Bulletin - Fall 1979 - North American Rock Garden Society

eference to this Taiwan plant in thewestern literature. Dr. Hui-Lin Li writingin Rhodora 45.537 (1943) expressedhis concurrence in considering ita species of Shortia, although he admittedto having known it only fromphotographs and descriptions.Any keen plantsman traveling to Taiwanshould make the special effort tovisit the village of Alishan. It is famousfor an illusion known as the Sea ofClouds. When the western lowlandsare blanketed in dense overcast as happensfor a part of almost every day,one may experience that sense of isolationas if viewing it from an island,the mountaintop surrounded by bluestwater bathed in sunshine. Should hefind himself so isolated, he should takethe early morning work train to theridges closer to Yushan and have thesatisfaction of finding the Taiwan Shortiafor himself . . . just as quicklyas he possibly can.This account might be considered a sequel toa prior discussion of Diapensiaceae, ARGSBulletin, Vol. 29, p. 2.Ralph Bennett—In MemoriamIn the spring of 1967, we had been less than a year in Falls Church, Virginia andwere in the process of building our first rock garden. One pleasant Saturday Ireceived a phone call from a gentleman asking if I belonged to the American RockGarden Society and if I had a rock garden. The answer being yes to both he told mewho he was and asked if he might see my garden. And that was how I met Ralphand Annie Bennett.Less than a half hour later he was observing my construction efforts with thekindly compassion that the professional bestows upon 'the beginning amateur. Observingthat I was where he had been thirty years earlier, he asked me if my wife,Lois, and I and our two children would like to see his rock garden in nearby Arlington.For those of you who have seen that garden, you can understand the charm itheld for two small children, not to mention their father. A maze of sunken paths,steep screes, shrubs and trees in a naturalistic setting all lent an air of enchantment.I came home with two boxes of plants.Over the ensuing years I learned much about Ralph. For years he presided overthe Potomac Valley Chapter of the ARGS, organized our spring and fall plant exchangesand the winter meeting. He had started a neighborhood garden club inArlington that had done much to beautify the homes of its members. He was amember of numerous plant societies and was particularly interested in lilies. Hespoke to garden clubs throughout the Washington area, looking always for convertsto that gentle art.I believe his greatest pride and sense of achievement came as an organizer of theAmerican Penstemon Society. For years he printed the annual report on his ownmimeograph machine at no little cost of time and effort.A few years ago, he stepped down as the leader of the Potomac Chapter to bereplaced by Jim Minogue. And then because he and Annie were both in theireighties, they sold their enchanted garden and the home he built and moved toFlorida near two of their children. He and Annie did get back to Virginia on two192