The earliest of many varieties to colour in autumn is A. palmatum heptalobum osakazuki, orange-scarlet against the silver of birch and pampas grass. Both this and the species grow slowly, very slowly with me, eventually to make trees 25 ft. high.

In April each branch forms into a plethora of white blossom and the autumn leaf colour is pale yellow, deepening to copper red. In my garden it has taken 20 years for this splendid shrub to reach 14 ft. Where necessary, pruning, of which it shows a remarkable tolerance, should be aimed at emphasising the umbrella shape, and winter is the best time to perform this operation.

Amelanchier x grandiflora is a hybrid with canadensis as one parent. I prefer the pink- flowered form listed by some nurseries as rubescens, by others as rosea. Pink candyfloss would be an exact description of this bush in full bloom, the autumn colour of the leaves being a rich deep red.

Andromeda polifOlia compacta could hardly be called versatile for it demands an acid peaty soil. The grey leaves with clusters of bright pink flowers from May onwards, sometimes into July, make this a splendid ground cover plant. I mulch the bed each year so that the branches root themselves to spread the group wider.

Berberis dictyophylla came to me as a chance seedling in a box of mixed shrubs. The plant is now 4 ft. high, the young shoots scarlet but covered with a grey bloom.

First Betula platyphylla japonica, the ghostly Japanese White Birch, a fine specimen tree up to 40 ft. high. I trim away the lower branches so that the white stem can be seen to full advantage. I saw the Western Chinese form, B. platyphylla szechuanica for the first time over a 3-acre expanse of lawn, the wide sweeping branches a graceful crown to the white column of the bole.

B. x irwinii will always be represented in person in my garden, or by one of its numerous offspring, for they rank with the choicest shrubs. The type is a dwarf bush, 3 ft. high, with arching branches. The flowers, which are crimson in bud and orange- yellow when they open, appear in April.

Erica flower varieties would include the following. First comes E. arborea alpina, with splendid foliage and white scented flowers in April. Good varieties of E. cornea include Eileen Porter, superb in rich carmine-red blossom, but slow growing; King George, a regular dwarf with deep pink flowers opening in December; Ruby Glow with dark red blossom and bronze foliage radiating warmth in every gleam of February sunshine; and Springwood White, a superb white form and the best for general planting. All the carnea varieties flower from December to April and can be propagated by self layers.

More Erica flower varieties includes E. cinerea, the Bell Heather, which likes its feet in cool moist soil and head in full sup. ,GoO’d varieties include C. D. Eason, deep pink; Darley Dale, red; and Eden Valley, soft lilac.

Both coccineum, which is identical in most respects, except hardiness, with its variety above, and lanceolatum are well worth a place even in the most select garden. The latter, unlike Norquinco Valley, does have its young growth cut by late frost but grows away strongly in spite of this. A well-drained soil amongst heathers will suit the species and varieties admirably. Propagation is by cuttings of firm young shoots from June to August.

Any shrub border would be incomplete unless it included one member of this family of evergreens. The greatest problem I have to contend with is which of the varieties to omit. Any soil with even a tentative protestation to fertility will support escallonia. On this day, with suitable encouragement, they are a valuable addition to the shades of summer and early autumn. In Cornwall and other coastal areas they make grand flowering hedges which are trimmed as required to keep them within bounds but with a view to gaining the maximum amount of flower. Cuttings taken in July – August root readily.

Apple Blossom is a dainty hybrid growing 6 ft. high with pink and white flowers and it is lovely when grown with pale blue Connecticut Yankees delphiniums. Donard Beauty is 4 ft. high and exceedingly free with its rose-red flowers over many weeks. Escallonia x edinensis, an old hybrid, grows 6 ft. tall in this garden and has bright pink flowers from early June until autumn.

Erica vagans, the Cornish Heath, makes a dwarf shrublet which is in colour during the period July – October. Of the varieties available kevernensis is rose pink; Lyonesse, a splendid white flower with protruding brown anthers: and Mrs D. F. Maxwell, a favourite of mine. with deep cerise blooms.

Ceanothus includes species with popular names redolent of romance – Californian Lilac, Jersey Tea, and Squaw Carpet. I find it a matter of great regret that not even with the deciduous species can I sit back and enjoy that rare delight of a shrub covered in blue flowers for no sooner do the ceanothus in my garden reach full size than along comes a really severe late frost to turn fresh green to black ruin.

There are some shrubs suitable for neither my soil nor climate which I still persist in trying to grow. Even now the sixth specimen of Carpenteriacalifornica ekes out a forlornly miserable existence in a corner under the south wall. In Devon, Birmingham, and Dolgellau, Merioneth, I have seen this beautiful evergreen 6 ft. high, smothered in pure white, goldenstamened flowers like drifted snow at the foot of a wall.

