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The Garden Magazine, March, 1922 



a fair forecast of what they will do to the spring garden in a dozen 

 weeks. Bright in another way are the shaggy stems of the Oak- 

 leaved Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), one of the finest na- 

 tives, for they are a lively brown. Not far away H. radiata — 

 not the H. cinerea which some folks confuse with it — shows its 

 reddish brown twigs in sharp contrast with the beautiful silver 

 gray tones of the heavy clumps of H. arborescens grandiflora 

 that are close by. These last two Hydrangeas have foliage — 

 in foliage time — apparently identical until a breeze turns up 

 the white under-surface of the radiata sort, which I grow for 

 just that same breeze effect. H. paniculata — not the grandi- 

 flora variety which I won't harbor here but the single type — 

 shows dull gray twigs of no winter value, and the newer Asiatic 

 sorts are no more notable. 



Another silver gray arrangement is that of the Dwarf Horse- 

 chestnut (Aesculus parviflora), which is in association with dark 

 gray Dogwoods and the red-brown stems of the Japanese Cher- 

 ries, all showing to color advantage against great Arborvitaes. 



One of my pet Wilson introductions, Lonicera Korolkowi 

 floribunda, fairly glistens in the winter sun, showing also a 

 warm light gray. It is a chameleon shrub, and of a charming 

 habit in its down-drooping slender branchlets, for when its buds 

 swell and break in spring, the young growth will be dull red and 



the beautiful leaves a distinct blue-green, to say nothing of a 

 veritable cloud of pink and white blossoms in due course. 



Most of the newer Mock-oranges show a warm brown twig 

 color that varies agreeably. A plant of the rare Viburnum 

 theiferum, from which the birds have long since removed its 

 brilliant scarlet fruits, shows attractive deep pink buds, all 

 ready for the warm days of March. 



But I must not run into a catalogue of winter colors, or rather 

 tones. I only suggest that any garden lover see them and ap- 

 preciate their beauty, and their predominant warmth — for even 

 the shadows of the trees on the snow in January days are warm 

 in hue, with more purple than one would believe whose attention 

 had not yet been drawn to the way in which nature meets the 

 chill of winter. All the tones are hinting of summer ahead, 

 whether it be the red browns of the Grape vines, the Persimmons 

 yet hanging for the early robins, or the varying tones of the 

 tree trunks. Even the great Sycamore that dominates Breeze 

 Hill suggests the hues that cheer rather than those that chill. 



When the snow covers the ground, I must raise my eyes to 

 the shrubs and trees, and so these winter garden walks are full 

 of color pleasure, as well as full of opportunity for planning 

 betterments in the garden framework. The only bad day in a 

 garden is the day you can't get into it! 



PLANTING THE SHRUBBERY BORDER FOR 



FOUR-SEASON EFFECT 



LESLIE HUDSON 



IN MAKING a shrubbery border or even in planting a 

 few shrubs in the spring, it would be well to look at our 

 gardens with all four seasons in mind. 



Look at the general nurseryman's catalogue — pages 

 upon pages usually arranged alphabetically with only a few lists 

 classified as to possible uses. The merits and attractive flower- 

 ing qualities of a handful of popular shrubs, the Spiraeas, Deut- 

 zias, Forsythias, Weigelas planted primarily for their gift of 

 bloom in early spring are easy enough to handle; everybody 

 knows them. In consequence, the attitude of the average 

 planter towards shrubs is far too often limited by considera- 

 tion merely of their flowering season and the color of their bloom. 



But there are other equally important considerations to be 

 borne in mind, and especially is this worth while where the plot 

 to be planted is of not very large dimensions. There are so 

 many shrubs that have some especial seasonal interest, such as 

 fruit in fall, or colored foliage at a particular period, even the 

 bark in winter is sometimes an effective attribute, and the 

 suitable blending of all these qualities obviously can do much to 

 enhance the interest of the entire garden and to make its appeal 

 continuous. 



Naturally, the mind runs to evergreens for main dependence 

 for winter cheer. That is the stereotyped expression, but all 

 evergreens are not necessarily cheerful'in winter, particularly the 

 Rhododendron which in extremely cold weather seems to 

 shiver exceedingly. Frequently a brighter and more persistent 

 green may be had from the barks of a few deciduous shrubs, as 

 the Kerria, for instance, with its vivid green shoots that give 

 brilliancy even when quite bare of leaves. Against this for color 

 contrast may be put the Red Osier Dogwood which becomes ever 

 brighter as the winter approaches to spring. Some of the Wil- 

 lows lend a pleasant green and yellow and if gray and silvery 

 tones are wanted, Goumi, Hippophae, and the Smoke Tree serve. 



If space permits, considerable emphasis and sparkle can be 

 lent by introducing a solitary tree or two, such as the White 

 Birch with its bark of silver. The Oriental Plane makes an 



attractive pattern in gray, as also the White Poplar. For 

 contrast with these the Chinese Cork Tree (Phellodendron 

 amurense) with its glistening black will serve as an accent; 

 and P. villosa glows in fall with hues that vie with the Sugar 

 Maple at its very best. 



Much stress has been placed at one time or another upon the 

 values of the berried shrubs for fall color. As a matter of fact, 

 the fall berried color is largely outclassed by the fall foliage and 

 by the fruits that persist into winter. These merit more at- 

 tention than commonly given them. Not in any way to be 

 despised from this point of view is Regel's Privet, graceful in 

 habit, with tasseled white flowers in spring, it carries through 

 the winter a wonderful profusion of ashen black berries. Not 

 strikingly conspicuous, it is true, but effective in varying moods 

 of weather when water globules drip from each and catch the 

 light of the sun. The brilliant scarlet of the Japan and other 

 Barberries scarcely needs mention; it has been so much ap- 

 preciated that there is perhaps a little danger of the Barberries 

 being over-planted though their color is welcome and, used in 

 conjunction with some others of duller character, achieves 

 some worth while effects. And in such combinations, the 

 Snowberry and Coralberry, although not persisting through 

 to spring, are not without charm with their white and red 

 fruits. 



Where it will grow, the Evergreen Thorn cannot be ignored 

 with its myriads of orange-red miniature apples which persist 

 up to Thanksgiving. They might adhere longer if they were 

 not so palatable to the birds! The Laland's variety is the bet- 

 ter one for the gardener, seemingly more hardy and the brighter 

 color. A planting of this in combination with the Snowberry 

 made a delightful picture until the Thorn succumbed to scale; 

 not that it is more scale infested than other members of the Rose 

 or Pome family and the winter spraying of shrubbery, which 

 the cultivation of some of these may compel, is, perhaps, after all 

 not a bad necessity. Winter spraying may prove preventive 

 of more troubles than we wot ! 



