Evening star. [volume], June 08, 1940, Page A-11, Image 11

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
You Can Transplant at Any Time if You Will Take Extra Care andTrouble
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Preparation of New Beds
Is of Great Importance
To Newcomer’s Health
Move All Plants and Shrubs
With a Large Ball of Earth
To Avoid Effect of Shock
By W. H. YOUNGMAN.
Most of us, for one reason or another, are unable to do all of the
transplanting that we wish at the optimum time or even in the proper
season. This spring has been unusually bad for the gardener in this
respect. Many shrubs were in bloom before the soil was workable.
It was so late before the heavier jobs could be tackled that we decided
It was too risky and had better wait. Using ordinary methods and care
transplanting is risky, but with a little extra effort and a few precautions
most plants can be moved now. Transplanting may be done successfully
■for most plants, trees and shrubs at other times than spring and fall.
Even when we do not employ the chemical vitamin B-l it is possible to
move fairly large plants.
No doubt a great many plants, shrubs and trees are best moved in
the fall, for then the soils are more easily worked and. too, we can do a
better job more leisurely. In the spring we have a comparatively short
season in which to transplant, and in addition we have all of the regular
garden jobs to do. Thus it is small wonder that mRny transplanting Jobs
planned for the spring are left undone. Shall we wait until fall or next
spring? Well, that depends. If you are willing to give a little extra
effort and care the job can be done now. Nurserymen transplant at all
seasons with surprisingly few losses.
To begin with, the holes should'
be deeply dug and generous quan
tities of humus incorporated; this is
to hold moisture close to the roots.
Plants give off quantities of water
during growth. The boianists call
this transpiration. The rate of
transpiration is greatly accelerated
by the heat of the sun and by the
wind. To compensate for transpira
tion when moving plants of any
kind, we should put humus in the
soil to hold moisture to the roots,
build some kind of a shade or shelter
as a protection against sun and
wind, and remove part of the leaves
or branches. In the case of trees
we should wrap the trunk with bur
lap or paper as an additional protec
tion. In the summer of 1936 four
young oak trees were moved from
the woods with large balls of dirt.
Their branches were pruned and
they were kept well watered. The
trunks, however, were not wrapped
and they all burned so badly that
they have not recovered: after four
years they are still struggling to
keep alive.
Large Ball of
Earth Best.
The larger the hall of earth taken
With the roots the less the shock
©f transplanting, although some
plants do not need as much care as
do others. One would hardly at
tempt to move an Oriental poppy
at this season, although with an
extraordinarily large ball of earth
it could be done. The size of the
ball to be dug depends not only
upon the size of the plant but also
Upon the type of root system. A
compact fibrous root system requires
a much smaller ball of earth than
a tap-rooted plant or one that has
a few long, straggly roots.
In setting shrubs and trees it is
Well to take extra care to allow for
settling. With the soil in the bot
tom of the hole stirred up more than
usual it is reasonable to expect more
than the normal amount of settling.
Having placed the balled plant at
the proper level fill the hole from
one-half to two-thirds with good
top soil. Water is then poured in
Until the hole is full. This settles
the soli about the ball of dirt and
insures adequate moisture. When
the water has soaked in it is time
to finish filling the hole with soil.
Method of
Pressing
Flowers
Quick Drying Will
Preserve Colors
In All Beauty
By EDITH L. HOUGH.
Many gardeners who keep records
*>f their flowers prefer a notebook
containing specimens of the flowers
themselves to a group of photo
graphs or colored pictures. Such
a portfolio is valuable in preserving
the special beauties and rarities one
has grown and as a method of com
paring the plants from year to year.
And for those interested in pressing
Wild flowers or making botanical
collections of any kind, there is a
system of pressing which results in
perfectly formed, flat flowers in the
original colors.
