Gardening in California 



Propagate by sowing the seeds, where they are to flower, early 

 in October, or after the first rains, covering them very lightly. 

 When the young plants are two or three inches high, thin them to 

 six inches apart and the result will be a pleasing ground-work of 

 pretty pale-blue, giving a fine finish to the flower-bed or shrub- 

 bery group. 



NEMOPHYLLA. 



This early-flowering favorite is one of the best of our native 

 annuals for filling flower-beds, clumping in the flower-borders, 

 carpeting shrubbery-groups or covering dry banks to give natural 

 effects. Its culture is of the simplest, all that is necessary being to 

 sow the seeds thinly to the depth of an eighth of an inch, where 

 they are to bloom, immediately after the first Fall rains; any 

 soil will suit, down to the poorest sand or even a rocky ledge if 

 the rock is loose enough to allow the roots to penetrate. 



Nemophylla insignis and Nemophylla aurita will be found 

 the most useful of the species for general planting. 



OENOTHERA. 



X. J_ _ 



Evening Primroses are among our favorite natives and are 

 most desirable plants for the decoration of our gardens and shrub- 

 beries; planted among shrubs, where their flower-stalks and 

 bright-colored (pink, white or yellow) flowers show against the 

 background of shrubby leaves, the effect is very pleasing, their 

 flowers being among the most beautiful and attractive of our 

 native perennial herbs. 



They thrive well in any soil not too shallow, and require little 

 or no artificial irrigation. Oenothera biennis, Oeno.thera albi- 

 caulis, Oenothera bistorta, Oenothera ovata and Oenothera cheir- 

 anthifolia are all natives of this Coast and especially effective. 



Propagate by seeds sown, to the depth of an eighth of an inch, 

 where they are to bloom, in October, or immediately after the first 



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