BOG AND MARSH GARDENS 71 



herbaceous Spiraeas, the large shrubby Meadow-sweets. 

 One of the best is S. palmata, with handsome foliage 

 and rosy-crimson flowers. In the neighbourhood of 

 water, the effect produced by the rich colouring of 

 this variety is charming. S. venusta, S. Aruncus and 

 S. Ulmaria, the latter the double form of the wild 

 Meadow-sweet, are all worth cultivating. Spiraeas are 

 so often grown in garden borders or in the poor soil 

 in mixed shrubberies, that the opportunity of planting 

 them in what approaches their natural habitat should 

 not be neglected. Given ample room and an abund- 

 ance of moisture, they exhibit a freedom of growth 

 which is surprising. 



We would arrange a deep bay in the Rhododendron 

 belt, and here prepare a home for a colony of swamp- 

 loving lilies. Unless of a peaty nature, it would be 

 well to excavate the existing soil to a depth of a foot, 

 filling in with a prepared compost of leaf soil, peat and 

 road grit. A few barrow-loads of chopped turf will also 

 help to provide an ideal bed in which to plant some of 

 the noblest flowers to be found in our gardens. L. 

 giganteum is magnificent in such positions, and, like 

 the others, requires only some sheltering undergrowth 

 as a slight protection in early spring. The foliage, 

 unlike most lilies, consists of broad tufts of heart-shaped 

 leaves, from which spring the stout stalks six or eight 

 feet high. These are topped by long racemes of frag- 

 rant white flowers, slightly tinged with purple. The 

 Swamp Lily (L. superbum) is another fine variety for 

 the outskirts of the bog garden; the clusters of deep 

 orange flowers are borne on stout purplish stems. The 

 beautiful Californian Lily (L. pardalinum) of which 

 there are many sub -varieties, must not be forgotten. 

 In moist, peaty soil it increases in size yearly, the 

 pendent blossoms, vivid orange spotted with chocolate, 

 being most effective. Of smaller habit is L. canadense 



