Garden

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 7

Garden

(BY "LiORNA.”)

A week’s wet weather has left the garden in a very sodden condition, and all that can safely be accomplished is the pruning of roses and top-dressing the rose beds with manure, which may be dug in later as weather and soil permit. Order any shrubs and seeds that arc needed, and get, seed boxes, labels, and tools in working order. Spring Flowers. A few early spring flowers arc beginning to brighten the garden, but these are only to be found in favoured and sheltered spots. Hence the necessity" of planting shrubs in suitable groups, thereby creating warm nooks, sheltered from cutting winds, where the earliest spring blooms may be looked for. In such places, and near warm walls and sunny corners of (he house, the early varieties of narcissi are blooming, with a few snowdrops peeping forth from among sheaves of grass like foliage. A few beautiful anemones are to ba found, the now St. Bar? strain showing signs of being amongst tho earliest to bloom, graceful, charming little subjects that have come to stay. Shrubby bushes of fragrant wallflower, Sky blue forget-me-not, beautiful violets, and primula malacoides grace these sheltered spots, along with the first blooms from the winter flowering peas. Clumps of the charting hele.horus (Christmas rose) in white, pink and light mauve are just commencing to open their beautiful blooms, all welcome additions of cheer brightening the dreary days of July. In the shrubbery a few early camellias arc opening and as quickly spoiling with frost and rough winds. Tho wattles are blooming freely, giving the garden on the dullest day a cheery sunny appearance. The sweet-sxented buddlea is blooming, filling tlife air with its heavy perfume, while the ericas, some of which are in full bloom, I'onn bright, tolling spots of colour on the landscape. Laurustmis are full of pretty bright buds and fully opened dowers, with the holly trees glistening with bright cheery terries Wild hardening. The term “wild garden” is applied to the placing of hardy plants in places where they will take care of themselves. In the smaller class of garden there may he little room for the wild garden, but in flic larger gardens, where "there is often ample room on the outer fringes of the lawn, or by woodland walks or drives beautiful and charming effects may be created by its means. Many hardy flowers will thrive .better in rough places than ever they did in the mixed border. The wild garden enables us to grow many plants that never attain a place In our “trim garden” on account of their rapidly spreading tendencies, which soon overrun our choicer subjects. In this way we may settle the question of spring flowers, as well as that of hardy flowers generally. Under decidious trees groupings of spring bulbs may bo made, a position where they flourish with no further attention; snowdrops, narcissi and ixias may be planted in such position. Underneath tho shade of the plnus insignis trees the beautiful blue African Lily (Agapanthns umbellatus) will thrive, the delightful trusses of blue flowers showing to great advantage under their shade. This is a plant that takes up a good deal of space in the flower border, but is yet so charming that few care to dispense with it, hut in the position referred to masses of it may be planted with charming effect. Montbretias, which spread so rapidly in the borders, are best consigned to the wild garden, and allowed a free run, also watsonias and the dainty fairy bell. Clumps of t'ritomas (red hot poker) look exceedingly showy, also tho charming trailing variegated periwinkle. Some of the hardy varieties of bearded iris may be placed in the sunny spots, although the iris flourishes in the shade, as far as growth is concerned. Very few flowers are produced; sunshine is essential if plenty of blooms are wanted. In places where there is not too much rough grass primroses, violets and forget-me-nots will run riot, with a wholly natural and charming appearance. IE there arc any damp spots, fill with varieties of the ever effective flax, which may be our nature green, variegated, or the more rare and beautiful dark-leaved variety. The removal of the varieties mentioned from the flower borders to the wild garden will make room for very many more choice and rare flowers, which must receive cultivation, while the woodland or drive will have gained an added charm, and in the course of time will be alive with spring and other flowers. Shrubs for "Walls. If you have a wall in an exposed position in the garden try covering it with virburnums used as wall shrubs. The laurustinus (lucidum) is seldom seen, but it may be used as a wall shrub with great success. The foliage is particularly beautiful, with leaves of great shbstance, and” shining. The flowers, which are larger than those of the common laurustinus, are pure -white, and as a rule it does not bloom until spring. Y. plicatum is also good and covered every year with glistening white blooms, while the common snowball tree makes a iovely picture, especially if clumps of clematis montana are planted near, and as the trees grow- in height this beautiful clematis climbs, and the flowers come tumbling down from above, a charming combination.