THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE YEAR 207 



well, and help each other by forming a rich colour 

 harmony. Flowers of a strong blue colour, like 

 Delphiniums, seem to ask for a contrast, such as 

 that of white Lilies, or the pale yellow of (Enothera 

 lamarckiana and Verbascum phlomoides, the best 

 of the Mulleins." 



These are general principles which it would be 

 well for everyone who contemplates the planting of 

 a mixed border thoroughly to grasp, and to work 

 out for himself in their practical bearings. The 

 ' ' art of many sacrifices " is no mere phrase ; its 

 reality and necessity ought to be writ large upon 

 the experience of most plant-lovers, whose perennial 

 temptation it seems to be to include all beautiful 

 things in border arrangements without due regard 

 to environment. 



Perhaps in the eager desire for glow and colour 

 we are a little unmindful of the value of foliage. 

 Yet it is wanted in the herbaceous border no less 

 than in the conservatory or in any other part of 

 the garden where the grouping of plants forms 

 part of the design. A fine effect may be made 

 here and there by rosemary or by a well-grown 

 clump of the common Indian corn with its sug- 

 gestion of warmth and sunshine, or even a plant 

 or two of the graceful annual hemp or the fennel- 

 like foliage of cosmos-, while the stateliness of 

 plantings of yucca, even when they do not flower, 

 cannot be surpassed. The different species of ac- 

 anthus, too, and especially A. spinosissimus, are 

 invaluable for border greenery, while for a different 

 sort of foliage effect the silver-grey of globe arti- 

 choke, and lavender, of achillea, notably A. cegypti- 



