- T HAVE often wondered

why the avid gardener tends

to ignore a plant simply

because it is common.
have often seen these plant

enthusiasts go absolutely loopy at
- the sight of a few weird-looking
_ flowers on some plant that is a

real pain in the **** to grow.
At the same time, they will.

ridicule others that areso— -

meritorious that they become a

./ Must for almost every garden.

“Take the Shasta daisy (leucan-

themum x superbum syn. chry-

santhemum maximum) as an ex-
“ample,

Seldom do we see such virtue go
a) totally unrewarded. I can’t |

_ imagine anyone saying anything

‘bad about this plant other than...
that it seems to be everywhere.
have difficulty believing
that the world somehow is ’
~ diminished by an overabundance
of beauty, distinction, excellence,
dependability and value.’
:- What do you look for ina plant
hat you would consider to be a
‘worthy addition to your .

Jandseape?, o

Whether it be an abundance of.
flowers, a long-lasting display or
“simply ease of care, these plants
deliver. I believe they: deserve a
“closer look a :

PG aa PEN ee

These hardy, sturdy perennials
usually reach heights of two to
three feet. A few dwarf varieties
will form beautiful mounds of
large flowers at a maximum 10 to
12 inches.

The tidy, dark green foliage
provides an attractive backdrop to
the beautiful, pure white, single
flowers with their yellow centres.

There are several popular dou-
bles in which these yellow centres
do not show.

Some notable named varieties
include:
® 1x 5s. ‘‘Aglaya”? — one of the
oldest hybrids from the Pyrenees,
forming large, frilly, double

flowers'on a 24- to 30-inch plant.

6 1.x. ‘‘Alaska’’ — classic, .
single, four-inch flowers on a
24-inch plant; very hardy.

@ Lxs. “Esther Read’’ — large,

~.. fully double flowers resemble a

florist’s mum; plants reach heights
of 12 to 24 inches.

As doubles can present a prob-
lem in wetter climates such as
ours, shorier plants such as this

. are desirable.

It is best to lightly shake out the

water after a heavy rainfall.

@ Lxs. Polaris” — huge single
flowers, sometimes reaching six
inches in diameter, on a 36-inch
plant.

@ Lx s, ‘Little Princess’? — tidy

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CVER THE GARDEN GATE

little mounds of full-sized, single.
flowers on a 12-inch plant.
@ Lxs. ‘Snow Lady’? — this
award-winning dwarf is even more
compact than Little Princess,
seldom growing much more than
1Qinches,
® 1.x s.‘‘Cobham’s Gold’’ and
“Canarybird”’ are two distinc-
tively yellow forms sporting
yellow-tinted, off-white flowers
on semi-dwarf plants with dark
green foliage.

Although Shasta daisies will
survive in almost any garden soil,
they will perform at their peak

46 Ti he more sun the. better, but
most plants will even tolerate

full shade. 99

when planted in a rich, moist,
well-drained humus.

The addition of copious
amounts of compost to the plant-
ing site wiil be well rewarded.

The more sun the better, but
most plants will even tolerate full
shade,

Plants should be watered regu-
larly through periods of drought.

They are easily grown from
seed, but the choicest varieties are
only available as nursery-grown,
plants.

Seeds can be sown directly into”
the garden after the last frost in
spring, but better results-will be
achieved when they are started in-
doors in a more controlled en- :
vironment.

In order to maintain a healthy,
productive clump, you should

divide these plants every three to
four years in early spring or
mid-fall.

A regular application of
bonemeal and top dressing with

compost in November and again
in early March will guarantee.
gorgeous displays from June
through September.

Shasta daisies make ateat ‘cut
flowers.

If you feel you would like a lit-
tle variety in color, try this little
trick.

Fill a vase with a mixture.of: -
very warm water and food color-
ing.

Freshly cut stems which are
immediately immersed in this
solution will draw the color up -
into the flower.

pose) goregate,: Smooth; Coloured

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