Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19
Nations Gardener an Enthusiast
Provision for Expansion of Botanic
Area Here Promises New Successes
for George w. Hess, Who Has
Studied World Plants
Here" he replies. laconically.

Here, he replies, ldCuiIIIaiIy'
Driven to another source, one learns
that he is member OF an Ola ana
honorable Georgetown family
How long have you been doing
botanical work." you may venture, and
get
oh" vaguely, always"
AT the age of 10, when most boys are
dreaming and playing through grammar
school, George Hess began working III
a minor position in the John Saul
| Floral 81 Nursery Co. He did this Tor
four or five years and then went west
to Chicago with S. Muir q Co. sAlo
spent three or four years there learning
how to grow decorative plants. Fol-
| lowing this. he went further West TO
lay out a place for T. w. Harvey, a
lumber merchant in Chicago.
He spent six years in the public
| gardens of Boston There he went into
/ the work of carpet bedding. He tells
/ about 1t now with some spirit The
remembrance of that delightful artistry
| kindled Mr. Hess into a flow of remt-
niscence. He described sun dials and
calendars made for utility as well as
beauty. by planting flowers in the soil
|, poured into wire frame made into the
shape of the object to be represented
His interest deepened into chuckllng
amusement when he recalled the climax
of his achievements along this line by
the laying out of growing flowers in such
way that they represented presi-
Dental race The two candidates,
Democratic and Republican. were pic
tured rowing their boats toward a
stump on which sat an owl and under
meath it the word ''Who?"
After his stay in Boston Mr.. Hess
returned to Chicago for a short while.
working for a floral company. Then
he came to Washington and received
position in the Agriculture Department.
the charge Of an orange and pineapple
house He left Washington once more,
this time for Florida, and spent few
years raising ornamental and other
kinds of plants. He returned to Wash
Botanic Garden, which position he
holds today.
Mr. Hess. obviously an educated
man, explains that he received his
schooling at night.
''Everywhe 49, everywhere that
worked he adds. And read and
studied by myself great deal"
He has travelled in China. Hawaii,
the Philippine Islands and South
America on congressional parties
studying the plant life in these coun-
tries He scored 100 per cent in an
examination for a position of teacher
of gardening. This position he gave
up in favor of improving some land
in Florida. land worth So an acre
when he took 1t over. 1t sold for SIS
an acre when he left.
Mr. Hess, as a wise father toward
hts plant children, plays no favorites.
He made an honest attempt to obigs
with a definite answer concerning the
plants which had an especial appeal
for MIN. He finally gave up the
struggle with the general statement
that he loved them all. He did pick
out few of the more interesting ones
for explanation
From group of large photographs
he selected pictures of the pelican
flower" so named because of its like
ness to that distorted-appearing bird.
The broad part of the leaf forms the
back, and the end turns UP and twists
into the odd neck and beak of the
pelican. When open the flower has
an entirely different appearance. The