Evans & 
The: Gra 
VOL. 4 MAY, 1953 ee No. | 
Rhyme in Season 
FUCHSIA FANTASY 
Ballerina dressed for action, 
Graceful as a breath of spring, 
Dainty figure pirouetting— 
Fit to dance before a king! 
In a world of many troubles, 
In an age of strain and stress, 
You are more than ever welcomed 
With your untouched loveliness. — 
Dance away our fears and worries, 
Brighten hearts where e'r you go. 
Let the soothing summer breezes 
Swing you gently to and fro. 
Cae ink 
PLANT OF THE SEASON 
ENTER FUCHSIAS 
Some people are ''nuts'’. Many people 
(mostly horticulturists) are just slightly 
“nuts. And in this latter category prob- 
ably belong the Fuchsia enthusiasts—that 
small sect of discriminating amateur horti- 
culturists who sit around biting their nails 
during the winter months (when there is 
nothing in bloom but Camellias, Azaleas, 
Cinerarias, Primroses, etc.)—waiting with 
ill disguised impatience for June to roll 
around when to them the real queen of 
the garden; the Fuchsia, is once more be- 
ginning her reign! 
And about that time of the year we, 
too (let's face it), also go all-out for that 
simple little plant known as the Fuchsia. 
(Be sure to visit us during our Fuchsia 
Festival—see back page for details.) As 
a matter of fact, we will come right out 
and make the bold statement that the 
FUCHSIA IS THE TOP FLOWERING 
SHRUB FOR CALIFORNIA GARDENS 
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WITH 
NO EXCEPTIONS, PERIOD! To back it 
(Continued on inside page) 
SMALL IN THE PADDLE 
MIDGET MUSA 
For tropical effects few plants excel the 
Banana. The common ornamental Banana 
in general distribution in southern Califor- 
nia is probably an accidental hybrid two 
or three generations removed from the 
wild species of Asia, Musa paradisiaca. 
You may encounter this paddle-leaved 
plant under such synonyms as Orinoco Ba- 
nana, Horse Banana or Fruiting Banana. 
The fruit produced, even under the best 
conditions, in this area is edible but not 
particularly palatable. The great rate of 
growth and considerable size achieved by 
clumps of the aforementioned Banana are 
assets only where plenty of room is avail- 
able. These characteristics can easily be- 
come liabilities in the average garden 
where space is frequently at a premium, 
which brings us to what we meant to talk 
about in the first place — the DWARF 
PINK-FLOWERING BANANA, Musa 
rosacea. 
This dwarf species is to all intents and 
purposes what the name implies, a small 
edition of the ornamental Banana. Rapid 
spring and summer growth produces maxi- 
mum stalks of about six feet in height, well 
furnished with narrow four foot leaves and 
culminating in exotic shocking-pink flower 
bracts. Plants increase in size by sobolifer- 
ous or sucker growth, spreading in a few 
years to about a three or four foot diam- 
eter. Some manicuring of this Banana is 
in order and is much easier to accomplish, 
all leaves being within easy reach; old 
stalks should be cut right down to the 
ground after the flowers are spent. 
Musa rosacea is fine in the sun and fine 
in the shade, not particular about soil 
(Continued on inside page) 
