CHAPTER XIII 

 COLOUR FOR THE SHADY BORDER 



And the North gleams with its own native light. 



— Bryant. 



OFTEN it is desirable to have a flower border where 

 trees overshadow it at least in part, or along the 

 north side of a wall where the sun reaches it for part 

 of the day only. Such a border is usually the most trouble- 

 some spot in the garden and is frequently seen poorly 

 habited and dull in colour. The mistake generally made 

 is in trying to induce the sun lovers to grow here, or plants 

 that are not reliably hardy, for of course this is the coldest 

 region, subject to the hardest and longest freezings, and 

 receiving less warmth from the sun than other portions of 

 the garden. But there are plenty of good plants for the 

 shady border that, thoughtfully chosen, will provide an at- 

 tractive variety of colour and type throughout the season. 



There we have the opportunity to make use of some of our 

 lovely spring wild flowers. 



Along the edge of the border we may plant the shining 

 Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Trilliums, yellow Ad- 

 der's Tongue (Erythronium), quaint Dutchman's Breeches 

 (Dicentra Cucullaria), graceful Solomon's Seal with its 



