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The content is the responsibility of Murray Turoff, Professor. 
For suggestions on this web site: murray@vc.njit.edu 

January, 2000 
Heaths & Heathers

The NorthEast Heather Society
NEHS

The North East Heather Society (NEHS) is a chapter of the North American Heather Society (NAHS) which is made up of gardening oriented individuals in the Eastern Seaboard of North American enthusiastic about Heaths and Heathers.  

Table of Contents 
Why Heaths and Heathers  

Did you know that there are heathers that bloom in the dead of winter when there is little else of color in the garden? In fact, one can create a heather garden where there is almost always something in bloom. Did you know that heather enthusiasts are very friendly and eager to show their garden and give advice and help to those wanting to start their own? Did you know that heathers like acid soil which most common flowering plants do not like? As a result many heather enthusiasts also like dwarf conifers as well since the two integrate nicely in composing a textural and color garden creation. Did you know that heather lives in symbiotic relationship with an organism in the soil? While they like moisture they must have excellent drainage to avoid drowning their partner organism. 

Heathers do not do well in hot summers so they are not found in the far south of the country except where there are higher and cooler elevated land areas. There are however wonderful temperate heathers with magnificent blooms for regions without heavy (e.g. zone 7) winters that have been brought in from countries like South Africa. Traditional heathers come from cool climates like England, Scotland, Northern Europe. They like winter snow cover for protection from severe winter conditions and do not like icy winter winds. If there is a chapter in your area of the country it is probably a good area for heathers but sometimes both "good and bad" conditions can co-exist in a single garden. That is why there are numerous "tips" on heather growing that come from getting the newsletters and meeting with like minded enthusiasts.  

Did you know that: 

Heaths and heathers are woody plants and therefore quite easy to propagate if the moisture level is kept in the right range while new roots are developing?  

There are hundreds of varieties available with a significantly large range of bloom color and foliage color and texture?  

Some plants have foliage that turns bright red, orange or rich chocolate in the winter months? 

The Heather Society in Britain has put out some wonderful material for newcomers.  

For more experienced heather growers they also have an excellent guide to heather varieties (1000).  

A good introductory and reference book for the serious beginner is: 
Heaths and Heathers: The Growers Encyclopedia, by Terry Underhill, publishers David & Charles, Newton Abbot, London, 1990. ISBN 0-7153-8303-5 (out of print but might be found in some libraries). 

Books on Rock Gardening may have sections on Heaths such Rock Gardening by Lincoln Foster, Timber Press, Portland Oregon, 1982. Timber Press is an excellent source for many plant books. 

Northeast Heather Society 

For more information on the Northeast Heather Society, current events and membership instructions click here.
For the homepage of the North American Heather Society and some heather music click here.

HEATHER GARDENS OF NORTH AMERICA 

The following gardens have a distinctive heather area with a good selection of varieties on display. A number of these gardens were created by the work of the various chapters and donations of plants by members and some of the specialty heather nurseries in the U.S. (This list was compiled by NAHS).  

Bowdoin College Library, Brunwick, Maine 

Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, New Jersey 

Children 's Hospital & Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 

Deep Cut Horticultural Park, Lincroft, New Jersey 

Heritage Plantation, Sandwich, Massachusetts 

The Holden Arboretum, Mentor, Ohio 

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, Victoria, B.C., Canada 

Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, Pennsylvania 

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, California 

Rhododendron Species Foundation, Federal Way, Washington 

Smith College Botanic Garden, Northampton, Massachusetts 

Thompson's Gardens, Manchester, California-by appointment (707)882-2345 

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada 

University of California Arboretum, Santa Cruz, California 

Van Dusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver, B.C., Canada 

Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, Washington 

Wolf's Neck Farm, Freeport, Maine 

Specialty Growers of Heath and Heather in the Northeast 

Waquoit Heathers Nursery 

Edna and Mac McKinnon 
131 Carriage School Rd. 
Waquoit, Cape Cod, Mass. 
508 548 6979 

Mail order list available but best to visit if in their area, phone before visiting. 
Edna and Mac have one of the largest collection of varieties of heathers on the east coast and over the years have been instrumental in the introduction of new varieties from abroad. Their many years of experience and great knowledge about heathers have not lessened their willingness to talk to and aid beginners. 

Rockspray Nursery, Inc.  
P. O. Box 693 
Truro, MA 02666-0693 
(508)349-6769 
Proprietor: Kate Herrick 
Full color brochure 

Well known for their excellent collection of plants and the reliability of the plants they send out or offer. Their web site should not be missed if you are interested in seeing some lovely pictures of heaths and heathers. Also, they can handle large scale orders. Their web site has won an artistic award for its design. 


