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HOME A2\W FLOWERS 



MAY IX SOUTHERN G A E D E N S 

 By Mrs. G. T. T)rcnnan 



Orchids.— Of the t^vo classes of orchids, the 

 terrestrials are of easiest eiiltrire for amateurs. 

 Aiul among the terrestrials the "Flower of the 

 Holy Ghost,-' the Spanish Flor del Espiritu 

 Santo is the most curious. In some respects it 

 Is also one of the loveliest., though it is not 

 shoT\-y as some others. It is a bulbous flowe'", 

 discovered on the Isthmus of Panama, and no- 

 where else in the world. The tiov\-er is con- 

 structed like the calla, having a spat he that 

 half-way envelops the true flower, which is 

 directly in the heart, and upon the projecting 

 stigma is the outline of a dove, pure vrhite, with 

 folded wings, a head of gold color, and a tiny 

 crimxson beak. The culture is simple. Treat 

 the pseudo bulbs of the flower of the holy ghost 

 as corms of the calla are treated, if grown in 

 pots. For outdoor culture plant them in the 

 fernery where there is constant moisture and 

 partial shade. This orchid in its native habitat 

 grows in damp, shaded places. 



Fogonias and Calopogons'.^Tliese are the 

 most available of our native terrestrial orchids 

 for all Southern gardens. Pogoi;ias bloom in 

 April and May, and calopogons in I\Iay and 

 June. Either of them, or both together, blocm 

 beautifully in among the ferns. The moisture 

 of the fernery suits them first rate. Pogonias 

 have pinkish, bell-shaped blossoms, and but 

 one leaf to each flower stem. There never has 

 been an orchid yet discovered that had not some 

 peculiar feature. Pogonias are peculiar in 

 that they are clad in only one leaf. Calopogons 

 are favorites everywhere. They are open, cir- 

 cular flowers the size of a silver half-dollar, of 

 rich, rosy purple. Their peculiarity is the bent 

 form of the stem, causing the flowers to nod and 

 flutter like butterflies. Both pogonias and 

 calopogons are perennial. 



Epiijhyte Orchids, — The air-plant or e'piphyte 

 orchids are more difficult and expensive than 

 the terrestrials. They are all of f oreign origin, 

 except Epiphyte or Epidendrum conopseum, 

 which is native to Florida, and is only interest- 

 ing as representing the class, as it is plain 

 and unattractive. All things considered, the 

 cattleyas are best suited to Southern gardens. 

 They grow very well in pots, in baskets of moss 

 and on blocks of wood with the bark left on, 

 \^-ith moss bound around the roots of the 

 orchids. The cattleyas are epiphytes, and are 

 tender. 



Catileya Citrina. — This is the vrell known 

 tulip orchid of clear lemon yellow, blooming in 

 April and May. Bring it from the hothouse 



the last of April, and it will not cease blooming 

 for a month. Give it a shady place, and spare 

 nor AvaLor. 



Cattlei/a Intermedia blooms from May to 

 July, petals and sepals soft rosy purple, and 

 throat of gold. 



Cattle i/a Gig as is the largest flowered of its 

 class, blooming in July and August. The colors 

 are richly blended, soft mauve, lavender, royal 

 purple petals and sepals, and bright yellow 

 throat. 



These varieties are easily grown among sum- 

 mer plants, out-of-doors. They need winter 

 protection, -and should be in good condition 

 when brouglit out for the summer. They make 

 a chain of very interesting bloomers from April 

 to November by proper selection of varieties. 

 There are twenty-odd Cattleyas, including the 

 popular C. triannffi, but as it is strictly a hot- 

 house orchid, blooming from December to April, 

 the others here described are more available 

 for amateur culture, 



Honeysucldes. — The nevN- ever-blooming honey- 

 suckle of scarlet salmon is a great acQuisition 

 to Southern gardens. Ever-blooming, in the 

 South, means from April to November. The 

 golden-netted Japanese honeysuckle is more 

 beautiful in poor soil. Fertility increases the 

 size of the leaves and causes the green hue to 

 predonainate. On poor soil the leaves are about 

 the size of squirrel's ears and of bright gold 

 color. The vines are also golden, and notwith- 

 standing poor soil, This honeysuckle makes lux- 

 uriant growth. It is a prime ornament in the 

 garden. 



Tansies and White Lilies. — The month of 

 May is the time white Madonna lilies and rich, 

 velvety pansies bloom together. A frieze of 

 white lilies is rich, bordered with pansies. 

 Pansies are the richest in color and in velvety 

 texture of all spring flowers. That they are 

 only spring and early summer flowers seems 

 not to be generally understood from what we 

 read of them. In Southern gardens they bloom 

 the eight weeks of May and June, The seed 

 should then be sown for another crop of plants. 

 The pansy has an interesting history. In 1810 

 a young daughter of the Earl of Tankerville, 

 at Walton-on-the-Thames, England, undertook 

 the task of hybridizing the common heartsease 

 or viola-tricolor with such success that her flow- 

 ers attracted widespread attention. They were 

 planted in the royal garden at Kew, and from 

 that time until now hybridization has evolved 

 more beautiful forms and richer colors. 



