Flowering Crabapples: The Genus Malus - A Review

The Reverend John L. Fiala (1924-1990) died after more than 50 years of work with ornamental flowering crabapples, but before he witnessed publication of his book Flowering Crabapples: The Genus Malus in 1994. This book was his legacy to horticulturalists and those interested in landscape / garden design.

A moving excerpt and dedication by the Rev. Fr. John L. Fiala to his readers may be found at Flowering Crabapples - Genus Malus; and a review of Flowering Crabapples: The Genus Malus.

Artichoke and Cardoon Plants Create Striking Landscape Accents

Cynara spp.

Michaelmas Daisies Mean Autumn Color

Colors ranging from deep purple to almost white herald the last days of autumn in old pastures and ditches here in New England. These are mostly New England asters (Aster novae-anglicae) along with some New York asters (Aster novi-belgii). Because they bloom in late autumn near the feast day of the holy angels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the British call them Michaelmas Daisies.

Gertrude Jekyll, prominent British garden designer in the early 20th century, is one of those most responsible for the popularity, and breeding and selection, of Michaelmas daisies. Reproductions of some watercolor paintings by George S. Elgood, showing Jekyll's use of Michaelmas daisies, are in the Jekyll - Elgood book Some English Gardens, published in London by Longmans, Green & Co in 1904. They are magnificent little watercolors. I only wish I could own them or a copy of the original book in which they were published.

My article Color in Autumn Garden Landscapes looks at some of the history of Michaelmas daisies; my blog, Michaelmas Daisies Mean Autumn talks about the derivation of the common name Michaelmas daisies.