NEHS MEMBERSHIP FORM


(print and fill in or create your own)

I would like to join the NorthEast Heather Society. 

Name________________________________________________  
Street/Apt.__________________________________________  
City___________________ State ___________Zip__________ 
Phone:_________________ Amount Enclosed____________ 

Check one:  

Beginner in heaths and heathers _______ 
Have actually grown some _________ 
Considerable experience __________ 
Have garden with H&H willing to show _______ 

Membership in NEHS:  

One year ($10) _______ 

Make check payable to NEHS 

Send check for the above amount to: Northeast Heather Society, C/O Vivagean Merz, 55 Upland Ave., Falmouth, MA. 02540.
Psychological Aspects of Heather Growing: 

If you are a garden obsessed person, like most of us, and you have not discovered heather then you are truly plant challenged! If you wish to measure your degree of obsession utilize this link. 

Both the NAHS and other chapters are in the process of developing their own WEB information. When that occurs we will link to that material, but for now we are providing on this NEHS page the following overview of NAHS and the other chapters. 

The North American Heather Society 

NAHS is a plant society and an association of chapters dedicated to the:  Affiliates around the planet include The Heather Society, headquartered in Great Britain, Ericultura in Holland, and Gesellschaft der Heidefreunde in Germany.  

Founded in 1977 in Canada as the Pacific Northwest Heather Society, the organization now has six chapters throughout Canada and the U.S. Chapter activities include the development of botanical collections of heaths and heathers and growing rare cultivars for special plant sales at regional landscape and flower shows. 

Membership in NAHS includes: 

Quarterly newsletters, HEATHER NEWS 
Annual meetings, offering the opportunity to travel to new places in North America and abroad. 
Participation in a dedicated team who are working to develop heather awareness in North America. 
Our special slide and book libraries 
Visits to public and private heather gardens 
Botanizing opportunities 
Access to specialty growers of heaths and heathers 

Dues: $12/one year; $20/two years; $30/three years. Add $2/person for additional members at same address. Membership is based on a calendar year. Make check payable to NAHS. Mail your check and the information as in the membership form above to: NAHS Secretary E. 502 Haskell Hill Road, Shelton, WA 98584, USA. 

If you have any questions about the North American Heather Society feel free to message the president: Dee Daneri email: DeeDaneri@AOL.com or the secretary Karla Lortz email: heaths@gte.net 

Other North American Heather Society Chapters 

California Northcoast Chapter 

The CNCC was formed to maintain the heathers collection at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg, CA. The members meet at each others homes quarterly on a Saturday, dates to be announced. A general bulletin and briefs of coming events are published before meetings. Contact: Clark Davis, President, 19141 Neptune, Fort Bragg, CA 95437.  

Cascade Heather Society  

The chapter creates a heather display and plant sale at the Pacific Northwest Flower Show in Seattle. They maintain heather beds at the Rhododendron Species Foundation at Federal Way, Washington. Upcoming events for 1997 include a Fall meeting on Saturday, October 4, and the group will host the 1998 NAHS conference at Vashon Island. The chapter offers a quarterly newsletter. Contact: Susan White, President, 23930 Wax Orchard Road SW, Vashon Island, WA 98070. 

Cowichan Valley Heather + Chapter 

The chapter sponsors educational programs in this area and has recently developed a heather garden at the Shawnigan Lake Community Center. A newsletter is planned in the near future, and the chapter has recently expanded to outlying islands in the area. Contact: Ellen Norris, President, 1205 Copley Place, RR1, Shawnigan Lake, BC VPR 2WO, Canada. 

Heather Enthusiasts of the Redwood Empire (HERE) 

Founded in August, 1994, the chapter prints three newsletters annually. Local garden centers offer member discounts. The group has a library, a speaker's bureau, and garden tours three times a year.  

HERE is currently establishing a public heather garden in the City of Fortuna. A national heather collection is proposed for the coming Humboldt Botanical Garden. Meetings scheduled for 1997 include Saturday, June 7, Northern Humboldt; August 16, a tour to the Thompson Garden. Contact: Glennda Couch-Carlberg, President, 3460 Lake way, Arcata, CA 95521. 

Victoria & District Heather Society 

The chapter maintains the heather garden at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. Week-day meetings are announced, and work days at the hort centre. Contact: Al Smith, 4553 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria, BC V8X2C7.  

Membership in all chapters is at $5/year/chapter. Feel free to write to any of the above chapters for more information or send them a check for membership.  

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