710 



Gardening for Amateurs 



good for carpeting shrubberies, whilst the 

 various Chionodoxas, Scilla sibirica, Snow- 

 drops, and Winter Aconites look well planted 

 beneath Cornus alba, a shrub which has 



Snow on the Mountain White Arabis. 



cannot be surpassed for effect. One of the 

 greatest drawbacks to this mode of planting 

 is that the display of bloom is frequently of 

 rather short duration. On an average beds 

 of Tulips and 

 Hyacinths re- 

 main attractive 

 for about a 

 fortnight, al- 

 though the 

 plants used for 

 a groundwork 

 help to prolong 

 the show of 

 blossom. Hya- 

 cinths are al- 

 ways rather 

 stiff in effect, 

 especially in 

 large masses, 

 but a good way 

 to use them is 

 to group them 

 three together 

 in borders or 

 narrow beds 

 carpeted with 

 some low ever- 



bright red bark. The Chionodoxas are also 

 good for carpeting beds of Forsythia suspensa. 

 The blue-flowered Anemone apennina is a 

 good plant for carpeting thin shrubberies, and 

 it is very beautiful beneath Peaches with rose- 

 coloured flowers. Anemone Hepatica in its 

 varied colours, red, blue and white, is useful 

 in semi-shade, as are also the different kinds 

 of hardy Cyclamen. The Turban Ranun- 

 culus and St. Brigid Anemones are ex- 

 cellent plants for beds in sunny positions. 

 They must, however, be used alone, for they 

 do not associate well with other plants. For 

 lists of Tulips and other bulbous plants 

 reference should be made to the special 

 chapters upon those subjects. 



Some Further Suggestions. One of 

 the most popular and effective ways of dis- 

 playing spring flowers is to plant them in 

 beds in much the same manner as summer 

 flowers are grown. Endless combinations 

 and schemes will suggest themselves. As a 

 rule two or at the most three colours to a 

 bed suffice, but beds planted with one colour 



green. 



When planning beds of spring flowers aim 

 at producing direct contrasts as far as 

 possible. Of course care must be taken to 

 see that colours employed in a bed do not 

 clash, or the general effect would be spoilt. 

 One of the most popular combinations is red 

 and white, and this can be created by plant- 

 ing vermilion brilliant Tulips over a ground- 

 work of double white Arabis. The Arabis 

 may also be used in association with Tulips 

 Prince of Austria and La Merveille with good 

 effect. Myosotis alpestris Victoria, a beau- 

 tiful Forget-me-not, is suitable to plant with 

 Tulip Clara Butt, a May-flowering salmon- 

 pink variety, or it can be associated with 

 the early-flowering yellow Montresor. Myo- 

 sotis Ruth Fischer is an attractive blue and 

 white Forget-me-not ; it is especially worthy 

 of inclusion, and may be planted as a ground- 

 work for pink Tulips. The Aubrietias are 

 ideal plants for carpeting beds of bulbs. 

 Dr. Mules, a lovely violet-purple variety, 

 and Fire King, crimson, are two of the best, 

 and associate very well with Hyacinth City 



