40 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



of strong blue flowers, but in the mixed border the way of 

 having the rich and brilliant harmony approached by more 

 delicate colouring can scarcely be improved upon, and so 

 only can the vice of garish vulgarity be avoided. 



Plants of the same colouring are intergrouped so that the 

 red group, whether early or late, is always a red group, and 

 so on throughout. There are ways of filling gaps by training 

 plants down to fill the spaces. For this use Everlasting Peas, 

 tall perennial Sunflowers, and Rudbeckias and Dahlias are 

 specially accommodating. 



For filling gaps caused by the dying off of spring flowering 

 bulbs there is nothing better than half-hardy or hardy annuals. 

 These may either be sown or planted in colonies between the 

 bulbs, before the foliage of the latter has died down, and 

 will quickly make a good display. Larkspurs, Mignonette, 

 Night-scented Stock, Candytuft, Alyssum, Nigella, Stocks, 

 and China Asters are a few specially adapted for the purpose. 



The accompanying plan of a herbaceous border will act 

 as a guide to the beginner in varying plants for effect. The 

 general idea of the arrangement is to group three, five, or 

 seven plants together, and this could be carried out with 

 modifications on a smaller or larger scale. 



Nothing is so destructive of good effect in the mixed 

 border as the old unthinking mixed up way. Plants of the 

 same kind, instead of being dotted at equal intervals, should 

 be grouped together, each group dying away into one neigh- 

 bouring group, or if there is only one plant of a kind there 

 is no harm in its being one alone if only it is in its right 

 place. 



Of course there are other ways of arranging the details 

 of a mixed border, and many devices that may be used to 

 enhance its effect at the different seasons, but these sugges- 

 tions will be a good basis of operation to any one who is 

 without experience and desires general instruction. 



