The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, and its hundreds of forms and hybrids have always been garden favorites. Their beauty and fragrance have led horticulturists to expect too much from the approximately 20 late-blooming lilac species that have only recently been introduced into gardens. As a result, there has been rather severe criticism of them as … Read more
Insects aren’t the only pests with which the gardener has to contend. Many other animals, both large and small, frequently cause damage to plants. Still, others are hazards to people and pets, and some are just plain nuisances. Birds Even the most avid bird lover will admit that some birds can be a nuisance. Take … Read more
One sometimes hears landscape people bemoan the lack of low-growing evergreen material, so much needed now for the new types of low-walled homes. There is quite a hit of lovely material, especially among the broad-leaf evergreens, that has not yet been widely propagated and publicized. A newcomer to the broad-leaf evergreen group is a dwarf … Read more
Which bloom better roses planted in the spring or the fall? Many gardeners prefer the fall, but many still insist that spring is the proper planting time. There are always those whose first desire to grow roses may occur during the winter or early spring. For some their planting blood, does not begin to flow … Read more
Winter never lags if you have camellias in full bloom all season. We grow them in our greenhouse and on our glassed-in porch. Our 22’x24′-foot glass house was built many years ago and paid for itself almost at once with savings on winter vacations—with camellias in bloom, why go away! They like cool temperatures, so … Read more
For years, there was widespread use of Gloriosa rothschildiana in the florist trade. It was popular for corsage and bowl arrangements. It brought the arresting beauty of these exotic, tropical, African bulb-vine flowers to the attention of many thousands of American flower lovers. Many who might never have seen them outside of Florida and choice … Read more
A greenhouse will furnish the climate to order. In a warm house, the pattern of the tropics can be followed. Near the edges and in the “toe” of a lean-to, cacti and succulents will flourish in the heat and develop their beauty in form and color. The larger epiphytic bromeliads, aloes, and euphorbias are happy … Read more
One of the loveliest pleasures a rose garden offers is its appeal to our sense of color. Yet many gardens are less effective than they would be if the color were more carefully considered. Color Nomenclature: State of Confusion Certainly, color nomenclature is in a state of confusion so far as roses are concerned. Various … Read more
I’ve been an armchair gardener for a long time. That’s why I can’t help but snicker when I hear some of you guys worrying out loud about all those leaves you’ve got piled up and the hard job ahead of composting them. Easy Way of Composting Maybe it’s all in knowing how to do it … Read more
The viburnums comprise so many excellent shrubs from diversified environments that one can hardly begin to grow them all in one garden. Perhaps it would be better to say that a beginning should be made for every garden, for no other genus of hardy shrubs offers so much beauty and interest over such long periods. … Read more