Most of us are familiar with the showy large-flowered tulips that decorate our gardens and public parks in the spring. Yet I wonder how many are acquainted with the delightful wild species from which these garden varieties were developed? These species of tulips, and their many varieties, flower from four to six weeks earlier than … Read more
There are two ways to plant hardy spring-flowering bulbs. You can be impetuous, impatient, and in a hurry (like me)—and get them on the ground the day the mailman delivers the package. Results? Pink hyacinths are too close to the ‘Red Emperor’ tulips. Naturalized daffodils that divide so fast and furiously (because of shallow planting) … Read more
I have read Mrs. Ruth D. Grew’s article on a cardinal flower in Horticulture with interest, appreciation, and complete agreement except for one point: I would be less cautious and more enthusiastic in giving directions for growing cardinal flowers in captivity. That any wildflower so beautiful could establish itself in the garden with the exuberance … Read more
Most gardeners tend to concentrate their flowering plants and bulbs in perennial borders, and this is a natural tendency since that is what borders are for. However, when it comes to lilies, they are essentially plants best considered in terms of the overall garden, rather than as part of the border. Use them as you … Read more
Holland in the springtime provides visitors with a fabulous automobile drive along 100 miles of roadways lined with fields of blooming bulbs which include colorful tulips, hyacinths, and narcissus that literally fling their fragrances into the air. At first glance, the impression is that the sky, at sunset, has settled all over the Dutch landscape. … Read more
Both the curing and the preserving of gourds are dependent upon the quality of the fruits and their maturity. If they are damaged by skin bruises, there is no method by which they can be preserved. Skin bruises form an excellent point for the inroad of bacteria which will cause ultimate decay. To avoid such … Read more
Following the early bulbs, alliums are of growing interest for garden accent and color. Kinship with the onion is well disguised in most kinds, although A. schoenoprasum, with pretty lavender clover-like flowers, is the chive itself with leaves that are tasty in soups and salads. Allium Molly A. molly has twinkly yellow flowers, ten inches … Read more
Since shrubs constitute a long-time investment, it is important that their selection be made with reference to the spot. Where they are to stand and the shape they will assume, whether tall or broad, as well as the amount of care they will require, including the necessary pruning and spraying for insect pests and diseases. … Read more
Most home gardeners are familiar with the fascinating story of the tulip mania which took place in Holland before the middle of the seventeenth century. The development of the classification of the tulip and the metamorphosis that has come about in methods of planting and arrangement were influenced by popular demand and the historical happenings … Read more
The Charm of Crinums It is true that many of the crinums indeed require more room than the ordinary amaryllis bulb or geranium plant, but so do the eremurus and Lilium giganteum, for instance, and at the same time, they are highly regarded as garden plants. Key Takeaways: Amaryllis Cultivation: A Rewarding Challenge Crinums are … Read more