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Niagara Region.
MEMBERS' GARDENSMike and Marian Little in Fonthill
NettleCreek Nursery
The
Littles have a unique 3 1/2 acre property in a hollow in Fonthill which
actually is set at the edge of an Esker. Their house, built into the side
of a hill, has a passive solar heating system with an unheated greenhouse
on a southern exposure. This provides ideal conditions for growing rhododendrons
and azaleas "under glass." The Littles grew more than 3 000 small plants
propagated by Virginia Hildebrandt which were offered at the 53 ARS Annual
Convention in 1998.
The
Littles started growing rhododendrons in 1985 and have a fine collection
of over 2000 plants growing naturally on the property, all derived from
Weldon Delp, Al Smith and their own peripatetic search for interesting
cultivars. In addition they have a collection of rhododendron species.
Also, there are several Franklinia growing on the premises, as well as
Magnolia hypoluca, 'Sieboldii' and 'Ashei'.
The
photographs show their poly-houses in the fall of 1998 as they prepared
the 1999 plant selections for winter storage.
