A group of very useful plants in the garden is the plantain lilies. There are so many sizes in this genus that the plants can be used in a great variety of locations and for many different horticultural effects. They are especially desirable from a horticultural point of view for massive accents in the flower … Read more
Both home gardeners and commercial growers are bothered and blessed by the problem of what to do with leaves, vegetable waste, and crop residues. Rightly handled, this material is not an unwanted waste but a valuable byproduct. Avoid Burning Leaves and Surplus Vegetables Right at the beginning, it should be said that burning is rarely … Read more
With increasing emphasis placed on ornamental crab apples for landscape use, it is understandable that homeowners are searching for varieties that are most suitable to their needs. Many kinds can be used in almost any garden, small or large, though some of the large varieties are out of place in small gardens. Several excel as … Read more
Leaves comprise our green material. We operate in a 12- x 8-foot sector of a far backyard corner screened by flowering shrubs. Here we work two and one-half to three tons of compost each year. Ours is a heavily-wooded section, built up with well-spaced homes on what was once the former estate of a shoe … Read more
With the leaves from over 500 trees carpeting our property each Fall, it is natural that I should develop a great interest in a compost pile and composting methods. In 20 years of composting, we have developed a system of our own and also some clear ideas as to what can be done with compost. … Read more
Thrills, excitement, and dreams come true—that’s what is in store for the home gardener who decides to try his luck at making cuttings by the fog mist propagation method. With a minimum of effort and equipment, he can produce any number of fine, sturdy little plants from the choice of trees, shrubs, and evergreens. We … Read more
Without a doubt, the Oriental poppy is one of the choicest perennials. It is the most conspicuously beautiful plant in the spring landscape—the outstanding plant of May and early June. In warmer regions, new poppy leaves are green and lovely as early as January, and in all sections, the large, fern-like leaves are up in … Read more
Maclura pomifera, Osage orange, to the early Western settlers, was the perfect fencing material. The wood was durable and exceptionally hard, and the branches were covered with strong axillary spines similar to barbed wire fencing. They made an ideal natural fence when grown in rows, preferably in a zigzag fashion, and kept pruned. Thomas Nuttall … Read more
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is situated on the small, lovely island of New Providence, surrounded by waters of the most unbelievable blues and greens. We arrived in July when the abundance of brilliant and spectacular bloom was at its zenith. Royal Poinciana The royal poinciana continued to display its vermilion mantle while the … Read more
Nowadays, when small homes are popular, space is at a premium, and every tree and shrub introduced into the planting scheme plays an important role. The proper placing of each determines, in large measure, whether the picture created will be attractive or overdone. Small places are all too often cluttered with trees and shrubs dotted … Read more