BEAUTIFYING THE COUNTRY HOME. 



23 



the seeds at the end of March, the plants will be Time to Sow 



1 a , • ,1 i . « . Flower Beds 



ready to set out in the open ground by the end of Hardy Peren- 

 May. These dates are for Central and Northern 

 Ontario. For more southern latitudes the time for 

 sowing and planting in the open ground will vary 

 according to location. In addition to flower beds 

 of annuals on the lawn there should also be a bed 

 of flowering perennials. These require very little 

 attention. Make the bed of irregular shape, with 

 rounded corners; dig in considerable farm manure, 

 and mulch every winter. Plant such flowers as are 

 hardy and showy, and that will bloom profusely. 

 The following is a list of hardy perennials to select 

 from. The common names only are given : Bleeding 

 Heart, Coreopsis, Hardy Phlox, Gaillardia, Garden 

 Pinks, Iris, Helianthus, Hollyhocks, Japanese Lilies, 

 Delphinium, Lemon Lily, White Garden Lily, 

 Oriental Poppy, Paeonies, Golden Glow, Sweet 

 William. The above list will provide a collection of 

 cut bloom sufficient to brighten the home all sum- 

 mer, in addition to the outdoor ornamentation. 



Another attraction that may be added to the 

 lawn is a rockery placed in some shady corner. 

 This should be oval in shape and raised in the centre 

 with a few wheel-barrows full of rich mould. Spade 

 in sufficient well-rotted farm manure to prevent the 

 soil getting hard or forming a crust. When the bed 

 is in shape and raked, place five or six rustic stones 

 on it, not in line or in a formal sort of way, but 

 irregularly. The bed will then be ready for planting. 



The first thing to plant is a collection of native 

 ferns from the woods. After the ferns are planted, 

 put in a few perennial flowers, such as the Japanese 

 Iris, Hardy Phlox, Arabis or Rock Cress, Bleeding 

 Heart, and Garden Pinks. This will look cosy, and 

 require very little attention. 



Rockery — 

 Planting Ferns 

 and Perennial 

 Flowers. 



