COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



The Rose Loosestrife blooms for about six weeks at mid- 

 summer and is one of the best hardy plants of its season. 

 There are several "improved" forms that, while not changed 

 in colour perceptibly, are perhaps of a slightly purer tone. 

 The illustration, Plate 17, shows it growing behind Ver- 

 bascum Miss Willmott and white Mullein Pink with a touch 

 of bold yellow from Centaurea macrocephala. It is lovely 

 in groups with Aconitum Napellus and Gypsophila. The 

 creamy forms of Anthemis tinctoria are quite safe to plant 

 with it as is the soft lavender of Erigeron speciosa. No 

 plant is finer for water-side planting. I would suggest mass- 

 ing it at the water's edge where we may have the added 

 beauty of wind-stirred reflections, and against it bold groups 

 of the deep blue water Iris monspur. 



A little later in the summer come the Gayfeathers 

 (Liatris), whose impetuous, hurtling aspect has suggested to 

 the children the name of "sky rockets." These grown in 

 groups behind Lyme Grass or Rue and mingled with 

 clumps of white Moon Daisies are very effective. They are 

 prairie plants requiring a dry soil and a sunny aspect. 

 Later we have the delightful Trefoil or Bush Clover (Des- 

 modium penduliflorum) with slender, wandlike branches 

 closely hung with tiny winged blossoms in two shades of 

 magenta. It grows in my garden against a stone wall in 

 company with the opaque lavender flowers of Clematis 

 Davidiana and plenty of pale yellow Snapdragons. Later 

 still there is Vernonia arkansana, to be worn in the garden 

 like a festal plume, with Phlox Peachblow and Lyme Grass 

 to set off its peculiar glowing colour. And last of all we 

 have the Michaelmas Daisies, with many a good member 



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