6 FERNDALE NURSERY—ASKOV, MINNESOTA, 1945 

Perennials 
Wild Flowers, Rock Garden Plants 
When the early pioneers took possession of this vast wilderness known as 
North America, they found it replete with a luxuriant growth of native plants. 
Throughout the vast wooded section grew not only the stately pine and oak, 
but also the dainty little houstonia and hepatica, the trillium, bloodroot, gen- 
tian, violet and a myriad of others. In the cool moist bogs and marshes grew 
not only the towering cedar and tamarack, but also the cypripedium and 
pitcher plant, while over the boundless prairie were found almost innumerable 
sun-loving flowering plants and throughout grew ferns in endless variety. 
But we have cut down the forest, drained the bogs, and the plow has 
turned the prairie sod under to make room for agriculture. And, as if to 
complete the destruction of wild life, fire has swept the whole section time and 
again. The native plants have been crowded farther and farther back into 
inaccessible nooks and wastelands where they are now AES a last stand 
in face of destruction. 
Many of these wild plants bear flowers of indescribable beauty and dainti- 
ness. Where do we find a more beautiful orchis than the showy lady-slipper 
or a more delicate orchis than the habenaria? No domesticated violet can 
compare with Pedata bicolor and rarely do we find a more curious and inter- 
esting plant than the pitcher plant with its wax-like flowers of beauty and 
interest. 
To many of us the fascinating scene of nature’s garden lingers in memory 
only. It belongs to days gone by when nature had not yet been violated by 
man’s mad scramble to subdue and civilize. 
But we can do much to restore this dwindling family of nature’s creations 
to a place they richly deserve. Throughout the length and breadth of the land 
there is awakening a great interest in wild plants. 
Throughout our Catalog we list a number of native plants. They have 
been brought together from distant localities. From Vermont to Carolina and 
the Rocky Mountains we have gathered them and they are offered to our cus- 
tomers in the hope that they may find permanent homes where they may 
receive care and appreciation. 
Hardiness. There is no class of plants more hardy when once established 
under natural conditions of soil, moisture and exposure, and none so much 
admired as these rapidly vanishing natives of our woodlands, swamps and 
prairies. Join the ranks of the wild flower enthusiasts and get a real thrill 
watching these wildlings make themselves at home in your garden. 
Realizing that it would be utterly impossible in the space available to give 
even the briefest cultural directions for each species listed, such information 
as we offer is intended as a guide to aid customers in selecting plants suitable 
for their particular planting problems by stating conditions, not too limited, 
under which such plants may be expected to thrive and do their best. The 
presence of such conditions does not necessarily guarantee success, but the 
lack of them will, in some instances at least, spell failure. 
In selecting plants offered in this list, two objectives have been kept con- 
stantly in mind: (1) That the plants have merit and are worthy of a place in 
the garden. Plants of a decidedly weedy nature have been eliminated. (2) That 
they are strains of sufficient hardiness to withstand our severe winters under 
ordinary circumstances. While these plants are of great hardiness and may 
be expected to give satisfactory results in the North, they, in common with 
all northern-grown plants, possess greater vigor, well known to horticultur- 
ists, and will give highly satisfactory results when planted much farther 
South. Some of the plants which require little or no shade in the North would 
perhaps require some shade in the South. 
