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""I year gardeners around the _ world are celebrating "Tulip k. 400," marking four centuries of tulip cultivation in the !Netherlands. | _ It was in 1594 that the first tulips bloomed, in the botanical garden at the University of Leiden where they had been planted by the new curator, the early botanist, Carolus Clusius. His work established the foundation for today‘s modern flower bulb industry in the Netherlands. The best way to join in the celeâ€" bration is to plant springâ€"flowering bulbs this fall in your own garden. All of the bulbs that bloom in the spring, of course, have to be planted in the autumn, before the first hard frost. You need not limit yourself to tulips, however. There is a wide specâ€" trum from which to choose. For the longest lasting display next spring, plant a variety of types. ptember 7, 1994 _ Some of the very first bulbs to bloom in the season are the tiny white, bellâ€"shaped snowdrops (Galanthus) and the bright yellow, buttercupâ€"like winter aconite (Eranthus hyemalis). Their little blosâ€" soms look prettiest if you place thick tufts of them together. Once naturalâ€" izedâ€"i.e. left undisturbed to bloom in successive yearsâ€"both will spread ‘well across the flower bed or lawn where you have planted them. Other early bloomers are the bluishâ€"purple Crocus tommasinianus and the yellow Crocus ancyrensis. Scilla tubergeniana, with its delicate ‘blue flowers, also blooms very early. Scillas, too, will propagate themâ€" selves, if they feel at home in the site. . People often mistake the summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) for the earlierâ€"flowering snowdrop. Although they are virtually lookâ€" alikes, the snowflake is taller and has a larger flower, as well as blooming a bit later. . Next comes gloryâ€"ofâ€"theâ€"snow, Chionodoxa. When this little bulb spreads out its colorful carpet of blue, pink or white blossoms, it will restore one‘s faith in springtimeâ€"and garâ€" Limited Time Only 1y N* E. gloryâ€"ofâ€"theâ€"snow, /hen this little bulb plorful carpet of blue, ossoms, it will restore pringtimeâ€"and garâ€" UNUSUAL TULIPS To be adventurous in this 400th year of tulips, move beyond the more familiar garden hybrid types and add some botanicalsâ€"or speciesâ€"tulips to your garden. These 4th Annual ~ Formerly Pickering Professional FREE ; Installation Included Inâ€"Home Consultation This year, called "Tulip 400," celebrates four centuries of Dutch cultiâ€" vation of this beloved flower. Unlike the stately garden hybrids comâ€" mon today, the original tulips were tiny, lowâ€"growing flowers, more like this one (Tulip pulchella violaecea), a botanical that blooms fairly early in the season. All types of tulips, and other sptring bulbs, have to be planted in the fall to bloom in the spring. dening! Vivid blue grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) and many varieties of fritillaries soon come into flower, too. The purple and white checkered one, Fritillaria meleagris, and the stately Fritillaria persicaâ€" whose flowers are the color of eggâ€" plantâ€"both bloom midâ€"season. ONIONS TOO! Ornamental onions and the alliâ€" ums, complete the blooming season. Many of the best known are quite tall but there are many smaller, equally delightful varieties. _ Allium aflatunense, pinkâ€"violet, is among the former at 90 cm (35 in.), as is A. sphaerocephalon, one of the latest to bloom, bearing globeâ€"shaped purple flowers on 70 cm (27 in.) stems. generally are short and prefer a sunny, sheltered location. One such tulip is Tulipa turkestanica, cream with a yellow centre; it is fairly earlyâ€" flowering. Also earlyâ€"flowering is T. pulchella violacea, multiâ€"headed redâ€" dishâ€"purple colored petals. Other botanical tulips that will gain attention in your garden are the midâ€"season T. tarda, whiteâ€"opened flowers with yellow centres, and T. humilis, with violetâ€"colored flowers. There are many more, so check to see what your favorite garden centre, supermarket or catalog has in stock. Two of the smaller types well worth cultivating are A. christopii, at 25 cm (10 in.), consisting of as many as a hundred little violetâ€"colored flowers, each with a silver sheen, and A. oreophilum ostrowskianum, only 15 cm (6 in.) tall, with pinkyâ€"purple, starâ€"shaped flowers. generally are short and prefer a sunny, sheltered location. One such tulip is Tulipa turkestanica, cream with a yellow centre; it is fairly earlyâ€" flowering. Also earlyâ€"flowering is T. pulchella violacea, multiâ€"headed redâ€" dishâ€"purple colored petals. Other botanical tulips that will gain attention in your garden are the midâ€"season T. tarda, whiteâ€"opened flowers with yellow centres, and T. humilis, with violetâ€"colored flowers. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Fashionable mstrong flooring at a beautiful price Mass murder in the garden! 266 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE 845â€"8562 ass murder in the garâ€" den! I‘m afraid so. Last § week I attached a spare hose to the sprinkler. When I turned it on only a trickle appeared. After checking the hose for kinks and finding none I shut off the water and disconâ€" nected the spare hose. The end was filled with earâ€" wigs and many more were flushed out. The use of hose pieces spread about the garden and emptied during the day in a bucket of soapy water is a comâ€" mon method of catching earwigs but I did not realize they were so numerous. The buildâ€"up was due to my absence on a tenâ€"day trip to Anchorage, Alaska for the annuâ€" al meeting of the Garden Writers Association of America. Anchorage, the city of flowers and lights, is a sixâ€"hour flight from Detroit or nine hours via Seattle. The State of Alaska has four time zones, and Anchorage, on the eastern side, is four hours behind our time so there is some jet lag. i The town has a population of 250,000 which is about half the population of Alaska. It is at the east end of Cook Inlet. Gardening is popular there as the temperature is moderated by the Japanese Current. The high temâ€" peratures are in the 80s Fahrenbeit and the low in the tens Fabhrenheit. In the summer dawn is around 2 a.m. with dusk at 10 p.m. The garden season starts with planting out hardy plants in late April and early May with tender plants like Save up to 100 or more on selected Armstrong floors Armstrong always has a way of putting fashion right at your feet, and this September is no exception. You can receive a rebate of up to 100 or more when you buy selected Armstrong flooring. There‘s never been a better time or a better reason to add that perfect finishing touch to your home. Designer Solarian® Deszgner Solarian® II Visions® Solarian® Starstep® Solarian® (Armstrong begonias and ageratum in late May or early June. The cool temâ€" perature and long hours or light keep plants growing slowly over a long period. They are sturdy with strong stems with large flowers until frost strikes in midâ€" September. Tuberous begonias are widely used in hanging basâ€" kets and flower beds, they have six â€" to eightâ€"inch flowers with brilliant colors. The Parks and Recreation Horticulture Section grows 58,000 annuals a year (350 variâ€" eties) in 331 flower beds at 52 sites throughout the city. In addiâ€" tion they have 320 large hanging baskets of marigolds and lobelia throughout downtown. the stores also plant their areas so whole streets are vibrant with color. The greenhouse staff redesign each flower bed yearly, someâ€" times redoing an older design, decide on the plants, order the seed and start them in the greenâ€" house. They have large light fixâ€" tures to assist during the short days of winter. These were given to them by the police who conâ€" fiscated them from people growâ€" ing marijuana. Sometimes the greenhouses are broken into, some of the lights stolen. These are often returned later by the police. They seemed quite amused by Save ®5 per sq. yd. Save ®5 per sq. yd. Save *3 per sq. yd. Save 2 per sq. yd. *Based on an average size room of 20 sq. yds this recycling operation. This coâ€" operation for the common good without too much concern for bureaucratic boundaries was eviâ€" dent among various groups and city officials. The city has a complete listâ€" ing of the plants used in each of the major areas. This is available in the Visitors Bureau and most hotels. Many of the flower beds have signs on the plants. There are several crews who change ailing plants and replace hanging baskets. CRAFTSMAN. Son ROADHANDLER® . Vegetable gardening is a popâ€" ular hobby as vegetables are expensive. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons need a warmer soil than found outdoors so are grown in unheated greenâ€" houses or poly houses. Other vegetables are grown in hilled beds covered with black plastic. This and the long days provide great heads of lettuce, monster broccoli and cabbages. Peas grow all summer and sweet peas cover many fences. From the downtown area to the docks is an open area where the 1964 earthquake took out most of the buildings and filled the area with silt. This cannot be built on so the area is open with some large pipes driven to help it dry out. Through this area there is a meandering tidal river. Most rivers in the area contai salmon swimming up to spawn. The banks are lined with fisher men trying to catch their dail allotment of one salmon. Thi activity continued from dawn t dusk. (See ‘Mooses,‘ page 18) Mon. â€" Wed. 9 a.m â€" 6 p.m Thurs. Fri. 9 a.m â€" 8 p.m Saturday _ 9 a.m â€" 5.80 p.m Sears Guaranteed Home Improvements Talk to someone you know. Oakvile Place 8429277