NENT garden plants like flowering 
‘itkserve good soil and an occasional feed- 
‘lntilizer, Leaves that gather on the 
“th them are more help than hindrance, 
"ily they turn to plant food and in the 
itl the top of the soil loose and moist. 
{ 
lay | 
pcg able form, most shrubs need 
* ‘iti-blooming ones should be pruned 
tly Fro their flowers; late summer and 
‘tiytrubs, in winter or spring. As they 
‘lly often acquire dead or diseased stems 
intlle cut out. 


To replace some of the too- 
common shrubs seen in home 
grounds from coast to coast 
we nominate the Sweet Pep- 
perbush. The lovely pink 
form shown here, Clethra 
alnifolia rosea, bears tall 
spikes of foamy flowers on a 
handsome shrub covered with 
rich green leaves. It blooms 
late into the summer and fills 
the air with a faint peppery 
scent. This is a native of the 
eastern United States from 
Maine to Florida, and is es- 
pecially happy in low, damp 
places. Grown in full sun, it 
is likely to be less free with its 
flowers. 
A garden’s various scents 
are among its irresistible 
charms. A garden without 
fragrance would be unthink- 
able. The skilful planter 
takes great delight in provid- 
ing scents to haunt the mem- 
ories of his visitors. 

Clethra alnifolia rosea 
Practical freedom from insect 
pests is only one of the advantages 
of Abelia. Its clusters of bell- 
shaped, pink-flushed blooms appear 
throughout the summer, making 
it one of the most faithful plants in 
the whole garden. Abelia often 
grows as tall as 6 feet or more, but 
if desired it may be sheared to form 
a dwarf hedge or an accent plant. 
Its glossy foliage is evergreen in the 
South, and no matter in what form 
the plant is encouraged to grow, the 
leaves are a beauty spot in the 
garden. A sunny place is best for 
Abelia. 


Abelia grandiflora 
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 33 
