90 



IRISH GARDENING 



Some Trees and Shrubs in Flower in 

 May, 1920, at Fota. 



I'kidk of pl-M-e to shrubs in liovvi'i; lliis iiKUith nmst 

 lif •iiveii to Etnhoflnhiiii cncri iic u ni . llu' Fire 

 Thorn, wiiicli, at the time of writing— fast ap- 

 proaching the middle of tlie niontli— is almost at 

 its best in its dazzle of scarlet. The two s])ecimens 

 at Fota are quite distinct as regards habit of 

 growth. The largest piece has gained fame for the 

 manner in which it has reproduced itself by layers 

 arovnid the parent plant, and as many of the 

 earliest produced are fast approaching the parent 

 tree in height, and gained the flowering stage, this 

 colony is one of remarkable interest, and especially 

 during the flowering period. The other piece 

 assinues more the growth and proportions of a 

 snuill tree with a clean stenr^and, so far, no sign 

 of reproducing itself by layers. Another tree of 

 note is Driiiiys Wiiiferii, also in full flower, with 

 its clusters of ivory white flowers. This tree does 

 remarkably well in this locality, there being five 

 pieces at Ashbourne; and the tallest, though not, 

 l)erhaps, the most shapely, I have ever seen was 

 at Castle Mary. 



Azdin seiid'fd was at its best diu-ing the first 

 half of the month, and in my opinion is the best 

 (if the Azaras that I am acquainted with. The 

 colour of the flowers, as wel4- tis size of bloom and 

 jxjsition of the flowers on the growths, nuike it a 

 sul)ject of the first water. Cifttings of the young 

 growths root readily, and occasional seeds are also 

 found. 



Tc lie rill III fiiific<nis also in flower. In fact, I 

 havi' never failed to find a flower at any season of 

 the year. Its blue flowers and grey foliage make 

 it always attractive. Cuttings root readily, and 

 whether grown as a lawn specimen or in the 

 shrubbery border it is a grand acquisition, and, in 

 a small stage, for the herbaceous and flower 

 l)orders, especially for associating with blue 

 flowers. Another shrub much resembling the 

 above in that it is in flower more months of the 

 year than it is out, is GreriUea rusmdiiiiiforKi, a 

 low-growing evergreen with handsome growth re- 

 sembling Rosemary, from which it gets its varietal 

 name. The flowers are of a rich red. approaching 

 scarlet, and show up well against the closely set 

 foliage. 



Eiilid iifli us cainpdniddfus is another shrub 

 which we have both in bush and standard 

 form, and which never fails to flower each season. 

 Though not one of the most striking subjects when 

 in flower, the small, drooping cup-shaped flowers 

 delicately veined, are very pretty, and the small 

 seed pods succeeding always remind ine by their 

 shape of the flowers of the Anstolochia HipJio or 

 Dutchman's Pipe, though, of course, other ways 

 there is no comparison. For autiuiui foliage it is 

 very effective. 



( luiisi/d tenidta, the Mexican Orange, needs no 

 description. For its fragrance alone it is worthy 

 of a place in any collection, and should be planted 

 where it has plenty of scope, as to see a mass of it 

 in bloom is a fine sight. 



Jiiiddlcid CoJriUei. also in bloom, having closely 

 set bunches of reddish tubular flowers, borne on 

 the terminals of last season's growths. The foliage 

 on the underside is covered with tomentum, as is 

 also the underside of the flowers. It is a native of 

 Sikkini, and only suited to the milder localities. 

 Here at Fota it makes a fine bush as well as a wall 

 specimen. 



lldlcd sdliiinii has been in flower for the i)ast 

 few weeks, and only the blossoms bear any re- 

 semblance to the other meml)er of the genus. Tl. 



iniiiiiiiiifiiimis. Both are natives of Australia. The 

 tirst-iuuned grows remarkably free and have made 

 tiiu< hushes in a far from desirable position. The 

 net-like seeds give the bush an attractive ai)i)ear- 

 anc-e with their rugged hard surface. 



ridilidiiih us di raricutus, I should imagint*, 

 would he hard to ))eat amongst shrul)s for its 

 minute flowers and foliage. The former, however, 

 have a delightful i)erfume. A native of New Zea- 

 land. 



01 em id sfelluldtd makes itself conspicuous at 

 this season wherever planted, and does particu- 

 larly well in the wilder parts of the shrubberies 

 and woods. 



Azdhi'd diiKi lid at the present time forms one of 

 the brightest pieces of colour in the pleasure 

 grounds and annually makes a fine show during 

 the month of May. 



The hardy orange ''itrus trifuJidfa is in flower, 

 also Sold II UNI ciisjnnii, and on the walls the long 

 growths of two Ildhritflidiiiuus are flowering, also 

 the well-known (iniisiu frdgidiis, and another 

 menilier of that genus which has made hixuriant 

 growths since being planted against a wall is (t. 

 inoiiuspeniid, which, by i)resent appearances, will 

 be in flower before the end of the month. 



Several Acdciiis ar^ in bloom, including .1. rcr- 

 ficilldfd and the tree-like form of A. nieJdnu.ri/lnii. 



did nth us puiiii-eus has been in bloom all the 

 month, and the last. I will mention, and one of the 

 most beautifid little flowers, is ('(lU-eolinid riolii- 

 icd. a native of Chili. 



The al)()ve mentioned list, though not complete, 

 includes most of the shrul)s in bloom at the time 

 of writing to be found in the collection at Fota, 

 though more noted for its Coniferse. but which is 

 being brightened by masses of Azaleas and Rho- 

 dodendrons at this season. 



E. B., Fota. 



Trees and Shrubs. 



No plants in the garden and grounds suffered more 

 from the storms of early May than did the trees 

 and shrubs. Tender young leaves were swept from 

 the branches, and even young shoots were black- 

 ened and destroyed. Now more young leaves are 

 being produced, and shoots are breaking away 

 below the killed jJortions. 



Fruiius Fadus, the Bird Cherry, in several 

 varieties, was one of the most outstanding trees 

 flowering during May. The long racemes of white 

 flowers produced with the leaves are quite attrac- 

 tive, and a well-grown standard tree is an object 

 of considerable beauty. 



Piunus Avium fl. pi., the Double Gean. is a very 

 lovely flowering tree; much of the beauty lies in 

 the way the clusters of flowers hang pendent from 

 the branches, so that when looked at from below 

 they show their fullest beauty. 



Fosa huijonis, from China, is one of the earliest 

 of the wild roses to bloom. The flowers, of bright 

 yellow, are not of long duration, but the bush is 

 a free grower, and when of good size and thickly 

 covered with flowers it makes a pretty picture. 

 Deufzids are always admired, and this year 'he 

 liyhiids of puipunisccns, grdcilis and others have 

 been beautiful, though all do not by any means 

 flower in May. 1). ijvuciUs cdwpdvuhitd and J), g. 

 pj-imia are good, the former with white flowers and 

 the latter white within and pink outside. I). Kal- 

 iiiin fiord, a hybrid of D. piirjiurdscens. is very fine, 

 with beautiful rose pink flowers. ]). loituifolid 

 and 1>. Veitciiii. two handsome shrubs of Chinese 

 origin, are just opening their flowers towards the 

 end of tlie month; both- have deep rose flowers, 



