AUTUMN PERENNIAL FLOWERS 77 



These perennials range in height from three to twelve feet, 

 and are especially adapted to form clumps at the rear of a 

 broad border bed, or for planting among shrubbery. They 

 form banks of green that cover the ground in early May, 

 while from June until autumn they present backgrounds of 

 graceful foliage. From August until October one sort fol- 

 lows another in showing masses of bright bloom, so gener- 

 ously resplendent as to attract attention from all. 



One of the earliest of this class is the false dragon's head, 

 or physostegia, whose beautiful spikes of rosy lilac flowers 

 rise to a height of four feet. It blooms in August, but often 

 lasts until school opens. While the square stems are not 

 very stout, its early and attractive flowers make it desirable. 

 The color is unusual among tall perennials. The flowers are 

 delicate in form and color detail, so the spikes have value as 

 cut flowers. It multiplies rapidly, yet not so widely as to be 

 troublesome like golden glow, one of this group of perennials 

 which flowers early. 



The Orange Sunflower {Heliopsis Pitcheriana) is neither 

 very graceful nor are the flowers of marked beauty, but it has 

 the merit of free blooming from early summer until late fall. 

 It is very hardy and multiplies readily by self-sown seedlings 

 which flower the first season. A clump in the mid-border 

 gives an early touch of autumn gold; moreover, the long 

 stems to the flowers, their firm resistance to wilting, and the 

 persistent freedom of bloom give a certain value for cut 

 flowers. It is a flower for a beginner to experiment with, and 

 is always worthy of a modest place in a large garden of 

 perennials. 



The first hardy helianthus to bloom is the Prairie Sun- 

 flower (Helianthus rigidus) . It gives a gay bank of color in 



