HOUSE AND GARDEN 
October, 
1909 
1 21 
known as Josika’s lilac, bearing bluish-purple clusters of fragrant 
blossoms in the midst of purple twigs and spreading branches. 
Many Chinese, Japanese and Manchurian lilacs have been brought 
to this country, and as there seems to be an affinity between 
plants of the northeastern part of Asia and North America, they 
thrive here with no diminished beauty and develop a marvelous 
number of varieties, both double and single flowers. 
From the name syringa given to the lilac, one is apt to think 
it related to the garden “syringa” or mock-orange that belongs 
to a very different family of blooming shrubs. The garden 
syringa (Philadelphns coro- 
narius), the large-flowered P. 
grandiflorus, and other easily 
propagated varieties, bloom 
about the latter part of May 
and continue with the roses in 
bloom until the last of June, 
when the p e t a Is of their 
dainty flowers, resembling 
orange blossoms, that came in 
the shape of bells and evolved 
into white stars, are scattered 
in a shower of fragrant sum¬ 
mer snow. These petaled 
flakes usher in the summer as 
the first frost heralds the 
approach of winter, and when 
they fall the spring has fled 
on towards the north. There 
is also a charming dwarf 
golden Philadelphus worthy of 
note, and no well planted lawn 
should be without some 
examples of this species. 
A very choice native 
Chinese shrub, difficult to pro¬ 
pagate but in everyway suited 
to occupy a conspicuous posi¬ 
tion on a lawn, is the Pearl- 
bush (Exochorda grandiflora). 
Its flowers resemble' cherry 
blossoms, although it is more 
closely allied to the spireas, 
and the general habit of this 
vigorous plant is broad and 
husky, sometimes tree-like. It 
blooms late in May or early in 
}une and is often grouped with 
the Nine-bark whose clusters 
of flowers resemble those of 
Spirea Van Houtiei, blooming 
also in June. 
Among conspicuous spring¬ 
blooming shrubs are nu¬ 
merous spireas, especially 
Spirea prunifolia, sometimes 
called Bridal Wreath ( Spirea 
Van Houltei also is in some localities known by this popular 
name), but most of them are lovelier in early June when covered 
to the tips of their slender branches with tiny, pure white flowers. 
A striking spirea for a lawn is the June-flowering S. opulijolia 
aurea. Its foliage is gold- and purple-tinted and its white flowers 
lovely and abundant. A dainty spirea for a group is the little 
5 . hella, and, with the red-flowering A. Fortunei and other vari¬ 
eties, it blooms in June. The pink and the pale rose-colored 
meadow-sweet and steeple-bush spireas bloom in July and 
September. 
Calyganthus floridus is the sweet¬ 
smelling shrub of our grand¬ 
mothers’ gardens, whose blos¬ 
soms we used to tie up in the 
corners of our handkerchiefs 
The Japanese Snowball is a striking, June-blooming shrub 
The snowball or viburnum genus has many hardy varieties 
suited to lawn and group planting which are very conspicuous in 
June. The Japan snowball ( Viburnum plicatum) is by far the most 
attractive, while the high-bush cranberrv, or Guelder rose, the 
downy, the maple-leaved, the hobble-bush and numerous other 
viburnums, are all more or less adaptad to ornamental grouping. 
Among other large June-flowering shrubs adapted to the center 
of shrub groups are the showy weigelias, some bearing light-red 
and others striped flowers. The IVeigelia rosea is the best. 
The many varieties of deutzias, bearing masses of pink-tinted 
flowers, some blooming in May and others in June and July, are 
all hardy and lovely shrubs, while the Calycanthus floridus, 
known as the sweet-smelling shrub, offers also in June the spicy 
fragrance of its bud-like blossoms; they resemble diminutive 
chocolate-colored magnolias. 
Another conspicuous shrub, suitable for the outskirts of lawns 
or groups, is the Japanese rose ( Kerria Japonia), bearing attractive 
masses of double yellow flowers. 
There are many varieties of deutzias, bearing pink-tinted blossoms that 
bloom in May, June and July 
