12 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Anemone Apennina. 



MOUNTAIN WINDFLOWER; Nat. Ord. K/ANUNCULACE.E. 



THIS is one of the " old-fashioned " flowers of our gardens in 

 fact, a native species, having a black tuberous root, which forms 

 a distinct, though invisible characteristic of the species. , As the 

 old names are somewhat descriptive, I give them viz., Gera- 

 nium-leaved Anemone, and Stork's -bill Windflower. 



The appearance of a bold piece of this plant when in flower is 

 exceedingly cheerful ; the soft-looking feathery foliage forms a 

 rich groundwork for the lavish number of flowers, which vary 

 much in colour, from sky-blue to nearly white, according to the 

 number of days they may have been in blow, blue being the 

 opening colour. The flowers are produced singly on stems, Gin. 

 high, and ornamented with a whorl of finely-cut leaflets, stalked, 

 lobed, and toothed ; above this whorl the ruddy flower stem is 

 much more slender. During sunshine the flowers are l|in. 

 across the tips of sepals, becoming reflexed. The foliage, as 

 before hinted, is in the form of a whorl, there being no root 

 leaf, and the soft appearance of the whole plant is due to its 

 downiness, which extends to and includes the calyx. The lobes 

 of the leaves are cupped, but the leaves themselves reflex until 

 their tips touch the ground, whence their distinct and pleasing 

 form. 



This plant is most at home in the half shade of trees, where its 

 flowers retain their blue colour longer. It should be grown in 

 bold patches, and in free or sandy soil. The tubers may be 

 transplanted soon after the tops have died off in late summer. 



Flowering period, April and May. 



Anemone Blanda. 



FAIR WINDFLOWER, or BLUE GRECIAN ANEMONE ; 



Nat. Ord. RANUNCULACE^. 



THIS is a lovely winter flower, of great value in our gardens, 

 from its showiness. It is a recent introduction from the warmer 

 climes of the South of Europe and Asia Minor ; and though it 

 is not so vigorous under cultivation in our climate as most 

 Windflowers, it proves perfectly hardy. A little extra care 

 should be taken in planting it as regards soil and position, in 

 order to grow it well. It belongs to that section of its numerous 

 genus having an involucrum of stalked leaflets. 



The flowers are produced on stalks, 4in. to Gin. high ; they are 

 nearly 2in. across, of a fine deep blue colour; the sepals are 

 numerous and narrow, in the way of A. stellata, or star anemone. 

 The leaves are triternate, divisions deeply cut and acute; the 

 leaves of the involucrum are stalked, trifid, and deeply cut. 

 The whole plant much resembles A. Apennina. Where it can 



