664 



Gardening for Amateurs 



brought nearer the front. Thus monotony 

 of outline, which detracts from the charm of 

 a border, is avoided. 



The plans shown on page 665 represent 

 borders 15 yards long and 8 feet wide, 

 though they serve as a guide also in planting 

 smaller borders. The two containing peren- 

 nial Asters (Michaelmas Daisies) may either 

 be planted separately, or one border may be 

 added to the other, making a total length of 

 30 yards. The borders have been arranged 

 with a view to a succession of bloom until 

 late autumn, and with an association of colour 

 calculated to create a pleasing effect. The 

 plants mentioned are not difficult to grow, and 

 all are distinct with the exception of Lychnis 

 chalcedonica, which is included in both 

 borders. While it is only necessary to plant 

 three strong plants of most of the kinds in a 

 group, in the case of the Sweet Williams, 

 Pentstemons, Aquilegias, Geums, Tiarella 

 cordifolia, Sedum spectabile rubrum, Nepeta 

 Mussini, Veronica rupestris and Campanula 

 carpatica several more should be included. 

 The border that does not contain Michaelmas 

 Daisies is primarily intended for a summer 

 display, and the Snapdragons should be 

 planted in bold groups. 



COLOUR SCHEMES 



Colour Schemes with Common 

 Flowers. Often the happiest effects result 

 from some informal grouping of plants, 

 that were arranged without any thought of 

 their making a colour scheme, and one should 

 always be on the outlook for such effects, as 

 they often give the key to more ambitious 

 schemes and combinations. An instance 

 of this kind is sometimes seen in a cottage 

 garden, where a bush of the flowering currant 

 (Ribes sanguineum) crowns a low wall of 

 loose stones, while underneath it and tum- 

 bling over the wall is a mass of white Arabis ; 

 how simple, yet how beautiful this proves 

 every spring. 



Lavender and China Roses. In light 

 soil, where it thrives best, Lavender is a 

 precious plant for grouping ; as in fact are 

 all grey or silvery -leaved plants. A charming 

 border may be planted of Lavender and the 

 old pink Monthly Rose, in front of the 

 Lavender being a broad band of the autumn 

 flowering Crocus zonatus. For summer effect 



the Crocus is over -planted with a pale blue 

 Viola ; behind and among the Lavender are 

 clumps of the Madonna Lily (Lilium candi- 

 dum), and to succeed them the Cape Hyacinth 

 (Hyacinthus candicans). The border is 

 backed by a screen of Honeysuckle. This 

 scheme, consisting only of common plants, is 

 a source of great pleasure throughout the 

 year, for even at its worst it has a furnished 

 appearance. This scheme of planting ad- 

 mits of considerable variation. For example, 

 for Crocus zonatus might be substituted 

 Crocus speciosus, best of all the autumn- 

 flowering kinds. Again, purple and white 

 spring-flowering Crocuses \vould prove very 

 effective, or Colchiums might be used for 

 autumn effect, while pink and white Gladioli 

 could be used in place of Hyacinthus can- 

 dicans. Instead of the Honeysuckle a 

 screen of Roses could be used, and what 

 could be better for this purpose than the 

 hardy and free-flowering Madame Alfred 

 Carriere. 



Here is another design in which Lavender 

 forms an essential part. Imagine a long 

 hedge of Lavender, with a broad band of 

 lilac or mauve May - flowering Tulips in 

 front, such as Erguste, or Rev. Ewbank. 

 (The pink Tulip Clara Butt would go per- 

 fectly with the silvery-grey of the Lavender, 

 as also would some of the softer shades of 

 the rose-pink varieties.) The front of the 

 border should be finished off with a line of 

 Pink Mrs. Sinkins, or the old fringed white 

 variety. The Tulips should be succeeded by 

 single China Asters, which in the south can 

 be sown outdoors. 



The single China Aster may be used with 

 excellent effect among thinly-scattered trees 

 and shrubs or in large open spaces in the 

 shrubberies. All that is necessary is to dig 

 over the ground and sow the seeds ; in 

 warm gardens they will sow themselves and 

 come up year after year. 



Many beds of hardy plants can be arranged 

 to give at least two distinct floral displays 

 during the season. 



Paeony and Daffodil. Thus beds of 

 herbaceous Paeonies may have Daffodils and 

 Hyacinthus candicans planted among them ; 

 the Daffodils show well in association with 

 the young highly-coloured shoots of the 

 Paeonies. 



