Posies Every Day of the Year

Linton Wright McKnight talks about flowers as if they were his friends, and, in a sense, they are. Having spent 25 years as a landscaper in his native Georgia, McKnight speaks from experience when he describes phlox as “fair” and “charming” and camellia as “honest” and “optimistic” in his new book, “Birthflowers of the Landscape” (Commercial Publishing Network, 1999).

The guide is a resource for those who would like to keep their gardens in bloom all year.

“Most perennials will only bloom, on average, two weeks a year,” the author says. “So if you want 52 weeks of bloom, you gotta have a lot of plant material.”

“Birthflowers” is an outgrowth of McKnight’s experience with various nurseries over the years. Asked when certain flowers bloomed, employees responded, “In the summertime.” So McKnight began traveling with a calendar in his truck, taking notes on which flowers were in bloom when.

“There are literally thousands of cultivated varieties, so in all probability you can find one that will bloom on your birthday, and it’ll come back and look more beautiful each year.”

For information: (912) 452-0008.