Tall bearded irises, dwarf and cristata, Siberian irises, Japanese irises, Louisiana irises, and bulbous are the main types of iris you can grow in your garden, and all of them can be planted from July until September. In The June issue of FLOWER GROWER they were featured in the “Home Garden Guide to the Iris.” … Read more
Fortunate breaks in hybridizing irises rarely occur. But, at some time during experimentation, if the breeder keeps growing irises at it diligently enough, a mutation or break comes up, which adds something distinctly new and exciting to the floral pattern. Such an event took place 12 years ago in the tiny iris garden of Mrs. … Read more
This series of articles is written especially for those who live in the midwest, though others interested in the Iris may find much helpful advice in it also. It is surprising how little is commonly known about the care of the Garden Iris, also called the German Iris. Most people think that all you have … Read more
They’re pink! And there’s a variety to match every shade in the color chart. Many garden writers still speak of daylilies “in so-called red shades.” However, if they haven’t seen any of the several hundred red varieties now widely distributed, they are probably unaware of the existence of pinks. Suppose you’d like a pink daylily. … Read more
How should one use the dark daylilies—dusky sirens of the daylily family? Yellow and orange daylilies are supreme for landscaping large areas. But in the small home garden, a dark accent is invaluable. Many daylily authorities feel that one dark daylily to six light ones is a good proportion. Who am I to say that … Read more
The hundreds of letters that came in answer to “The Beginning Gardener” lily quiz in the March issue were almost overwhelming. More than 1,100 answers (from all 50 states except Nevada and Hawaii) were received. Over 72% percent had correct lists, meaning about 800 packets of lily and hemerocallis seeds were sent. Many more chose … Read more
How many have had a gorgeous delphinium bloom take first prize, and maybe “Best Spike in the Show,” and have prided themselves that they had a beautiful plant only to have that plant Winter-kill or pass out from some other delphinium ill? Such disappointments are keenly felt, more so because they are unnecessary. For example, … Read more
You wouldn’t expect such tropical-looking foliage from an inexpensive seed packet labeled “castor bean.” But this budget-wise plant can’t be beaten for quick foundation plantings to banish the bare look of new plots. Castor Bean Plant It’s as quick-growing as Jack’s beanstalk and transforms an empty garden corner with magic akin to that of Cinderella’s … Read more
Each summer for over a dozen years, I have grown one or more seldom-seen annuals in my central Missouri farm garden. These adventures with seeds have been little work and real fun for my family and me. Mirabilis Uniflora Last summer, the double four o’clock, referred to in the trade as Mirabilis uniflora, was a … Read more
You certainly can be someone other than an expert in genetics. However, the experience will teach you many practical things about combining the characteristics of two different parents. Two white glads, for instance, do not give all white seedlings. Neither will two ruffled parents give all ruffles, nor two tall parents give all high offspring. … Read more