CHAPTER VI 



Among the Hardy Flowers 



BY hardy plants we mean those perennial herbaceous plants 

 which will live a number of years without re-sowing seed. 

 We use the word " herbaceous " to contrast them with shrubs 

 and trees, for it means that they die down to the soil each year. 

 Their growth is soft, not woody. 



It may be asked why we talk so much about the proper care of 

 this or that perennial when on the whole the commonest ones merely 

 need a medium good soil and their competitors, the weeds, removed. 

 The reply is that we should not be content with Peonies, Phlox, 

 or Iris unless they are grown to perfection, or unless we have the finest 

 varieties. 



We are interested in a particular flower often because it seems to 

 possess a certain shape, color, or thrifty habit, which we admire. 

 Our interest broadens when we prefer to get a great many varieties 

 of the same flower. Finally, we are even interested in its botanical 

 relatives. It is then that we become '* cranks " and thoroughly know 

 and truly enjoy a chosen favorite. 



Perennials are adapted to such a range of soils and climates that 

 we can surely find something beautiful to suit our situation exactly. 

 If our land is very rocky and shallow we must govern our selection 

 of perennials accordingly, and we can follow nature quite closely 

 in choosing the sort of plants to use. 



Each garden should be our own, and should express our likes in 

 color and combination, but we must be governed by good taste, with 

 the possession of which some are born, while by others it must be 

 acquired. A lady told Ruskin that although she did not know good 

 art she knew what she liked. Ruskin replied: " Even the beasts of 

 the field know that." The observations of others often make us able 

 to choose wisely for ourselves. 



COMBINATIONS OF PERENNIALS 



A planting of delicate pink Hollyhocks, in front of which we place 

 a good clump of white Phlox, is to be much commended. Similarly, 

 the Phlox will combine cicely with Delphinium. 



A bed of Peonies, in which have been planted some Lilium specio- 



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