38 TWIN-LARCHES NURSERY, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



Thalictrum, continued 

 unique and charming plants ever introduced. Unlike 

 most p{. the other varieties, its Howers grow in long, 

 upright sprays, rounded, and tapering to a tip pf 

 undeveloped buds. The individual flowers, only a 

 half-inch across, hang suspended on the ends of 

 still', yet thread-like stems, their delicate lavender 

 petals reflexed to show the Stiff of pale yellow sta- 

 mens below. The tiny buds, lavender too, and 

 perfectly globular, look like a shower of tinted water- 

 drops. It is impossible to convey the elfect of 

 exquisite delicacy and airiness given by the whole 

 plant. It is a strong grower, and blooms in July and 

 August. Should be given full sun and a very well- 

 drained soil. 4 to 5 ft.; space 18 in. 



Trollius • Globe Flower 



In form and habit, Globe Flowers very closely 

 resemble double buttercups, although the leaves 

 arc smoother, the stems thicker and more succulent, 

 and the (lowers of a different texture. They are most 

 attractive and beautiful plants, and invaluable for the 

 earliness of their bloom. Though they are usually 

 described as blossoming in May, and occasionally in 

 October, I have found that if kept well supplied with 

 moisture, and the old flowers kept cut, at least two 

 additional crops can be expected. Their one require- 

 ment is a loose, mellow soil, — in dry, baked ground 

 little can be expected of them. They thrive in moist 

 ground and in partial shade, looking charming in a 

 setting of cool green ferns, and in the mixed border 

 they are very effective, especially massed in front 

 of Anchusa, Opal. Do not divide for a number of 

 years as they bloom much better after becoming 

 well established. 12 to 18 in.; space I ft. 



Europaeus superbus. Soft, clear lemon-yellow; 

 flowers large and globular. 25 cts. 



Asiaticus flore-croceo. Rich deep orange, the 

 purest orange to be found among hardy plants. The 

 petals are of a beautiful translucent, luminous 

 quality that keeps from the flower any suggestion 

 ol garishness and allows it to be placed near delicate 

 colors much more readily than a cruder yellow. The 

 flowers are a trifle smaller than those of Europajus, 

 and open more widely. Both sorts last unusually 

 long in water, but the stems must not be long ex- 

 posed to the air after being cut. 25 cts. 



Verbascum • Mullein 



I he average American llowcr-gardener would no 

 doubt be rather horrified at the idea of planting 

 Mullein in his garden. Mullein— a common, rank- 

 growing weed; To be sure our familiar wild Mullein 

 (Verbascum Tbai>sus) does not offer many possi- 

 bilities in the line of garden adornment, yet 

 even it is by no means unhandsome in appropriate 

 .surroundings, and there are many other Mulleins 

 that are very noble and imposing plants. They have 

 long been prized in England; indeed they arc con- 

 sidered almost indispensable there, not only for 

 planting in large borders but still more for placing 

 in scattered groups along paths, in the shrubbery 

 border, and in bold colonies along the edges of 

 woods. I do not see why the Verbascums should not 

 become popular in America also; one thing at least 

 should recommend them to us— they will thrive in 

 the poorest soil. All the varieties have rosettes of 

 huge, velvety, grayish green leaves, from which rise 

 massive towering flower-spikes, branched like cande- 

 labra. 1 he flowers open best in early morning, or 

 on cloudy days. 



Verbascum, continued 



Vernale. A Mullein of commanding habit. The 

 flowers are lemon-yellow, with a small tuft of purple 

 filaments in the center, and are produced on giant 

 pyramids 6 feet high. July to September. Space 

 3 ft. 35 cts. 



Densiflorum. A rather shorter and more com- 

 I pact grower. The leaves are crimped at the edges, 

 and the flowers are bronzy yellow, with dark centers, 

 almost an inch across, jufy to September. 25 cts. 



Miss Willmott. This new hybrid is probably 

 the most satisfactory Verbascum for the border. It 

 grows from 4 to 6 feet tall, with very long spikes 

 closely set with fragrant, widely open flowers over 

 an inch across; pure white, with orange centers. A 

 line and very distinct plant that should rank with 

 the very best of tall-growing white flowers. It has 

 the disadvantage of being strictly a biennial, but 

 new plants often spring up from self-sown seed. 

 June to August. Space 2j/£ ft. 25 cts. 



Veronica • Speedwell 



A very large family, comprising an almost endless 

 number of species of all sizes and types of growth, 

 most of them however being better adapted for 

 milder climates than ours. The two varieties I olfer 

 are perfectly hardy and rank with the finest of our 

 border plants. They thrive best in full sun. V. 

 LongiJoHa sUbsessilis sometimes sulfers from pro- 

 longed drought, so the soil about it should be kept 

 well stirred or mulched with well-rotted manure or 

 lawn-clippings. 



Amethystina. I am rather at a loss to know why 

 this very beautiful Veronica is usually dismissed 

 with a few words of faint praise md the altogether 

 incorrect statement that it blooms in July. As a 

 matter of fact it blooms in May, and at its season 

 there are few finer low-growing plants in the garden; 

 certainly none of its color. Two-year-old plants will 

 send up innumerable leafy flower-stems, all of one 

 height and so close together that they form a solid 

 mound of green, which later is completely covered 

 with rich violet-blue flowers. These flowers are 

 borne in small spikes which open out slowly to the 

 very tip, lasting in bloom a long time. For massing 

 along the edge of the border, it is ideal. 12 to 1 5 in.; 

 space I ft. 25 cts. 



Longifolia subsessilis. As a companion to 

 Amethystina in May we have Subsessilis in August; 

 an even more valuable plant, and one that is happily 

 becoming very well known. It generally happens 

 that this Veronica blooms just as the delphiniums 

 have completed their first blossoming period, so, even 

 if it were less desirable in other ways, it would have 

 the merit of keeping up the succession of blue flowers. 

 It is not, however, a true blue, but rather a deep 

 violet-blue. The plant is of excellent branching 

 habit, 3 feet tall, with thick, deep green leaves. The 

 flowers are borne in dense spikes, rounded and 

 tapering, which gradually lengthen out as the 

 blossoms open. If the old spikes are kept cut, it will 

 bloom for over two months. Appreciates a rich, 

 mellow soil. Space 15 in. Divide every four years. 

 Very effective with white phlox. 



Vinca • Periwinkle; Myrtle 



Minor. By far the most useful creeping plant 

 we have. As an evergreen ground-cover nothing can 

 approach it; it will grow and thrive in bright sun or 

 deepest shade, in wet soil or in dry. and always look 

 fresh and attractive, both summer and winter. The 



