INOIEWORJ'HY PERENNIALS 75 



Daphne — Garland Flower 



The Sweet scent of the Daphnes, together with the fact that one 

 sort is evergreen and another blooms in Midwinter, endears the Daphne 

 to the lover of garden gems. These plants are really shrubs, but because 

 of their low growth and general habit, they more closely resemble the 

 herbaceous perennials. 



Daphne CneorumiGaildind Flower). The bright pink, four-parted, 

 fragrant flowers and evergreen leaves combine to make this plant truly 

 beautiful. The plants are hardly a foot tall and bloom in April and in 

 October. 



Daphne Mezereum (Spurge Flax), not being evergreen, surprises 

 us by producing lilac-purple flowers any time from February to April. 

 Tliis sort grows 3 feet tall. 



Uses. The Daphnes are adapted to the border, although the 

 Garland Flower is admirably adapted to a rock garden. 



Culture. They grow in full sun or partial shade and light soils. 

 Give them protection in Winter. 



Propagation. One can layer branches of the Garland Flower in 

 the Spring, but the Spurge Flax is not readily propagated by the 

 amateur. 



Delphinium — Larkspur 



Old John Parkinson, nearly 300 years ago, wrote "Wee call 

 them in Enghsh Larkes heeles, Larkes spurres, Larkes toes or 

 claws." The Larkspur is surely one of the oldest old-fashioned 

 flowers but it is becoming more popular today than ever. How 

 choice are its colors! How suggestive is the word "lark" in 

 christening this flower, as the lark comes from the sky, so comes 

 also the color of the Larkspur. From the azure of the sky to the deep 

 blues of the ocean depths is its range of blue. But blues are 

 not the only colors; there are the pastel shades, not blue, nor pink, 

 which suggest the combinations of color in Copenhagen pottery. 

 There are the dainty double pink sorts which suggest magnificent 

 brocades. And what gems we find! Deep sapphires, superb amethysts, 

 subtle turquoises and rich garnets. Like tiny peace doves are the white 

 sorts. 