Good results are not achieved il
the flowers are simply pressed be
tween the leaves of a book or be
neath a blotting pad. The more
rapid the drying, the better are the
colors preserved. The fresh speci
mens should be arranged with their
petals open, in whatever shape they
lire shown to best effect, and pressed
between sheets of the most porous,
lincoated paper available. News
paper may be used, though paper
without ink is preferable. Blotting
paper is unsatisfactory, as it be
comes gummed and sticky. But two
sheets of the best blotting paper are
used to inclose the sheets contain
ing the flowers. A heavy weight is
laid on top and the papers are
placed in the hottest sunlight. To
press several flowers at one time, a
pile of sheets is formed by alter
nating those enfolding the flowers
With sheets of blotting paper.
The blotters are usually replaced
by fresh ones at least once a clay,
less often as the material dries. The
more often dry blotters are substi
tuted, the clearer the natural colors
will remain, as the drying Is has
tened. If the flowers have a large
water content and the blotters are
thin, they should be shifted as many
as four times a day.
The length of time the flowers
should be pressed varies, some va
rieties drying more quickly than
others. When they are quite flat
and dry, they may be mounted, with
paste, on professional mounting
sheets, on bristol board or on what
ever stiff, white paper the portfolio
or loose-leaf notebook contains.
Choose Right Vase
Select suitable bowls and vases
1& which to arrange flowers to deco
rata the house. Do not crowd Cow
an into them, but carefully select
different flowers for different con
tainers. A single rose In a bud
vase Is far more effective than
This can be mounded up a bit to
serve as a pocket for later water
ings. Scatter a layer of compost or
peat over the surface to serve as a
mulch. This prevents a certain
amount of evaporation as well as
aids in keeping the soil cool.
Having planted the new plant,
whether it be a zinnia or a tree, it
is well to provide some kind of a
shade as a protection against sun
and wind. Strong stakes with bur
lap tacked over them give a satis
factory shade, but a lath screen
works just as well. For small plants
a shingle or any thin board pushed
into the soil will do.
Cut Rack
Ruthlessly.
Now comes the hard job for most
gardeners—the cutting back or
pinching off of leaves, tips, branches,
etc. Most annuals should have the
tops pinched out. and a few should
have the leaf surface reduced either
by shearing off a part of them, or
as with geraniums the removal of
some Removal of a number of the
branches or shoots of shrubs is the
usual method of reducing leaf sur
face The removal of a number of
branches and twigs of trees serves
the same purpose. The greater the
loss of roots the more severe should
be the reduction in leaf surface.
Many successful collectors of wild
ings cut their new shrubs back to
mere stubs; this gives them splen
did. bushy plants that make sur
prisingly rapid growth.
The first season after transplant
ing regular watering is essential for
trees and shrubs. Soaking the
ground to a depth of a foot or more
is far more beneficial than frequent
dampening of the soil's surface. A
good soaking once a week or at 10
day intervals is sufficient even in
periods of prolonged dry weather.
Some gardeners ridge the soil about
newly planted trees and shrubs and
fill this pocket to the rim. Others
remove the nozzle from the hose
and let the water run slowly for a
considerable period of time. What
ever the method used make certain
that the water penetrates deeply
into the soil where the roots get the
benefit.
This may seem rather laborious
to the home gardener. Emphasis
has been placed upon doing the job
very thoroughly inasmuch as it will
meet the needs of a gardener who
is transplanting his own plant ma
terials. Nurserv-grown stock that
has been regularly root pruned will
require somewhat less care. But
even so. for quirk recovery and to
carry plants through a hot. dry
summer the home gardener will be
well repaid by such thoroughness.
The plants will make a strong,
healthy growth and soon regain
their natural shape and freedom of
bloom.
»-—--—
Correct Procedure Is Illustrated . . .
Important steps to be taken when transplanting shrubs or plants are shown above. First, the
hole should be amply dug. allowing plenty of spa ee for the plant s roots. The plant itself should be
moved with as much earth attached as possible. When firmly tamped into place, it should be given
a thorough soaking. And last, but far from least, it should be cut back to give it a vigorous start in
its new situation.
