Epimediums: Jewels of the Shade

Sponsored by Heather Gardens

Karen Perkins, owner of Garden Vision Epimediums, will give a talk on the “perfect shade perennial,” a plant that possesses a delicate beauty that belies its surprisingly tough, long lasting nature. Karen will illustrate the many and varied types now commercially available, including some of the exciting new evergreen species from China. She will also discuss characteristics, growth habit, growing and propagation, pests and diseases, and combining Epimediums with other shade perennials in the garden. We will even get a glimpse into the collecting trips to China made by Darrell Probst. Following her talk, Karen will have for sale a variety of Epimediums brought from her nursery.

Karen Perkins graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture and from the University of Delaware with a Master of Science in Public Garden Management. She has worked and interned at botanic gardens including: the Cornell Plantations, Longwood Gardens, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Royal Botanic Gardens­ Kew, England and Royal Botanic Gardens­­ Edinburgh, Scotland. She served in the Education Department of the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA for 17 years. Karen is currently the owner of Garden Vision Epimediums, a Massachusetts based mail order nursery, started by Darrell Probst, and offering over 170 species and varieties of Epimediums along with other choice companion shade perennials.

$10 / $5 for PHA Members.