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The Carden Magazine, December, 1920 
of fine blue color being far more effective in the garden than is 
the Amaryllis. 
Montbretias are quite hardy, and are generally planted in 
autumn to get the advantage of the rainy season. They do well 
in sun or partial shade, and will often bloom under most adverse 
conditions, but summer watering and occasional replanting will 
add to their size and beauty when they bloom in August. 
Rock Gardens and Walls 
R OCK GARDENS should have quite a future in California, 
. for though the humid atmosphere preferred by many 
alpines is lacking yet the climate is splendidly adapted to those 
plants demanding sunshine and warmth. Banks or uneven 
ground can often best be treated in a rather bold, rock garden 
manner and will thus add much to the interest and variety of 
plants which may be found in a small place. In the sunny rock 
garden during the early months of the year the best bloom will 
be given by Alyssum saxatile, golden yellow; Arabis albida, 
pure white; and the Aubrietias in lavender, violet, and shades 
of pink and red-purple. The white Iberis sempervirens blooms 
in January and is the longest-lived and most dependable of the 
perennial Candytufts. 
Often the rock garden will be found to be the best place for 
groups of the smaller winter-flowering bulbs, such as Oxalis 
(often easier to grow than to get rid of); Milla (Tritelia) 
uniflora; (Grape-hyacinths) Muscari; Scillacampanulata; minia- 
ture bulbs of the Dutch Hyacinths; the late single Jonquil, 
and such smaller Tulip species as Didieri alba and the pink-and- 
white-striped Clusiana. Groups of the dwarf bearded Irises 
pumila and chamaeiris, and especially the dainty cream 1. 
lutescens statellae are also desirable for February and March 
color. 
Of sub-shrubby plants at their best in midwinter, Agathea 
coelestis (syn. Felicia melloides) deserves a place for its pretty, 
blue, daisy-like flowers. Agathea rosea is not like it a compact 
shrub, but a trailer with pale pink flowers, desirable but ram- 
pant, as its stems root freely. It is best trailing down a bank 
or over a wall. Erigeron mucronatus (syn. Vitadenia triloba) 
of similar growth, is a pink and white Mexican Daisy which will 
bloom practically throughout the year if watered and pre- 
vented from going to seed. The sunny rock garden in April 
should also show in bloom some of the Rock-pinks, or, if it is 
very large, even Dianthus plumarius; the Sun-roses (Helianthe- 
mum); and trailing over rocks Cerastium tomentosum, the 
larger C. Biebersteini, and the Silenes. 
The ordinary garden Wallflowers, kept from rank growth by 
starving, may also be used, but the beautiful clear orange 
Cheiranthus Allioni is better for this purpose and will bloom 
for many weeks, beginning in April. In late spring a most 
conspicuous plant is the lavender-colored Catmint (Nepeta 
Mussini), very fine and vigorous and excellent for edging. 
Through the summer it is more difficult to get flowers in the 
sunny rock garden, yet the various dwarf Thymes give white, 
red, and light purple carpets in May; lavender blooms in June 
and July; and a very pleasing combination if you plant below 
some of the salmon-pink Diascia Berberae, which flowers all 
summer. The scarlet, white-tipped, tubular flowers of Cuphea 
platycentra and the minute tinted white ones of Chenostoma 
hispida brighten the rock garden all summer. It is also at this 
time that the succulents (Sedums and Mesembryanthemums), 
are most appreciated, but only the shrubby ones should be used 
as it is practically impossible to keep the trailers within bounds. 
In a fairly large rock garden such dwarf shrubs as Cotoneaster 
microphylla and Berberis Wilsoni should be planted for their 
pretty berries. 
Where there is room for it to trail, the finest summer color 
often comes from the deep lavender Convolvulus mauritanicus, 
while the brightest color in the autumn is furnished by Zausch- 
neria californica, the so-called California Fuchsia, which is 
covered with scarlet, tubular flowers for weeks at the end of the 
season. To keep a sunny rock garden in flower after May the 
smaller annuals should be used; Linarias and Dimorphotheca 
aurantiaca are two of the best. 
