GARDEN NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10599, 7 March 1895, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES.

1 Eaauaoulusoa are really beautiful early | summer flowering plants. The colours are bright and decided, yet almost innumerable I shades are found amongst them. Some j persona like the Persian and turban varieties best, bub I (says a Homo writer) mud; confess to a weakness in favour of the Giant Preach. This variety ia of sturdy j growth, hardier than the others, and com- ! prises singles, semi-doubles, and doubles, j If you want a bright garden, good reader, jgo in for some. Plant them with, claws downward two inches deep and four inches j apart, and give the beds containing them i a good sprinkling of soot. On sandy or i other light soil the best time to plant is November or December, but on heavy, cold soil it had better be deferred till February. A damp situation suits them bast. No ivy is finer for colour than the one named Atropurpursa, which one seldom sees in gardens. ■lt ia very vigorous in growth, clinging closely to the wall, and is remarkably rich in colour. Ths leaves are not large, but they make a dense mass against the wall; and their fine bronzypurple, almost black colour, stands out boldly against the too often poor, sickly variegated kinds. Atropurpurea is an ivy that should bo far more planted for its splendid colour, which remains good throughout the winter months. It is especially rich when associated with the deep yellow-flowered Jueminam nudiflorum, which is a thing of beauty in many gardens. Tin FioUi remarks that the late Thames floods, which have invaded gardens and houses alike, gave the swans ample opportunity of extending their excursions, and swimming over garden ground- In a garden near Waysbury, whore the proprietor had recently * planted a considerable! section with Dutch bulba, a party of swans, after propectiag for spoil, came upon tlui bad of bulbs, and then, hyacinths, narcissus, tulips and crocus ail wont one way. The birds rooted about until probably not a single bulb was left, and then retired.