The Garden Magazine, October, 1921 



91 



favorite with me for several years. It proved very hardy 

 through severe winters, remaining green without any protection 

 when many others were damaged severely. The foliage is 

 distinct in shade, while its form entitles it to a prominent place 

 in the evergreen garden. 



Among the Junipers the Savin is one of the best for perpetual 

 color, retaining a firm deep green in shade, and is thus ideal for 

 use as a ground cover. This is quite distinct from Juniperus 

 Sabina tamariscifolia, which has gray-green foliage. 



Under the catalogue name of Juniperus Smithi is a type not 

 widely known which retains a grass-green color the year through. 

 It is not so strong in growth as pyramidalis, or Rosenthali, 

 although pyramidal in form. 



The Spruce family will be represented by Picea orientalis 

 which will stand the one color test better than most of the 

 Spruces, and is far ahead of the Norway Spruce for small lawn or 

 garden planting in any circumstance, holding its lower branches 

 well which the Norway does not. This tree will require more 

 room than any of theArborvitaes and is ideal as an isolated speci- 

 men. The foliage is short and dark green. 



The dwarf form of this Spruce (variety compacta), has the 

 same rich green color and is very useful where space is limited 

 or for brightening the rock garden. 



Pines suitable for the evergreen garden such as we here have 

 in mind are few and far between. The Dwarf Mountain Pine 

 (Pinus montana Mughus) is perhaps the best for the purpose. 

 It varies enormously in both form and shade in individuals, but 

 there is no direct change of color in winter. One can find more 

 variations in a bed of young Mugho Pines than in almost any 

 other evergreen, and an interesting planting might easily be 

 made of this one thing alone. Some will run to long growth 

 with loose needles, while others make a short compact growth 

 without any distinct leading growth, and others show every in- 

 termediate grade. 



Most attractive in dwarf Pines is the Japanese Table Pine — 

 Pinus tanyosho. or, correctly, P. densiflora umbraculifera. 

 This is in direct contrast to Mugho, lighter green in color, with 



longer needles like its parent type and growing with an almost 

 flat top. 



Pinus densiflora introduces a decided color accent in large 

 plantings and its soft yellow-green is a relief to the generally 

 sombre effect of its associates. It may be used in medium 

 sized mixed plantings if the leading growths are kept cut back 

 and it is quite distinct from both the Scotch and Austrian pines. 

 It is also attractive when in flower. 



Very few of the Abies or Firs are of one color, but standingout 

 conspicuously in its family is the Japanese Fir (Abies brachy- 

 phylla) a truly wonderful plant in not turning color at all during 

 the winter. It has a very symmetrical form, is very hardy and 

 not particular as to soil. It will not burn like the Russian 

 Nordmann Fir in winter and differs from both that and Abies 

 Veitchi by having no glaucous under color. 



The Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) the leader among the 

 hardy upright growing Yews has the added attribute of being 

 beautiful at all seasons, keeping an evenly dark green color 

 the year around. The native Ground Hemlock (Taxus cana- 

 densis), it will be recalled, changes to a reddish tone in winter and 

 the English or Irish Yews suffer from scald as spring advances 

 —all except the spreading form, Taxus baccata repandens, 

 which belies its family reputation in winter endurance. The 

 slender pointed leaves turn upward and are a beautiful shade of 

 deep green. 



The very ornamental nature of the Japan Cypresses has 

 made them justly popular, but regarded from our present stand- 

 point they are somewhat deficient. Of all this family, Retinis- 

 pora filifera is most consistent in keeping to one shade. The 

 thin, slender foliage would suggest its being delicate, but 1 

 have found the plant to stand exposure to both sun and wind 

 in winter better than the broad foliaged types. This is also 

 true of the golden form (R. filifera aurea) which differs only in 

 color; the former variety being bright green. 



Quite often it is remarked that the evergreen garden is too 

 sombre. I fail to see this, and plants mentioned above 

 lend a cheerful touch of real green through the whole 



YES, IT'S LATE WINTER— BUT REDEEMED BY EVERGREENS 



Arthur G. Eldredge, Photo. 



For all the wintry brownness of the grass, the foliage of the Mountain Pine, English Ivy, Yew (on the left), and 

 Box (rear centre) is alive in varying shades of green which has been retained all through the dormant season 



