Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: alpinegarden on August 18, 2010, 03:01:52 PM
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I just received the following question:
"Strong circumstantial evidence suggests that Lithodora diffusa 'Grace Ward'
was named after my mother. I have easily found that plant, but I am searching
for the variant named 'Baby Barbara.' The same circumstantial evidence
leads me to suspect that it was named after me around 1954.
I would love to find pictures, actual plants, or seeds of 'Baby Barbara,'
just so I know what it looks like.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Barbara Ward Grubb"
In a follow-up message, she said:
" 'Baby Barbara' is not patented, as far as I can tell. But my research really does point to
the connection of the names with my family. Ivan Murray Johnston, who named 'Grace,'
was at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum when my parents were there as students. His archives
there, at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and at the Harry Ransom Center in Texas, don't
have any anecdotes...but the timing and the intersections of my parents and Dr. Johnston
seem to work out. It's a nice story, if nothing else."
If you have any ideas/answers, please contact Barbara directly:
barb1222@gmail.com
Thanks for any help -
Joyce
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Why, Joyce, what a charming tale... and an interesting question for the Forumists......
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Hello Joyce,
a quick search online showed that Kevrock Garden did offer this variety within their 2007 - 2008 catalogue. No pic there but the description as "tight cascading mat with brilliant gentian-blue flowers". Maybe it's still available there or they are able to take a pic of it?
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Speaking of Lithodora 'Grace Ward', can anyone state unambiguously how it is to be distinguished from L. 'Heavenly Blue'?
Our garden centers here usually offer 'Heavenly Blue', but sometimes 'Grace Ward'. I see no difference between the two, and I suspect that all the plants on offer locally represent only one of these two cultivars. But which one? That is the question.