Lenten Roses 
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Pulsatila vulgaris

A  low-growing perennial plant commonly known as the Pasque flower happily grows in rock gardens