Freesia flowers have the sweetest fragrance of any plant grown indoors—and the basic requirement for success with freesias is a sunny window in a cool room. Freesias grow from bulbs which should be planted during August or earliest September. They have graceful iris-like foliage, are members of the iris family, and are native to South … Read more
Gloriosa, or glory-lily (Gloriosa rothschildiana), has attracted considerable attention at spring flower shows over the past few years. These spectacular flowers of rich coloring (illustrated opposite) are most satisfactory for cutting and last well. Like gladiolus, they can be planted outdoors in spring as soon as the soil becomes warm enough to handle comfortably. These … Read more
The so-called “autumn crocus” (Colchicum autumnale) is of easy culture and deserves to be more widely grown. In color, it is a soft rose-lilac. Varieties are the following: Colchicums Speciosum C. speciosum, with large bowl-shaped, deep rosy-purple flowers on long stems, comes from the Caucasus. Its large leaves grow to one foot and are as … Read more
When planting your new lilies in the garden this fall, whether you’re putting in a few or several hundred, don’t sell them short! Use them where they will be most effective, where their regal beauty will accent, contrast or complement their garden companions. And plant them properly so that the bulbs will not be forced … Read more
With a bulbous iris, you can create wonderful pictures in living colors in your garden. Moreover, you’ll come to treasure them for the beautiful arrangements which are so easy to achieve with their long-lived flowers. They are known as the florists’ iris, and few flowers are perfect for cutting. Nor do many display their exquisite … Read more
There are many reasons for the existence of rock walls. For example, such a wall may be the means of retaining a steep embankment or disposing of surplus stones. A rock wall can form a handsome dividing line between a property or sections of a property. Whatever the reason, why not make them attractive? Growing … Read more
The golden-rayed lily of Japan, Lilium auratum, has been justly called the queen of lilies. It is regally tall and graceful, and its deliciously fragrant, waxy-white flowers have broad golden bands flecked with crimson running down the center of the petals. Hybrids of Lilies In some of the hybrids, the bands themselves are crimson and … Read more
Why be content with only two weeks of tulips when you can enjoy their wonderful flowers for two months? It is all a matter of selecting the right types and varieties; even if you are a greenhorn gardener, your catalogs can help you do this if you give them a chance. The trick is learning … Read more
Can one date beauty or plants just when they are ready to take their rightful place in the garden world? We can in the case of lilies. These lovely, hardy, easy-to-grow plants have come a long way from the species collected in the wild. However, they have had a difficult transition period. Finally, they have … Read more
Inscriptions of lilies have been found on vases and Assyrian monuments dating back to 1300 B.C. until recent years. Unfortunately, hybridizers have all but completely overlooked the lilies. History tells us that as early as 1535, our native meadow lily (Lilium canadense) was imported to England. For many years lilies were dug and shipped from … Read more