For September, 1922 



259 



Statice — Thymus 



RICHARD ROTHE 



STATICE, the Sea Lavender, is a large genus of the 

 order Plitmbagi)i(r, many species tliereof inhabiting 

 saline districts and sea shores. The mere mention- 

 ing of the name will bring back into the memory of older 

 horticulturists, of European training, rows of bundles of 

 tiny blue and lavender blossoms hung up for drying to 

 be used for funeral design work of immortelles in vogue 

 twenty-five to thirty years ago. Fashions and material 

 have changed and many of us have nearly forgotten the 

 sea lavenders with their tufts of long smooth leathery 

 foliage and their graceful panicles. However, growing 

 some of the best hardy perennial species today we will 

 find that those graceful panicles of tiny lilue and lavender 

 blossoms during August can be used f(ir the same pur- 

 poses as we use Gypsopliila paiiiciilafa in jvme and July. 

 According to my experience the sea lavenders merit by 

 far more space in our hardy borders than they have 

 hitherio been given. 



Statice latifolin. 



The number of ^lid- Summer flowering rockgarden in- 

 mates is not over abundant. Statice intelligently placed 

 can be easily made an effective July and August feature. 

 For perfect development all species require an open 

 sunny exposure. On account of their deep root system 

 they rarely ever suft'er during prolonged draught. 



The garden forms generally known are mostly natives 

 of eastern Europe and Asia. Statice e.vimia produces 

 panicles of handsome pale lilac blossoms ; Statice Gmclini 

 is distinguished by violet blue flowers ; the stateliest species 

 of the hardy sea lavenders, Statice latifolia shows freely 

 branching heads in clear blue : while Statice tartarica, syn. 

 .S*. incaiia. as the lowest growing garden variety adorns 

 itself with purplish pink panicles. 



All sea lavenders require a well manured and deeply 

 dug sandy loam and may be raised from seed sown in 

 coid frames in Spring or propagated by root cuttings. 

 Their evergreen foliage requires leaf covering as Winter 

 protection throughout northern states. 



THVilUS 



Of Thymus, a genus of the order Labiatcc consisting of 

 mostly hardy small shrubs or undershrubs, all this note 

 deals 'with are the few hardy herbaceous low creeping 

 species of Central Europe and the British Islands. Un- 

 der cultivation thev form dense vivid green mats of 



aromatic vines, which, during the later parts of June and 

 in July appear covered with clouds of little blossoms. In 

 height, not exceeding 2-i inches, mountain thymes prove 

 very pretty subjects for sunny rockeries and dry walls 

 as well as for the filling up of crevices of slab stone 

 formal garden walks. Thymus serpyllum album flowers 

 snow white ; the blossoms of coccinea are red ; while 

 scrp\Uum spleiidcns produces flowers of magenta color. 

 Our illustration, a reproduction of a photo taken in 



Tliyiiiiis serpyllum splciidciis. 



Xortheast Harbor, Maine, shows the marvelously rich 

 floral effect which in the North is of a brilliancy never 

 reached throughout the Middle Atlantic States. 



The less known species Thymus lauugi)iosus resembles 

 in habit of growth the serpyllum type. Its distinct 

 characteristics consist of a woolly hirsute foliage of 

 a mouse-gray shade and little flowers of purplish laven- 

 der hue. 



Aside from open sunny exposure, mountain thyme 

 thrive best in a light sandy loam. Stock can be raised 

 from seed sown early in Spring. Propagation by divi- 

 sion early in Fall. Plantations in northern border 

 States should be protected by light leaf covering 

 unless thick and permanent snow covering can be de- 

 pended on. 



AUTUMN GLORY AT ENGLISHTON PARK 



(Continued from page 255) 



maples, the yellow cucumber magnolia, the coloring oaks, 

 — and I find the scarlet oak a finer tree than the red oak, — 

 the golden tulip trees and red dogwoods. Such a planting 

 as tins with evergreens of every hue and character inter- 

 woven is as beautiful and restful a vision as one wishes, 

 upon which to cast tired eyes. 



These notes may give a few suggestions to garden lovers 

 and planters. Fall inspires us toward certain kinds of 

 planting, and Spring has her own especial lesson in which 

 to instruct us. There is perfect harmony in heart and 

 garden if one is keen and alert to all that Nature tries to 

 teach us. Byron said in "Childe Harold" that there is no 

 solitude when communing with Nature, and this is 

 especiallv true with Nature in her Autumn garb. 



