34 
The Garden Magazine, March, 1921 
The hardier types of Hybrid Teas and all the Hybrid Per- 
petuals do well. The writer remembers one stem from a 
Gruss an Teplitz brought into the office from Duluth which was 
five feet long and had six perfect blooms. Winter protection, 
however, is necessary. For this, the more tender varieties and 
all climbers are laid prone on the ground and covered with dry 
straw, topped with building or tar paper to keep out the mois- 
ture. The Rugosa type of Rose seems well adapted to our 
climate, and needs no protection. 
A MONG fruits the Apple is the most widely cultivated of the 
l larger kinds. Varieties of the Eastern states which were 
introduced by early settlers were not found successful and for a 
time it was thought impossible to raise the fruit under our con- 
ditions of hot, dry summer and cold, variable winters. Pure 
Russian type Apples were also tried but found generally a 
failure. Success finally came in building up by selection 
of seedlings a type suited to the soil and climate. The Wealthy, 
Northwestern Greening, Wolf River and Malinda are examples 
of varieties now of importance. 
Plums of the Americana group which are native and Hy- 
brids of these are the only sorts found satisfactory. 
Pears either winter-kill or blight. Cherries are of but small 
importance as the fruit buds generally winter-kill although 
they are raised with some success in the more temperate parts 
of our section. Blackberries, Raspberries (especially red), 
Currants, Gooseberries and Strawberries are planted exten- 
sively and do well excepting far north and west. The common 
Eastern Grapes are only valuable when protected. 
T HE glory of the North Central gardens is their abundance 
of spring bloom, especially appreciated and enjoyed after 
our long winter. The warm spring days come upon us suddenly, 
beginning about April 1 5th and all the riot of spring color seems 
to surge from out the awakening earth in one continuous wave. 
The contrast with the snow and ice of March is marked, making 
the fresh green foliage, and colorful blossoms of spring doubly 
welcome. The Scillas, Snowdrops, and Crocus first show color, 
which at the end of April is augmented by Narcissus and 
Early Single Tulips. About the 10th of May, Plum, Cherry 
and Apple blossoms are open and such shrubs as Flowering 
Currant, Caragana, Spiraea arguta, Juneberry, Lilacs and Bush 
Honeysuckles are in bloom. The early perennials are now 
giving their color notes close to the ground, Hepatica, Blood- 
Root, Dutchman’s Breeches, Swamp Marigolds, Bleeding-hearts, 
Violets, Alyssum saxatile. Golden Seal, and Columbines being 
among the most showy. 
Phlox subulata, Arabis alpina, Lily-of-the-Valley, Candy- 
tuft, Trollius, Dwarf Iris, Perennial Flax all closely follow these 
and are showing well by the last of May. At that time — 
about Decoration Day — our most widely used and most 
generally satisfactory shrub, Spiraea Vanhouttei, is usually in 
full bloom — its great cascade of white flowers being the domin- 
ant note in any shrub planting. The forepart of June brings in 
Snowball (Viburnum) blooms, Rosa rugosa and early varieties 
of Peonies. A great number of perennials are now adding 
their share of color, chiefly German Iris, Poppies, Forget-me- 
nots, Aconitum, Feverfew, Alaska Daisy, Anchusa, Day Lilies, 
Centaurea, Lupines, Columbines, and the Darwin Tulips. By 
the end of June Gaillardia, Peonies, Delphinium, Coreopsis, 
Sweet William, Canterbury-bells, Siberian Iris, and Miss 
Lingard Phlox are in bloom. Contemporaneously with these. 
Spiraea Anthony Waterer, Weigelas, Mock-orange, Japanese 
Lilac, and Potentilla are adding extra color bloom to the shrub 
borders. The month of July brings into bloom practically all 
but the true fall flowers and spring’s flower procession is ended 
by a great display of garden Roses, Hydrangeas, Larkspur, 
Phlox, and Hollyhocks. 
The woodland beauties of our autumn season we hardly 
care to divide with any section. Generally there is sufficient 
September rainfall to hold the vegetation until touched by 
frost. This seems to result in fall coloration of foliage that can 
scarcely be surpassed. To the winter landscape Cornus Amo- 
mum (Kinnikinnik the Indians call it) gives continuous color. 
OLD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST FRIENDS 
The dependable “stand bys” of planting everywhere throughout the temperate zone 
are again doing duty here in the North Central Region — Peonies, Sweet William, Lark- 
spur, Columbine — shielded by Blue Spruce, Silver Birch and other familiar trees 
