HARDY FLOWER CULTURE. 87 



single flowered species, natives of Europe and their varieties are 

 important too. The peony season is not a long one. It is shorter 

 than it need be because we have given most attention to the albi- 

 flora varieties that come in June. The European representatives 

 of the family are May flowering so that starting with these and 

 with a selection of the Chinese peonies following in succession, a 

 properly planted peon}^ garden should be gay with flowers for at 

 least six weeks. Whilst peonies are not averse to the open sun- 

 light, it should be borne in mind that they do remarkably well ia 

 the shade, even quite near to large trees, so that a peony garden 

 might be made a great success in a position where an iiis garden, 

 if attempted, would be a failure. 



Given a generous preparation at the start, you can make a great 

 plantation of peonies \nth the assurance, that beyond keeping 

 them clean and giving an occasional top dressing, that plantation 

 mav remain undisturbed for a period of at least ten years. What 

 a contrast in comparison with the costly, laborious operations pur- 

 sued in flower gardening as generally practised, involving the 

 entire replanting of large areas certainly once, and if spring 

 flowers are desired, twice a year. Is it any wonder that numbers 

 of people who have gardens forego the costly pleasure of such 

 flower gardening? 



With the passing of the peony bloom naught remains for the 

 balance of the year but its own great tufts of luxurious leafage, 

 hence the suggestion to plant lilies with the peonies. To give 

 ample room for development it is essential that we plant our 

 peonies at least a yard apart, as by the time they attain full 

 growth they will completely hide the ground, yet there will be 

 much unoccupied ground beneath or between the great spreading 

 leaves. This is just the condition desired by many lilies. They 

 raise their heads of glorious blossom high in the air — much 

 higher than any peony grows — whilst the peony foliage over- 

 spreading and shading the ground furnishes comfort, shelter and 

 protection from burning sun to the lily roots. In this association 

 of peony and lily we have practical adaptability as well as artis- 

 tic fitness, and the lily family suffices to continue the flowering 

 interest in the garden almost to the end of the garden year. The 

 lily season opens before the peony season has passed, with the 