Camassias Native
American Bulbs
American gardeners would be wise
to look to native bulbous material
for fall planting this year. Among
the most distinctive American bulbs
are camassias, which make a lovely ;
addition to the garden at this sea- j
son. They are perfectly hardy, and. i
given good care, they last longer in
gardens than either hyacinths or
tulips.
Camassias grow from 2 to 3 feet
high, the flowers make one think
of tall, graceful hyacinths, although
the blooms are much larger and !
more widely spaced. The colors of \
the flowers vary from the blues to
white.
Any moderately fertile soil will
grow camassias to perfection. A
planting depth of 4 to 6 inches suits
| these bulbs As stream-side plants
and for grouping at the edges of
ponds or pools they are unsur
passed.
One very good species is Camassia
esculenta. usually blue in color. It
blooms in May. One of the largest
flowering is Camassia leichtlini,
which varies from dark blue to
creamy white. Bear these lovely
plants in mind when ordering bulbs
for fall planting.
| Zinnias Are Among Most
Popular Flowers in U. S.
Zinnias are the most popular flow- i
eds In America. In making their
way to this eminence they have
overtaken sweet peas, asters and
petunias, which still are popular to
■ be sure, but are trailing zinnias in
the race.
The merit which contributes most
i to the zinnias's success is probably
the ease with which it is grown. A
tropical plant, which endures the
hottest weather, it is the beginner's
ideal flower, germinating quickly in
warm weather, growing rapidly to
flowering size, and then producing
blossoms abundantly until frost
kills it.
Late planted zinnias are best
sown where they are to remain to
avoid the check of transplanting.
Plant three or lour seeds to a hill.
| hills 2'2 feet apart for the large
flowering types and 18 inches for
the dwarf sorts, then thin to a sin
gle plant. They will make a rapid
growth, especially if encouraged with
a complete plant food.
To encourage large flowers, ap
ply a teaspoonful of plant food
around each plant after buds ap
pear. Stir it into the soil, taking
care not to allow it to touch stems j
or foilage. It it should get on the
foliage, brush or wash it off.
I a-- --
Zinnias have shown remarkable
ability to improve in size and color,
under the encouragement of plant
breeders. Their color range is one
of the largest, including nearly all
the spectrum except real blues. In
size they range from the tiny gra
ciilima or cupid type, through many
intermediate sizes to the dahlia
flowered and California giant classes, |
which can be grown to a diameter
of 6 inches. And they have been
bred into a remarkable variety of
forms.
Small flowered zinnias are in some
ways better border flowers than the
giant flowered classes; they produce
more flowers, held above the foliage,
on bushy plants, and their variety of
forms make interesting texture ef
fects.
The shaggy fantasy type, and
the scabiosa flowered zinnias make
pleasing cut flower arrangements,
while the small flowered singles are
excellent for low bowl bouquets.
All zinnias take about the same
culture, and all show remarkable
ability to withstand rough treat
ment. while responding generously
to good care. Progress has been
made in breeding the various strains
true to type and devoloping more
brilliant colors.
GRACIIL1MA
LINEARIS
HAAGEANA
LILLI PUT
f. M
PUM1LA DWARF
EARLY WONDER
SCABIOSA
FLOWERED
V _r*~
FANTASY
PUMILA PICOTEE
^_^-w_v%_DELI0HT
DAHUA FIOWEBED
DOUftll OlANT
CALIFORNIA 61 AST
ILarkm tvtW noder* tinnia.
House Plants
Benefit by
'Vacation’
Sojourn in Garden
During Summer
Proves Helpful
. By AGNES TRIMBLE.
A house plant, like a person, de
mands a vacation every so often.
