I’ve been told by gardeners more times than I can count that they find their greatest gardening joy in the early spring flowers. But they’re usually talking about daffodils and tulips, magnolias, forsythias, and dogwoods that blossom in April and May. Few of them realize that even before they welcome these flowers, they can enjoy … Read more
I am fond of chrysanthemums and like to grow many of the better varieties for their beauty in the garden and arrangements and to give them away to friends as cut flowers and divisions. At first, I grew all I could in a mixed border, but there, due to the proximity of other plants set … Read more
Since fall planting is considered an important factor in the future development of good shrubs in the Rochester, New York, climate, additions to the world-famous lilac collection at Highland Park are planted in that season. Usually, this is done after the fall rains, during late September or early October, when soil conditions are ideal, and … Read more
Now, and every year at this time, a wonderful gardening ritual is taking place. Gardeners, by the hundreds of thousands, are planting millions of tulip bulbs shaped like dark brown raindrops. Each gardener dreams about the color of what spring will bring out of these bulbs. Most gardeners know, too, that their dreams are justified, … Read more
When lilies became an important part of my work, and I wanted to plant the various new hybrids and the species right around my own home where I could observe their behavior closely, I found my garden was not quite suitable. Two eminent Oregon landscape architects designed it primarily for so-called Dutch bulbs, annuals, and … Read more
Arthur E. Curtis likes to give his mother, Anna E. Curtis Goetting, credit for the success he has had as a hybridizer of fine Oriental poppies. She was an outstanding teacher of botany. One of the best, according to that grand old man of horticulture, Dr. B. O. Dodge. She was, too, an enthusiastic gardener … Read more
One of tine most amusing occurrences in my garden each spring is to have one to a dozen admirers of the iris bring a bloom from their garden to compare it with more than 600 named varieties and numbered seedlings that grow there. Nine times out of 10, the iris to be named is an … Read more
Never heard of it. Most likely, you have, but under its proper name, Lilium speciosum rubrum. When admiring visitors ask me its name, I give them the botanical title, but to me, it is still a pink polka-dot lily. I feel too grateful to this old friend, which has blossomed and multiplied so well in … Read more
There are bulbs for every gardener. A few kinds respond only to the persuasions of those whose thumbs are so green that they can almost cause a table leg to sprout roots, but many more will flourish for the veriest beginner, provided just a little care is taken in selecting and planting them. So whether … Read more
In many countries, daffodils are apt to bloom when pleasant days are few and disappointments are few. This is usually due to the weather, which is highly variable and changeable to a great extent. Nonetheless, daffodils are increasing in popularity because they grow so easily and are colorful at a time when they are most … Read more