THE MINNESOTA 



HORTICULTURIST. 



VOL. 32. SEPTEMBER, 1904. No. 9. 



PERENNIAL FLOWERS. 



MRS. A. W. MASSEE, ALBERT LEA_, 



(So. Minn. Hort. Society.) 



Of perennial plants proper we have a list that will give bloom the 

 entire season. A very modest, pretty plant, blooming very early in 

 spring, is Arabis Alpina. It is a low-growing plant, completely cov- 

 ered with sprays of dainty, white, fragrant flowers. A bed of it in 

 bloom looks like a snowbank. It blooms at the same time as the gay 

 early tulips, and planted in a bed in close proximity to the tulip beds 

 sets the latter off extremely well. It is very hardy, well liked by 

 bees and blooms the second year from seed. 



Mertensia Virginica, commonly called Blue Bells, blooming in 

 May, to my mind are really beautiful planted in any vacant space. 

 They take care of themselves and multiply quite rapidly. We have 

 Dicentra (Bleeding Heart), which, if grown well, is quite ornamen- 

 tal for some time ; and peonies, in variety, which every one knows, 

 loves and can grow. The first of the peonies to bloom is Tenuifolia, 

 quite distinct from any other variety in the foliage, which is fern- 

 like. It has quantities of very bright, deep red, fragrant flowers. 

 There is both a double and single form of this peony. Next to 

 Tenuifolia in time of blooming is Officinalis Rosea Rubra, the old- 

 fashioned, deep red peony, and it is still one of the best, although 

 less vigorous than some of the newer varieties. Most of the newer 

 " varieties are later bloomers, having very large, double flowers, most 

 of them fragrant, in shades of pink, red, cream and pure white ; some 

 with light lemon or straw centers. All are beautiful, and it is hard 

 to say which is the favorite. I think I would have as many varieties 

 as I could well accommodate. By planting the different varieties 

 the blooming period can be extended over a period of several weeks. 

 Peonies should not be disturbed unless the clumps become too large 

 and encroach on something else. They like a deep, moist, rich soil, 

 but resent water standing around them. They should have a very 



