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I have never yet regretted a good-bye kiss to a few wretched shekels if they procured me a much-coveted peony root. And it may sound like an extravagance for me to say it, but only once or twice have I purchased a root where, in my opinion, the originator’s description did not prove to be [...]

Herb borders should be made and planted this month. Obtain plants of lavender (Lavandula vera), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme, both the Thymus vulgaris and Thymus citriodorus, for these are fine for rock garden plantings as well as the herb borders. Be sure to add mint (Mentha) of several kinds. Sow seeds of herbs such as [...]

The Wild Flower Sanctuary’s Maintenance Program At the Wild Flower Sanctuary and Nature Center at Greenwich, Connecticut nature is to remain almost wholly undisturbed, consistent with good conservation. This includes much more than maintenance of roads, paths and trails and making some of the wilder sections more accessible by new ones. It also involves intelligent [...]

A Fairy Story – The Rose of Many Uses “A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE,” the quotation insists, but one rose refuses to be typed. I mean of course ‘The Fairy,’ which while quite definitely a member of that family, is many other things too. Not everyone has room or time for roses, [...]

We all keep looking for “new” shrubs, when very few of us have, or even know, all the “old” ones. Here are two blooming shrubs which are well worth a place in any garden for their flowers. Weigela Bristol Ruby, rich glowing red, blooms so profusely that the whole shrub is covered with flowers. It [...]

How many have tried growing odd houseplants? I have a Pineapple grown from cutting off the top carefully from pineapple and placed in damp sand; after it was growing, given care of a cactus. I have a lovely Christmas cactus 15 years old; fills a nice 9 inch pot about full. What Are The Different [...]

Each year I try such a mixture of seed myself for the thrill of watching for surprises, and I have always found something noteworthy. One year it was a mixture of English seed. These I separated, and then made a round bed, putting the tallest ones in the center and the next tallest ones in [...]

Often in a seed mixture, we just plant all the seeds in the same flat, or even in a row in the garden just for the fun of seeing what comes up. In this case it is best to mix the seed with fine sand and sow thinly. The larger seeds should be taken out [...]

If a reliable seed catalog is consulted, descriptions of the flowers are found, the height is usually indicated, location as to sun or shade given and whether the plant is annual, biennial or perennial. These directions are all very important. Quite often the germination – days are given and this is indeed a great help, [...]

When receiving a mixed packet of seed, empty the contents of the packet on a clean white sheet of paper and with a knife blade separate the different kinds of seed. You can usually figure out the kinds if their names are listed on the package. Or you may use a fine wire sifter which [...]