A GARDEN NOTE-BOOK 



portunities for change and for the enlarging of 

 our knowledge ? 



Two years ago Lyihrum roseum. Perry's variety, 

 was placed in the garden on trial. Eight plants 

 were set, in balanced fashion, with Phlox Mme. 

 Paul Dutrie before them, two of the lythrums or 

 loosestrifes about a foot apart in each group. 

 With what eagerness I watched the development 

 of these new things, and what was my deUght in 

 finding them more beautiful, more valuable, than 

 anything thus tested for several years ! If any- 

 thing could be more satisfactory for intense heat, 

 too, than this lythrum I have yet to see it. Under 

 the hottest of suns it flourishes, a pillar of flower 

 by day. In fact, it is almost too flourishing, so 

 vigorous is its growth and so spreading its roots in 

 one season. Five feet is its height in this garden; 

 its brilliant mauve flowers, in slender spikes, come 

 into bloom as delphiniums pass; the pale grayish- 

 mauve buds are as charming as the flowers, and 

 with the delphinium blues near make an original 

 and delicate contrast in color. Another of its 

 virtues is its beauty while fading. Until the last 

 floret is gone from the stem — and that is, I should 

 say, perhaps three weeks from the beginning of 

 bloom — it is entirely lovely in color. If one 

 should wish to reduce the height of the plant for 



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