GardenGap.com » Gardening » A Colorful Garden Equals Fine Estate

A Colorful Garden Equals Fine Estate

Two hundred years ago, we all like to believe, life was less hectic. A man could have a lot of time to read and think, to talk with friends and walk over the countryside, to learn the important news of the day and work in his garden.

Gardeners have an obligation to create propaganda in our home communities for better use of shade trees. Our backyard trees, or the sidewalk trees the city is responsible for are a great part of America`s real wealth. A wiser choice of trees, a replanting program, and a way of caring for the trees we have, should be among the ends that every one of us works for.

A very small garden, but perfectly designed and gardened with loving care often meant as much to its owner as any fine estate. Seeing gardens such as these is a wonderful experience.

The spread of gardening, as a part of the home and family life of America, is accomplished by friendly people, talking and showing how.

Over 150 years ago a young clerk in a seed store in Detroit became a partner in a new firm. The clerks name was Dexter Mason Ferry and after some changes in the company name the business now known as Ferry-Morse came into being. Morse was a leading producer of seed in California; Ferry a man who believed in putting seed racks into crossroads stores and buying back the unsold seed at the end of the season so that only fresh seed would be available each spring. Long range policies to protect not only the good name of the company but the interests of the home gardener helped spread vegetable and flower gardening all over the United States. This story inspires me to grow plants from seed, as of now i am focusing in caring coleus and growing coleus from seed.

The story of that 150 years is told in a book. The Seeds of Tomorrow written for the Ferry-Morse Seed Co. by Frederick G. Brownell.

If you ever get a chance visit one of the trial grounds of seed companies like Ferry-Morse. These trial grounds are a fascinating spot to visit during the growing season. For example, a visitor may find samples of most vegetables and flowers listed in companies publications, catalog and website. Plus the dozens of varieties of zinnia, marigold, sweet pea, petunia, stock, and other flowers all blooming at once make the the flower trials landscape especially colorful.