You can have the bright red berries and dark green leaves of holly in your garden if you observe these three keys to success: Choose varieties likely to succeed in your climate, select a favorable planting location with good soil, and provide a reasonable amount of care after planting. The hardy northern varieties of American … Read more
This low ground cover with a tongue-twisting scientific name, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is native across the North American continent and in Europe and Asia as well. Not many plants are found over such a wide part of the globe—proof enough that this plant finds many places where it can flourish. It grows on the sandy banks … Read more
Empty bird feeders are almost as commonplace during winter as dry bird baths in summer. When the first ice storm rages there is a sudden feeling for birds, but as snow deepens and it is harder to reach feeders, sentiment often vanishes. ‘‘The squirrels are getting most of the seed, so why bother?” Benefits of … Read more
The answer to this question is not as simple as it appears. To some people, it may mean a tree propagated on any of the East Mailing rootstocks. To others, it may mean a tree propagated on a specific stock, such as East Mailing IX; others still think a dwarf tree has an East Mailing … Read more
Have you ever been fascinated by the name of a flower, looked it up in your gardening encyclopedia, and meant to order it but never got around to it? That is what happened to Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides) and me. More than 3 years ago, a good friend of mine who is a gardener on a … Read more
No matter how many roses an enthusiast may have, new varieties are always awaited with excitement. This fall’s introductions are particularly worthy of attention, for they produce not only clearer and brighter colors than many older types but are more vigorous and disease-resistant. New Roses Produced by Armstrong Nurseries These new roses were produced by: … Read more
Over one hundred years ago, Professor Asa Gray of Harvard University, in a series of papers, expounded an interesting aspect of plant distribution: the distinct relationships existing between the floras of eastern North America and eastern Asia, particularly China and Japan. Many genera of plants, such as Magnolia, Liriodendron, Hamamelis, Wisteria, Pachysandra, Chionanthus, and Catalpa, … Read more
Since ancient times, the Japanese have been garden lovers. For them, a garden is a secluded retreat where they find spiritual refreshment beside peaceful waters and living trees. The whole concept of Japanese gardening derives from nature. Trees, shrubs, rocks, and water are used to suggest a natural landscape. When ornamental accessories are introduced, they … Read more
Home gardeners sometimes get the rather erroneous idea that annual larkspur’ cannot be depended upon to do well anywhere except in the equable climate of sunny California. True, in most parts of the United States, the spikes of this dainty-hued, attractive flower seldom reach the height or the size of those grown on the West … Read more
The Hybrid Perpetuals form a link between the roses of the early part of the 19th century and those of today. No other hybrid group can lay claim to so long a span of favor, for although the Hybrid Teas have won top popularity over them in recent years, the Hybrid Perpetuals are still greatly … Read more