6 EDWARD LEHDE NURSERIES, GARDENVILLE, N. Y. 
CUCU CC CCE CSE CEC eee 22 Eee 

Perennial Garden 
Hardy Herbaceous Perennials 
Perennials are hardy flowering plants whose tops die down each Fall, but each Spring they 
come up with renewed vigor, Increasing in beauty, size, and number of flowers. 
HOW TO USE PERENNIALS 
In the modern planting, perennials have their de- 
served place in the landscape scheme, either in special 
beds or to fill in open spaces in the shrub border. How- 
ever, because many of them bloom in spring or early 
summer, they should be supplemented with the sum- 
mer-blooming annual. Many perennials go into a semi- 
dormant stage during the summer, and if the old blooms 
are cut off and the tops partially trimmed, when they 
resume growth in the fall they will be neat in appear- 
ance and in good condition. 
Perennials are sometimes placed in special beds in 
the formal planting, but as the modern trend in plant- 
ing is in the informal style, they are usually placed in 
the foreground of a shrub border where they offer a 
pleasing contrast of gay color against a green back- 
ground. They may also be placed in front of a hedge 
or fence. The informal arrangement affords more 
variety and Is easier to care for than the formal. Some 
of the taller growing sorts suitable for use with shrubs 
are Helentum, Peonies, Lilies, Hardy Asters, Boltonia, 
Heliopsis, Hibiscus, Liatris, Rudbeckia, and Hollyhock, 
ARRANGEMENT OF PERENNIALS 
Perennials are grouped in the border to give good 
color contrasts and should be placed according to 
height. Mass effects are most desirable and is achieved 
by planting in groups of three or more of a kind, rather 
than individual mixed varieties. Large mass effects 
of color are impressive and offer good contrasts; little 
dabs of color seem puny and artificial, grving no oppor- 
tunity to achieve color combinations. 
Tall plants are set to the back of the border, low 
edging plants to the front, and those of medium height 
worked in between. This should not be followed too 
strictly, however; a little variation affords more inter- 
est, but at no time should dwarf growing varieties be 
hidden behind the taller growing ones. As a general 
rule, the taller growmg varieties should be set about 
2 feet apart; medium kinds, 12 to 18 inches, and low 
growing kinds, 6 to 12 inches. 
Tall for Background: Achillea eupatorium, Arte- 
misia lactiflora, Hardy Aster, Boltonia, Delphintum, 
Foxglove, Globe Thistle, Ornamental Grasses, Heli- 
opsis, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Liatris, Lythrum, ‘Salvia, 
and Thalictrum aquilegifolium. 
For the Middle Border: Aconitum, Agrostemma, 
Anemone, Columbine, Campanula, Chrysanthemum, 
Bachelor Button, Coreopsis, Pinks, Gaillardia, Geum, 
Babysbreath, Hesperis, Iris, Lilies, Lupine, Lychnis, 
Monarda, Peonies, Poppies, Phlox, Pyrethrum, Tri- 
toma, Trollius, and Veronica. 
For Edging: Alyssum, Anchusa myosotidiflora, 
Armeria, Campanula carpatica, Cerastrum, Lily-of-the- 
valley, Coralbells, Flax, Forget-me-not, Evening Prim- 
rose, Arabis, Primula, Sedum and Viola. 
PLANTING AND CARE OF PERENNIALS 
Time of Planting: Perennials can be planted 
either in early spring or early fall, when they will 
become well-rooted so that they will give maximum 
results for the following season. 
Preparation of Soil: The soil should be fairy rich, 
with plenty of humus, such as peat moss or well- 
rotted manure. The Perennial bed should be prepared 
to a depth of at least 12 inches and in a Jocation where 
the drainage is good. Losses over winter of perennials 
is in large part due to lack of adequate drainage. 
Transplanting Perennials: There are some per- 
ennials which spread quickly and try to take possession 
of the garden. These must be divided after a year or 
so and replanted in smaller clumps. Some of these are: 
Anthemis, Cerastium, Sedum, Physostegia, Chinese 
Lantern, Iris, Bachelor Button, Achillea. Others are 
slower-growing and may stand 3 or 4 years before 
bemg divided. These are usually considered more 
desirable, but a few of the other sort is necessary to 
create a quick effect. Among the slower-growing sorts 
are Anemone, Columbine, Delphintum, Geum, Heu- 
chera, Phlox, Peonies, Pyrethrum, Primula, Thalic- 
trum, Tritoma, and Helenium. A few perennials such 
as Dictamnus, Platycodon, Statice latifolia, Babys- 
breath, Helleborus, Baptisia, Lupine, and Butterfly 
Weed are better left permanently, as they resent 
transplanting. 
Winter Protection: A light mulch of hay, straw, 
evergreen boughs, etc., will bring the plants through 
the winter in fine shape. Do not use leaves as they 
become soggy, pack down too tightly, and are liable to 
smother the planes: This mulch ‘should be applied 
after the gound is frozen, usually in December. 
