Subject
Rhododendron "Nova zembla"
Date
Body
EDITOR'S NOTE. Some months ago, Sam Schuman, a founding father of the
Nabokov Society, noticed that his local nursery was selling a rhododenron
variety called "Nova Zembla." He wondered if there might be a connection
with the "Nova Zembla" of VN's PALE FIRE. Since no one on the list had a
ready answer, I set out to settle this burning issue in Nabokov studies.
After vainly conferring with local botanists and horticulturists, I
wrote to the American Rhodendron Society in Gloucester, Virgina about the
origin of the hybrid name. They didn't know its source, but
sent me a xeroxed page from Cox & Cox, _Encyclopedia. of Rhododendron
Hybrids_. If I read it right, "Nova Zembla" is apparently a cross between
"Parson's Grandiflorum" and "hardy red hybrid" done by Kloster & Sons in
Holland in 1902. Especially good for severe climates such as Scandinavia
and N.E. US. So there is apparently no Nabokov PALE FIRE connection.
Nabokov Scholarship Marches On!
Nabokov Society, noticed that his local nursery was selling a rhododenron
variety called "Nova Zembla." He wondered if there might be a connection
with the "Nova Zembla" of VN's PALE FIRE. Since no one on the list had a
ready answer, I set out to settle this burning issue in Nabokov studies.
After vainly conferring with local botanists and horticulturists, I
wrote to the American Rhodendron Society in Gloucester, Virgina about the
origin of the hybrid name. They didn't know its source, but
sent me a xeroxed page from Cox & Cox, _Encyclopedia. of Rhododendron
Hybrids_. If I read it right, "Nova Zembla" is apparently a cross between
"Parson's Grandiflorum" and "hardy red hybrid" done by Kloster & Sons in
Holland in 1902. Especially good for severe climates such as Scandinavia
and N.E. US. So there is apparently no Nabokov PALE FIRE connection.
Nabokov Scholarship Marches On!