As a rule some contrast is a help, such as the dull purple of an Some 
English Iris against the pale blue of Nemophi/a, but I have been effects of 
surprised this year to see how well a mass of Linum perenne has Mauve and 
looked near the mauve Nepefa. Both plants last long in Bjye 
flower, are never untidy and are easily increased—the Nepeta Pyowers 
by cuttings in the autumn or by dividing the plant in the 
spring, and the Flax by seed. The Flax begins to flower 
here in May as a companion to La Merveille Tulip, and makes 
a charming contrast to the brilliant orange vermilion flowers of 
the latter; in July it and the mauve Nepeta form a cool mass 
below the bright rose-pink of Penzance Briars; a month or so 
later it is still pretty amongst white Larkspurs and Mallows. 
Nepeta I have seen successfully used as a bedder; its soft grey 
green is never untidy, and it makes a fluffy carpet of soft colour 
which is very useful as a foil to vivid beds of Begonias or 
Lobelia cardinalis. It is effective also as a perennial, if 
grown in sufficient quantity. It blends well with Irises, and a 
wide belt of it makes an admirable foreground to clumps of 
annual blue Larkspurs, white and blue Lupins, Campanula 
grandis, macrantha and persicifolia, and other flowers of the 
same cool colour. 
2B 193 