They deserve it, too, for all winter
long the house is made more cheer
ful by their bright, gay blossoms
and attractive foliage. So take them
to a health resort—the flower gar
den. where they ran rest and be
reconditioned for the coming winter
duties. Those who live in apart
ments. or have limited or no out
side space, can greatly benefit their
plants by placing them in or near
open windows.
Care should be exercised in tak
ing the tender house plants out
doors because they have been gently
cared for indoors for months. They
are not accustomed to the strong
and bright light, nor to so much
fresh air. Therefore, it is better to
take them out by degrees. A warm,
cloudy day is ideal for the change—
it is better to take them no further
than the porch at first, and allow
them to remain there for several
days. Then into the garden, where
they should be shaded for another
few days until they become used
to the outside.
A careful study of both the plant's
needs and the layout of the garden
should be made, and then arrange
the plants in locations suitable to
their special liking. Some plants—
pot and all-—may be set down in
the ground, others may be placed
around on top, while some will do
better if removed from their con
tainers and planted down in the
earth for the duration of the sum
mer. Gardens can be greatly beau
tified by the addition of potted
flowers when they are carefully and
artistically arranged.
Arrange the plants where they
will be protected from drafts, heavy
winds and pouring rains, as house
plants are more delicate than out
side-grown plants. Watering is an
other important item that must not
be overlooked in caring for these
flowers, for they need a drink and
bath often—even more than do the
regular garden flowers. All plants,
however, must have a certain
amount of watering during the hot
and dry summer days—but do this
after the sun goes down.
Foliage can be kept beautiful and
free from splattering by covering
the bare ground near the plants
with leaves and other lawn gather
ings—this also aids in keeping mois
ture in the ground.
Just before taking the plants out
doors, work a little bone-meal into
the soil around them. A little hard
wood ashes or soot worked in. too,
will help to give the foliage a bright
and healthy color. After reaching
their destination—the garden—give
them a generous drink from.a solu
tion made by dissolving a table
spoonful of nitrate of soda in about
a gallon of water. They will like
this cocktail, too! Liquid manure,
now and then, is an excellent ferti
lizer for them while they are out
side—not too much at one time.
Keep plants outside until late
summer, or as long as they can
safely be protected from chilly
nights, but when frost threatens re
move them back to the porch and
cover them at night until they are
returned to indoors to begin their
winter duties — brightening the
gloomy spots, nooks and corners,
with their gey, little blossoms and
Activities of Clubs
And Shows Noted
The Washington Garden Club held
its June meeting at the home of
Mrs. Henry Augustine Latane, 311
North Washington street, Alexan
dria. on June 4. Mrs. J. Armisted
Boston presided, with Mrs. Corne
lius H. Bull acting as cohostess. An
interesting account of the earliest
garden clubs to be formed in Wash
ington was given by Mrs. Edward
Willis of the Bethesda Garden Club,
tracing the origin of these organiza
tions to Thomas Jefferson's plan
ning a garden around his George
town residence, and his exchange
of seeds and plants with his equally
interested neighbors.
After the meeting, tea was served
on the lawn of Mrs. Latane s charm
ing home.
A novel fashion show will be a
feature of the final meeting of the
season of the Forest Hills Garden
Club, which will be held at 2 p.m.
June 10 at the home of Mrs. W. D.
Chandler, 2901 Grant road. Mem
bers of the club will create and
model hats made entirely of fresh
flowers—an unusual idea and one
which should prove very interesting.
Additional entertainment includes
a talk on rase cultivation by Mrs.
Lilian W. Smith, and the exchange
of garden plants among the club
members.
The Chevy Chase, D. C., Garden
Club will hold its last meeting of
the season on Monday. June 10. at
1 o'clock at the home of Mrs. George
L. Hart. 3901 Jenifer street, Chevy
Chase, D. C.
ALSO ON THE CALENDAR—
June 10-25—Hershey, Pa.. Hershey
rose gardens on public display.
