SEDGE WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP 
EMPHATIC AQUATIC 
The plant to which we direct your at- 
tention this month would hardly seem to 
need a formal introduction as its cultiva- 
tion by man antedates the advent of our 
civilization by several thousand years! The 
fabled plant of Egypt, Cyperus papyrus, 
supplied that necessity of civilization, 
paper, to ancient Egyptians as well as 
food, weaving and braiding materials, 
decorations, and, so she reports, Moses to 
the Pharaoh's daughter, for Cyperus papy- 
rus is the bulrush of the Bible. 
It is not, however, for its economic 
value that we recommend papyrus to you, 
but for the same decorative qualities which 
caused the Egyptians to raise temple col- 
umns in the triangular shape characteristic 
of the stems of this sedge and to utilize it 
frequently as a decorative motif. An 
aquatic plant in its native haunts, Cyperus 
apyrus raises four to eight foot stems 
from sheath like leaves to a tuft of grace- 
ful threads which constitute the flower of 
this stately plant. This perennial need not 
be planted in a pool, but will prosper in 
soil alone provided it receives ample water 
in this location. In sun or shade it will add 
graceful emphasis to the site of a re- 
flection pool, garden fountain or waterfall, 
an informal swimming pool, or a tropical 
setting. Approximately doubling its size an- 
nually, it maintains its robust appearance 
throughout the year. ($1.25 and $5.) 
High) Escns 
Theodore Payne, who has done so much 
to bring to the attention of the world the 
charm and beauty of our California wild 
tlowers, was honored on the occasion of 
his eightieth birthday recently by the mem- 
bers of the Southern California Horticul- 
tural Institute. Certainly this modest and 
unassuming man is entitled to all honor 
and praise for his devotion and zeal in 
preserving our wild flower fields from dese- 
cration and destruction. He may not have 
been rewarded with the golden smiles of 
fortune, but as he thinks back on bygone 
days and vanished scenes, he must feel a 
glow of pride and satisfaction in realizing 
the esteem and affection with which he is 
regarded and in the knowledge that he 
has earned the deep gratitude of all who 
love natural beauty. 
For my own part when | look back fifty 
years and more and summon up the vision 
of those entrancing wild flowers clothing 
hill and valley and canyon with their in- 
describable grace and loveliness, and real- 
ize how much of this natural beauty is gone 
forever to make way for civilization and 
progress, | feel an unstinted admiration 
for the man who devoted his life to the 
task of seeing that beauty in our country- 
side did not wholly perish. 
PHOENIX ARCADIA .... 
(Continued from front page) 
progress means that a specimen of less 
than ten years is hardly noticeable and 
there is a definite limit to the availability 
of old timers. 
Comes now the point of all the above— 
Phoenix Arcadia, the issue of a marriage 
between P. canariensis and P. Loureiri, a 
reasonably fast grower to a comfortable 
size with excellent color, texture and form. 
The mature plants have remarkable uni- 
formity, sturdy but not gross trunks, sur- 
mounted by dense crowns of rich green 
arching plumes, softer and much more 
feathery than the Canary palm's, yet ap- 
proaching them in size. 
ere we are then: if you are planting 
a park choose Phoenix canariensis, if the 
project is a mantlepiece use Phoenix Lou- 
reiri, but if it's your garden you wish to 
adorn come and get one of our beautiful 
new Phoenix Arcadias. ($7.50 in five gal- 
lon containers.) 
Ever thine, 
Bill 
