Most of us agree that flowers excite the keenest pleasure because of their beauty. Yet, to the hybridizer, these most ornamental features of most plants have their outward beauty, but many snores. To the hybridizer, flowers are the means toward plant improvement and quality control standards in generation after generation of any established variety of … Read more
Annual asters rank among the half-dozen most popular garden annuals in America. Called China asters (Callistephus chinensis) to distinguish them from native hardy types, they have been standbys in American gardens for 50 years. They have surely kept pace with the times and are available in many new forms to fit the needs of mid-century … Read more
A public garden in South Bend, Indiana, has no usual “keep off the grass” or “don’t touch” signs. Instead, it is specially planned so that people can touch the flowers. It began in the mind of Mrs. G. W. Zeigler, past president of the South Bend Garden Club. Many people who delight in the colors … Read more
One of the most familiar signs of spring is the Primula Vulgaris ‘Grandiflora,’ a semi-evergreen perennial that is first to bloom and provide a burst of vivid colors in gardens, borders, or landscapes. It is a species belonging to the genus Primula and a member of the Primulaceae or the Primrose family, which contains about … Read more
Few flowers hold greater delight for the flower arranger than the Christmas rose. Many are how it can be used in the house — with the smooth green of laurel or hemlock when flowers are newly open and sparkling white, with golden false-cypress when stamens are fat and yellow, with lustrous leucothoe and mahonia as … Read more
Everything a cut flower ought to be, the gladiolus is infinitely varied, powerful, strong in arrangements, or light as a butterfly. It is long-lived and stays fresh in water for a week or longer. It comes in colors to suit any taste or decorative scheme. Planting Gladiolus Varieties Select a few early, mid-season, and late … Read more
Exotic in appearance and brilliant in color, these luscious flowers of summer, which have been vastly improved by hybridizers both here and abroad, are bringing new splendor to our gardens. All over America, they are grown by amateurs, whose results often challenge those of highly skilled professionals. New Praise on Begonias Because of their exquisite … Read more
I planted my first tuberous begonias right out in my flower border where they were at the mercy of rains and dampness. In the end, they rotted. The next season, I decided to plant them in pots so I could control the moisture. I designed these myself but any clay pot about 10” inches wide … Read more
Mr. Joseph Harris of the Joseph Harris Seed Company, Rochester, N. Y., would like to see yellow sweet peas and pure yellow petunias brightening the landscape but concedes that these are difficult. He thinks an aster strain (Callistephus) which is completely unaffected by aster yellows disease, may come along sooner than expected. Disease resistance in … Read more
1st AWARD: Mrs. Geo. MeCcoch IV Cambridge A Peace Rose “PEACE. ” It’s not a very long word and not difficult to spell. But I do believe that it has stronger emotional significance to more people the world over than any other word—especially at Christmas when the world sings, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” … Read more