Deep in the swamps of south Louisiana grows a horticultural treasure that has all the brilliance of precious jewels. Whence this fabulous Louisiana iris came, or when, no one knows. It was in the late 1920s that Dr. John K. Small of The New York Botanical Garden first brought these swamp beauties to the attention … Read more
These are by no means all of the flowers available for strong early summer bloom. Omitted, for instance, are the true lilies and the hemerocallis, both such staples for color that they are in classes by themselves. In the photograph are Depending on your latitude and climate, you will probably have these flowers in bloom … Read more
For 25 years, Joe Campbell, retired insurance man of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been growing hardy chrysanthemums. Known throughout his area as a winner of blue ribbons, Campbell still improved his methods each year. Summarizing his philosophy of growing mums, he believes a gardener should supervise the work of mother nature and not merely let nature … Read more
Irises are easy, hardy perennials that thrive under difficult conditions and seldom cause much trouble. Far more than that, they present you in May and June with an all-out blooming spree that makes everything else took pale by comparison. Here are the methods I use to get irises off to a good start. They have … Read more
The chamomile plant is a collective term that describes a group of flowering plants that belong to the composite family, known as “Asteraceae”. Although the plant exists in a variety of species, the two most popular ones are the Roman (perennial) and German chamomile (annual), which are known scientifically as “Anthemis nobilis” and “Matricaria recutita” … Read more
Acidanthera (ass-ih-DAN-ther-ah), also known as Gladiolus murielae or Acidanthera murielae, is a cormous perennial which belongs to the genus Gladiolus and is a member of the family Iridaceae. This perennial summer-blooming bulb is native to the tropical mountains of East Africa, namely in regions of Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique. It’s commonly known for its … Read more
Fritillaria is a genus of a perennial flowering herbaceous bulb. The plant belongs to the lily family and is also classified as a bulbous plant, which means that it grows and dies back to an underground bulb year by year. The plant is native to the Northern hemisphere in places where the temperature is mild, … Read more
Phlox is one of the soundest of all garden investments for paying color dividends. They can extend, complement or dominate the July to October garden pageant. No other perennial adapts itself more amiably in gardens from coast to coast or is less demanding of attention. It is easy to understand how these qualities combined with … Read more
Midseason color in the garden may be amply provided from a storehouse of plants that are too seldom used. These are the ones that arise from bulbs or tubers. We are accustomed to the brilliant displays of tulips and narcissus in early spring. If we like, we can have continuing colors from bulbs through the … Read more
Petunia, pronounced [peh-TEWN-ya], is a genus of nearly 35 flowering plant species. It belongs to Solanaceae, the nightshade family, native to South America. The common garden petunia (petunia atkinsiana) is a popular decorative plant. Its beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers make it popular for summer window boxes and flowerbeds. The plant’s botanical name is petunia hybrida. The … Read more