IRISH GARDENING 



l6l 



Notes from my Rock Garden, 



Too lovely for any word-painting certainly of 

 mine, are our gardens in the gorgeous weeks 

 of June and July. There are tints on the 

 Iris, even amongst the dwarf est, impossible to 

 describe. Apropos of Iris, it is strange that 

 one does not more often see a choice collec- 

 tion of these plants — not a very large collec- 

 tion — which, though interesting, becomes 



formed, white flower, and Geranium argentea, 

 silvery leaves with a. most delicate pinkish 

 blossom; the first mentioned increases rapidly 

 by division in any garden soil; the latter, 

 though quite easy, is of slower growth. 



Fabiana imhricata, an old indispensable 

 favourite, is blooming in all its waxen beauty. 

 Cuttings taken after flowering will root 

 quickly if potted with some fine sand arouncT 

 the cutting, and in fairiv rich soil. Winter in 



OLKAEIA ILICIFOLIA. 



A choice shrul), native of New Zealand. 

 Requires a siuiny, shehered position. 



rather tiresome in any of the very numerous 

 families of plants, such as the Iris. A collec- 

 tion of Iris should be chosen from the best 

 and most distinctly different of the May, 

 June, and July varieties, and would be a valu- 

 able addition to' any garden, such as Rose- 

 li'ctij, a new deep pink with rather broad, 

 deep-orange beard; Ed. Michel, a distinct 

 wine shade; Mrs. Neuhrunner, deep golden 

 yellow; Haniadan, light violet and deep 

 velvety purple, and many ixiore, margined or 

 reticulated, with exquisite colourings. Some 

 double kinds should be included also. 



The above are not, of course, among the 

 rock garden varieties, amongst which I find 

 the best of the puDiila and sibirica very use- 

 ful, especially when water and stones com- 

 bined come into the picture. The interesting 

 plants I specially notice at the moment in my 

 rock garden are Silene alpesfris, a beautifully 



a frame or sheltered place, and plant out the 

 next season. 



OxaJis ennca pliijlJa and 0. rosea have been 

 lovely. Another of the plants just gone over 

 is Primula Cucl'buniiana, and I am about to 

 transplant the root and gather the seed, which 

 will very soon be sown. It is . one of the 

 Primulas easily propagated by these methods. 

 Most of them have now said adieu, with the 

 exception of P. capitata, a splendid group of 

 Avhich has greatly benefited by transplanting 

 after flowering last season. 



A good Anemone for damp rock work is the 

 pretty A. rivularis, white with dark-mauvish 

 stamens; it is now blooming and will con- 

 tinue to do so for some weeks to come. 

 Calceolaria polyrhiza, gives a lovely golden 

 patch; a mass of it looks very well. Asperula 

 suberosa, last but not least, are among the 

 plants of interest just now. Amar.vxthe. 