June 20-21—Fredericksburg. Va.,
fourth annual lily show. Garden
Club of Virginia, Seacobeck Hall.
Mary Washington College.
June 22-23—Buffalo. N. Y„ rase
show. Niagara Frontier Rose Society.
Albright Art Gallery.
July 18-20—New York City, an
nual convention of Men's Garden
Clubs, Hotel Sheldon.
August 10-11—Hagerstown, Md.,
Maryland State Gladiolus Exposi
tion, Hagerstown Armory.
Rosemallows Are
Easy to Grow in
This Locality
Among the most rapid growers for
the damp yet sunny spot in the
garden is the Hibiscus. More famil
iarly known as the rosemallow, this
hardiest of all garden perennials at
tains the dimensions ol a large shrub
in a short time. It is especially ef
fective when planted in the perennial
border or fills a gap in the blooming
period of the shrub border with its
handsome blooms, which appear in
August and September
New improved strains bear crepe
like flowers of truly colossal size.
Blooms the size of dinner plates are
not uncommon. Small rosemallow
blooms, such as develop on older
wildlings, resemble hollyhocks. Newer
varieties bear the same resemblance
but differ In size, beauty of texture
and improved coloration.
Nurserymen send out strong roots
with a few canes over the crowns.
Little life seems to be in the roots
when they are planted, but in a
remarkably short time the green
shoots start skyward and almost be
fore you know it, flower buds are
swelling and blooms appear.
Seeds in abundance are produced
Ind duriiig strong fall winds these
seeds are scattered everywhere. For
subsequent plantings lift these seed
lings and transplant them to more
advantageous positions.
From seeds, which your seedman
carries, you can develop sizable
plants with no special care since
every one agrees that nothing In the
horticultural world la Malar to grow,
Lilies Give Their Beauty
To Our Gardens Over
Long Blooming Period
A Number of Varieties Are
Reasonably Easy to Grow
In Our Washington Area
By EDWIN C. POWELL.
There are an even baker's dozen species of lilies to continue the glory
of the garden from early July until frost nips the buds and stems, al- |
though generally they bloom in July, August, and early September. Most
of them are easily raised from seed and bloom the second or third year.
A gardener is assured of healthy plants by growing them from seed. Even
a tiny garden should have room for one or more kinds.
Longiflorum, which is forced in immense numbers for the Easter
trade, is reasonably hardy if given special attention. It starts growth so
early, frequently in the fall, that it may be killed or injured by freezing.
If dug in September after the foliage matures and replanted six weeks
later it is retarded in making early growth so that it will generally come
through the winter without Injury. A thick mulch of peat moss or coal
ashes placed over the bulbs in December adds to the likelihood of success.
It produces stem bulbs very freely and is easily grown from seed, the bulbs
flowering the second year. Plants purchased at Easter should be knocked
out of the pots when they are through flowering and planted in the gar
den. Plant dormant bulbs 6 to 8 Inches deep in moist, but well-drained
soil.
Our native turkscap lily tSuperbumi is one of the most satisfactorv
and should be in the beginner's collection. It likes a moist soil well sup
pnea wnn numus ana a grounas
cover of herbs, grass, or low shrubs. I
The large nodding flowers of turks- i
cap form, with strongly reflexed!
segments, vary somewhat In color,
but are typically orange and con
spicuously spotted with maroon to
ward the base. It grows from 4 to
8 feet tall, produces from 6 to 12
flowers, but, under favorable con
ditions, may bear 25 or more blos
soms. The bulbs are rhizomatous
and should be planted from 4 to 6
inches deep.
Regale Always
Lovely.
