CHAPTER XXXI 

 PERENNIALS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES 



WHETHER to use annuals or perennials, what perennials to use for 

 different flowering effects, and how to take care of the perennial garden 

 are important questions, the correct answers to which make for the 

 success or failure of a flower garden. A flower garden in itself is the 

 intimate companion either of those who own it and enjoy working in 

 it, or of those who are only sufficiently interested to be thoroughly 

 satisfied when an interesting flower effect is produced. There is no part 

 of the field of landscape design, from the standpoint of the professional 

 designer, from which so much criticism can arise as through the failure 

 to produce an interesting flower garden. It is useless to discuss the 

 question of taste, concerning the individual preferences for various 

 colours of garden flowers; yet to everyone the successful garden im- 

 plies a garden filled with flowers. The proper relationship between the 

 unusual types and unusual effects becomes a secondary and yet an 

 important consideration. 



The success of a perennial planting does not rest entirely with 

 the proper selection and proper planting of perennials. A perennial 

 garden cannot stand still. It cannot be made to-day and exist to- 

 morrow without some care. Many gardens in which the types of 

 plants have been selected with extra care have completely failed be- 

 cause whoever was responsible for their subsequent maintenance has 

 not understood the nature and requirements of the plants with which 

 he was dealing. The general rule can be laid down for the success of 

 any perennial garden that the one who assumes responsibility for its 

 success must be as intimately acquainted with the plants, their 

 habits and requirements, as with the members of one's own family. 



TREES, AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE FLOWER GARDEN. The old 

 saying is true, either the flower effect of the garden or the quantity of 

 flowers cut for house use must be greatly reduced if the same garden 

 is to serve two purposes. It is also true that trees and desirable sorts of 



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