182 
GARDENING IN THE SOUTHWEST 
Border 
Plants 
Some 
Contrasts 
To Blue 
Early 
Summer 
Bloom 
The 
Yuccas 
June 
Bloom 
Anchusa italica, and the single blue and pink Campanulas. 
A good edging for a bed of April and May bloom is Nepeta 
Mussini, English Catmint, which cannot be too highly praised. It 
has a gray-green foliage and showers in sprays of lavender blue. 
Just behind it plant pale yellow Phlox, alternating with deeper 
shades of dwarf yellow Iris, and dwarf Lemon Lilies. 
The Larkspur, which started blooming the last of April, con¬ 
tinues to flower all during May and combines well with Corn¬ 
flowers and Poppies of all varieties, including Eschscholtzia in its 
various shades of cream and yellow. The gorgeous Orientate , like 
the Delphinium, is still being coaxed to dwell with us, but they do 
not survive our hot Summer and must be used, as yet, only as 
annuals. Madonna Lilies look well planted behind tall blue Lark¬ 
spur and near clumps of Lemon yellow Lilies (Hemerocallis 
Thunbergi ). I like them, too, planted for strong contrast near 
Red Radiance Roses. 
All the summer flowers now troop in. In front of tall, sentinel 
Hollyhocks of pale yellow and pink, at the back of a border, plant 
drifts of salmon-pink Snapdragons, blue Canterbury Bells, Corn¬ 
flowers, Veronica, Scabiosa, Salvia azurea with clumps of Marguer¬ 
ites and Coreopsis. These combine well with the clear yellow of 
Spanish broom (Genista) which can be used as accents for corners. 
Lavender Pentstemon and Giant Sweet Sultan (Centaurea Imperi - 
alis) grow wild in our fields in May. Like the brilliant red Texas 
Plume of June, they are difficult to transplant to our gardens (see 
page 68), but by experience, we can and must learn how to make 
them at home. 
Large grounds and wide borders permit the planting of groups 
of our native white Yuccas which, alternating with the Coral 
Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora or Engelmannii) are lovely in the 
June border and combine with Gladioli in the cream and salmon 
shades. Rosemary and Hemerocallis (Fluva and Flava) bring the 
order down to an edging of Plumbago Larpentae with its deep- 
blue flowers, which continue in bloom for weeks. 
In June the Syringa still lingers; the Trumpet-Vine flourishes 
and the Clematis spreads its foamy petals over walls and pergolas. 
