Title: The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade
Identifier: americanfloristw44amer (find matches)
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors: American Florists Company
Subjects: Floriculture; Florists
Publisher: Chicago : American Florist Company
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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igii. The American Florist. 989
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BRIDE'S BOUQUET OF ORCHIDS AND LILY OF THE VALLEY. would often do better to rely on them alone, rather than plant the unsuitable subjects one sometimes meets with. In grassland many picturesque ef- fects are noticeable in spring from the various narcissi. Here and there the tiny X. minor occurs wild, and where this happens it is the forerunner of the other kinds, for its flowers may be found any time after the beginning of February. The double-fiowered daffo- dil is another early-flowering kind, for it is frequently at its best before the end of March. This is effective where- ever it is found, whether growing in wild, irregular groups in the open, as solitary clumps in woods, or on the bank of a lake or stream where its nodding flowers are reflected in the water. April finds the majority of the nar- cissi in bloom and many acres beau- tiful with such kinds as Emperor, Empress, Sir Watkin, Incomparabilis, Leedsii, Barii and Poeticus. Unfortu- nately, a discordant note is sometimes struck by improper planting, and one sees formal-shaped clumps painfully regular in size and distribution. Such planting must at all cost be avoided, and that is one reason why the planter should make special note of areas which have been well planted. It is often difficult to get men to plant tastefully, says a correspondent of The Garden, for while half a dozen men may be given similar instructions and shown exactly what is wanted, one may, perhaps, do his work very much better than the others, for there appears to be a strong tendency to formality, and it is only the man with an artistic tendency who grasps the idea quickly of reproducing a natural effect. Earlier in the year crocuses gave evidence of their suitability for clothing conspicuous mounds beneath trees with showy flowers. They , are better suited than later-flowering plants for places where the grass must be mown early, for their foliage dies down in May. In shady places anemones make a brave show, for in addition to the common wood anemone (A. nemorosa) we have the blue A. blanda and A. apennina, the many-colored A. Hepat- ica, the taller-growing pasque-flower (A. Pulsatilla) and several other kinds, all of which provide an attrac- tive display. On moist land the com- mon lady's smock, or cuckoo-flower, commands attention by reason of its delicate white or lilac-tinged flowers, while the marsh marigold (Caltha paUistris) is glorious with large golden, buttercup-like blossims. Glanc- ing at shrubby plants, effective re- sults are obtained by massing gorse, both single and double-flowered, on dry banks or other open land, while the Mediterranean heath may well be in- troduced into the landscape. Where such plantations were made a few- years ago, the present season finds them in glorious condition. On the outskirts of woods Cornus Mas is very effective, while it is possible to intro- duce such subjects as Forsythia sus- pensa and Berberis stenophylla into certain positions with good results. Towards the end of April the common broom replaces the gorse, its golden blossoms being quite as conspicuous. Shady places may be planted with Vinca minor and V. major, and occa- sionally these plants are found in a state of nature associated with the lily of the valley. It is not often that Daphne Mezereum is found, either wild or naturalized, but the spurge laurel (D. Laureola) is frequently seen in chalky districts. Though its flowers are not showy, they are deliciously fragrant, which makes their presence perceptible from a considerable dis- tance. Space will not allow of atten- tion being directed to more of the many plants of herbaceous or shrubby habit which are conspicuous at the present time; but intending planters should be ever watchful for effects worthy of reproduction. European Dog's-Tootb Violets. Few flowers of spring are more beautiful than the dog's-tooth violets, or erythroniums; of these the Euro- pean E. dens-canis and its varieties form the subject of this note. The American species and their varieties are rarely beautiful; but the European species is even easier to cultivate, and is so cheap nowadays that it may be planted in quantity. As a plant for the grass it is very beautiful, states a correspondent in The Garden, giving in its season dainty reflexed flowers. Cyclamen-like in their habit, and lifted above the charmingly marbled or spotted leaves which are so charac- teristic of the dog's-tooth violets as a rule, but which are never more beautifully represented than among the varieties of these European ery- throniums. In the grass these have the advantage that they ripen their leaves early, and are thus out of the way before much mowing has to be performed. The flowers are varied In color, some being of purple red, and others pass through various shades

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