FLOWERING SHRUBS AND TREES 



The beauty of the wild garden may be much enhanced 

 by the judicious planting of flowering shrubs and trees. 

 A selection of these will dower the landscape with love- 

 liness for eight months out of the twelve. Among 

 natives of these Isles we have the Hawthorns of our 

 hedgerows and lanes, snowy drifts towards the end of 

 May, the Wayfaring Tree, Viburnum Lantana, and the 

 wild Guelder Rose, V. opu/us, with its red, translucent 

 fruits ; but there are many beautiful exotics perfectly 

 hardy in our climate that should be largely planted. 

 In the case of smaller subjects grouping should be 

 resorted to, but large-growing species form handsome 

 specimens when isolated. The following are all to be 

 recommended. 



Amygdalus. — Aimond. One of the earliest of flower- 

 ing trees, commencing to blossom in February in mild 

 winters in the south-west. There are several varieties, 

 single and double, and A. nana is a dwarf shrub growing 

 about three feet high. 



Amelanchier. — Snowy Mespilus. A. canadensis is a 

 charming sight in April, its countless white flowers set 

 off by the brownish tint of the young foliage. Its 

 autumnal colouring is also very beautiful. 



Aralia spinosa. — Handsome both in its flowers and 

 foliage. The leaves are sometimes almost three feet in 

 length and deeply cut, and the feathery, ivory-white 

 inflorescence spreads like ostrich-plumes above the 

 foliage. The tree is most ornamental when kept to 

 a single stem ten to twelve feet in height, at which 



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