HARDY FLOWERS 



6 9 



Acanthus. This is a group ol hardy plants of value 

 for ilieir noble leafage and bold growth. They are worth 

 grouping upon the lawn simply for foliage effect, delight- 

 ing in warm soils, such as light deep loam. When increase 

 is desired, divide the roots early in the autumn, or seeds 

 may be sown in gentle warmth in spring, or out of doors 

 in summer. There are many kinds, but a strong family 

 likeness runs through them. A. mollis is as fine as any. 

 A. hirsutus, A. longifolius, A. lusitanicus, and A. spinosus 

 and its variety spinosissimus are the chief kinds. The 

 strong stems with brownish flowers are handsome also. 



Adonis. —A charming family for the border or rock garden, 

 relishing well-drained loamy soil where there is sufficient 

 depth for its roots to go down. The most familiar 

 species is A. vernal is, which hears its large rich vellow 

 flowers in early spring, and when in full bloom a mass of 

 plants makes a brilliant spring picture. This, as in the 

 case of all the Adonises, is easily raised from seeds s< .w n in 

 summer in pans in a cool frame, "r by dividing the 

 roots in late summer. The operation of dividing the 

 plants must be carefully performed. A. amurensis is less 

 known, and is very early in flower, in mild years even 

 in February, when its yellow colour is welcome. Plant 

 it on the rock garden in some spot not too exposed to 

 winds and heavy rains, but frosts do not destroy the 

 flowers, which regain freshness with the sun. A. 

 pyrenaica is a good kind, also w ith yellow flowers. 



Alliums. -V few pretty kinds occur in this family, known 

 best by the onion. Those grown for the beauty of their 

 flowers succeed best in soil composed of half loam, with 

 the same quantity of peat or leaf-mould, anil to be left 

 undisturbed for years. A. neapolitanum, known by its 

 white flowers, and the dwarf yellow flowered A. Moly, 

 frequently seen in gardens, are the most familiar. < Hher 

 kinds worthy of note are A. cyaneum, the plant growing 

 iSin. high, flowers pale blue, a charming tint ; A. Havum, 

 August flowering", yellow, the leaves grassy ; A. azureum, 

 a tiny species, blue; A. Owslrow skianum, rose pink, gin. 

 high ; A. narcissiflora, very distinct, |.une flowering, the 

 pink flowers produced in drooping clusters ; and A. 

 giganleum, which grows 4ft. high, and has large purple 

 flower-heads. A dainty rose-coloured kind is A. 

 pulchellum. The rock garden is the most suitable pi isitii >n 

 for the smaller forms. 



Aloysia eitriodora [Lemon Plant or Sweet Verbena). — 

 A delightful old garden plant, the leaves emitting a strong 

 lemon-like fragrance when slightly bruised, and their 

 soft green colour is pleasing. This ma)' be grown 

 freely by the sea-coast and against warm sheltered walls, 

 but during hard winters it must be protected by a covering 

 of coal ashes over the roots. A plant to grow against 

 the terrace of a house. Propagate it by cuttings of 

 moderately-ripened shoots taken in summer and put round 

 the edges of pots in a frame or under a hand-glass. 



Alstroemerias. — In Alstrcemerias, or Peruvian Lilies, we 

 have a race of flowers some of w hich are almost indis- 

 pensable in the adornment of the garden. Foremost in 

 beauty are the hybrids of A. chilensis, which range in 

 colour from crimson to cream and create a delightful 

 effect when planted in good-si/cd clumps and masses. 

 A. aurantiaca and A. aurea, two varieties bearing orange 

 yellow flowers, the former of which often attains a height 

 of 4ft., while the latter rarely exceeds half that height, 

 are also valuable both for the border and as cut flower;. 

