COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



somest foliage of all water Irises. Other water-loving kinds 

 are the Siberians, the orientalis group, and I. Delavayi, I. 

 Monnieri, and I. monaurea. The last two are of the fine 

 type of Monspur. Masses of pure white Siberian Irises 

 with their delicate poised blossoms are particularly beautiful 

 following the shore of lake or stream with a background of 

 good green shrubbery. For broad planting none are better 

 than our native I. versicolor and the Yellow English flag 

 (I. pseudacorus). 



Next to the Irises in importance for waterside planting 

 are perhaps the Spiraeas and Astilbes that show the magenta 

 colour scale so finely, and provide so many fleecy white 

 varieties to mingle with it, to the betterment of both. 

 Some of the new Astilbes, known as "Astilbe Arendsi hy- 

 brids," are particularly handsome, running the scale from soft 

 creamy pink to warm crimson-violet. This is a favourite 

 colour of the marsh and is nowhere else more happily dis- 

 played. Seen across a body of water these flowers of the 

 magenta order assume an exquisite softness, merging into 

 the surrounding colours without obvious demarkation. 

 Astilbe Davidi and A. grandis are quite imposing in their 

 height, sometimes attaining six feet if suited, and bearing 

 respectively reddish-purple and white plumes. The Spiraeas 

 are closely related and offer many good species suited to 

 our purpose. 



For a tall subject one could scarcely find anything more 

 striking than our native Joe Pye (Eupatorium purpureum) 

 with its encircling ovate leaves and great soft-coloured 

 flower heads. It is so impressive a feature of the autumn 

 landscape, towering upon the borders of the marsh or stream, 



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