CHAPTER VI 



Hardy Perennials for the Permanent 



Garden 



Combinations of Perennials — Considerations for a Perennial 

 Border — Situation of Border — Preparation of Soil — Planting — 

 Spring Planting — Autumn Planting — Cultivation — Staking — 

 Removal of Old Flowers and Seed Pods — Necessity for Replant- 

 ing — List of Indispensable Hardy Perennials — General Selection 

 of Hardy Flowers — Medium Tall Perennials — Dwarf Perennials — 

 Plans for Perennial Borders 



BY hardy plants we mean those perennial herbaceous plants 

 which will live a number of years and will stand the cold in the 

 Northern regions. We use the word * 'herbaceous" to contrast 

 them with shrubs and trees, for it means that they die down to the soil 

 each year. Their growth is soft, not woody. 



It may be asked why we talk so much about the proper care of this 

 or that perennial when on the whole the commonest ones merely need a 

 medium good soil and their competitors, the weeds, removed. The reply 

 is that we should not be content with Peonies, Phlox, or Iris unless they 

 are grown to perfection, or unless we have the finest varieties. 



We are interested in a particular flower often because it seems to 

 possess a certain shape, color, or thrifty habit, which we admire. Our 

 interest broadens when we prefer to get a great many varieties of the 

 same flower. Finally, we are even interested in its botanical relatives. 

 It is then that we become * 'cranks" and thoroughly know and truly 

 enjoy a chosen favorite. 



Perennials are adapted to such a range of soils and climates that 

 we can surely find something beautiful to suit our situation exactly. 

 If our land is very rocky and shallow we must govern our selection of 

 perennials accordingly, and we can follow nature quite closely in 

 choosing the sort of plants to use. 



Each garden should be our own, and should express our likes in color 

 and combination, but we must be governed by good taste, with the posses- 

 sion of which some are born, while by others it must be acquired. The 

 observations of others often make us able to choose wisely for ourselves. 



Combinations of Perennials 



A planting of dehcate pink Hollyhocks, in front of which we place 

 a good clump of white Phlox, is to be much commended. Similarly, 

 the Phlox will combine nicely with Delpliinium, 



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