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
Some years ago, my niece visited us in midsummer. When she got home, she expressed disappointment to her grandmother, “I thought Aunt Olga would have lots of flowers. She had hardly any. You have a lot more.” I was puzzled. My borders were full of plants, including rare and unusual ones. Seedframes contained more not … Read more
Three years ago, my wife Mary and I didn’t know the name of one gladiolus from another in our garden. The North American Gladiolus Council was holding a glad show in our city, and as public-spirited citizens, we supported it by entering six of our unnamed glads. As a result, we won three blue ribbons—that … Read more
When unexpected visitors drop by to see your garden, do you ever wish they’d come last week when the phlox were at their height or next when the dahlias would be popping? Careful planning, perhaps even reorganizing your garden, will save you such dispiriting moments. The secret: develop a high point of interest, beginning with … Read more