Although certain phases of all plant growth, cultivated or wild alike, may be mysterious, there is assuredly no mystery attached to wildflowers. For nearly two decades, we’ve been growing wildflowers, bringing them together from all parts of the country until now our living collection embraces some 2000 species, often represented by many individuals raised in … Read more
A bucket of water and pruning shears is all it takes to bring spring into your home in January. Forcing branches of trees and shrubs into bloom requires only the effort needed to cut and bring them indoors. Their higher temperature takes over, encouraging the tiny buds to open in preseasonal glory. When this happens, … Read more
First, let me express appreciation for the many interesting emails regarding this subject. There were too many to answer personally, but I want you to know that plant breeders are working on many of your suggestions and desires. Someday we may have fragrant morning glories to remain open through a sunny day, a true blue … Read more
Plant breeding has always been a fascinating part of gardening. With some flowers, amateur gardeners have contributed much to developing new varieties. This is true, especially of daylilies, gladiolus, and irises. These are some of the more accessible flowers to hybridize. In addition, new generations of these plants bloom relatively quickly. They are also customarily … Read more
It is time to begin bringing the pots of bulbs planted in October out of storage and starting them into production. The pots should be filled to “overgrowing” with feeder roots. The bulbs produce foliage and flowers quickly when brought into a warm place with lots of light. The actual time is ten days or … Read more
It seems very odd that a class of plants such as the Begonias takes such varied growth forms. Plant explorers must have been greatly puzzled by these differences. They often brought them back to the botanists who identified them by their seed pods which constantly show the same similarities. Procumbent Begonias These Begonias with the … Read more
It isn’t easy to imagine a more varied, interesting, or pleasing lot of plants than is embraced in the genus fritillaria. The hooks tell us there are more than seventy distinct species; some of these, like the checkered lily and the Crown Imperial, are further divided into several named varieties. This diversified group has a … Read more
Now that Holland bulbs are back again, there is a selection of the botanical tulips or species for every garden and enough other types to guarantee a flowering period from early April to the middle of May. The Dutch bulb growers have maintained good stocks of all the better tulip species and developed more hybrids … Read more
When we consider that there are more than 100 miniature narcissi, almost 100 tulip species (including their varieties), at least 75 species of crocus, and hosts of other miniature bulbs, we can readily understand that we are dealing with a large field. Because of the tremendous popularity generated by the large exhibitions at the various … Read more
Dutch irises provide inexpensive, rich color from late-tulip time until the end of June. They’ve long since proved their dependable hardiness, and even Northern gardeners can forget that the word lender” once applied to Dutch irises. Iris will grow in any reasonably good garden soil that’s well-drained and sunny, and they’re a rewarding source of … Read more