Ordinarily, when mention is made of the world’s oldest living plants, we think of the California sequoias. Or we may recall that some bryologists maintain that peat moss plants growing year after year from the top and dying off at the bottom may be older than the redwoods. Some students of the lower plants point … Read more
One clear, cold December day, after a light fall of snow, I took a friend to see an unusual holly tree growing in a glade in the woods; You came suddenly on the holly through the thickly-growing surrounding trees. As my friend stepped into the opening where the holly was growing, and as the full … Read more
In Northern climates, the fall gardening chore that takes top priority over the others is protecting the plants which might not survive the winter. This can be done by applying a mulch or protective layer of peat moss or some other material in and around the plants. Whether or not a plant should be protected … Read more
It is, of course, the Christmas rose, the perennial whose beauty is further enhanced by a legend that is as delightful as the plant. We are told that when the Three Wise Men traveled to Bethlehem, they came across a young girl tending her sheep. When the shepherdess named Madelon heard the story of the … Read more
The Christmas tree is an important tradition in America. Practically all species of conifers or narrow-leaf evergreens have been used in one form or another for Christmas decoration. Well-Known Christmas Trees Spruce, fir, and pine are widely popular Christmas trees. Balsam and Douglas-fir are highly esteemed because they retain their needles long after being cut. … Read more
During and even before, millions of evergreen trees are cut to use throughout the Christmas season. This must be why some people call them “Christmas trees,” whether in active growth on a lawn, in a park, in the nursery fields, or when cut and for sale during the holiday season. Various Types Of Christmas Trees … Read more
The pleasures of decorating the Christmas tree can sometimes turn into a problem when a few days later, the tree becomes dry and starts to drop its needles. With careful selection and care, the tree can last throughout the holidays, stay fresh and green, and afford some greens for arranging when it is taken down. … Read more
If you grow your new poinsettia plants from hardwood cuttings, you will find that they are easy to root and easy to grow to full, perfect flowers. This is the way I do it: After the blooms have faded, gradually withhold water for about a month until the soil in the pot is quite dry, … Read more
It is an easy matter to have a garden here in central New Jersey that looks fresh and lovely in the spring. If water holds out, it will also be attractive in the summer and fall. However, the period from November to April, long and dreary, is not enlivened by flowers unless the gardener makes … Read more
Much of the charm of Florida’s winter comes from the parade of exotic flowering trees that burst into bloom from November through March, when most of the country is in the throes of cold and snow. Curiously, only one of these colorful trees is a native of Florida, while the rest have come from other … Read more