24 THE BLOSSOM CIRCLE OF THE YEAR 



Holly, Ilex opaca^ is not more attractive than Ilex aquifolium^ the 

 European Holly; and the Chinese and Japanese varieties, Ilex 

 cornuta and Ilex crenata^ with Ilex glabra^ the native Winter- 

 berry or Inkberry, are all good and hardy garden plants. Ilex 

 cassine^ the native Holly, called Cassine Berry, is a beautiful and 

 attractive shrub. The tree Hollies should, of course, be used 

 for background and border planting or as a screen. They are of 

 beautiful light green color that contrasts most delightfully with 

 the foliage of the darker-leaved plantings. A southern lawn in 

 its Winter dress of bright velvety green framed in a border of 

 American Holly, with vivid green leaves and bright-hued berries, 

 is a Winter picture that is as beautiful as it is striking and well 

 worth striving for. 



Particularly would I stress the desirability of planting these 

 Holly trees on the farms, in the dooryards, and by the roadsides. 

 Not only because they are beautiful and desirable from the artistic 

 standpoint, but because the vandals who go forth at each recurring 

 Christmastide are robbing our woodlands of their most beautiful 

 trees, some replanting must be done soon or the Holly will be a 

 forgotten story. Therefore, plant Holly, Ilex opaca. December 

 to February is the accepted planting season. Defoliate the tree 

 to be moved, cut off the roots that have been bruised in digging, 

 set the tree in good soil and a favorable situation, and while the 

 growth is very slow at first, once established it is fascinating to 

 watch. Soon you will be proudly speaking of your own Christ- 

 mas tree in your garden. Then, see how you feel if some would-be 

 decorator slips in by night and cuts off half of ten years' growth 

 at one fell swoop! 



A noteworthy group of shrubs consists of the evergreen Vibur- 

 nums. The most popular, hardy and satisfactory is Viburnum tinus, 

 commonly known as Laurustinus. The creamy panicles of bloom 

 are preceded by buds of bright red which come in November and 

 make the plant showy in Winter. The white flowers appear in 

 February and all Summer the black clusters of berries persist. 

 Laurustinus is frequently used as a hedge plant and in one formal 

 garden I know has grown to a height of twenty feet on each side 

 of a long walk. When in blossom it is heavenly sweet and won- 



