A true, although almost unbelievable, is the story of Captain William Bligh and the mutiny on IBIS “Bounty.” As we relive with mounting excitement this significant bit of history, we are apt to forget the purpose of the Bounty’s voyage to Tahiti, which was to take on a cargo of young breadfruit trees and bring … Read more
Leptospermum scoparium is an upright evergreen shrub that belongs to the genus Leptospermum and is a member of the Myrtaceae or Myrtle family that comprises 3300 species and 150 genera of shrubs and trees. Some notable members of this family include Allspice, Acca, Bay rum tree, clove, eucalyptus, guava, Myrtle, and pohutukawa, making them close … Read more
Pruning may be defined as the art and science of cutting away a portion of the plant to improve its shape, influence its growth, flowering, and fruitfulness, and improve the quality of the product. Pruning Improvement Experiments have demonstrated a definite improvement in fruit size, color, and quality in response to pruning. These three factors … Read more
Here in Woodstock, N. Y. can be seen as one more horrible example of the meaningless destruction of scenic beauty by real estate “operators.” Garden clubs, civic groups, and nature-minded people should do something about this senseless, meaningless waste. In Woodstock’s case, building a new four-lane highway is partly responsible. By the time it is … Read more
Shrubs flowering outdoors in mid-winter are scarcely the usual thing in our gardens, and this small group holds great value for the colder parts of the country. One of the best winter-blooming subjects is Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis Mollis). This hardy shrub is outstanding for the brilliant, rich effect of its yellow-petalled reddish-centered flowers, which … Read more
Many kinds of tree and shrub branches will come into leaf and bloom quickly ahead of the season if special attention is given to their preparation. The best time to cut branches for forcing is on a mild day when the sap is near the bark’s surface. Trim out conflicting branches, pound the stems up … Read more
Today, home gardeners are using flowering trees more often than ever. For the most part, gardens are small, and many kinds of flowering trees are suited to confined areas. They provide the needed height, color, and form where there is no room for the more giant shade trees. The kinds shown here can be used … Read more
One of the first flower sights to greet us as we ride through our beautiful Ozarks in early spring is the yellow bloom of the sassafras tree in the still bare woodlands. This bloom comes when the buds which tip each twig start to swell. Quite suddenly, the tree is transformed by hundreds of compact … Read more
What trees will you choose for your lawn? Where will you plant them? Before ordering trees, consider how much space you have and how much they will grow. Once set out, they are hard to move, and a handsome tree should have room to develop with minimum pruning. Summer shade may be your primary purpose, … Read more
The title of this story is not intended to suggest forestry or conservation but refers to my living with trees at Breeze Hill since June 1, 1909. At that time, the 100,000 square feet of land we came to call Breeze Hill had some trees on it, not all of them very well chosen and … Read more