CHAPTER VI. 

 A PERENNIAL BORDER. 



The " Mixed " Border : I have referred in previous 

 chapters to the " Mixed " Border, a feature which is too 

 frequent in gardens. The word " mixed " is most appro- 

 priate. A lady gardener once told me she called her mixed 

 border the " muddle " border. 



A mixed border may contain practically any sort of 

 plant : Hardy Perennials, Half-Hardy Perennials, Hardy 

 Biennials, Half-Hardy Biennials, Hardy Annuals, and 

 Half-Hardy Annuals. For my own part I do not care for 

 mixed borders. I like a good perennial border, or a border 

 containing practically all perennials and a few hardy 

 annuals. 



I do not wish to denounce all mixed borders as bad 

 features of the garden. Some wonderful effects can be 

 obtained by judiciously mixing all sorts of plants together, 

 and I have seen one or two such borders which made me 

 somewhat envious. But these were exceptions. I am of 

 opinion that it is not a feature which should be attempted 

 by amateurs, but left to the experienced enthusiast who 

 knows more than a little about the habits and colours of 

 the various groups of flowers he is going to plant in it. 



A Plea for the Perennial : Some years ago a plea was 

 made in the gardening Press for the greater use of Hardy 

 Annuals, which are now deservedly popular. Then again 

 summer bedding is also popular, although it is now a little 

 on the decline notwithstanding that the new Nemesias, 

 dwarf Antirrhinums, Pentstemons, and other plants have 



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