CEnothera— the fine Evening Primrose of our semi-desert region 
Beautiful Hardy Plants for 
California 
One of the most interesting branches of my garden work is in testing our wild per- 
ennial plants in cultivation, and in endeavoring to naturalize them. Here in California 
we see them living through our hot, dry summers, flowering wonderfully in their season, 
and fully maintaining themselves without care. Why not use such material to brighten 
a large part of our gardens and reserve the more intimate portions for flowers which 
require care and water? I believe that this can be done, and I have facilities for testing 
it out in many places and under varying conditions. There is a wealth of fine material, 
and the California problem is to ascertain which of many sorts can be readily established 
in ordinary surroundings and just how to do it. For a good many years I have been 
experimenting with and testing various plants that I felt were suitable for our home 
garden. While some varieties proved completely disappointing, others were extremely 
satisfactory and arc worthy of a place in any garden. I am sure that my labors have 
not been in vain, and I am glad to report a material degree of success. 
ACT.ffiA spicata rubra is a lovely plant related to the Wood Ancmoi\es. The red 
berries are very brilliant but ])oisonous. 25 cts. each. 
AQUILEGIA, or COLUMBINE. California has two short-spurred native species of 
great beaiity. The common red-flowered sort, growing throughout the state, is Truncata. 
It is hardy, and if watered the first year, can be naturalized in woodlands and makes 
a fine garden plant. 