If one were to grow only one lily I
it should be Regale, for no other
species possesses in such a high de
gree the characters that make a
good garden plant. Its great beauty,
its adaptability to a wide range of
soil and climatic conditions, its
freedom from disease, and the ease
with which it is propagated, all
contribute to its great popularity
It comes up with a big. shaggy
head, make a stiff wiry stem 3 to 5
feet tall, and bears from a few to
25 or more large, fragrant, funnel
shaped flowers, white within and a
yellow’ throat. The buds are rose
purple without. It is not happy in
the shade and thrives best in a rich
loamy soil among low-growing
plants. Fall planting is best, but
it may be set in the spring; 8 to 10
inches is about the right depth for
large bulbs.
Browni and Sargentiae are two
lilies of the same general type as
the Regale. Browni is strong and
vigorous, with a stout leafy stem
bearing large, fragrant, trumpet
shaped flowers, the inside being pale
yellow in opening and fading to
cream color when expanded. The
outside is streaked, vinous-purple
shading to chocolate. It produces
stem bulblets but seldom sets seed,
and prefers a heavy loam. The
variety Colchesteri produces white
flowers that are rose-purple on the
outside, seeds freely, and does best
in lighter soil. Both are stem-root
ing and should be planted 8 inches
below’ the surface. Sargent's lily
blooms two to three weeks later
than Regale. It has longer, more
tubular white flowers, the outside
varying from rose-purple to green
ish. It is less floriferous than Regale
and bears bulblets in the axils of
the leaves from which the stock may
be increased.
The old-fashioned Tiger lily of
our grandmother's garden will grow
and thrive where most species fail.
It is one of the oldest and best
known of all lilies. In China the
bulbs are used as food. It is lime
enduring and thrives in full sun or
in light shade. The flowers are
orange-red and spotted purple on
the reflexed petals. Bulblets are
freely produced along the stem and
will take root where they fall if
| undisturbed. Mosaic is present in
many stocks of this lily, and while
it apparently does not injure it, the
disease may be spread to and prove
fatal to other species. It is. there
fore. recommended to plant it well
away from other lilies.
Closely related in form and color
i to the Tiger are Davidi, Willmottiae
1 and Maximowiczii. Miss Willmott's
lily blooms in early July and pro
duces a large pyramidal spike of
flowers on a slender stem that needs
to be staked. The stem wanders
before emerging, grows from 3 to
5 feet in height, and carries 12 to
25 bright orange-red flowers with
recurved petals spotted with black.
David's lily follows closely in order
of blooming and produces smaller,
more refined Tiger-like flowers. It
is a very satisfactory and attractive
species. Max's lily is a refined Tiger
that produces seed freely but no
bulblets. Seedlings vary consider
ably. some having smooth and others
woolly stems. They also flower over
a long period.
Aura turn Is of
Great Beauty.
More money has been spent and
greater disappointment met with by
amateur lily fans in growing the
glorious, gorgeous gold-banded lily
(Auratumi than any other kind.
Its large size, wonderful color and
fragrance endear it to all but, un
fortunately, it seldom lingers longer
than two or three years. But the
bulbs are. or have been, cheap, and
it is worth while buying a half
dozen or more every year if for only
one crop of flowers. It seems to
persist in a few gardens. It re- i
quires a certain amount of partial
shade and coolness at the root and
is best planted 10 Inches deep
among herbaceous plants.
Although discovered more than
80 years ago the Formosanum lily
passed out of cultivation, but was
reintroduced by the late E. H. Wil
son who discovered and introduced
the Regale lily. Because it can be
brought to flower in 18 months or
Hess from the seed the Formosanum
lily has attained great popularity.
A bed of seedlings will bloom from
July until cut down by frost. The
flowers are narrow funnel-shaped,
the tips of the petals being grace
fully recurved, pure white within,
suffused with wine-purple or occa
sionally white without and from 1
to 10 in number. A dwarf form,
known as Price's variety, differs
from the type in its fewer, smaller
and more slender flowers, its dwarf -
er habit, and the deeper color of
the buds. It flowers from six weeks
to two months earlier, grows about
II Inch** tall and produces from
X to I flowt^ SB a stan. Tbs
bulbs of both varieties are small and
should be planted six Inches deep
in a sunny location among herbace
ous perennials.
