FAVORITE PERENNIALS 



clumps through rockeries where the bloom of June is 

 especially encouraged. 



The perennial baby's breath, Gypsophila acutifolia 

 and paniculata, which come from the Caucasus, take 

 a month longer to open their flowers than this candy- 

 tuft, although they then retain them until the early 

 autumn. 



Moneywort, or creeping Jenny, as it is called more 

 familiarly, is sometimes used to edge a hardy border 

 completely. When in blossom its flowers might be 

 mistaken at a distance for a band of yellow ribbon 

 defining the planting ground; and, although they are 

 rather strong in tone, they have a sufficiently cheery 

 air to give pleasure to the sense and eye. In several 

 gardens near the sea I have seen moneywort employed 

 extensively. In fact, it thrives so well that it needs 

 watching lest its underground runners extend beyond 

 the limit justly ascribed to them and interfere with 

 the growth of larger plants. 



Astilbe Japonica, known in old gardens as Spircea 

 Japonica, is one of the most graceful among the herba- 

 ceous perennials. Its panicles of fleecy-looking cream- 

 white bloom are held well above its sharply defined 

 foliage, and form strong, beautiful masses in the 

 garden. Queen Alexandra is a new variety as hardy 

 as the A. Japonica, and bears pink flowers similar in 

 tone to that of the bridesmaid rose. 



With July there come to the garden many great, 

 luscious visitors. It is the month when bloom cannot 

 be held back; when there is a strife to show colors 

 as vivid and intense as the tones of the sky and the 



[ 177 ] 



