Heather – Heath The American finds it almost unholy to write of Heather because his remarks may be read by a Scotchman who might wonder by what right an American obtained permission to discuss these bonny plants. There are a number of sorts of Heathers which may be grown in the northern United States, but many of the European sorts […]

Edelweiss Everyone knows of the fame of the small Edelweiss of the Alps and every tourist who travels through Switzerland learns the mysterious story of how they grow under overhanging cliff’s which means the risk of life when one wishes to get them. But ideal plants can be grown in our own gardens just as easily as any other plant. […]

Epimedium – Bishop’s Hat, Barrenwort After reading the description of the Epimedium by Miss M. R. Case in “Horticulture,” we have decided to abandon all hopes of describing this dainty flower in our own crude words. She writes: “Blossoming under a great Oak, where Maidenhair and Dicksonia ferns grow to perfection, is a dainty herb from Japan known as the […]

Stokesia – Stokes Aster, Cornflower Aster Generally we do not think of a China Aster resembling a Cornflower, but it is true that the Stokesia resembles them both. Stokesia Iaevis (cyanea) is a low plant, seldom above 1 1/2 feet tall, and with light lavender blue, white, purple and rose colored flowers produced from early July to October. UTILIZE. They are […]

COREOPSIS – FLOWER OF THE YEAR Coreopsis (said as core-e-OP-siss) is a popular flower—among the top ten perennials— with many new cultivars (cultivated varieties) to choose from in recent years. Coreopsis generally resist deer feeding, is drought tolerant once established, and being quite care-free are good for beginners and low-maintenance gardens. They’re popular, too, with pollinators, and provide seeds for […]

Hosta  –  Plantain Lily Two sorts of flowers have been called Day Lilies-Funkia (or Hosta, as it is sometimes called) and Hemerocallis. Both are old favorites in the garden. The flowers of the latter group are orange and yellow Most of the Funkias are grown for their excellent foliage which is produced in clumps. The one most commonly grown in […]

Dianthus – Hardy Pinks, Sweet William, Carnation,  The Pinks and the Sweet Williams are still one of the old-fashioned favorites for the garden. There are many species and varieties, nearly all of which make dense tufts of grass-like growth. The Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is gorgeous when in bloom. The early English writers used to tell us that the narrow-leaved varieties were called […]

Summer Forget-me-not planting care One of the colors which all amateur gardeners wish is a good, strong blue, one which does not fade easily but which holds its own. Anchusas when planted in large masses, appear as a misty sea of deep blue when in bloom. Although possessing nothing to recommend it as a cut flower, it is a tall […]