INTRODUCING— 
BARNEY MIXSELL 
When you come into the nursery 
or call on the phone, and a young 
man greets you with a very sin- 
cere sounding, ‘How may | help 
you?'', you know that you are talk- 
ing to our personality of the 
month. These five words, which on 
paper may have all the earmarks 
of a standard cliche, when spoken 
by Barney Mixsell illustrate better 
than any long character descrip- 
tion his approach to his job. 
Barney Mixsell was born in Ta- 
coma, Washington, in 1913. 
Learning must have been the key- 
note in the Mixsell household, for 
Barney and five brothers and sis- 
ters worked their way through col- 
lege. Barney was graduated from 
Occidental College in 1936, in 
Economics and Sociology. 
Upon graduation, he took a job 
with a railroad. But sitting at a 
desk didn't appeal to Barney, and 
so in 1943, he made up his mind 
to go into the nursery business. 
When we asked Barney where he 
learned so much about plants in 
such a short time, his modest an- 
swer was, ‘People were nice 
enough to take the time to ex- 
plain things to me as | went 
along.'' For a number of years he 
worked for a nursery on the East 
side of town. Then he managed a 
nursery in Pasadena for a year. 
Finally, in 1950, Barney came to 
Evans & Reeves where, it is our 
sincere hope, he will stay a long 
time. 
Landscape Lines 
Last month we suggested that there were many 
substitutes for lawns, or in other words, ground 
covers, whether they be plant material or inert 
material. Which brings us to another type of cover 
—banks and slopes. 
If the slope isn't too steep and the soil is fairly 
good, you will probobly do what ninety out of a 
hundred do . . . you will get yourself some Ivy 
Geranium and plant it. Now Ivy Geranium is a good 
plant and a showy ground cover, in fact we use 
it in our own garden. But nevertheless, we some- 
times think there is such a thing as too much Ivy 
Geranium. As a matter of fact, if the bank is steep 
or the soil not too good, there are many plants 
that will do a better job. 
But it is a problem! Every slope is different in 
some respects and some of them are tough! In 
treatment, no plant can be recommended until we 
know practically all of the following: kind of soil, 
exposure, irrigation possibilities, erosion danger, 
permanent effect desired, planting budget and 
maintenance. See what we mean? 
Here are just some of the slope covers we use, 
but before just going out and buying them, why 
not take it up with Evans & Reeves representative. 
Then perhaps you can avoid that pointed remark 
later on from the little woman (or friend husband) 
"| told you so!” 
" They are: Delosperma alba—a moss-like green; 
Mesembryanthemum (ice plant}—many kinds; Wild 
Strawberry — needs water; prostrate Ceanothus — 
blue flowers; Acacias — several shrubby species; 
Bougainvillea — only certain varieties; Veronica 
repens—low, dark mat of green; Evergreen grape. 
GINGER LILIES . 
(Continued from front page) 
chiums cultivated here, the stems often passing six 
feet, the flower head containing dozens of yellow 
tubes accented by long bright-red stamens. It is 
the choicest of the liles for garden use with its~ 
broad dark green leaves, regularity of flowering, 
and a hardiness derived from its native Himalayas 
where it is found up to 8000 feet. 
The cream ginger lily, Hedychium flavum, has 
larger, more open tubular flowers, widely used for 
leis in the Islands, which are pale yellow with an 
orange heart-shaped blotch on the lip. The plant 
itself is taller growing, the leaves narrower and 
of lighter green than the Kahili. 
Butterfly ginger, Hedychium coronarium, is dif- 
ficult to distinguish from H. flavum, until its de- 
lightfully-scented, large, pure white flowers with a 
light green blotch on the lip appear. 
All Hedychiums prefer a rich soil, afternoon 
shade and considerable moisture during the grow- 
ing season prior to flowering. 
Five gallon cans with flowering stalks are $4. 
