Gay-wings is a somewhat scattering mat- 
former, spreading in an intricate network of 
underground rooting stems from which the 
leaf and flower shoots rise at intervals. Its 
broadly oval, olive-green foliage is never so 
thick as to crowd other dainty companions 
like Hepaticas, Windflowers and Linnaea. It 
is especially effective when interplanted with 
such as these, or used as an underplanting in 
the shade of native Azaleas, Ferns or any of 
the broad-leaved evergreens. 
You have to be a bit patient with Gay- 
wings, for it is not a rapid grower and delib¬ 
erates considerably before deciding to flower 
for the first time. Even nursery-propagated 
plants like mine may take a year or two to be¬ 
come fully established, but from then on they 
blossom as regularly as the seasons come. 
Two-year plants: 50 cents each, 6 for $2.50, $5 a 
dozen. Shipping season, early April through October. 
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis americana) 
S LENDER woody stems that thread along 
the forest floor as lightly as shadows; wee 
rounded leaves spaced at just the right inter¬ 
vals and holding their cheerful green the 
winter through; in early summer, pairs of 
dainty, pinkish, inverted blossoms at the tips 
of short, erect, fragile stalks, so fragrant that 
one wonders how anything so airy can hold 
so much of perfume—such is the Twinflower. 
The natural range of the Twinflower is 
from upper New England west to the Pacific, 
and irregularly southward along the Alle¬ 
ghenies as far as Virginia. It adapts itself 
readily, however, to almost any well drained, 
fully shaded location over a far larger terri¬ 
tory, provided it is given a fine, acid, leaf- 
moldy soil such as is required for Trailing 
Arbutus and Buncliberry. Granted these con¬ 
ditions, nursery-grown plants will gradually 
extend their growth above-ground and below, 
forming not so much a mat as a delicately 
patterned evergreen tracery no more than an 
inch or two high, with the flower stems a 
couple of inches taller. 
The other natives with which Twinflower 
can be used appropriately are legion. Painted 
Trilliums are excellent companions for it, as 
also are Anemones, Gay-wings and any of the 
shade-loving shrubs that like acid soil. Need¬ 
less to say, a naturalistic setting shows this 
dainty little trailer at its best, for it is essen¬ 
tially a plant of the woodlands. 
Strong-rooted plants, 6"-8" spread: 50 cents each, 
6 for $2.50, $5 a dozen. Shipping season, early April 
through October. 
