Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-31
WHITE HOUSE FLOWERS.
Mrs. Cleveland's Plants Are Getting
Ready for the Snrinp Season

season.
Spring flowers at the White House are
coming into bloom. Yellow crocuses dot the
hillsides of the grounds opposite the treas
ury and across the way from the War De-
partment Many people suppose that they
grow there naturally. Sprouting here and
there among the grass they look as il wild
and accidental, such having been the in
tention in planting them last autumn.
Mr.. Phster, the Presidents gardener-tn-
Chief set out 1906 crocuses last Novem-
Der AT the same time he planted Is. $50
tullps' 6.f92 hyacinths, 1,230 seillas and
many narcissus. All Of these grow from
DuIbs, which are put into the ground in
autumn and sprout in the spring. OF the
siXty-five beds in the White House grounds
all but five were filled with bulbs of such
kinds in preparation Cor the pleasant time
Of year that now begins
The tulips and hyacinths are already
sprouting. They are bearing flowers I'm
one protected spot on the south side of a
greenhouse. The seillas, likewise have Just
begun to appear. and the snowdrops are in
bloom where there is shelter. In some Of
the beds, with the tulips, forget -ne-nots
have been set out The latter will bloom
about the time when the tulips are cone
towering AID are ready TO ne taAea out OF
the ground. To succeed the tuiiDs and hy-
aclnths $1,000 plants Of forget-me-nots, blue
and white, field daisies and pansies have
been set out.
In the meanwhile bedding" plants are
being got ready in great Quantities TO ill
other beds when the tulips ani hvacinths
are gone. These are chiefly geraniums and
coleus. For the purpose mentioned they are
being propagated in vast numbers IN the
greenhouses. Little sliBs are taken and
planted in moist sand, that is kept warm
10y hot water pipes. They quickly throw
out tiny rJutlets, and. as soon as the roots
have obtained sufficient development, the
young plants are transferred TO small
thumb pots" From the thumb pots they
are put into bigger pots. until they are
large enough TO set out in she beds
OF course, tulips and hyacinths bloom all
winter long in the W hite House conserva-
tories. Thousands Of the bulbs are planted
IN autumn in a cold place on the north side
Of one Of the brick buildings. Thus they
are kept back and prevented from flower
ing. while covering Of leaf mold a foot
thick, with boards on top OF that Keeps
them from freezing. Every week i'm winter
a couple of hundred OF them are taken into
one OF the greenhouses. where they burst
into bloom within a few days
The scene in the gardens Of the White
House just at present il lively one Pots
by thousands are being filled with earth
for the accommodation of plants, while
skilled hands are attending TO the nursery
department cutting slips and inserting
them in rows in warm sand. Loan is icing
carried hither and thither in wheelbarrows
and everywhere is hustle md activity ap-
propriate TO the season. Within, the green
houses are filled with masses of bloom
Primroses, hyacinths, lilies-of-the-yalley, tu-
lips and sellas are profusely hlossoming
The amaryllis that was named after Mrs
Cleveland last spring is just on the point
OF towering. II is new variety.
Mrs. Cleveland is particularly fond OF
pansies. They are her favorite flowers
and pretty soon her own uoudoir will be
plentifully decorated with them-groat big
ones, such as only skilled gardeners know
how to produce. The lady Of the White
House has also a particular fondness for
orchids. OF these curious plants there is
a wonderful collection in he greenhouses
of the Executive Mansion, and Just now
they are more rrofuseiy in bloom than at
any other time OF the year. This is especial
ly true OF the 'denGrobiums" which are
from the East Indies. one way in which
insects cause annoyance to Mr.. Plster 10
by fertiliZing the orchid blooms, thus caus-
ing them TO wither.
OF course, most orchids depend for their
fertilization upon insects. This is highly
proper and desirable in nature. but most
objectionable in the greenhouse. The TN
fortified flower Will last for many days or
even weeks, but as quickly as fertilization
is accomplished IL drOops and loses its pet
ais. The insect seeking for honey, trans
ters bit OF pollen to the stigma, ana the
mischief IS done. Bees are particularly had
in this way. and Mr.. Phster declares that
If he can discover no other way TO keep
them OF he Will spread a net over his or
chids.
The plants used for decorating the White
House are changed twice a week, IN order
that the comparatively chill atmosphere Of
the mansion may not injure them. Before
they have had time 10 suffer any harm
they are taken back 10 the Conservatives
and replaced with others. Just now the
plants employed for this purpose-of course.
they differ somewhat. according 10 the
Season-are palms. aZalcas and miscrlla-
neous foliage plants. one big palm is kept
in the middle Of the east room always.
while others are placed I'm che green room,
red room, the private dining room, tlp cor
ridor down stairs and the library upstairs.