2 CARL PURDY, UKIAH, MENDOCINO CO., CAL. 
I was able to begin giving to this work my undivided attention. Since then 
my life has been devoted to the collection and culture of flowers. 
From the first I sought a location where the coiiditions would be best for 
bulb culture. After several trials an ideal vicinity was found in the high 
mountains southeast of Ukiah. Looking from the higher points here, in one 
direction we see down into the beautiful basin where Clear Lake glistens in 
the sun, and in another direction the Russian river region lies below us like a 
map. I found the natural conditions that I sought, first at Lyons Valley, 
then at The Terraces, my present home-place, and now my gardens are in 
four of these mountain valleys: Lyons Valley, the East Canyon and the Lake 
gardens — all within a mile of the center of my activities at The Terraces. 
At The Terraces a favorable climate, abundant spring water, rich and 
varying soils, and a great variety of exposures combine to make ideal condi- 
tions for this class of gardening. From a scenic point of view, The Terraces 
are probably the most unique gardens in the world. Large springs feed a 
mountain stream which passes through a rich little valley, and then, over 
four limestone bluffs in succession, each from 50 to 75 feet high, it plunges in 
many most charming cascades and waterfalls. Between the blufi^s are the ter- 
raced slopes from which the gardens get their name. All of the successive 
terraces, the shelves and nooks, with the endless corners about the falls, 
afford ideal homes to colonies of lilies and ferns. 
During recent years I have become much interested in the hardy peren- 
nial plants of the world. I am testing many of the beautiful things of which 
we read so much in English floral publications, to see how well adapted these 
plants arc to California conditions, and to ascertain which ones best suit 
the tastes of Californians. I now have a very fine collection of such things as 
the perennial larkspurs, the variously colored poppies. Orientals and others, 
harebells in great variety, dainty creeping plants, the various sunflowers and 
rudbeckias, several fine things in the style of the Shasta daisies, and many 
others as beautiful. 
Beginning as early as February, with the Christmas roses, the flowers 
come on in season, and in midsummer there is a very fine show. In dahlias, 
too, I have a collection of some 80 sorts of the best, also many gladiolus, and 
a fine coUection of tigridias. There is never a second burst of bloom to match 
the tulips, but to the flower-lover there is always something of interest, 
am constantly adding to my hardy perennial collection, and it will soon be a 
leading feature, both in my garden and in my catalogue. 
Ukiah is reached by rail, via the Northwestern Pacific, which starts at 
the ferry depot at San Francisco. Two trains a day arrive in Ukiah; the first 
leaves San Francisco at 7.40 a. m., arriving at Ukiah at 12.10 p. m.; the second 
leaves San Francisco at 3.15 p. m., and arrives at Ukiah at 8.10 p. m. From 
Ukiah the trains are 6.25 a. m. and 3.05 p. m. As there is hardly time for a 
visitor to make the round trip to "The Terraces" after the arrival of the 
train at 12.30, the better way is to come to Ukiah on the train which arrives 
at 8.30 p. m., stay over night, and make the trip the next day. It can be made 
so as to catch the return train at 1.30 P. M., or an entire day can be taken. 
Telephone connects "The Terraces" with all points through the Ukiah 
central. No telephone number needed. 
