HARDY FLOWERS 



61 



G ONSIDER ATI ONS 

 FOR A PERENNIAL 

 BORDER. We have a 

 great many classes of 

 perennials, some * of 

 which are so wild and 

 aggressive that they 

 should only be planted 

 among the shrubbery. 

 We have others which 

 are very dainty and 

 tender and whose 

 growth must be care- 

 fully watched and 

 their special needs for 

 protection attended 

 to. 



We must scatter 

 plants through the 

 length of the border 

 which will bloom 

 throughout the sea- 

 son. We should, fur- 

 thermore, attempt to 

 get good color combi- 

 nations. We should 

 know the heights to 

 which the plants 

 grow, otherwise the taller ones may be in front and the 

 more dwarf ones in the background. It is always well in an informal 

 border to let the back line be somewhat broken; plants at some points 

 are a little shorter. 



SITUATION OF BORDER. Choose a southern exposure where it 

 is not in too close proximity to large tree roots. It should be 

 somewhat protected from the direct force of the wind, otherwise fragile 

 flowers will not be very lasting. Most perennials enjoy a medium light 

 loam. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. As with annuals, but perhaps more so 

 with perennials, the soil for borders should be deeply and thoroughly 

 prepared; two to three feet is none too deep, for plants must remain 

 in one place for a long time. In the case of Peonies it is detrimental 

 to move them often and it is frequently two years, and in some soils 

 three years, after moving a Peony plant before it blooms normally. 



Another garden where the flower borders are brought 

 close to the house. Here, too, are ornamental archi- 

 tectural objects, and brick path in herring-bone 

 pattern 



