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[From Sunday Los Angeles Herald, June 7 , J908.] 
W ITH the rapid march of progress and the building up of this city many of the native flowers, such as the 
cluster lily (Brodiaea capitata,) Mariposa lily (Calochortus Catalinae,) and others have disappeared 
from the old haunts on the hills that were then on the outskirts of the city. These same hills have 
long since been surveyed, cut up into lots and used for building sites. Where once these flowers grew 
there are now many homes with green lawns, palms and other semi-tropical plants, for which this city is famed. 
But these wild flowers still grow in abundance on the hills further back from the city, in Griffith and Elysian parks 
and other localities, where the plow has not yet broken up the ground. 
Few people realize it, nevertheless it is a fact, that the horti¬ 
cultural world is indebted to California for many of its most valu¬ 
able plants. First and foremost may be mentioned the ever-popular 
California poppy (Eschscholtzia California,) or Copa de Oro, 
"Cup of Gold,” as it was termed in early days by the Spanish. 
This flower is almost as eagerly sought after and prized by our¬ 
selves as by the tourists who visit our city. In cultivation there are 
as many as eight distinct varieties of it, including the yellow, or¬ 
ange, orange and yellow, white, pink, a semi-double form of the 
white and yellow, and, last of all, the variety introduced by Mr. 
Burbank, which is a deep rose color. 
Then there is the Matilija poppy (Romneya Coulteri,) with 
its immense blooms, often seven inches across, of purest white with 
yellow centers. It often has been termed the “Queen of Califor¬ 
nia flowers, and surely is deserving of this title, for it has no 
rival. This plant has been largely cultivated in England and 
other countries, and is in great favor. 
The Spanish Dagger (Yucca Whipplei) is truly a majestic 
flower, raising its immense stem eight to twelve feet in the air, with 
flower spikes four and six feet long, composed of hundreds of 
large, creamy-white flowers. There is something grand about these 
plants when in flower in early summer, as they stand like so many 
white sentinels stationed on our hillsides. 
Another flower which must be mentioned is the Scarlet Lark¬ 
spur (Delphinium cardinale,) with its long spikes of vivid scarlet 
flowers. 
Bartonia aurea (blazing star) is a flower also much cultivated 
in Europe, but a native of our state. It has large, rich, golden- 
yellow flowers, almost as large as a poppy. 
Two Lilies of which we are justly proud are Lilium Humboldti, the native tiger lily, a stately plant growing to 
four or five feet, with large orange-colored flowers spotted with maroon, and Lilium Parryi, which has lemon-yellow 
fragrant blossoms. \ 
The Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila insignis) must not be forgotten, with its delicate sky-blue flowers. 
The Lupins, Godetias, Clarkias, Gihas, Colhnsia and a great many more are all members of our flora, but 
space will not permit of their mention in detail. 
In looking back on the floriculture of early days in California it is very interesting to note the changes and 
developments from the then extremely limited varieties of garden plants. 
Carnation growing was then m its infancy; it has developed to such proportions that it has become a distinct 
industry, of which Southern California may be justly proud. 
In Roses the advent of the pink and white Maman Cochet marks an era of great importance. These two 
varieties are perhaps the most popular of the day. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, white; Madame Abel Chatenay, 
salmon pink; Clara Watson, bluish pink; Gruss an Teplitz, deep crimson; Marie Van Houtte, yellow; Ulrich 
Brunner, cherry red, and Paul Neyron, deep rose color, are the roses mostly grown today; while of the very latest 
introduction may be mentioned Frau Karl Druschki, which is a beautiful clear white; Etoille de France, deep 
glowing crimson; Killarney, bright carmine pink marbled with white, and Franz Deegan, a deep orange yellow. 
The Cannas of early times, with their small, insignificant flowers, cannot be compared with those of today with 
their immense trusses. Of these new varieties one, at least, is of home production, the Mrs. Kate Gray, which has 
magnificent flowers of rich orange scarlet overlaid with gold, and large, handsome foliage. 
Of the ever popular Geraniums there are many varieties, one of the most important introductions being 
Charles Turner, the ivy-leafed pink variety which is now seen almost everywhere in Southern California. In 
Scarlet Geraniums John Forbes is a later introduction and has certainly come to stay. 
The Sweet Pea is, of course, a flower which has been greatly improved, the new large-flowered types taking the 
place of the old small ones. 
In Bulbous plants the Watsonia is remarkable with its large spikes of flowers of purest white. The yellow 
Calla, the Gladiolus, America, which is a beautiful shade of pink, and many varieties of Amaryllis are of no less 
importance. 
One flower which much not be forgotten, and one of the most striking of all, is the Gerbera Jamesoni (Trans¬ 
vaal daisy,) with flowers in shape like a Marguerite but of a vivid fiery, scarlet color. And, last of all, the beau¬ 
tiful, new, decorative palm, Phoenix Roebeleni, which is a very small species of date palm from Siam, with finely- 
cut, graceful leaves. It is much hardier than the Cocos Weddelliana, and no doubt will take the place of this 
species as a house plant. 
These remarks on ornamental horticulture might be continued indefinitely, but suffice it to say, that in my 
judgment, our agricultural development is only in its infancy. 
Allowing for the fact that all our leading staples of orchard and field, ranch and garden are exotic to our 
soil; and allowing that their production in the main is only possible by the artificial application of water, often 
[III] 
Su^ene ^wmaen. 
