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PERENNIALS FOR THE BACK OF THE BORDER 
A Resume of the Tall Growing Sorts Which Form the 
Planting and Complete the Scheme 
E VERY garden, to conform to the true 
traditional meaning of the word, should 
be enclosed. It is not necessary to have 
an elaborate wall of brick or stone, for heavy 
masses of graceful shrubs or hedges will serve 
the purpose of shutting out some of the far- 
reaching vistas, or outside detractions, and 
allow the eye to be concentrated on the more 
intimate sights within the garden. 
When one has become a conformist in this 
respect in garden design, one will discover that 
in front of the enclosing element, be it wall of 
stone, shrubs.or hedge, is an admirable loca¬ 
tion for the many tall growing perennials, 
which if given places among the smaller plants 
in the foreground would crowd them and al¬ 
most put them in a total eclipse. In fact, this 
back edge may well be considered the source 
of surprises. All summer the gay inhabitants 
of the front of the border have been blooming 
their heads off in competition, but their neigh¬ 
bors in the back rows have been sending all 
their energy into sturdy plants, and have been 
H. STUART ORTLOFF 
content to serve as foliage foils to their color¬ 
ful companions. But now when summer is 
beginning to wane they stay her faltering feet 
until long after the first frosts, by unfolding 
beauties in color and form of flower. 
In selecting plants for this place, height is 
the first essential to consider. Plants 3' to 4' 
or more high are best suited, although there are 
a few shorter ones, like coreopsis, which may 
be placed in the front of the back rows, because 
it would be monotonous to have too straight a 
line of height. F'oliage should be considered 
from the viewpoint of texture and color. 
Nearly all foliage is persistent until after the 
blooming season, so this is not siich an im¬ 
portant item as it is for foreground plants, 
because there are plenty of others to hide un¬ 
sightly feet. Color must be watched for its 
effect in combinations. There are many pale 
colors, like that of phvsostegia, which need 
contrast, and other colors, like that of liatris, 
which need to be toned down with a lavish use 
of white or green foliage. 
Background 
In planting, more interesting results will be 
obtained if we do not adhere to straight lines 
or geometrical patterns. Grouping of three, 
five, or nine or ten plants will insure us in¬ 
teresting masses of color, and prove far more 
effective in the fall days when most of the 
perennials in the back border are holding 
forth. The average back border plant re¬ 
quires 8" between its fellows, but there are ex¬ 
ceptions, like the phlox, which develop into 
strong spreading clumps. These should be 
given 1' or 2' for future development. 
Many of these plants require staking, for 
they grow so high that they are apt to be the 
sport of every wind that blows, and come to 
grief. The best stakes are bamboo, but any 
will do provided it is strong and unbending, 
yet thin enough to be hidden by the foliage and 
not prove unsightly. Plenty of room should be 
left in tying in order that the plants may grow 
and move without chafing. Pieces of cloth are 
the best material for strings. 
The following is a partial list of plants 
Variety is as desirable at the back of the perennial border as it is in 
the middle and foreground. Tall growing flowers such as the holly¬ 
hocks, delphiniums and mallows shown here should be so disposed 
that their colors and forms will be brought out to the best advantage 
by the lower growers immediately in front of them. Uniformity in 
height should be avoided, however, lest it become monotonous 