A. T. Johnson is an evergreen bush with a crop of blue flowers in spring followed by a repeat display in autumn. It is lovely in combination with chaenomeles. Ceanothus Autumnal Blue, as the name implies, flowers in late August through to September. Delight was splendid in my garden for 5 years, then was caught in growth by a late frost. The flowers, in long panicles, are dainty and a good crisp blue. This hybrid is generally one of the hardiest.

Aucuba japonica offers a shining example of vegetable good nature, because if ever a shrub was called upon to perform miracles the Spotted Laurel could certainly be so described. In the black grime of city cemeteries, their leaves thick with soot, they are condemned to a sunless well nigh airless existence, a picture of woe and neglect.

Again the long arching canes will reach 7 to 9 ft. and as they are not prone to suckering this bamboo will make a fine specimen plant for a lawn. A. nitida has purple-coloured canes and a rather neater foliage than murielae but is in other respects identical. Of all the bamboos this is the species I like the best.

Arundinaria nitida is readily as the arundirwias, a fact which causes regret as they are ver handsome, and do not spread all over the garden. Phyllostachys aurea, whose shoots are said to be edible, has pale cream canes but rather nondescript foliage. P. nigra grew wonderfully well in the gardens where I worked in Norfolk and Cornwall, possibly because it enjoys sunshine and a fairly dry root run.

Cornus alba has proved a worthy friend which when planted as a windbreak spreads, each branch rooting where it touches the ground, into a dense mass of shoots. For the connoisseur, C. alba sibirica, with brilliant scarlet shoots in winter, and less vigorous enthusiasm to colonise the whole garden, is better value.

CorylopSis spicata is taller and with me somewhat hardier than C. paucora. In appearance it is very like a hamamelis or hazel, the 5-in. spikes of yellow flowers are deliciously scented, opening mid-April. I planted one specimen near a flight of well-used steps and for 5 years it has given pleasure to all who pass by when it is in bloom.

Cornus florida, rarely condescends to vouchsafe more than a brief selection of the white petal-like bracts with which it delights all who see it growing wild in North America, although I am permitted to enjoy the rich autumn colouring. About 8 ft. is the most plants here have attained after 17 years.

Dipelta floribunda resembles, but has more character than, Weigela floribunda and at 8 ft. high is a shrub which commands attention especially in May when covered with pink tubular flowers flushed orange-yellow at the throat. It enjoys a limy soil. Pruning consists of pinching back surplus shoots, and a judicious removal of old wood in December. Cuttings of semi-ripened wood put into a sun frame will root by the following April.

Outside the window, there is a D. mezereum in full perfect flower. Each branch is completely hidden by the deep pink, tightly packed blossom. I always plant this daphne near a much used path so that everyone who passes can enjoy the sweet scent of the flowers. A warm day or two will see the first blossoms open in late February, and in spite of snow showers my bush is still lovely to look at on the last day of March.

The leaves turn crimson early in October and look magnificent in association with blue- flowered hydrangeas. Propagation is by means of seed, which is not easy to obtain, or by layers.

Most of us private citizens do not know the real meaning of Earth Day. It was first conceived in April 22nd 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson. He was a advent environmentalist and in this time in office pushed through many bills that have demonstrated to be very beneficial to the environment. The main purpose of Earth Day was to unite the different environmental groups nationwide and provide a platform for them to send home the message of conservation.

The main theme of this movement was ultimately to push through reform for conservation and to drive home the need for action now. It provided environmentalists around the world avenue to get their message across to governments and large corporations to change their practices in favor of green production and farming.

The main strives were in the fronts of renewable resource usage and also the use of natural products. Just by following the guidelines on the usage of renewable resource and natural products environmental conservation would have taken a very large move forward. A large part of the natural product movement was on proper use of natural organic fertilizers as opposed to the wide use of synthetic chemical fertilizers.

Because of the toxins associated with fertilizers and pesticides, many people are turning to organic gardening. The Bonsai is one plant that people are adding to their organic gardens. Originating in Asia, bonsai gardening has become very popular throughout the world. Bonsai plants require a lot of loving care. Growing them is often considered an art form.

Organic Soil and Fertilization The proper soil mixtures and fertilizers are essential for healthy bonsai growth. Research shows that the best bonsai soils are soils that have organic matters. Bonsai soil tends to be a loose, quick-draining mix of natural and non-chemically treated soil. The foundation is a mixture of sand or gravel, fired clay pellets, or shale, which is mixed with an organic compound such as peat or bark. Volcanic clay soils are a preferred selection in Japan. Kadama and Kanuma are two popular choices.