From: mg@pacman.WPI.EDU (Martha Gunnarson)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Winter Gardens
Date: 19 Jan 93 14:16:34 GMT


Regarding a winter garden:
  Beverley Nichols (one of my favorite authors, now deceased, alas) has quite
a lot of ideas for winter-BLOOMING plants. (bear in mind that he was British,
and writing about his gardens in England)
  In "Down the garden path" (copyright 1932) he mentions a book devoted solely
to the topic: 
  
  "Winter blossoms from the outdoor garden. A descriptive list of
exotic trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that flower in the outdoor
garden in the British Isles during the months of December, January and
February, for the use of amateur gardeners, alphabetically arranged," by A.W.
Darnell. Illustrated by the author.
  Published by L. Reeve & Co., Ltd., London, 1926.  Library of Congress
Card No. agr28-877  OCLC #4784809  (OCLC lists 26 libraries that own this:
see your Interlibrary Loan Librarian.)
  
  Plants mentioned in "Down the garden path" include: winter aconite,
wintersweet (Chimonanthus fragrans), Jasminum nudiflorum, witch hazel
(Hamamelis mollis), winter heather (Erica carnea), winter heliotrope
(Petasites fragrans), Iris stylosa (or Iris unguicularis), Crocus
imperati, Crocus sieberi, Daphne mezereum, winter honeysuckle (Lonicera
fragrantissima), Corylopsis spicata, Sternbergia lutea, Saxifraga ciliata,
Forsythia intermedia, Cyclamen coum, Berberis japonica, Christmas rose,
snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii). 
  In "Garden open today" (copyright 1963) Mr. Nichols add to the list:
Azara microphylla, Erica carnea vars. Eileen Porter and Springwood White,
winter cherry (Prunus subhirtella autumnalis var. rosea).
  I cannot attest to the hardiness of any of these, so check those
catalogs, and enjoy your winter gardens.  I can attest to the enjoyment
gained from reading Mr. Nichols' books.  Try your local (large) public
library, or again, visit your Interlibrary Loan Librarian.

Martha Gunnarson    Serials Librarian/Cataloger    Gordon Library   
Worcester Polytechnic Institute    Worcester, MA  01609   mg@wpi.wpi.edu
                          


  



