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TWIN-LARCHES NURSERY, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



Fleecy masses oj Tbaliclrum (see page 37) 



Physostegia • False Dragonhead 



Virginica. Tall-growing perennials with deli- 

 cately colored flowers are by no means numerous in 

 midsummer; therefore, the Physostegia fills a 

 valuable place in our flower-gardening calendar, all 

 the more valuable in that it is a plant of almost weed- 

 like robustness of growth. The close-ranked stems 

 grow stiffly erect to a height of 3 to 4 feet, holding up 

 compact tapering (lower-spikes 6 inches long. In 

 size and arrangement the dowers are very like snap- 

 dragons, but in shape they more strongly suggest 

 fuxgloves. The eoler is a charming shade, of p:;Ie. 

 clear lilac-pink, of a tone similar to the phlox, iVlme. 

 Paul Dutrie. Apparently the False Dragonhead 

 shares the gardeners' conviction that it looks best in 

 masses, for if not kept within bounds, the numberless 

 creeping rootstocks will cvirrun everything in their 

 vicinity Hence the desirability of in armiial lifting 

 or thinning out. Excellent for cutting and fine for 

 naturalizing or massing in the garden as a back- 

 ground for the softer-colored phloxes. July. Space 



Romneya 



Tree or Matilija Poppy 



Coulteri. When I first saw the incomparable 

 Matilija Poppy (pronounced "Matilla-hah") growing 

 wild in its native California, the plant was a com- 

 plete novelty to me. Later on I noticed in the new 

 edition of Robinson's "English Flower Garden" that 

 it had been known and prized in England for some 

 time, but it is only beginning to be heard of here in 

 the eastern states. Perhaps this is due partly to the 

 fact that the Romneya is not one of the hardiest of 

 perennials, though with protection about equal to 

 that given tea roses it will generally winter over 

 quite well. But whatever trouble it may give in this 

 way, is not too great, considering the exquisite 

 beauty of its flowers. 



The plant is of a sub-shrubby nature, dying back 

 in the winter, but sending out manv new shoots the 

 next summer to a height of 4 or 5 feet. The (lowers 

 are borne on the tips and occasionally on the laterals 

 ol these shoots, and are very large — 6 inches across, 

 —shaped like an Oriental Poppy, but opening Hat. 

 (he petals are exquisitely waved and crinkled, of 



the sheerest and most delicate texture, and the 

 purity of their white is wonderfully set olT by the 

 big feathery mass of yellow stamens in the center. 

 They have a sweet, magnolia-like odor, and last 

 unusually long in water. The foliage is very luxuri- 

 ant, glaucous and deeply cut, and unlike the true 

 Poppy, clothes the whole length of the flower-stem. 

 Thrives best if given a southern exposure, with 

 shelter to the north, plenty of sun, a well-drained 

 soil, and heavy winter protection. Space 2 ft. 

 50 els. 



Salvia • Sage 



To most of us the name Salvia inevitably brings 

 to mind the ubiquitous Scarlet Sage; — it would 

 almost seem as if that useful if rather garish flower 

 has been the means of keeping in the background 

 the more delicately beautiful perennial sorts. At 

 any rate they certainly have not received the recog- 

 nition they so richly deserve. Azurea and Pitcheri 

 especially are practically the only and undoubtedly 

 the best blue dowers of their season, and the other 

 varieties have many good qualities. The blossoms 

 ol all Salvias are slight variations of one curious 

 two-petalcd form; the upper petal is small, narrow 

 and beak-shaped, the lower one broad and dat, like 

 a pendent lip. The leaves are strongly aromatic. All 

 are ol hardy, Iree growth in any sunny position. 



Azurea grandiflora (Rocky Mountain Sage). 

 This, together with the following variety, is probably 

 the most beautiful of the Sages. In rich soil it will 

 send up many vigorous stems 5 feet tall, well 

 clothed with narrow, drooping, gray-green leaves. 

 The dowers open thickly in terminal spikes, and 

 are of a lovely soft pale blue, that gives a beautiful 

 edect in masses. I t combines charmingly with cream 

 and flesh shades in gladioli, or with Boltonia asler- 

 oides and B. jatisqUfltha. Both Azurea and Pitcheri 

 should be pinched back at least twice during the 

 summer to induce a more bushy growth. Late 

 August and September. Space 18 in. 



Pitcheri. Blooms about two weeks later than 

 Azurea, and is identical except in color, which is a 

 deep, rich blue of very beautiful tone. The relation 

 between the respective shades of Pitcheri and 

 Azurea is exactly that between Ancbusu llalica, 

 Dropmore, and A., Opal. A splendid plant. 



