th

a

to gardens ‘signs of

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

“WHO OR what are the true

harbingers of spring? }-have heard this title - bestowed upon the crocus, forsythia, snowdrops, daffodils . and even the robin:

1. cannot: agree.’ I. believe the

“true signal for the. approach. of

“spring tide is delivered by the ‘primrose.

Iam well’ aware that the primrose (primula vulgaris) will

Rot usually flower in the garden after

_ until early April, well spring’s in full swing.

Yet there they are lining the en-

“trance -to every supermarket and

, comer, store, announcing in a riot

of color that: spring, is. about to

1

* feel owords of warnin

= out of them.

. pounce, teady or not. Ever the doom and gloomer, i compelled - to: : offer g:. beware the ides .of March — as’ ell as the ice of -. February! °

It may be ‘with the’ springiest of intentions that we jump-the gun, and I-do not mean by this that buying primulas now -will. be like shooting yourself in the foot, but

is'a litde early to leave them out .

unprotected,

The vast majority if not all of ;

‘these early plants“ are grown in _ greenhotises. They have been pro-

« tected: for..weeks:in an artificial - atmosphere’ of perfect.

temperatures, humidity, light and air circulation.

All of this care ‘is now being rewarded with. vivid displays of “colorful blooms, all of which will disappear: like magic at the first hint of frost. oo

I'do not-intend to suggest that . you should refrain from using the primrose to assist you in brighten- ing up your grey, ' winter-weary :, lives, just exercise a little caution. . Here a few tips that should help you get the most of these plants.

:Do not plant them out in overly

exposed locations in the garden.’

Too’ much bright winter sun, €x- posure. to frost or even cold, wet weather’ will: wash the color right

-- Do plant them in protected -nooks and crannies. Try to place ..them' in sheltered spots up against the house, under the overhang or -the’ branches of overhanging » shrubs such as thododendrons or

pieris: If. you gel. any warning of an

impending light frost, a few sheets .

of . newspaper draped over’, them will be sufficient to guard against light damage.

. Better” still; keep them in con-

these .

spring

tainers so that you can move: them

“to a cool ‘spot indoors in the ad-

vent of some really cold weather.

I have recently seen some very attractive planter arrangements which make good use of the qualities Possessed by the primula.

A nice 12” to 16°” bowl-type planter filled with five four-inch potted plants will brighten up an

entrance Way.

My favorite has to be Janice’s woven wall basket. She filled its narrow, crescent shape with three or four plants and stuffed sphagnum moss around them. She then hung it on the wall, next to the door at eye level for ‘all to en- joy as they come to visit.

It looks great and its sheltered position will ensure that it con- tinues-to do so for many weeks to come. ‘

If we examine the natural pref- erences of these plants, it wil! im- prove our chances of getting the most of what they have to offer.

Cool, .moist environments are ideal. These plants are not well

' suited to hot, dry environrnents

such as the interior of B.C., or even our Gulf Islands.

This being the case, you would think to see them growing like weeds all over the North Shore.

The reason we don’t is primari- ly due to the character of our soils rather than severely cold winters, overly wet springs or the occa- sional dry.summer, all of which can takeatoll.. | ° :

Polyantha “primroses. (a sub- class of p.. vulgaris) prefer® the types of soils that ‘are typically found. on the floor of, deciduous forests.

These are rich in organic matter - allowing. for good meisture reten- tion while remaining porous

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508-510 St. Georges Ave., built 1941.°

— Logan House

THIS IS a fine example of

a style of architecture that became popular in the

1930s and 1940s known as.

Domestic Moderne, Streamiine Moderne. Hal Norman. designed this

home for Mr. and Mrs, Robert Logan in 1941 when he worked

or

for the Streamline Construction.

Co. .

Both the Logan House and the Cunningham House (built 1945) ‘on East 25th Street are two very good examples of this style in North Vancouver.

These homes are. cubic or geometric in. design with soft-

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‘NORTH SHORE | HERITAGE

by Dorothy Foster

ened angles and rounded curves. The main’ surface is covered with smooth white stucco, al- though Hal Norman’s design has incorporated lengths of cedar. for a nice contrasting feature. The windows in these homes

‘are square or rectangular, and in ~

some. cases circular cut glass panes have been incorporated in-: to doors, like portholes.

This ‘style . also uses: small

giuate furnishings at the - °

le lowest prices avaiable

panes or glass blocks sometitnes found in horizontal sections’ for

. both ‘added interior lighting and . exterior.design treatment.

Art’ Deco ornamentation is usually: prevalent i in these homes and- ‘projecting canopies with - hard geometric lines are another feature in Domestic Moderne

‘homes.

In 1959 the Logan House was » modified for use as a duplex. ,

I would like to acknowlege the. North Vancouver City’s Heritage : Inventory. for background in- formation, and thank‘ them ‘for

_ including ‘these. fine architectural

examples of Moderne. homes, in their post-1939 heritage building inventory.

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