As a rule some contrast is a help, such as the dull purple of an Some 



English Iris against the pale blue of Nemophila, but I have been effects of 



surprised this year to see how well a mass of Linum perenne has Mauve and 



looked near the mauve Nepeta. Both plants last long in gl ue 



flower, are never untidy and are easily increased the Nepeta pj ow ers 



by cuttings in the autumn or by dividing the plant in the 



spring, and the Flax by seed. The Flax begins to flower 



here in May as a companion to La Merveille Tulip, and makes 



a charming contrast to the brilliant orange vermilion flowers of 



the latter; in July it and the mauve Nepeta form a cool mass 



below the bright rose-pink of Penzance Briars ; a month or so 



later it is still pretty amongst white Larkspurs and Mallows. 



Nepeta I have seen successfully used as a bedder ; its soft grey 



green is never untidy, and it makes a fluffy carpet of soft colour 



which is very useful as a foil to vivid beds of Begonias or 



Lobelia cardinalu. It is effective also as a perennial, if 



grown in sufficient quantity. It blends well with Irises, p and a 



wide belt of it makes an admirable foreground to clumps of 



annual blue Larkspurs, white and blue Lupins, Campanula 



grandis^ macrantha and persictfolia^ and other flowers of the 



same cool colour. 



2 B 



'93 



