66 SUMMER AND AUTUMN FLOWERS [CH. 



Rodgersia podophylla is a remarkably handsome 

 plant of the Saxifrage family, with bronze foliage, perfectly 

 hardy ; it likes a peaty soil and shade. 



Rudbeckia (Cone Flower) closely resembles some of 

 the smaller perennial Sunflowers ; it is well suited to 

 shrubbery borders, and thrives in light, loamy soil. 



Salvia. Many of the sages are too tender for our 

 winters their home is Mexico. Those from Southern 

 Europe are best known to us, and some very lovely. 

 Patens is an intense azure blue, has tuberous roots, and 

 may be taken up, stored away, and replanted in spring, 

 like a Dahlia, or better still, it may be protected in its 

 border with coal ashes. Splendens is a glorious scarlet 

 flower either for indoor use or for summer bedding. 



Saxifraga (Rockfoil) is the easiest to grow of all 

 Alpines, but the kinds are most diverse in their appear- 

 ance and use. Most of them are well adapted for 

 rock work. Some of the larger species are now named 

 megasia, and are grand border plants, with clusters of rosy- 

 pink flowers ; the London Prides (S. umbrosa) form one 

 interesting section. The Mossy species are useful for 

 carpeting the ground around taller plants. 



S. sarmentosa (Wandering Jew) is often seen suspended 

 in a cottage window, but mixes more naturally with ferns, 

 its thread-like runners dropping gracefully from the higher 

 levels. 



