The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-03

The very sunlight itself about the "Elmwood nurseries and greenhouses" the past week has seemed to be sing ing:
 Come see the posies, the wondrous Easter lilies, the gorgeous roses. the modest violets. Come. Come! It's Easter tide and all the world of flowers Is ar rayed in beautiful attire!
 If you haven't been to see the Easter flower display at the "Elmwood nurse ries and greenhouses" don't miss it to- day; in fact Easter Sunday is the real day to inspect the florists shops and greenhouses, and I think when you've paid a visit to the Elmwood green houses you will agree with me that no more beautiful sight has ever been seen here than the magnificent assortment of flowers. making this one of the Beauty Spots" of Birmingham.
 The entire surroundings possess a germ of fairy life, because of the in- effable charm of the flowers and riot of color and such magnificence of de- velopment and cultivation have scarce- ly ever been noted in or around this city.
 Entering the well kept grounds, glimpse of the greenhouses gives you a sense of exquisiteness that is gen. erally read about, but rarely witnessedl
 Such colors-such combinations-such effects I've scarcely ever noted as glanced at the long rows of Easter lilies, immaculate in their whiteness, and the huge hydrangaes, fluffy and white and pink, like the little clouds that filter about on moonlight eve in June, except in moments when I have read the story of Aladdin where the black slave brings in the gold waiter of wonderful gems!
 The flowers that are banked in great masses in these greenhouses reproduce the jewels that might have been on the waiter-pigeon blood rubies and rose quartz amethysts and topazes, and all the alluring pink lighted stones that genie might keep away from mortal eyes for his own enjoyment, in caves deep hidden in the earth.
 Around and about heavy laden with dewdrops left from their morning bath, marveled at the beautiful flow CTS, where backgrounds of vivid green palms and ferns-and great glowing rhodsdendrens shaped like cosmos hundred times magnified-stood ma jestic.
 Such pinks and crimsons and golden hues they were that they fairly melted and tinted the petals through which they surged into wax blossoms before ones very eyes.
 Close to these beautiful flowers were the multi-colored roses of every va riety, Erna Feschendorff, new crimson baby rose from Europe; the "Sunburst," glorious in its tints of gold and yell low and pugnant with fragrance. while nestling near by was an adorable Mademoiselle Cecile Brunner, white American Beauty, Frau Karl Druschici, while others of vivid color asked con- sideration at the hands of the visitor, which was only too gladly given. Enormous daffodils, gold and yellow, dainty lilies of the valley and brilliant towering begonias were prancing along hand in hand, defying anything in the floral kingdom to come up to their standard of beauty and fragrance Tall, slender Snap dragons" like towering steeples, set high on graceful stems, in palest pink and dainty yell l LOW llHtS, rose III QuG6nlY raQ1anCe above the modest Sweet Elyssium and saucy pasies, and looked like ballet girls in clouds of chiffons and filmy stuffs. Here and there brilliant glowing amaryllis of enormous size would de- mand attention for a passing moment. while a single high bred rose, nodding its appreciation of your approval as the gentle zephyrs blew it thither and tith- CT beckined you to its shrine in admira- ton.
 Really, people who don't love beau I tiful flowers are almost as hopeless as | those who do not love children-and | that's the last word when 1t comes to hopelessness in this weary old world | To MT. w. H. Kessler, the manager
 whose splendid knowledge and artistic
 arrangement of flowers and plants in all
 their beauty and loveliness, and to MT.
 Ernest Kohlenberg, the capable superin- 1 tendent whose early training in Germany.
 where he learned all that there is to know
 about the cultivation and care of flowers.
 the Elmwood greenhouses owe their suc- cess.
 1 MT. Kessler has done so much excellent
 work in Birmingham along the city beau- | tiful lines, and as president of the Hor- ucultural society, that those who are &C., | quainted with his work need no introduc- | tion to him and his untiring interest in the Elmwood greenhouses and his keen
 desire to make this plant not only the
 largest and best in the city of Birming- l ham, but in the south, arouses the enthu-
 siasm of the visitor and makes him real
 ize that there is no reason why Birming- ham shouldn't lead in flower production as well as in iron and steel.
 | Although our plant is practically in its infancy" MT. Kessler told me as we
 talked of the improvements that were in Ioo, <ovv, ,1nf ffrv, 1-.
 been accomplished by the greenhouses,
 we now supply many of the leading flor
 ists of the city their flowers For in- stance, the hundreds of Easter lilies that
 are on display today wil be sold out en-
 tirely for Easter. One Easter lily stalk alone that we have has IS blossoms on it. It is a magnificent specimen. Our cut 1 flowers sale. of course, is very large, but our shrubs. plants and tress are the