FLOWERS IN THE LITTLE GARDEN 59 



often laid about the ground over or near lilies, to help retain the 

 needed moisture there. To continue: other good ones are lAlium 

 Sargentii, a very beautiful, distinguished flower, with finely cut 

 leaves up the stem; lAlium Batemanii, which I have not grown, 

 but which is said to be very fine in its apricot color; lAlium aura^ 

 turn, the gold-banded Lily of Japan, so tall, so magnificent in its 

 white petals with golden stripes; Idlium Henryii, another fine 

 Chinese variety, very tall and graceful, of a pale orange; and 

 lAlium superbum, a bright orange, which will, I think, grow and 

 multiply everywhere. These bloom in July, and I have some, very 

 fine, in front of the common elder, when that is in flower. The 

 group of lilies known as Speciosum is delightful in color, form, 

 and graceful growth, especially the nodding pink lily, so com- 

 monly forced to-day by florists. With this hardy lily lovely 

 combinations may be made in the border; indeed, with the white 

 one, too. Imagine the pink lily, L. Speeiosum rubrum, blooming 

 among ageratum, or behind pale lavender asters, with violet 

 petunia and some foliage of a thalictrum near! Here is a little 

 garden picture, which will not be despised when seen. 



As the word white flashes to the mind with lily, so, at the mere 

 mention of the word gladiolus, the whole range of the prism 

 glows before us. I doubt if in any flower family the chords of 

 color have been struck so fully, harmoniously, and vividly. For 

 garden purposes there are several distinct types of gladioli, among 

 them, Lemoineii, Childsii and the race known as Primulinus 

 hybrids. It is hardly possible to name any of the varieties of this 

 lovely group of flowers, whose time of bloom may be regulated 

 by the time of planting, whose flowers are unfailing and as vigor- 

 ous as they are bright; it is hardly possible to give specific names. 

 The nimiber of commercial growers of this flower is probably 

 greater now in America than in any other country. I shall then 

 mention only two or three each of a given color as fine types in 



