Daylilies (hemerocallis) are perennials with real stamina and are of the easiest possible culture. They bring bright clouds of beauty to northern gardens when midsummer’s heat is at its fiercest. Southern gardeners prize them for both floral and foliage effects. In their gardens, the evergreen varieties show splendid fountains of green year-round. Daylilies For Every … Read more
It was in the old house on the campus of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where Professor Saunders has lived for 50-odd years, with his family, his dogs, his chamber music, and his flowers. I was Ied into the dining room. There, the big old mahogany table was covered with his peony blooms, or … Read more
Every year, besides the old standbys, I try something new. If it succeeds, I will continue to grow it. Datura Suaveolens Among those I have tried and kept is (Datura) Brugmansia suaveolens. It is easy to grow from seed, starting early indoors or directly in the garden after the ground is warm. Give it lots … Read more
Some years ago, I began growing daylilies (hemerocallis) simply to complement shrubs and perennials in borders. Then their dependability, care-free habits, and the ease with which I could develop new varieties fascinated me, and I concentrated on them. Where I live, in Mississippi, I am not alone in my fondness for daylilies. Here, shady and … Read more
Fourteen years ago, I fell in love with eight common red geraniums, a gift I planted in a window box. I thought they were the only kind there were—lots of people still do. My friends taught me better. In the fall of my first geranium growing year, I propagated my eight plants and succeeded in … Read more
Another spring wildflower that most of us will recognize in the photograph is the Canada mayflower or false Solomons-seal, Maianthemum canadense. Growing with it, we see the May-flowering scums or blue-bells, with which it makes a pleasing combination. The true Solomons-seal, Polygonatum biflorum, has a gracefully curved stem two to four feet high. The greenish … Read more
You don’t have to be Irish to love the bells of Ireland, Moluccella laevis. Actually, they don’t come from Ireland but are native to western Asia. Everyone who sees them in my garden comments on their novel handsomeness. They have been a longtime favorite with me—not only because of their attractiveness in the garden and flower … Read more
Chrysanthemums fans call their favorite the universal flower. And they aren’t far from right. Whatever you ask of a flower—except fragrance—the chrysanthemum delivers. The forms of its flowers are endlessly varied. Sizes Of Mums The sizes of its plants are anywhere from short to majestic. The hardy ones grow well outdoors. In the greenhouse, most … Read more
Enthusiasm for wildflower gardening, especially in the form of a wildflower corner or path, is definitely increasing. Actually, little is needed to start such a planting. Often, the best spot for it is the troublemaker of the place. At our cottage, there was a gully that vexed us for years. It was ugly, pitifully barren, … Read more
Tulips are in full bloom—all colors from white to black. An arrangement of them alone is always beautiful, but for a change—and to add a little more interest—I wanted something else to put with them. A muted rose-colored container was chosen for the rose-colored, and the background was the dark rose. So a contrast in color … Read more