Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
SHRUBS PRODUCING
SUMNER BLOOMS

. Although roses and other flowers OF
Eprinp are no longer with US, there Is
no reason why the home owner should
not have blooms throughout the sum
mer, not only in tie form OF snnusiS
but also in the shrubbery. Aoeiia, out.
terfly BUSH Grape myrtle. foSe "a
sharon and the garden mal!oVs All pre-
sent strong bid for the gardeners
favor and are we'll worthy Of 1t. ADena:
now in full bloom cannot be described
As a conspicuous plant. but 1t Is never
fhsless very beautiful with It's reddish
green foliage and multitude OF small.
dainty blooms. The abelia does not
grow much more than or 4 feet tan
and can find a satisfactory place III
front of the taller foundation plant ma
terial. Abelia is used quite freely In the
citv parks. especially where a low-grow-
ing Shrub is required, such as In the
center paintings along Maryland avenue
northeast
Butterfly bush. or buddleia, Is quite
well known to home gardeners ana Is
easily recognized by the long spikes OF
frht blue blooms borne at the ends OF
the new shoots. This plant requires
hard pruning. almost to the ground
each Spring in order to obtain nice
towering shoots And. incidentally
plenty Of fertilizer to support the strong
IL.
derived from the fact that quite ire
ouently large numbers Of butterflies may
Be observed fluttering about Its blooms
OF a bright Summer day.
Grape myrtle has received conSloer-
abe attention in these columns IN the
past but perhaps no more tnan IL oe-
Serves because Of its striking beauty
and long-continued bloom. 1t, IKE
buddleia, seems to require hard annual
T.. xA AtTAff1VQ
blooming. The flowers OF the Grape
myrtle are, as with the butterfly bush,
borne on the terminals OF the new
growth, hence the desirability OF the
regular pruning.
Rose of Sharon or Althea. is widely
crown in this locality and is even
used as plant material for hedges One
reason for the rose of Sharon's popu-
larity is its easy propagation. either by
seed or cuttings. making 1t possible Tor
the home owner to create large sup,
DIV of plants. The trouble with seed
propagat ton is that seedlings always
vary from the parent in form and color
and the only way that varieties can
be maintained is by cuttings or ouoolng.
Because of the simplicity Of seed propa-
Ration, there have arisen literally thou
sands Of different rose OF Sharons:
Some of the selected double nowered
forms are really peautltul, WINE MANY
Of the seedlings are rather indinerent IN
quality.
The mallows are relatives Of the Rose
Of Sharon and also Of the hoilynocK'
as an examination Of the flowers Will
easily show. The mallows may not
truly be considered shrubs. as TIE top
dies down each Autumn. However, the
new growth is strong and sturdy and
resembles shrubbery closely. The now
ers are large and very attractive. look
ing like immense hollyhock blooms ana
occur in about the same range OF color
There is no reason why the Summer
garden should be devoid Of color with
the considerable range Of plant material
available. Unlike the Spring Towering
shrubs, most Of the Summer boomers
are not transitory. but stay in bloom
for several weeks by the simple expedi-
eflt Of developing the individual blooms
at successive stages and not all at once
as do most Of the Spring boomers.