IVhen Sheltered and Protected. If the rock garden faces east or 
north or is somewhat shaded by trees and yet may be freely 
watered, a different series of plants may be grown. For winter 
blooming try the common English Primrose or the improved 
Polyanthus varieties in white and all shades of yellow and red ; 
Primula malacoides in white, lilac, or rose-pink; Cyclamens; 
Violas; the large pink Saxafraga crassifolia; the small London 
Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa); and the double English Daisy 
(Beilis perennis). For April the smaller Columbines should be 
planted, also Arenaria balearica for its dwarf, mossy foliage, and 
A. montana for its dainty, white flowers. The Arenarias or 
Sandworts are trailers, as is also the dwarf Myrtle (Vinca minor), 
with its blue or white flowers. 
There are few summer bloomers. The best are doubtless the 
Bellflowers, and of them I specially recommend Campanula 
muralis (also called C. Portenschlagiana), covered all summer 
with violet-blue bells; and C. garganica, a pendant variety with 
an abundance of wide, flat, blue flowers. C. isophylla is very 
similar, but has white flowers. Veronica rupestris and some of 
the smaller shrubby New Zealand varieties also bloom in mid- 
summer. V. chathamica is prostrate, with lavender flowers, but 
most of the other small ones are more valuable for their neat 
growth and interesting and unusual leaves. 
The latest rock plant to bloom is usually the Leadwort (Cera- 
tostigma or Plumbago Larpentae), with dark blue flowers, often at 
its best in September. It is less than a foot high and has rather 
attractive red-tipped foliage. Zephyranthes Candida, a bulb- 
ous plant, shows its many starry white flowers in early autumn. 
Perennials, Biennials, and Annuals for Border Planting 
I F EASTERN gardeners find it difficult to keep a border in 
bloom for six months with hardy herbaceous plants, how 
much harder is it for the California gardener to achieve that 
happy result through twelve months! In order to keep it even 
in fair condition he must use shrubs, bulbs, and rock plants as 
well as those more commonly listed as hardy perennials, bien- 
nials, and annuals. In preceding paragraphs mention has been 
made of some of the best shrubs, bulbs, and rock plants, and 
therefore nothing further will be said except to emphasize their 
importance in a border. 
For spring flowers, clumps of Daffodils and late Tulips should 
be planted at intervals, while for later bloom Watsonias, Gladi- 
olus, and Montbretias will be desirable. From the list of rock 
plants may be selected those suitable for front rows or edgings, 
Alyssum saxatile, Dianthus plumarius, Nepeta Mussini, Violas, 
and Forget-me-nots being good examples. 
From January to March, apart from shrubs and bulbs, the 
main dependence will be on Stocks of the Beauty of Nice type, 
and, in the central part of the state, on Wallflowers. Both these 
are commonly and best treated as annuals, that is, sown in late 
summer for winter bloom, but they may be considered as short- 
lived perennials, for they will often bloom during a second or 
third winter before they wear themselves out. Less attractive 
but practically perpetuating themselves from self-sown seed are 
the Calendulas, best as winter bloomers. 
The later spring months are the easiest and finest of the year 
for the flower border. A selection of perennials at their best 
in late March, April, and early May should include Columbines 
of the long-spurred type, best where they get some shade and 
water. The tougher Aquilegia chrysantha will do well any- 
where. Irises of the tall bearded class are perhaps our very 
best perennials for this season. Campanula persicifolia is 
nearly always dependable; so are the Lupins of the polyphyllus 
and the shrubby sections. Hemerocaliis flava and H. fulva do 
well if given moderate irrigation. Oriental Poppies are fairly 
satisfactory, Iceland Poppies not at all. Geum Mrs. Bradshaw 
is the best scarlet perennial of spring; if cut back and watered 
