121 
NATIVE SUMMER FLOWERS IN CULTIVATION. 
The decorative possibilities among our nalwe iris are unfor- 
tunately but too little ciated. Our native flora, even con- 
fining one’s s al to the hardy perennial ee species, is an 
extensive one, embracing a flowering period extending from the 
earliest days of spring to late in the fall, and including a wonder- 
ful variety in the combinations of color and form. ny one re- 
gion will furnish a wealth of flowers a which to select, and 
these, with an appreciation of flower colors and a knowledge of 
the time of blooming, can be so grouped in planting as to fur- 
nish most charming effects, care being taken that only set of 
the same flowering ae and which harmonize in color shall be 
placed near each other. Much depends on this, as otherwise 
many flowers at are beautiful in themselves produce un- 
saa contrasts 
the vast number of our native plants those which 
t 
these the following have been chosen, not desiring thereby to in- 
dicate that they are the only ones of note, but rather to serve as 
a guide in selecting. It is to be borne in mind that only herba- 
ceous perennials are here considered. 
June with its bright days and clear skies brings a host of 
flowers worthy of our care and cultivation. Among the endog- 
enous plants are the Irises, /ris versicolor, t n blu 
of our swamps and wet plac dl. jhe the slender flag, 
of similar situations. Both are of low growth, rarely exceeding two 
feet in height, and are equally at een in wet or dry soil 
Among the lilies of our eastern rai ernie ee named in 
honor of Asa Gray, and a native of the of the south- 
ern United States, is the pioneer in biconine ng. ee ew bulbs were 
planted last fall and they did exceedingly well, throwing up 
stout, vigorous stems, which flowered freely and attained a height 
of about three feet. The flowers are a deep red-brown and are 
readily distinguished from those of its nearest relative, the com- 
on meadow lily, Z. Canadense, which flowers in the following 
