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TWIN -LARCHES NURSERY, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



The Hardy Garden 



Back in 1883 when William Robinson published his epoch-making book, "The English Flower Garden " 

 he sounded the death-knell of the tender bedding-plant craze which had almost universally displaced the 

 nobler gardens oi perennials and, as Mr. Wilhelm Miller has said, turned all England into one gigantic 

 crazy-quilt. I oday, thanks to Mr. Robinson and his disciples, the art of hardy gardening has been restored 

 to its own and as practised by such consummate artists as Miss Gertrude Jekyll and others, it has reached 

 a degree ol perlection that must long serve as a model for other countries. 



I lere in America the history of hardy perennials has no such well-delined chapters. In colonial times 

 we possessed many line hardy gardens; since then we have been slower than the English, both to take up 

 and to discard the bedding-plant craze; even yet it lingers with us to an 

 appalling extent, as anyone can testify who has seen the gaudy expanses of 

 coleus and alternantheras in our public parks. Nevertheless, the revival of 

 interest in hardy plants has been steady. We already have some wonderfully 

 artistic gardens, and, under the influence of our admirable garden-clubs, 

 our gardening publications and our progressive nurserymen and enthusiastic 

 amateurs, there seems to be no reason why a love for flowers should not 

 become as universal here as it is abroad. 



Aconitum 



Aconitum • Monkshood 



How Comparatively lew people know the Monkshood! Show a well-grown 

 plant to the average (lower-lover, and he will be sure to exclaim with surprise 

 and delight at the quaint, helmet-shaped blossoms, rich colors, glossy leaves, 

 and handsome, robust growth. Yet the Aconitum is one of the oldest oi' 

 garden plants, lamed both for the beauty of its (lowers and the deadly poison 

 ol its roots. One is quite safe in handling these latter, however; they are 

 dangerous only if actually eaten. It has often been urged that Monkshoods 

 love shade, but though they will thrive in partial shade, I cannot sec that 

 they are any the better for it, and if the shade is at all dense, the stems become 

 weak and spindling. It is of more importance to avoid dry, baked ground, 

 which will be sure to stunt them. Clumps may be left undivided for four or 

 live years, and look all the better for it. 



Spark's Variety. Grows from 4 to 5 feet tall, with finely divided, del- 

 phimum-Iike foliage and graceful, branching spikes of deep 'violet flowers. 

 I he best ol the dark-colored varieties, and a big improvement over the old 

 Napellus. Late June and July. Space I ft. Combines well with the lighter- 

 colored delphiniums. 



Wilsonii. A stiller, more erect grower, with coarse leathery leaves and very 

 large, fully inflated (lowers of the richest lavender — a shade that for cool purity 

 of lone would be hard to match, outside of some of the Pallida irises. Blooming 

 in early October, this is really an invaluable plant. I lardy, robust grower, 5 

 to 6 feel tall; flower's last exceptionally long, both in the garden and when cut. 

 It makes a delightful picture planted behind a mass of pink or while Japanese 

 anemones. Should be staked. Space 15 in. 25 cts. each. 



Unless otherwise noted, all plants in this catalog, 15 cts. each, $1.50 per doz., $10 per 



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