When you stop to think about it, a discussion on growing prize-winning gladiolus is quite similar to one on playing contract bridge. Neither game is nearly as confounding as the rabid fan, all unknowingly, makes it appear to the beginner. But, let the addict have his fun. By observing a few fundamentals, the rest of … Read more
With the heroism and farsighted business acumen of their kind, the Dutch and other European gladiolus hybridizers continued their plant breeding work on as extensive a scale as possible during the long years of World War II. Growers in this country are just now beginning to give these latest creations of the continental plantsmen a … Read more
An article asked, “What kind of a gardener are you?” and set me thinking. My gardening started as a hobby, rest from my work as a seamstress. I began buying gardening magazines while riding the New York subway. Reading the magazine gave me an outlet for the hectic pace of New York City. After reading … Read more
You certainly can be someone other than an expert in genetics. However, the experience will teach you many practical things about combining the characteristics of two different parents. Two white glads, for instance, do not give all white seedlings. Neither will two ruffled parents give all ruffles, nor two tall parents give all high offspring. … Read more
Three years ago, my wife Mary and I didn’t know the name of one gladiolus from another in our garden. The North American Gladiolus Council was holding a glad show in our city, and as public-spirited citizens, we supported it by entering six of our unnamed glads. As a result, we won three blue ribbons—that … Read more
For many years, fragrance in garden gladiolus eluded hybridizers. After various growers had spent 125 years obtaining fragrant garden gladiolus. Dean William Ilerbert of England produced his hybrid, GLADIOLUS FRAGRANS—a cross between strongly night-scented GLADIOLUS TRISTIS and violet-sweet GLADIOLUS RECURVUS—just about that long ago. It was a truly fragrant miniature gladiolus with all of the … Read more
Everything a cut flower ought to be, the gladiolus is infinitely varied, powerful, strong in arrangements, or light as a butterfly. It is long-lived and stays fresh in water for a week or longer. It comes in colors to suit any taste or decorative scheme. Planting Gladiolus Varieties Select a few early, mid-season, and late … Read more
Have you ever wondered how your gladiolus would rate in a gladiolus show? Then why not judge your own? First, get out the catalog from which you ordered. It is the gladiolus fancier’s best friend and can help you considerably now. Perhaps the description of the spike which you are holding reads something like this … Read more
Gladiolus (glad-ee-OH-lus), also known as “glads,” is a perennial cormous flowering plant belonging to the genus Gladiolus and family Iridaceae, commonly known as the Iris family. The genus name Gladiolus comes from the Latin word “gladius,” which means sword. Therefore, the name literally translates as the little sword. It also references the plant’s sword-like shape … Read more
The saying, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb,” must have been meant for gardeners who do most of their planting this month. Since California weather is unpredictable, it is sometimes possible to do a lot of planting during the first two weeks of March. Usually, however, it is better … Read more