Any flower lover who has seen the birdfoot violet (Viola pedata) adding its touches of rich embroidery to the raw subsoil of highway cuts in the Ozarks is tempted to try it in his garden. Many have tried it and some have succeeded. Others have failed. It is well worth the effort. Appealing Viola Family … Read more
The King is dead! Long live the King! The old phrase just about sums up the present situation (if you will pardon the mixed gender) concerning the “Queen of Flowers,” the rose. No matter what transpires, roses are the most popular plants among gardeners and the uninformed public. Within this broad classification, however, there are … Read more
A well-known gardener in Vermont was asked, “How do you grow your geraniums?” and the answer came back promptly, “Every way.” This explains the versatility and adaptability of this old garden and house plant favorite. Geranium’s Ability To Bloom The geranium’s ability to bloom throughout the garden season has permitted this plant to share some … Read more
If you have not grown Tigridia Pavonia, commonly known as shell or tiger flower, you have a treat in store. A semi-tropical plant from Mexico and Chile, it does well in Mid-America gardens, planted in groups for summer display much as tulips are used in the spring. There are many species, but Tigridia Grandiflora is … Read more
This is the time of year when hardy spring-blooming bulbs— snowdrops, crocus, scillas, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and others— brighten the gardens with their colorful blossoms. And the time of year when questions concerning them arise. They are appealing, coming into bloom quickly after a season without flowers. People want to plant some at once today … Read more
One would not dream of a well-planned late spring garden without at least a few varieties of iris standing among the aquilegia and peonies. But what was the picture a few weeks earlier? Perhaps a small group of daffodils looked out over the expanse of foliage from later blooming plants, or maybe a smattering of … Read more
It’s no trick to get a second bloom from your Easter lily gift plant or even year-after-year bloom if you want it. No pampering is needed. Just a few step-by-step procedures, that’s all. How To Keep Your Easter Lily Gift Plant Blooming To keep your gift plant blooming as long as possible, set it where … Read more
The Achilleas, descendants of the weed yarrow, which transforms empty lots and roadsides into bright wildflower patches, are as easy to grow as their more common cousins. They thrive in any ordinary soil in full sun or part shade. Like their poor relatives, they are extremely hardy. In addition to their virtues in the garden, … Read more
Annual flowers are seldom appreciated as they should be, for they are the backbone of the summer garden. They are the answer to the renter’s prayer for some inexpensive bloom. They are a godsend to the new homeowner who does not have time or maybe money to get hardy flowers for the first season. Nothing … Read more
The florists’ cineraria (actually, Senecio cruentus) dislikes dryness and warmth and insists on cool air (40° degrees Fahrenheit to 60° degrees Fahrenheit) and more moisture than you would dare provide for most pot plants. Mine seems to like my makeshift hotbed, which is warmed only by air coming out through a cellar window and must … Read more