The Garden Magazine, January, 1921 
255 
Muscari botryoides 
Grape-hyacinth, 6-9 in., April-May. A vivid blue. If undis- 
turbed multiples rapidly. 
Aquilegia hybrida 
Hybrid Columbine, i-ij ft., mid-May to July. Large flowers 
of pink, blue, and creamy white. 
Cheiranthus Allioni 
Orange Wallflower, 10-12 in., May. Erect plant with flowers of 
intense orange. 
Linum perenne 
Blue Flax, i-i§ ft., mid-May to Aug. Delicate light-blue flowers; 
grass-like foliage. 
Hosta Funkia, lancifolia 
Lance-leaved Day-lily, 1-2 ft., late July to early Sept. Flowers 
of lilac blue above dark green leathery foliage. 
Heuchera sanguinea 
Coral Bells, 1-15 ft., June to late Sept. Delicate panicles of small 
red flowers on red stems; foliage semi-evergreen. 
Oenothera missouriensis 
Missouri Primrose, 10 in., June to early Aug. A profuse bloomer, 
large solitary yellow flowers 5 in. across, each lasting but one day. 
Statice latifolia 
Sea-lavender, if-2 ft., late July to early Sept. Clouds of tiny 
lavender-blue flowers in large spreading spikes; foliage springing 
from the root. 
Back of everything a tall, encircling frame of New England 
Asters followed the downward slope of the bank, a final autumn 
crowning of the rock garden. 
PINKS FOR BORDER AND ROCK GARDEN 
LOUISE BEEBE WILDER 
f \10NG plants suitable for growing along the edges of 
borders, in dry retaining walls, in the joints of paved 
paths or on rock work, none offer such variety, beauty, 
or such gratifying certainty of success as do the various 
species of Pink. True, among them are some, like Dianthus 
glacialis and D. alpinus, that require a considerable degree 
of cultural knowledge and skill, but for the most part they are 
very easy to grow. Their almost universal demand is for sun- 
shine and very free drainage; all are impatient of standing 
moisture especially in winter. A position between two stones 
suits them well, or the surface of the earth around them may be 
covered with stone chips to check evaporation in summer and 
to keep the collar of the plant out of the damp in winter. The 
soil best suited to them generally is loam freely admixed with 
sand and grit. At least twice during the year a dressing of 
sand and leaf mold should be worked in about the tufts with the 
fingers. This serves to encourage fresh growth and to protect 
the plants from drought, generally keeping them in a healthy 
condition. 
At the present time, on account of Quarantine No. 37, the 
only way to procure a comprehensive collection of Pinks is to 
raise them from seed, and happily this enterprise offers few ob- 
stacles. Seed sown in pots or pans of sandy loam germinates 
quickly and the young plants grow sturdily, flowering usually 
the second year. It is not always possible to procure seed that 
comes absolutely true to name owing to the readiness with 
which the different species cross, but it is seldom that any Pink 
comes amiss, and often we attain, quite unexpectedly, some- 
thing choice and delightful. Pinks are to be found scattered 
about the plains and mountains of Europe, in many parts of 
temperate Asia and in North Africa. The only species we have 
here is D. Armeria, the Deptford Pink, a not very desirable 
little biennial, which is not a true native. The following is a - 
selection of the best to begin with: 
D. arenarius, the Sand Pink, is one of the most easily grown 
and delightful of the family. It forms thick mats of rather short, 
bright green foliage, very narrow, and bears for many weeks 
during the summer pure white, fringy blossoms that are exceed- 
ingly fragrant. A charming plant for the edges of stone-rimmed 
borders or for the rock garden. It is one of the most long-lived. 
D. caesius, from compact tufts of grey-green, narrow leaves, 
sends forth in June veritable explosions of single, bright pink, 
fragrant blossoms. This beautiful pink is at home upon the 
precarious ledges of the Cheddar Cliffs in England and is a true 
crevice plant. It likes a position where it will be well out of 
the way of winter damp — a ledge of the rock garden, or a niche 
in the sunny wall. A little old mortar mixed in the soil about 
it increases its comfort. 
D. cruentus flowers for many weeks during the summer and 
is very brilliant. It grows in neat tufts of narrow leaves from 
which it sends up tall, naked stems terminating in small, Sweet 
William-like heads of bright crimson flowers. It is almost the 
least troublesome of Pinks, satisfied with any sunny position, 
but it lacks the charm of fragrance and is not to be considered 
of the first order, though attractive enough for out of the way 
positions. D. atrorubens is a good deal like it. 
D. deltoides, the Maiden Pink, is a little plant for which 
many uses may be found in the garden. It is a native of Great 
Britain and grows in low, dense spreading mats, the leaves small 
and dark green and the small, bright pink, crimson-spotted 
blossoms produced in the greatest profusion. There is also a 
white variety with a faint pink eye and little freckles on the 
petals. The low dense growth of the Maiden Pink makes it 
a good edging plant and it is also delightful planted at the top 
of a retaining wall or in the crevices of the wall-face. It is ad- 
mirable for carpeting sunny banks where it is difficult to care 
for grass and grows neatly between the joints of stone-paved 
walks. 
D. graniticus and D. caucasicus are closely allied to D. 
deltoides, differing mainly in their larger and more clearly 
colored blossoms. All of these are easily raised from seed, 
easily grown and perfectly hardy, but they are too strong-grow- 
ing and pervasive for rock gardens save where there is plenty of 
room. 
D. Prichardii, on the other hand, while it is of the same 
type as deltoides, is of the compact, neat habit which renders 
it a desirable rock plant. 
D. dentosus, the Amoor Pink, is a beautiful Russian species 
revelling in a position where it may fling its lax, grey-leaved 