Augustine Henry's Lily ‘Hcnryi),'
tnown also as the orange Speciosum.
is one of the most valuable and
dependable garden lilies. It is
among the latest to flower, produc
ing in August from 4 to 20 or more
large, nodding, orange flowers that
are spotted and have a green line
along each petal. The stems may
grow 6 to 8 feet tall. It will thrive
in almost any soil and if planted in !
partial shade the rich orange color- ;
ing of the flowers will be accentu
ated. Fall planting is preferable,
but it may be planted m early
spring; should be set about 10 inches
deep.
Speciosum. the showy lily, ranks
with Auratum in popularity and
succeeds admirably in the open bor
der. It is the latest to bloom and.
because the bulbs keep well in cold
storage, it is forced extensively. The
large, pendulous, fragrant flowers
are white, heavily suffused with
pink and spotted with crimson or
scarlet. The petals are much re
flexed and have wavy margins.
There are two white varieties and a
half dozen or more colored ones
which van- in the intensity of the
'hading and spots. Magnificum is
the finest and is suffused with crim
son and spotted with pink. Rubrum
is the commonest and has carmine
pink flowers; Roseum has rose-col
ored flowers: Punctatum. white with
rose-pink spots; Melpomene is deep
carmine. Plant the bulbs in fall or
spring 10 inches deep Stem bulbs
are often produced and should be
removed in the fall and lined out.
Most species of lilies thrive best
when the ground is covered with
low-growing plants that protect the
stems from the direct rays of the
sun and the heat radiated from bare
surfaces.
Enlarge Rock Garden
With Very7 Carefully
Selected Stones
The showing made by the rock
garden during early spring is gen
erally sufficient justification for in
creasing its size. As the garden1
spreads out the size of the rock
material used should also increase.
It is decidedly unwise to continue a
rock garden with stones suited only
to a small garden.
With the rocks collected from a
neighboring field or obtained
through purchase, place them on
the proposed extension and try
viewing the finished result. You
may discard some, because you will
see that the use of rocks in either
large or small sizes can be easily
overdone. Keep the place from
looking like a rock pile.
When placing the rocks ascertain
which face has the most interest
ing aspect, then bury the greater
part of it. leaving only the inter
esting portion uncovered. If pos
sible arrange the rocks so that
space is allowed in the soil near
them for roots of deep-striking
sorts.
When wall-like arrangements are
built, lay the rocks with special re
gard for drainage. Remember the
roots will be deep down in the
crevices and unable to get moisture
save that which runs over the faces
of the rocks and then gentlv trickles
into the soil.
If the top rock is so placed that
w’ater dripping from it drops di
rectly onto the rock below it the
water will run away and cannot
possibly benefit the plant growing
between the two.
Gardening Cleanup
Gardening and cleaning are hard
on the hands, so equip yourself
with extra rubber gloves1 and wear
them every time you do this kind
of work. Rub some cold cream
under your nails before starting
w°rk you will delight how quickly
you can clean your nails after a
good soap and water bath.
To Keep Bloom
Keep the pods nipped on sweet
peas. They will stop blooming if
seeds form.
Leaves From
The Garden
Notebook
Allow for Growth
When Setting Out
Plants in Beds
Set the plants of annuals among
the daffodils whose foliage is rapidly,
approaching the time of maturity.
The annuals will not only produce
useful flowers during the summer
and fall, but will also effectively
hide the dying foliage.
Many gardeners seem to forget
when setting out new plants how
much growth they will make. Later'
on they find the plants so crowded
that they have difficulty in cultivat
ing, cutting flowers, and also that
the plants have grown too "leggy”
Allow at least 12 Inches for dwarf
plants such as annual phlox, dwarf
zinnias and marigolds. Fifteen to 18
inches for plants of intermediate
growth and 18 to 24 Inches for the
taller kinds is recommended.
