150 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



flowers during the winter months the herbaceous 

 border may always be relied upon for a supply of 

 flowers from early spring to late autumn, many 

 of them of colours that can scarcely be found in any 

 other class of plants. 



Ask yourself where there is a flower quite so 

 blue as the Delphinium or Anchusa ? or have we 

 any flower to compare with the colour of Lobelia 

 cardinalis ? Then there are the gorgeous yellows 

 of the Helianthus, Doronicum, and Gaillardia, and 

 the exquisite shades of mauve, lavender, and grey 

 of Michaelmas Daisies. Indeed, a well-stocked 

 herbaceous border will supply you with a regular 

 change of colour-scheme for many months out 

 of the twelve. 



The majority of herbs being of a robust and 

 therefore somewhat heavy growth are useless for 

 high-class table decorations or bouquet work, but 

 for cutting they are absolutely indispensable, 

 and the herbaceous border also provides many 

 flowers, such as Gypsophilas and Heucheras, which 

 help to lighten anything with which they are 

 associated. 



I often wonder whether it is the great number 

 of varieties of herbaceous plants which confront 

 those who are making a selection that puts 



