124 A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNIALS 



Fall when the flowers are gone. L. pundala is another yellow flowered 

 sort which is attractive. The flowers are produced in whorls around a 

 leafy stalk. 



Uses. The Loosestrife is useful for cutting for it lasts well when 

 cut, to grow in a border, wild garden or along lake margins. There is 

 hardly any plant which surpasses the Moneywort for covering banks, 

 rustic urns, vases, old stumps, or to grow in hanging baskets. The 

 plants spread very rapidly and are very showy when they are in bloom. 

 This is a good carpeting plant for shady places under trees, but it must 

 be admitted that it spreads rapidly and may become a weed. 



Culture. All of the varieties prefer moist situations and it is 

 because of this that they grow so splendidly on stream banks or in 

 any kind of waterside plantings. The plants do not require any care. 



Propagation. Division of the roots, either in late Autunm 

 or early Spring, is the best method of multiplication. 



Mertensia — Virginia Cowslip, Smooth Lungwort, 

 Kentucky Blue Bells 



The Virginian Cowslip is one of the lovehest of the early Spring 

 blooming plants. In rambhng through the fields and woods for Violets, 

 large clumps of these flowers can be seen growing at random. Of the 

 many species, this Virginian Cowshp, often wrongly called Blue Bells 

 {Mertensia virginica) is the showiest of all and the one which is most 

 easily grown. The plants grow from 1 foot to 2 feet high, with soft, 

 light green stems and foliage. The flowers are reddish purple when 

 in bud, but as the flowers open, they change to a lovely gentian-blue. 

 They hang in drooping, nodding, graceful clusters and the individual 

 flowers are funnel-shaped. It comes into bloom early; in fact, most of 

 the growth is made before leaves come out on the trees. 



Uses. The Virginian Cowshp serves its best purpose when al- 

 lowed to naturalize itself in shady places. It combines wefl in borders, 

 or in shaded corners where it can grow as if in its own wild habitat. 



Culture. Mertensias need moist soil, preferably a rich, deep, 

 loamy soil. Although most of the growth is made in sunlight, for it 

 grows so early in the Spring, yet the plants should be naturalized in 

 shady places and should not be disturbed when once planted. Mer- 

 tensias are nearly always found growing in damp woods. 



