A Little Comer about Gardens

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 48, 19 November 1932, Page 19

A Little Comer about Gardens

FLOWERS THAT BLOOM FOR JUNIOR READERS

“Napier just now is beautiful aud full of bloom. In our garden we have a shrub which smells something like sage. It is now in full bloom, and beautiful to behold. Hanging down from the ‘ leaves are small purple, belllike flowers. Pansies of different hues are out and decorating many gardens. Roses are beginning to put forth their beautiful flowers, so dearly loved by us.” —“Nonnie the Gnome,” aged 11, Napier. [The beautiful shrub now blooming in your garden is the Australian mint bush (prostaathera, our garden editor would call it.]

roses, and Christmas lilies are also in bud. Oh, I forgot, my geraniums and sweet williams are budding,-and my Iceland poppies are out. The tulips were very weak this season.” — “Gold Dawn,” Mangatainoka, [The carnation-like blooms must be the eharming little flowers known as pinks. Your michaelmas daisies are very hungry fellows, and if you have any leaf mould they will appreciate.it.] “Birds are so tiresome in the gardens when the seeds have just been planted. Now I will tell you what father does. He gets a potato, a small one will do, then he gets a number of duck’s, or, better still, hen’s feathers, and sticks into the potato. When this is done he gets a stick about 3 feet long and sticks in the middle of the garden. He then takes a piece of strong string and ties one cud round the potato and another round the top of the stick. When there is a breeze this swings and frightens the .birds. I think it looks much neater in the garden than a scarecrow. It is better to put two or three in one garden if it is a big one.”—"Fairy Nightlight,” Upper Hutt.

“My Garden is looking rather pretty witli pink and red roses, and the Christmas lilies will be out. in a few weeks’ time. I have started to make a vegetable garden, but it is not very large yet. —Marie Windle, aged 13, Wai-, pukurau. [Lily time will soon be here, and the stately blooms in white and all shades of pink, browns, and yellows will make a beautiful show. Look out for the wretched little green flies; don’t let them spoil your blooms.]

“My sweet peas are in bud now. My marigolds, pansies, violas, ixias, earnations, and those sweet-smelling pink and white flowers, much like carnations. My calceolaria, chrysanthemums, michaelmas daisies,

[What a splendid idea. I think It much belter to frighten the birds away tiian kill them. You know, if it weren’t for the birds. Insects and grubs would eat everything we grow,]