The R Us Group

When I was much younger, I amused myself by trying to find out exactly what was the first wild flower to bloom in the Spring. I still do not know – because, in mild Winters, even near Boston, there is always some wild flower in bloom, if one looks closely enough. For example, on sunny lawns, there are often tiny yellow dandelion buttons the year around. Also, in sheltered gardens, I have found the tiny flowers of chickweed every Winter month. I suppose, these aside, a “first” case could be made out for the skunk-cabbage, or if that is not to be considered a “flower”, perhaps the hepatica. But then, how about pussy willows or even the flowers of the American elm or the silver maple, or Chinese witch hazel?

THE recent improvements in spider lilies have given us some charming perennials, with a considerable range in color and a lovely pure white form. The foliage is good and a row of these plants at the base of a wall in my garden make an attractive display – in the morning. By late afternoon the flowers close, indicating this is not a plant for evening gardens.

Then there is the fact that the spreading habit of the old-fashioned spider lilies has not been eradicated. Unless vigilance is maintained, the plants will insinuate themselves into unexpected places, often starting open competition with long established perennials like peonies and phlox. These arc faults. to be sure, but they are out weighed, in my mind at least, by the virtues the plant possesses.

DID you ever stop and think that gardeners are all truly religious? The act of ordering seeds now is really an affirmation of the goodness of God. Else we would never plant!

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