Chapter VIII
Reading edition
Vines, Tender and Hardy
They shall sit every man under his vine and under his figtree.
Micah iv, 4.
Everybody likes a pretty vine, and there is sure to be some place where you will want to plant at least one. Where? Why, at one corner of the porch where you like to play; round the pillar at the front door, where you read, or by the window where you sit to sew; in the backyard to cover the clothespoles, hide the chicken fence, or screen some old, ugly building.
The common annual vines you probably know pretty well,—the climbing nasturtium, morning glory, moonflower, cypress vine, scarlet runner, hyacinth bean, wild cucumber, gourds and hops. They are treated very much alike, grow with little care if they only have something to climb on, and spread rapidly.
The hardy vines are not so easily disposed of. For instance, the clematis (with accent on the clem,) numbers throughout the world about one hundred and fifty species,—generally climbers,—in white, blue, purple, red and yellow, and ranges from the 2-ft. shrubby kind to the 25-ft. vine. While our common mountain clematis (Montana grandiflora) flowers as early as April, the Jackmani in mid-summer, and the Paniculata often as late as September, the Henryi is seen even in November. And while some can be grown from seed, the rest have to be propagated by cutting or grafting.
WARNING
Right here let me again urge you to make sure of the particular kind of flower, plant or vine that you get, so that you will know how to treat it, and not count on flowers in June from a variety that blossoms in September, or expect purple posies from the white sort. The gentleman printing this book will not let me take space enough to go into details about every thing I mention (he says paper is too dear!) so the only way out of the difficulty is for me to make the lists include all the colors, all the heights, all the months of bloom, and then impress on YOU the necessity of ascertaining the particular kind you want to grow.
BOOKS THAT WILL HELP
As the people you would ask might make a mistake about these things, get in the habit of looking them up for yourself. Go to the Public Library and just see the fascinating books that have been written about plants and flowers,—many for children and in the form of stories. For real facts, though, given in few words and easily found from a complete index in the back, ask for "The American Flower Garden," by Neltje Blanchan, or "The Garden Month by Month," by Mabel Cabot Sedgwick. This latter gives a little description of all the hardy plants and flowers, and is filled with beautiful pictures. And some of the big seed dealers and nurserymen get out fine catalogues that are really garden books in themselves, chock full of information accompanied by colored illustrations, which can be had for the asking!
VINES THAT MUST BE RENEWED EVERY YEAR
THE ANNUAL CLIMBERS
NameColorHeightSow IndoorsSow OutdoorsGood forPlaceBlooming Season
Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum)White Seeds in tiny balloons10 to 15 ft. May 1st 6 in. apartRapid growingSun
Balsam Apple (Momordica)Has curious fruit10 ft. May 6 in. apartTrellis or rock-workSun
Cardinal Climber (new) (Ipomœa quamoclit hybrid)Cardinal15 to 20 ft.MarchMayRapid growingSunJune
Cypress Vine (Ipomœa quamoclit)Red White10 to 20 ft.March AprilMayDense massSunJune
Fire Bean, see Scarlet Runner
Gourds, OrnamentalOdd shapes15 to 30 ft. MayOver arbor or summer-houseSun
Hop, Japanese (annual) (Humulus)Green20 to 30 ft. MayRapid growing Arbors and screensSun
Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos)Purple White10 to 20 ft. MayArbors and trellisesSunJuly
Moon Flower (Ipomœa bona-nox)White15 to 30 ft.Feb. or MarchMayRapid growingSunJuly to frost
Morning Glory (Ipomœa purpurea)White Pink Purple Blue10 to 20 ft. MayRapid growingSunJuly, Aug.
Nasturtium, Tall (Tropæolum majus)Yellows to reds6 to 12 ft. MayScreens and trellisesSunJuly to Oct.
Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus multiflorus)Scarlet10 to 12 ft. April MayScreensSunJuly to frost
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)All colors3 to 6 ft. MarchTrain on brush or chicken-wireSunJuly to Sept.
Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis)White12 to 15 ft. May 1stScreens or coveringsSunJuly, Aug.
VINES THAT LIVE ON FROM YEAR TO YEAR
THE HARDY CLIMBERS
Note.—Different varieties of same kind will bloom at different times.
NameColorHeightStart OutdoorsGood forPlaceBlooming Season
Akabia (Akabia quinata)Violet- brown Light screen May, June
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)Yellow20 ft.In the fall Sun or shadeBright seeds for winter
Cinnamon Vine (Dioscorea)White15 to 30 ft.Plant roots in early springRapid growthSunJuly, Aug.
Clematis (numerous varietis)White Red Purple5 to 25 ft.Start in early springRapid growthStands part shadeDifferent kinds at different times. June to frost
Creeping Spindle (Euonymus radicans)Evergreen trailerVaries in heightProcure rootsWall covering like Ivy
Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia)Brownish-yellowGrows to 30 ft.MayDense shadeAnywhere
Honeysuckle, Japanese (Lonicera Halliana)Yellow-white15 ft.Procure plantsTrellis Fence Walls June to Aug.
Hop, Perennial (Humulus lupulus)Green15 to 20 ft.Procure rootsTrellisSun
Ivy, Boston or Japan (Ampelopsis or Veitchii) Spreads rapidlyProcure plantsCovers walls or treesSun or shade
Ivy, English (Hedera helix)Evergreen Procure plantsWall coveringShade-loving
Kudzu Vine, Japanese (Pueraria Thunbergiana)Rosy-purple10 ft. First year from seedEarly springThick screenSunAugust
Matrimony Vine (Lycium barbaum)PurplishShrubbyProcure rootsOrnament and useSunLate summer
Pea, Everlasting (Lathyrus latifolius)Red White6 to 8 ft.Plant tuber or seedTrellis or rough placesSunAugust