Evening star., 1934-11-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

tie preliminary investigation, and meet
the wants Of the species. The plant
which will do well in shade some
times will not do well In sunshine,
and then again 1t may do very well
in a less shady spot. Until one has
had personal experience with many
of the wildings, 1t Is best to rely en-
tirely on the advice Of reliable grow
ers, for they have had the experience,
and have no other idea In offering
advice than to help their customers
succeed.
Many Of the wildfiowers have a sort
of "eye," from which roots grow, and
most Of these need comparatively
shallow planting. We speak, of course.
of using plants, not seed, at this time
of year. Experts may SOW seed now,
but this is an advanced branch, except
in the case of mixtures, which may be
put in the earth with a prayer. Many
of the seeds will be washed away,
many will not germinate, but some of
them will come up next Spring, al
though they may not bloom next sea-
son.
The advantage of good plants is that
they will bloom early next Spring, if
they survive the Winter. Survival de-
pends upon three factors, the health OF
the plants at planting time, proper
planting and adequate protection. In
any event the covering of leafy matter
ought not to be put on until after the
first hard freeze, according to the ex-
perts.
There are so many things to plant,
which still may be put in the ground,
provided there is no killing frost at the
planting time, that it is difficult to
even begin to make a suggestion.
Many would suggest the Trillium
grandiflorum as the first wildfower
of all. 1t is beloved Of American song
and story, with its three chaste white
petals. 1t does best in shade dupli-
eating its natural home in the forest.
The Shooting Star, Dodecatheon
meadia, with white and yellow flowers.
is one of the plants which has little
eye with roots.
The famous Dutchman's Breeches,
Dicentra Pucullaria. does best in shade
1t is a small bulb, which in the Spring
sends up yellow and white flowers,
with a bit of pink.
The Dogtooth violet, sometimes
called the Troutlily, because it grows
by streams where trout swim, also
does best in shady spot.
A favorite is Jacobs Ladder, named
after its leaf shape. 1t has blue
flower, doing well either in shade
or sun.
Another favorite of wildflower gar
deners is the Phlox divaricata, which
asks a neutral soil, If planted in the
sun, or an acid soil, if put in the shade
This is but one sample of the precise
requirements of most Of these plants
If the natural habits are violated
there is no use blaming the plant or
the seller. The Phlox divaricata is
sometimes called the Wild Sweet
William.
Leaf shape gives the popular name
to the Birds Foot Violet, Viola pedata
which likes a sandy soil in sun OF
shade. The flower is a light blue
with yellow center.
Mertensia virginica. or bluebell, pre-
fers partial shade, with its "eye,"
somewhat resembling a small peony
root. about inches below the sur
face Of the soil.
These are a beginners suggestions
The field Is wide, offering something
really new in gardening to the person
who has not tried it. If care is taken
in transportation, handling and plant
ing, most of the wildings may be
planted in this locality rather later
than almost any other plants.