FLOWERS FOR THE HARDY GARDEN 



19 



Helenium, continued 



orange, a tone similar to that of the variety Riverton 

 Gem, but of greater warmth and purity. 



Riverton Beauty. Of the same habit as Rubrum, 

 but with flowers of a pure, deep lemon-yellow, with 

 brown-black centers. These two varieties make a 

 brilliant combination. 



Both varieties of Helenium, 25 cts. each 



Helianthus • Hardy Sunflower 



To most people I imagine the name Sunflower 

 immediately suggests a still, tree-like plant, bearing 

 one great coarse flower as big round as a bucket — ■ 

 something they would never connect with the grace- 

 ful perennial Helianthi. These grow equally tall, to 

 be sure, but their habit is most graceful, with 

 branching stems at once slender and vigorous, and 

 attractive narrow foliage. The flowers appear in 

 late summer and fall, quantities of them with long, 

 stiff stems that make them splendid for cutting. 

 Helianthi spread amazingly fast- by means of 

 creeping rootstocks, and this, together with their 

 great size, makes them rather troublesome to grow 

 in the garden unless lifted annually. Nothing, how- 

 ever, is more suitable for grouping with shrubs, along 

 fence-rows or around buildings, or for naturalizing 

 in any rough place, especially in connection with 

 hardy asters. In the garden, allow a space of 3 feet 

 and stake firmly. 



Multiflorus maximus. Dark, glistening stems, 

 and large, flat flowers of great substance, 4 or 5 

 inches across, deep brilliant yellow. Extra-fine for 

 cutting. August. 6 to 7 ft. 



Miss Mellish. A lighter shade of yellow and a 

 trifle more compact grower. 



Wolley Dod. The best of the September-flowering 

 sorts; entirely distinct. 6 ft. 



genial situation 



Hemerocallis 



Lemon or Day Lily 



More appropriate than the general run of plant- 

 names is the title given to these beautiful lily-like 

 flowers. Hemerocallis is derived from the Greek 

 "hern era," a clay, and "kallos," beauty, i. e., beauty 

 that lasts but a day. Fortunately, however, it is 

 only the individual blossom whose lifetime is so 

 short; like its near relative the funkia, the Hemero- 

 callis has a cluster of flowers at the tip of tall 

 slender stems, and these flowers open one after 

 another, so that the whole blooming period covers 

 several weeks. 



A distinctive feature is their long, recurved, grass- 

 like foliage, which forms a perfect setting for the 

 tall leafless flower-stems. To get the characteristic 

 effect of fountain-like foliage and swaying, long- 

 stemmed blooms, I Iemerocallises should be planted 

 in good-sized masses; with the exception of the 

 coarser sorts like Queen of May, a few plants by 

 themselves are apt to seem rather thin and in- 

 effective. Therefore, though they increase quite 

 rapidly, it is better to leave them undisturbed until 

 they show the need of being divided by a decrease 

 of bloom. Large, solid beds of Hemerocallis are 

 very fine and afford a quantity of bloom for cutting. 

 In water, the buds keep opening for several days 

 with slight decrease in size. In the mixed border, 

 the paler yellow sorts combine well with delphiniums, 

 and they make a pleasant contrast to irises in their 

 style of growth. All the varieties are adapted for 

 naturalizing, growing at their very best in damp 

 soil, and thriving in partial, but not absolute shade. 

 In addition to their many other good qualities, 

 most of them are deliciously fragrant, with an odor 

 suggestive of ripe fruit. 



Flava. This is the old-fashioned "Lemon Lily" 

 and is still one of the hardiest and best sorts, especi- 

 ally for massing or naturalizing. Rather short, 

 funnel-shaped flowers, 3M i»- across; soft lemon- 

 yellow; very fragrant. Late May and June. 3 ft.; 

 space 1 ft. 



Apricot. New. Rich, deep golden yellow 

 flowers, 4 inches across, opening almost flat, 

 with wide petals of great substance; fragrant. 

 Blooms in June. i}4 ft. 25 cts. each. 



Thunbergii. The latest to boom — late 

 July and August. Long, pale lemon-yellow flow- 

 ers, on graceful stems, 4 to 5 feet tall; fragrant. 



Luteola. One of the finest. Stout flower- 

 stems 5 feet tall, with as many as a dozen large 

 lilies, 5 inches across, funnel-shaped, with re- 

 flexed petals of a clear bright yellow with a 

 hint of green in the center. Blooms 

 in June and often a second time in 

 September, if kept well supplied with 

 moisture. 25 cts. each. 



Florham. A beautiful variety of 

 American origin. Handsome, fra- 

 grant, deep yellow flowers, slightly 

 darker than Luteola; widely open, 

 with prettily lluled petals. July. 4 ft. 



Queen of May. New. Very ro- 

 bust and showy. Broad, drooping, 

 strap-like leaves and sturdy, branch- 

 ing flower-stems with as many as 

 fifteen flowers, several of which open 

 at once. Deep orange-yellow, and 

 very fragrant. May, and generally 

 1 again in September. 4 to 5V 2 ft. 



35 cts. each. 



