Many new homeowners who show excellent taste in furnishing their houses are at a loss when it comes to planting their grounds. Often, the chief reason for poor landscaping is a lack of experience with the basic materials—plants. Concentrate On Annuals One of the best ways to start learning about plants is to concentrate on … Read more
In central Maine, snow may cover the ground from late November through early April, and frost-free nights are not expected until the first of June. When winter lasts so long, and spring is so uncertain, a flower that blooms in April is worth a hundred flowers in June. For us, that precious April bloom is … Read more
Wherever a civilization has flourished, so has the iris. Usually in the very fancy company, indeed! Iris At Karnak Thutmosis III, the greatest of the conquering Pharaohs, brought it to Egypt from Syria in the last half of the 15th century B. C. A witness is an iris in bas-relief on the walls of his … Read more
During summer, when the heat and insects outdoors make us too uncomfortable, we retreat to the living room and console ourselves with our bit of indoor greenery. Our hearth is decorated with several plants, but Hydrosme rivieri, the voodoo plant, is the most prominent. The picture shows it next to our simple old fireplace, which … Read more
Whether you call them lady-slippers, fairy-slippers, or moccasin flowers, these choice woodland orchids are appealing. Their common names are derived from the pouch-like lip of the flowers, which are held on graceful stems well above the leaves in late spring. Like most orchids, the flowers remain fresh for several weeks, especially if pollination does not … Read more
For several years, we tried unsuccessfully to grow baby’s breath, Gypsophila paniculata, and in particular, the improved Bristol Fairy from grafted plants we bought. Usually, before the weather was warm enough to plant them outdoors, we lost many of them. But the mysterious appeal of this airy, graceful plant with its deceptively delicate-looking, well-balanced stalks … Read more
As the weather turns warm and spring flowers bloom, the urge to get out into the countryside is strong. Summer vacation is near, so you start planning a trip. FLOWER GROWER travel hounds who search out beautiful garden spots to visit have come up this time with some very special ones. Tulip Time Every year … Read more
When planning your flower border, do you automatically want to plant every type of flower that is grown? Unfortunately, most of us who love to raise flowers neglect thinking of the overall effect in our search for something new. When I plan improvements in the perennial border, I usually relax in the lawn chair, observing … Read more
Since June is not, inevitably, “The Month of Roses” (I like to think so, too!), let’s face it and admit that in northern sections, at least a few roses are in full bloom before the last days of June. It is the season, however, when many lovely biennials come into their own. And just when … Read more
You can’t beat Anthurium for brilliance. The spathes are brightly colored in red, rose, pink, coral, and orange, or like Anthurium scherzerianum rothschildianum, above in red, spotted with white. The spathes usually develop from March to August, resemble patent leather, and are durable—lasting several weeks. However, they look so artificial that many people think at … Read more