9° 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



favourite spots, it is different with borders of evergreen plants, which 

 may be charming and natural in effect throughout the year. 



Of garden pictures, there are few prettier than Crocus, Snowdrops, 

 or Scilla coming through the green, moss-like carpets in these ever- 

 green borders, far prettier to those who love quiet and natural colour 

 than more showy effects. Often narrow evergreen borders are the 

 best things that can be placed at the foot of important walls, as 

 the way of allowing Grass to go right up to the walls is a foolish 

 one, and often leads to injury to the wall trees. A narrow border 

 (i8 inches will do), cut off with a natural stone edging from the 

 Grass or walk, is best : even a border of this size may have many 

 lovely things, from early Cyclamen to the rarer Meadow Saffrons in 

 the autumn. Besides the flowers already named, we have Violets, 

 Periwinkles, Yuccas, Carnations, Pinks, white Rock Cress, Barren- 

 worts, charming in foliage, purple Rock Cresses, Omphalodes, Iris, 

 Acanthus, Indian and other Strawberries, Houseleeks, Thymes, 

 Forget-me-nots, Sandworts, Gentianella, Lavender, Rosemary, hardy 

 Rock Roses, and many native and other hardy evergreen Ferns in all 

 their fine variety ; Bamboos, Ruscus and Dwarf Savin, these are an 

 essential aid in the making of evergreen borders. 



Hardy Border Flowers for British Gardens. 



From this list all families not pretty hardy in Britain are ex- 

 cluded : whatever we may do with flower beds, mixed borders should 

 be mainly of hardy plants, and we ought to be able to plant or refresh 

 them at any time through the autumn or winter months. Well 

 planned mixed borders, covered as they mostly should be with rock 

 plants forming green carpets, should have few gaps in early summer, 

 but where these occur they may be filled up with half-hardy plants 

 as the stock of plants may permit, or with good annuals. It is 

 important in making borders to use the finest species in each genus. 



