202 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



January, 1918 



to ornament and make fragrant the July gar- 

 den, of which they are a distinct asset. Lilium 

 candidum, the Madonna Lily, comes first to 

 mind. I think there is no more enchanting 

 combination than masses of its pure white 

 blooms next Delphinium. Save your Easter 

 Lily bulbs too and set them in the garden. 

 The Tiger Lily with its old timey associations 

 of humble country homes and deserted farm 

 gardens, is a favorite of ours, and set where its 

 gaudy coloring will not offend, is 

 picturesque and effective. The 

 Brown Day Lily (Hemerocallis 

 fulva) is of the same class — rather 

 coarse and common but effective 

 as a "filler" and flourishing under 

 any conditions. I once threw a 

 clump on our compost heap and 

 weeks after found it blooming 

 gaily, not at all daunted! Lilium 

 auratum — Gold-banded Lily is a 

 gorgeous flower, to be cherished 

 and admired — as the Madonna is 

 to be loved. L. speciosum rub- 

 rum is another magnificent vari- 

 ety. The old-fashioned Lemon 

 Lily (Hemerocallis flava) should 

 always be included: blooming 

 time extends into July, to be 

 followed by the Yellow Day 

 Lily (H. Middendorfi) paler, 

 more delicate and slightly frag- 

 rant; both do well in partial 

 shade. Two or three natives 

 are "must haves"; superbum — 

 American Turk's-cap Lily; cana- 

 dense — the "Nodding Lily" of 

 our childhood. Lilium elegans I 

 prize greatly; its large orange-red 

 clusters of blossoms are brilliant massed, hardy 

 and increase in number each year. All Lilies 

 require plenty of water and a winter mulch. 



Delphinium is surely one of the finest of, 

 not only the July, but of the entire season's 

 showing. If severely cut after blooming, a 

 second flowering rewards us. Save seeds of 

 the finest and start same season to tuck in 

 bare corners; we can hardly have too many! 

 Plant in numbers, to give broad masses of 

 color. Put a few coal ashes over clumps 

 when starting, to discourage white grubs. 

 Stake early. 



I love the whole family of Canterbury 

 Bells. Campanula carpatica — 

 both blue and white — is at its 

 best in midsummer; and C. 

 persicifolia (Peach Bells) both 

 blue and white, gives wonderful 

 color masses of great beauty. 

 New blossoms appear through the 

 entire season. There is a tall, 

 delicate lavender variety that I 

 prize greatly, and have never been 

 able to name. It is a great 

 "spreader" and beautiful picked. 

 I once saw the entire altar, at the 

 little Miracle Church at Ste. 

 Anne de Beaupre, Canada, dec- 

 orated with hundreds of its tall, 

 ethereal, lavender spikes, and the 

 beauty of the show has always 

 stayed in my memory. 



Perennial Phlox starts its gor- 

 geous career in July, and is easily 

 one of the best half dozen per- 

 ennials. Keep to the brilliant, 

 clear shades, and have plenty of 

 white; divide every three years. 

 Single side shoots removed in the 

 spring will propagate fine vari- 

 eties. Miss Lingard is an early 



white variety that I prize highly. It flowers 

 in spikes, freely and abundantly, and has 

 beautiful glossy dark green foliage. 



Foxgloves are one of June's left-overs, but 

 so decorative and ornamental that its late 

 bloom should be encouraged by breaking off 

 central stalk after too long an expanse of 

 seeded stem appears. The pure white is most 

 effective and beautiful. Encourage starting 

 many of its thousands of self-sown seedlings, 



Tall standard Heliotrope a feature on each side of upper steps. Snapdragons used freely 

 also blue Steptosolen in full bloom. Annuals on steps 



for a great number fail to winter. Set where 

 ice and water will not settle about them. 



Blazing Star, if carefully set where its pinky- 

 lavender hue will not clash with other colors, 

 is* a striking and individual addition to the 

 July garden, with its long shooting sprays of 

 bloom. 



Bee Balm — Monarda didyma — will spread 

 and flourish in hot corners, and its color is 

 excellent, and that Lychnis — miscalled Lon- 

 don Pride — an old-fashioned flower now in 

 favor, of a fine, flame scarlet, is a favorite in 

 our garden. 



Sweet William continues to bloom, although 



we have to cut it dov - before the season has 

 far advanced. Shake ^ t seeds liberally, 

 and your border will be perennial. We had a 

 gorgeous wide row of salmon pink (var. New- 

 port Pink) this year, that was the glory of 

 the garden. Gaillardia, Perennial Coreopsis, 

 Dianthus, Snapdragon, all give bloom in 

 July, and are satisfactory and valuable addi- 

 tions. 



Balloon flower (Platycodon) with its gen- 

 tian-blue bells is a favorite of 

 mine; also Hunnemannia, a 

 charming poppylike flower not 

 much grown, with finely crimped 

 yellow cups and lovely gray-green 

 feathery foliage; beautiful for 

 picking. 



Before leaving the subject of 

 perennials, I cannot too strongly 

 urge careful cutting of all withered 

 blooms. Amateurs often cannot 

 realize what a vast difference this 

 makes in the appearance and pro- 

 ductiveness of the garden. A 

 second blossoming is thus given 

 to most perennials, and blooming 

 time of annuals indefinitely ex- 

 tended. 



QF ANNUALS for July I shall 

 ^^ not attempt more than to 

 give a short list of my own favori- 

 tes. July is the carnival of the 

 annuals, which, if started early 

 enough, will give a wealth of 

 bloom, of every color and variety. 

 Let me strongly urge getting 

 annuals into early flowering. 

 Those starred (*) in list below, 

 may with great benefit be started in the house 

 very early in spring. [Practical detailed 

 instructions for planting seed in the house or 

 frame will be given in the February Gar- 

 den Magazine.] Others not having tap 

 roots will gain in length of season if started in 

 a simple cold frame. 



Zinnias, both tall and of the charming new 

 dwarf variety; Bachelor's Buttons (Emperor 

 William best); Poppies — of which have pos- 

 sible every variety both as to color and bloom- 

 ing time; Marigolds; Petunias; Nasturtiums; 

 Verbenas*; Pansies* — including Violas,* An- 

 nual Larkspur (new double, one of the best 

 annuals grown and blooming until 

 hard frost); Salpiglossis; Mourn- 

 ing Bride; Phlox Drummondi; 

 Calendula; Early Cosmos* (beau- 

 tiful set in Asparagus); Sweet 

 Pea; Sweet Alyssum; Strepto- 

 solen,* a charming low-growing 

 blue flower seldom seen, especi- 

 ally lovely for rock-work. 



A last word in reference to work 

 in the July garden — stake all tall 

 plants not already attended to; 

 but remember early preparatory 

 staking is infinitely more satis- 

 factory than late compulsory at- 

 tention. 



Hollyhocks a feature for the month. Phlox coming into bloom. Ribbon grass gives light 

 touch. Annuals used in foreground 



The load of wood from the 

 woodlot that is burned in your 

 home this winter will not only 

 keep you warm, but will also re- 

 lease some coal for another family 

 that might suffer without it. The 

 ring of the axe in the woodlot 

 will mean less suffering from 

 cold in the tenements. As a duty 

 to our country let's use the fuel 

 furnished by the country side. 



