136 



IRISH GARIM'.NTNG 



Tuberous^rooted Anemones. 



TUKKK an- few iiioic l>caiitit'ul |ilaiils than tin- 

 various s]HTi('s and varirtii's of Aiiciiioiic an<l 

 at least <»iu' or otiirr of tlu'in will he fc.iiml in 

 liowci- from oarly si)riii,u till latr Autuinn. 



Ttif tulH'rous-rooted s|)cc'ies aro osjx'cially 

 \alual)U' in i-arly si)rin^'. and may he ulanlcd 

 diiriuL'^ tlu' autumn, the carlit-r the hcttcr. 'Yhv 

 so-calU'd tuluMs of some kinds at U-ast are really 

 thii'kcned under<^round stems, wliieh grow and 

 hraneh freely in moist porous soil in wliieh leaf 

 moidil largely ])redominates : an example of 

 siuh may he seen in the common \\\hh\ Anemone 

 and its numy heautiful varieties. 



Very lovely eifects may he ohtained h\ plant- 

 ing the early flowering kinds in elum|)s and 

 masses in half-shady ])laees ahout the rock 

 garden and grounds. An exeellent i)lan where 

 hard>' ferns are grown is to ])lant freely the 

 Anemones hetween them. They will flower early 

 hefore the ferns are growing, making a beautiful 

 dis])lay. and later when the Anemone leaves are 

 dying ofT they will be hidden by the s])reading 

 fronds of the ferns. F'or this purpose the Wood 

 Anemone and its varieties are eminently suitable, 

 also the A])])enina Windtlower. A. api>enina, 

 and the (ireek Anemone A. Blanda. These, 

 when naturalised in generous masses are capable 

 of an indescribably beautifid effect, and never 

 fail to charm. 



The typical form of A. a]iiienina is blue, and 

 it is probably the best. There is, however, a 

 white variety worthy of cultivation, and a some- 

 what rose-coloured one for those who like variety. 



The Greek Anemone, A. l)landa. is a trifle 

 earlier than the former, and is by some botanists 

 thought to be only a form of A. appenina. It 

 is, liowever, for garden purposes clistinct. and 

 the two species may well be grown where a long 

 succession of flower is desired. Some of the 

 varieties of A. blanda are rather good, ]mrticu- 

 larly A. b. scythinica, a form found in Kurdi.stan, 

 Mliicli has white flowers, ])ale V)lue on tlie outside. 

 There is also of this species a ro.se variety, a 

 M'hite and a double blue form. 



Of the common Wood Anemone, A, nemorosa, 

 there is quite a number of varieties of great 

 beaut}'. The typical form \isually found in the 

 woods has white flowers, or occasionally flushed 

 pink or rose. The type itself is well worth 

 introducing to woods where it does not occur 

 naturally, Imt for garden purposes it is super- 

 seded l)y tlie varieties. All are adapted for grow- 

 ing in half-shady places in the rock garden, among 

 ferns, or by woodland walks and similar places. 



One of the most charming varieties is A. 

 nemorosa "" Blue Bonnet,'" which has large fine 

 l)lue flowers appearing later than the t^'pe. 

 A. n. Levingei, said to be foimd in the west of 



livland. ha.s ||,.wers i.f a pink shade, and is (.ne 

 (if the loveliest flowers of si)ring. A. n. e(erulea 

 has light l)lue blossoms, and the \ariety purpurea 

 is deep liliie oi- piii-ple. .\. n. lobinsuiiiana never 

 fails to cliaini e\eiyone with its myriad llowers 

 of pale i)lne. while eornuhiense is similar but 

 reddish in the bud stage : rosea is a good form, 

 impro\ing as the llowers ex|)and. and giving a 

 good bit of colour, while the inevitable doid)le 

 variety finds its own admirers. There are others, 

 but the aboNc icpreseiit the chief varieties in 

 commerce. 



.\. palmata is another t id)erous-rooted s])ecies 

 from the .Mediterranean region, and one that 

 rejoices in more sun than the above-mentioned 

 kinds. It is a true roc^k ])lant, bearing shining 

 green leaves which do not rise much above the 

 soil, and lovely golden-yellow Howers ])roduced 

 usually singly on the sca])e or flower stalk, 

 '^riiere is a white variety quite worth cultivating. 

 A good deep moist, but well drained, soil is 

 necessary. 



A. rannnculoides, often called Wood (Jinger, 

 is a bright little ]ila]it. admirably adapted for 

 naturalising. It bears pretty much cut leaves 

 and bright yellow flowers ])roduced in great ])rofu- 

 sion. There is a ])ale variety known as A. r. |)al- 

 lida, and a larger flowered form is also in cultiva- 

 tion, and is desirable when it can be obtained. 



A. coronaria, the Po])])y Anemone, is the type 

 of the renowned St. Brigid Anemone, and is 

 variable in colour, as its progeny sliow. Few 

 plants are capa])le of more brilliant effects or 

 more useful in the garden. By ])lanting suc- 

 cessional batches of tubers flowers juay be had 

 over a long ])eriod, aiul as they are splendidly 

 adapted for cutting, few more useful jilants can 

 be grown. Rich moist soil is essential, and a 

 midch of well decayed manure is beneficial 

 during a dry spell. One of the most brilliant 

 flowers to be found in gardens is the single 

 flowered variety, A. c. Syriaca, wliieli is dazzling 

 scarlet -vermilion in colour. 



A. hortensis is another pojiular s])eeies of 

 S. Kuro]ieaTi origin, and a good garden ])lant. 

 The variety fulgens, known as the Pan Anemone, 

 is a great favourite either for planting in beds 

 or on the rockery. The flowers are brilliant 

 scarlet in colour, producing a fine effect quite 

 early in spring ; fidgens grandiflora is claimed 

 as an im])rovement, while A. hortensis graeca 

 has the same intense scarlet-vermihon flowers 

 seen in A. cioronaria Syriaca. 



Practically all of these Anemones can be 

 purchased in early autumn at C(uite cheap rates, 

 and should be planted freely where fine displays 

 are wanted at little cost. Many of them can 

 also be ol^tained in pots in spring at slightly 

 higher rates, and will then soon come into 



flower. WiNDFLOWER, 



