IDGL o Ry

GARDENS

Plants was established at Monticello,
Va., to find and research historic
types. Mr. Kunst himself teaches local
college classes on how to landscape
with historic plants and writes articles
on particular plants for such maga-
zines as Old-House Journal. He has also
served as garden consultant at the
historically recreated Greenfield
Village in Dearborn, Mich.
What qualifies as an antique flower?
Mr. Kunst defines it as anything 50
years or older (in other words, dating
to 1940 or before). But he also uses
a number of other terms, such as "his-
toric," "old-fashioned," "heritage" and
even "heirloom." The latter term
means plants that have been passed
down through families; they may not
be old but they have special signifi-
cance to the family.
These lovely plants and flowers are
enjoying a return to popularity, Mr.
Kunst figures, partly because of the
BY JUNE HICKS
historic preservation movement and
e happened to like partly because of the growing in-
old plants. That's why terest in gardening. "As more
about 10 years ago greenthumbs appear
Scott Kunst, of Ann on the scene, there's
Arbor, Mich., got into the landscape more room for spe-
consultant business. And guess what cialties," he says.
Other factors in the
his specialty turned out to be?
"Antique" flowers, which seem to antique flower boom
are the environmental
be blooming in popularity right now.
Not so when Mr. Kunst began his movement and a re-
business, Old House Gardens, spur- thinking of what con-
red by his move into his very own stitutes "progress."
Antique flowers
mid-19th century house with a 66-
by-66-foot lot. He found numerous and plants come
books about restoring the house, but with a "plus." Ac-
he couldn't find a thing about what cording to Mr. Kunst,
many (but not all) of
to do with the garden.
Now many books are published on them are more vig-
this specialty. There are conferences, orous and disease-resis-
and two or three years ago the tant than the newer ones.
Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic "They have to be pretty

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28 HOME

tough to survive," he explains.
A good example is the daylily
Hyperion which first appeared com-
mercially about 1925. People still
grow this lovely yellow daylily and ex-
claim over it when it's in bloom. Mr.
Kunst also likes the Festiva Maxima
peony that made its debut way back
in the 1850s. Big and vigorous and
boasting handsome white flowers
flecked with red, it has always been
popular and is widely cataloged even
today.
"I think we have a commitment to
preserve these beauties that were
such a significant part of garden
history for so long," says Mr. Kunst.
Mr. Kunst finds many of his antique
flowers in abandoned farmyards and
old cemeteries. There are also
nurseries that carry some of the old-
fashioned favorites.

Spring Flowering Bulbs

Mr. Kunst is crazy about the older
)) spring flowering bulbs. "Did you
-N41 ') know that at one time hyacinths

• • • • • • •

"I think we have
a commitment
to preserve
these beauties
that were such a
significant part
of garden
history for so
long," says
Mr. Kunst.