In resetting iris it is well to re
member that the smallest divisions
will grow and bloom, but not until
the second year. It takes a large
rhizome to produce a bloom the fol
lowing spring, and then only with,
good soil preparation Buy and plant
new rhizomes as early in the season
as possible.
The tall bearded iris should be
planted on a ridge to insure healthy
rhizomes. If your soil is at all
or shaded it is better to use the
Japanese iris, which will thrive in
such situations.
Tall-growing annuals such as the
African marigolds and cosmos need
staking. One way to take care of
this job is to plant them in rows
with stout stakes at either end. As
they grow strings can be stretched
between the stakes on both sides
of the plants to provide the neces
sary support. The advantage of this
method is that only a few stakes are
needed and that the foliage hides
the strings.
Most of us dislike to disturb well
established clumps 01 perennials.
However, the more vigorous growers
soon deplete the plant food in the
soil, become too crowded, and the
size and number of flowers dimin
ishes. Shasta daisies in particular
suffer from this neglect. They should
be lifted and divided at least every
two years for good growth and large
flowers. If planted in well-enriched
soil the results are astonishing.
The new dwarf form of gaillardia
is a welcome improvement over the
old type, which sprawled all over
the surrounding plants. While the
stems are not so long and the range
of colors available is rather limited,
it is a pleasure to have them stay
put.
The Oriental poppies have given
an unusually good display of color
this spring. We should use more of
these hardy and relatively trouble
free plants in our perennial borders.
They require a well-drained soil.
While thriving in full sun. they will
do in partial shade. Plan to buv a
few next August or September, "in
addition to this rathei hard-to-U6e
orange shade, they are available In
lovely shades of pink and red.
The Anchusa. Italica Dropmore. is
one of the most showy of early flow
ering blue perennials. In a favorable
situation, however, it seeds so freely
as to become almost a weed. The
3 to 4 foot stalks covered with deep
blue flowers make a most colorful
showing, and ii sheared back will
provide scattered bloom throughout
the summer. The\ like a weiji
drained soil in full sun. but need a
generous supply of moisture for good
gTOWth.
The cool weather and frequent
showers, which kept the furnaces
going, has been very beneficial to
our roses. They have made unusually
fine growth. The climbing roses are
really putting on a spectacular dis
play, while the hybrid teas are pro
ducing large blooms on stems that
compare favorably with hothouse
roses.
Are you following out that care
fully planned spray program? The
lush growth is quite susceptible to
disease injury and if we are to enjoy
this fine growth throughout the
summer it must be protected against
disease and insect injury.
Cacti Need Drainage
In potting cacti be sure you pro
vide plenty of drainage. Fill the
pot about one-fourth full of stones
or other coarse material and put
in preferably a few pieces of char
coal.
Spray Young Plants
Keep a spray handy and take a
shot at all bugs that show them
selves. The younger the plant, the
more dangerous the pest is.
♦ Light Your Garden
♦ Have your parties in
J the cool of the evening
+ Landscape & Garden Lighting Co.
+ • Es'imat'* Che"/vlli/ Gtrfn" (
♦ Met. 5180
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<
iDrive Out Today! You’ll Thrill at the Sight of
PEONIES in FULL BLOOM
at the Schwartz Peony Gardens
Gaithersburg, Md.
Acres of loveliness . . . 350 gorgeous varieties. Examine
them—select those you want for your home.
-SPECIAL!
PEONY ROOTS, onItf$
A Regular f4 Value!
Mixed colors, standard division of a lo ft
ores All orders over (a delivered to Wash
ington and Montgomery County.
DIRECTIONS: Drive to Rockville, Md., turn right at
Courthouse, look for gardens on Summit AvGaithers
burg—on the first street to the right as you enter town.
C-rdens open Every Day and Sunday.
Memberst American Feony Society
ADMISSION FREE
1