 A. versicolor is another good garden variety, while 

 A. pelegrina and its white form are charming flower;, 

 which, however, lack the hardiness of the before - 

 mentioned kinds. Alstnemerias are easily raised from 

 seed sown thinly, as soon as ripe, in pans or pots. In 

 these they should remain the first year, and should then 

 be planted in their permanent positions in the borders 

 after the growth has died down. In warm climates and 

 light soils the roots may be planted at a depth of from 

 4m. to bin., but in heavy soils and in exceptionally cold 

 localities at least double this depth is preferable. When 

 Alstnemerias are once planted, the roots may be left 

 undisturbed for four years, when they should be lifted, 

 divided, and at once replanted. The soil should be 



well enriched il the plants are to exhibit the full beauty of 

 which they are capable, and, in the case ol old plantations, 

 attention in supplying them with liquid fertilisers will be 

 found to have a beneficial effect. The merits of these 

 plants are so self-evident, and their culture so simple, that 

 no one who has witnessed their summer display, and ha, 

 once grown them, would willingly permit their absence 

 fn 'in I he garden. < Hher kinds besides those already alluded 

 to are A. densiflora, a climbing variety, scarlet with black 

 spots; A. Diazi, bearing large rose-coloured flowers; 

 A. bemanlha, with scarlet-red purple-lined (low ers ; 

 A. Hookeriana, having rosy blossoms tipped with green ; 

 A. pallida, flesh-coloured and yellow, veined with red; 

 A. psittacina, bearing drooping flowers ol a deep red 

 colour; A. pulchra, somewhat similar in habit to the 

 preceding species, but producing sulphur-white blooms 

 spotted with red ; A. Simsi, with bright yellow flowers 

 streaked with red; A. tenuifolia, bearing flowers of a 

 violet-pink hue ; and A. versicolor, already mentioned, a 

 variable species, with flowers ranging in tint Irom rosy 

 crimsi in to satin in. 



Amaryllis. — Of this handsome family lew are adapted 

 for the open garden. A. Belladonna, the well-known 

 belladonna Lib', is from the Cape of Good Hope, a 

 bulb therefore requiring a warm sheltered position. No 

 place is more suitable for it than the narrow south 

 border skirting a warm plant house. Such a border 

 exists in most gardens. I'm the bulbs about lit. deep 

 and plant in early autumn, protecting during the winter 

 with bracken fern, cocoa-nut fibre refuse, or leaves. A 

 thoroughly drained soil of light loam, well-decayed 

 manure, and sharp silver sand is a good staple for the 

 bulbs. The spikes are sturdy, about 2ft. high, and 

 crowned with an umbel of large delicate rose flowers. 

 A. I',. blanda i> in bloom in summer, before the species 

 aivl its flowers are not so rich in colour. The Jacobea 

 Lib' (A. formosissima) is less hardy, though if planted 

 in the spring its deep crimson flowers will appear the 

 following summer. But quite a warm, sheltered corner 

 where the soil is light is necessary. It is, as a rule, 

 wiser to grow this Lily in pots, as it may be easily 

 brought quickly into flower with heat. 



Anehusa italica. — This is a charming flower fur a shady 

 nook in the garden. It belongs to the Borage tribe, 

 and bears a spike of beautiful flowers, as blue as the 

 Borage itself, and they remain for a considerable time. 

 A large colony of it is pretty in quite a shady 

 border backed with an Ivy-covered fence, the rich 

 green Ivy leaves deepening the lovely colour ol the 

 flowers. It must be considered biennial, sowing seeds 

 in summer, or, indeed, at almost any time. II in 

 summer, in the open, but at all other times sow under glass. 



Anemones {Wiiidjlowers). — The Anemones or Wind- 

 flowers constitute a race of plants on which the gardens 

 of both rich and poor are dependent for much of their 

 spring beauty. The following are the leading kinds : 



A. alpina. — A strong-growing plant requiring deep soil, 

 attaining, when in vigorous health, a height of 2ft., 

 flowers white, cream, or vellow. A May bloomer. 

 A. a. sulphurea, a form of the last-named, has soft 

 vellow flowers 2in. in diameter. This is a popular and 

 handsome Anemone. 



A. angulOSa, also known as the Great Hepatica, bavin- 

 sky-blue flowers 2in. across. It grows to a height ol 

 III., and does well in deep soil in rockery or border, 

 but should not be planted in a position where it will be 

 scorched by the sun. It is a very early bloomer, 

 flowering in February. 



A. apennina (Apenn iu: Windflower). — A lovely little 

 plant, easily naturalised in this country, growing well in 

 thin woods and on sloping grassy banks ; its light blue 

 star-flowers are I Jin. in diameter, and appear in March 

 and April. Associated in the grass w ith Lent Lilies, its 

 effect is charming. 



A. baldensis, a white-flowered, May-blooming Swiss 

 kind. Oin. in height. Il enjoys partial shade. 



A. blanda, something after the style of A. apennina, but 

 bearing larger flowers, produced earlier in the year. 



