The genus Helianthus has several species which have been hybridized and selected until today. A wide assortment of perennial and annual sunflowers add charm and interest to a garden. Helianthus Annuus H. annuus is the parent of the gigantic sunflowers, often called Russian Giants. A single flower head is produced on an 8-10″ sturdy stem. … Read more
Nobody will deny daylilies have beautiful flowers, and few would quibble over the statement that their foliage has landscape merit. But to get the best landscape effect from daylilies, we should not think of them entirely in terms of their bloom. Like woody plants, their landscape value is based on the length of time they … Read more
For what they are and what they mean to us, their beauty and symbolism, lilies have earned a place in our hearts. And, biased in their favor though I am, with more than a hundred acres of lilies to watch over and enjoy, increasingly, they seem to be taking their merited place in our gardens. … Read more
A fascinating, thrilling form of gardening is naturalizing daffodils in grassland or a thin woodland of deciduous trees. If you have a suitable location, try it, and see for yourself! The selection of a suitable site is the first thing you must consider; after that, the selection of suitable varieties. The site may be small … Read more
In my garden, the madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is one of my loveliest plants. Even nicer, it is the easiest of all true lilies I grow. With a little winter protection, it is hardy here in the North, and I have seen it thriving in gardens everywhere. This lovely white lily is native to Southern … Read more
Lilting grace, cheerful demeanor, and a subtle quality composed of form, texture, and poise make the daffodil a universal favorite. Color, too! While yellow, in all its chromatic variations, and white in various degrees of purity are basic, many shades and tints of orange, red, rose, pink, salmon, buff, and green may be found in … Read more
In our time, only some of the older and larger firms of Holland worked at originating new tulips before the 1930s. After the thirties, perhaps to divert their thoughts from the daily misery and hatefulness of foreign occupation and war as much as anything else, scores of bulb growers interested themselves in creating and raising … Read more
The home garden’s first choice should be showy, hardy, need minimum care, and permanent plants. Herbaceous peonies meet all four of these requirements. From the moment the crimson spears poke through the soil in early spring until the foliage is cut down by frost in late fall. The peony is lovely; for even when not … Read more
The daintiness and gaiety of the early spring flowering bulbs are a heartwarming sight following the dreary bleakness of winter. Plan now to prepare your garden for its showing next spring. Snowdrop The first snowdrop (Galanthus) will open its frail-looking blossoms weeks before spring has arrived, and the perky winter aconite (Eranthis hyevialis) with golden … Read more
There is something about the sweetly scented lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) that breathes spring. Put a pot of them in full bloom on the table at Christmas time, and the snow disappears, and the cold winds seem to fade to a gentle breeze. You can almost feel the rich, crumbling soil between your … Read more