BUDS, BLOOM, AND EARLY BIRD 



The Garden in February — A Resume Feb. 



Like January, February is in the main a month of Resume 

 preparation. It is rarely that dry, settled weather 

 permits of regular work in the open air, but seed and 

 plant orders may be prepared, stores procured, seeds 

 sown, tubers started, and ground got ready. 



We have a foretaste of the pleasures of the garden in 

 the early flowers. In some places the pretty Hepaticas 

 may be in bloom, and also their close relative the blue 

 Anemone Angulosa. Many early bulbs will be out, 

 notably Snowdrops, Chionodoxa, Crocuses, and Winter 

 Aconites. 



There may be bloom on the shrubs — on the Glaston- 

 bury Thorn, which is reputed to flower regularly on 

 Christmas Day, but is just as likely to flower before if the 

 autumn is mild ; on the Winter Jasmine ; on the Heaths; 

 on the pretty yellow Hamamelis ; on the yellow For- 

 sythia ; on the Daurian Rhododendron ; on Standish's 

 Honeysuckle (Lonicera Standishii) ; and possibly on the 

 lovely Star Magnolia. 



Tuberous plants that have to flower the same year 

 from seed, such as Begonias, Gloxinias, Streptocarpuses, 

 Dahlias, Cannas, and Achimenes, must be sown ; but 

 tubers may also be started for earlier bloom. Bulbs in 

 pots, glasses, and vases may be examined, and given 

 light and air. Many permanent greenhouse, room and 

 hot-house plants can be overhauled, and if necessary 

 divided. If a collection of Orchids is to be grown, the 

 house can be prepared, and the appliances procured, 

 with a view to commencing with imported pieces in 

 spring. Turf may be laid. 



Fruit trees may be planted in favourable weather, at 

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