New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-15
WHERE FLOWERS ARE LOVED
THE QUAINT AND BEAUTIFUL. GARDEN
OF A FLATBUSH CARPENTER.
AN OBJECT LESSON IN THE Use OF GROUND
TRADING WITH THE CITY--A WEALTH
OLE REAITIFI-I. 81 OOMS


OF Beautiful BLOOMS
In Flatbush-ave.. within n few blocks OF the
Wiink entrance Of Prospect Park. there IS a won
derfll garden that for its massing Of floral effects
at oil Of the year and for It's varieties
is believed to have equal In all NewYork City
Gardeners and seedsmen everywhere know OF II.
and frequently call upon It's owner for rare seeds
and bulbs exchanging with him. The garden.
strange to say IS not attached 10 OF the great
mansions Of Flatbush. II surrounds the simple
old fashioned house of plain man This man Is
John McElvery contractor and carpenter. and
his shop IL behind the garden and in fun view or
the street.
Though Mr. McElvery has not hundreds OF thou
sands Of dollars hts disposal he possesses what
Is Of much value and importance rare
knowledge Of flowers plants and shrubs. per
slstence and wide acquaintance among professional
growers These have been the factors that have
made his garden known far beyond the limits or
Fatbush
7, Is purely an amusement for him, a recreation
after hours and he scatters largesse to All MS VS.
ftors whether he has previously known them or
not in the form Of fragrant lunches that they
may carry off with them. What one gets here IL
well worth the carrying off. too. for this Is no con-
ventonal garden In any sense Of the word 1t Is
the flowers does not usually get. the howers
OF quaint varieties and unique charm. that give
this garden It's greatest interest. The wealth OF
oonservatorcs. Of potted plants. McElvery cares
little for The flowers of daintiness that fashion
has largely passed by are what one finds here
"A LITTLE FARM. WELL TITLED"
tits not large plot Of ground that the McElvery
garden covers. though an enumeration Of the flow
ers there would lea one TO think so. Every inch
OF II Is utilized however this Icing the secret OF
the numbers As soon one set OF flowers have
run their course for season have b!ossomed
and died out something else IS put in their places
Thus the ground limited as Is It's length and
BREADTH is utilized more than once during the
year The plot measures 80 by Is feet. and a good
share OF this space is taken mp by the house. Yet
the garden. skilfully laid out. is really ample In
size
IN TOUCH WITH PROSPECT PARK.
The Importance Of this collection may readily be
Judged from the opinion David a Thomson. the
florist Of Prospect Park has OF II and e It's master
The two enthusiasts frequently meet for long talks
and many are the valuable hints the bDrough's
florist has obtained from this remarkable cnrpen-
ter florist and many the specimens from this garden
that now enrich Prospect PARK For nearly thirty
wears McE.lvery has been gardening and. while he
may he outclasscd IN point Of knowledge regarding
many species those he has ar -ntly collected he
, t. pcrhaps the best authority I'm the country.
II t. quite impossible TO describe minuely this
garden All that can he attempted here IL a men
toning OF its chief features the Moral hobbies Mr.
McElvory is kecncst upon
Danodis and tulips are two Of his greatest
fnncies The quantities OF these that adorn his
beds be guessed when IL i said that this shr
den has In frequently five hundred 10 six hundred
tulips often thousand. and rs many a. MY
six varieties danodils narcissS. All of these
are Interesting species. many of them curious
quaint beautiful and tn. danodils include
srCh spc, imens as the Emperor. the Empress
tbi-coor, the Poets with white petals yellow
fringe and red trumpet 1t Is for the rare trumpet
narcissus that McEiv"ry mas the greatest love.
IN. beds Of tulips have rs their present chief
feature the tireigi uwcnty-fOur vnreticsJ. large
red brilliant flowers with spotted foliage These
tulips lie IN the ground for two or thre. years
before they bloom. and do not Increase Ike other
tulips
Yet another daffodl here Is the Pancratium
calathinum. the Peruvian white Sea daffodil Of
clusters Of peirly white nowers. Again. close ut
hand rows Of puschknia. an exquisite blossom.
pale blue with white stripes.
Lilies are further enthusiasm Ana such
varieties there OF these. They strike the
lovers.
LILIES IN ABUNDANCE
Mr. McElvery bloomed the first brown eyed lily
in this country and ne has been active IN collect
ing many varieties He talks interestingly or MS
experiences with the old lily disease the only
cure for which proved be a lime and sulphur
compound. IL. , a.,
There are double tiger lilies. a wealth. OF can
d,dum the old fashioned Easter NY japanese ye,
low with their petals nearly one eitnth Vh an ny ,hn
,bIck. The hemerocalis yellow Gay ny. ~ !.
iastr lSt Druno's N.Y., white WIN sIass ~
Soiaae niles from light yellow to the deepest 'eu