FLOWERS FOR THE HARDY GARDEN 



35 



Yellow and Variegated Peonies, continued 

 Mme. de Vatry. Crown type. A superb Peony, 

 that should be much better known. Very large, com- 

 pact, high-crown, type. Crown and broad guard- 

 petals soft cool pink, collar creamy yellow, center 

 splashed deep crimson. An exquisite color-combi- 

 nation which a visitor remarked suggested "peaches 

 and cream." Very fragrant. A tall, strong grower 

 with distinct, finely cut foliage. Midseasoh. 65 cts. 



Philomele. Anemone. Medium size. Guard- 

 petals deep rose, anemone center of dense, narrow 

 petals, amber-yellow changing to cream; as the 

 flower develops, a crown appears, bright pink, edged 

 dark crimson. Very strong grower. Fragrant. A 

 free bloomer. Midseason. Most unique and beau- 

 tiful. 75 cts. 



Umbellata rosea (re-named by mistake Sarah 

 Bernhardt). Rose type. The earliest bloomer of all 

 and one of the prettiest and most satisfactory 

 Peonies grown. Large, loose flowers of very graceful 

 and decorative form. Guard-petals clear rose-pink, 

 center shading lighter, with many narrow cream- 

 white petals and occasionally a salmon tuft, a 

 coloring of charming freshness and delicacy. Very 

 tall, sturdy grower; free bloomer, and exceptionally 

 fragrant. /5 cts. 



Paeonia officinalis rubra plena 



This is the native Peony of southern Europe, from 

 which comparatively few forms have been developed. 

 We have had it impressed on us lately that this is a 

 very inferior kind. It has been referred to con- 

 temptuously as "Grandmother's Peony" and dis- 

 missed as being rank in color and unpleasant in 

 scent, but on the contrary I assert that its perfume 

 is most agreeable, and that when newly opened, it 

 has a richer shade of crimson than can be found 

 in any other Peony. The flowers are compact, 

 globular and of large size, though the plants are low 

 and spreading, hardly more than 18 inches tall. It 

 has the slight disadvantage of turning brown earlier 

 in the summer than the tall sorts, but, all in all, it 

 is a grand old variety and should not soon be dis- 

 carded. Blooms in the middle of May. Rather 

 slow to increase. Space 18 in. 25 cts. 



Paeonia tenuifolia 



Although nominally this species has been in culti- 

 vation for many years, it is nevertheless practically 

 unknown to the vast majority of flower-gardeners. 

 It is hard to account for the neglect of this strangely 

 beautiful plant; certainly nothing could be more 



page 37) 



easily grown. A good many years ago I heard these 

 Peonies called "Pheasant's Eyes," and I suggest this 

 name as being most appropriate, besides being much 

 easier to handle than the botanical one. Anyone 

 who has seen a Reeves pheasant will remember its 

 curious eye — bright red and yellow, contrasting 

 strangely with its glossy green plumage. And the 

 Pxoniu tenuifolia repeats this unusual color-scheme 

 in its single cup-shaped (lower of intense deep crim- 

 son, with a cluster of yellow stamens in the center. 

 As a setting for this brilliant blossom is a mass of 

 the most exquisite plumy foliage imaginable, so 

 finely divided that it seems like slender filaments 

 rather than leaves. It clothes the flower-stem from 

 the tip to the base, hiding it completely from sight. A 

 clump of these plants in the garden or a bowl of the 

 blooms in the house are equally unique and lovely. 

 They are, of course, more effective in good-sized 

 masses. Should be given full sun. There is a 

 double form but it is far less attractive than the 

 single. Space 15 in.; height the same. 30 cts. 



SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF PEONIES 



The collections below include varieties of every distinct shade, and should be especially valuable for those who find 

 it difficult to make a selection from a long list. 



Collection No. 1, $4 



Ten beautiful Peonies of moderate price, all distinct. 



Festiva maxima $0 SO 



Couronne d'Or 75 



Edulis superba 35 



Alexandre Dumas 50 



Humea carnea 35 



Faust, , . f;j „...% "35 



Duchesse de Nemours . , , 50 



Anemoneflora rubra . 50 



Delachei 50 



Jeanne d'Arc 50 



Collection No. 2, $7.50 



Ten of the choicest Peonies on my list. 



Albatre SI 75 



Marie Jacquin 75 



Modeste Guerin 75 



Mme. Ducel 75 



Eugenie Verdier 1 00 



Asa Gray 1 00 



Solfaterre 75 



Mme. de Vatry 65 



Felix Crousse 75 



Rubra superba 75 



$8 90 



COLLECTIONS NOS. 1 AND 2 TOGETHER, $10 

 Instead of quoting dozen and hundred rates, I allow the following discounts on Peony orders, which apply to every- 

 thing except the collections above. Orders amounting to $10, 5 per cent off; orders amounting to $25, 10 per cent off; 

 orders amounting to $50 and upward, 15 per cent off. 



