What perennial is more versatile, more adaptable than the hemerocallis or day-lily? It thrives in either open shade or brilliant sun, acid soil or alkaline and, in some cases, even survives considerable drought. With practically no care at all, day-lilies grow luxuriantly. Until about 75 years ago the only day-lilies present in America were the […]

Year after year snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) perform reliably and well in Midwest gardens. Little wonder they rank high among top garden annuals. “Snaps” admittedly have some shortcomings, yet measure up amazingly well. They are clean-growing and neat, quite easy to raise, and have a long blooming season. A fine range of colors and forms is […]

Here are 20 Tips for you to Grow your own Big Chrysanthemums flowers! Hold stock plants in a coldframe for protection over winter, show new growth by late April or early May when divisions or cuttings may be taken. Divisions or single plants can be separated from the older clump or stock plant. Woody growth […]

Most everyone agrees that it’s a good thing to have a hobby to take one’s mind off other things. In my case, however, it’s different. I often need something else to take my mind off my hobby which is growing big football and spider chrysanthemums. Many home gardeners have been growing big chrysanthemums in their […]

The Tuberose (pronounced TU ber oze, not TUBE rose) should present no great problem to the garden landscaper if you remember that it is a Mexican plant accustomed to warm and hot temperatures and that it belongs to the amaryllis family which includes members that are very particular about the depth of their noses. Bulbs […]

Mulching is a gardening aid that kills three birds with one shot. Most important, it acts as an insulating layer, lowering the soil temperature, and thereby slowing down evaporation of moisture. Second, bacterial action in the soil is encouraged and the mulch breaks down into a rich, soil lightening material, which also increases the ability […]

How can anything so breathtakingly beautiful be called old fashioned? Almost without exception modern garden books refer to the canna as old fashioned. It is true that the canna has been known for generations, but certainly it is no older in fashion than the rose or the lily. What is outdated about the canna is […]

Tall Astilbe davidi makes a lovely background plant. It is an herbaceous perennial with exotic-looking clusters of feathery froth that look as delicious as a strawberry ice-cream soda. Although it resembles some of the Spireas, closer examination will disclose it to be of the Saxifrage clan. If you’re not enough of a botanist to be […]