GARDEN & FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7031, 15 December 1932, Page 11

GARDEN & FIELD

Colour in the Borders It is mid-December in tho garden and welcome showers have helped along tho flowers which bloom at this season, wonderfully. Among other things, the orange flame of tho cottage lily, lilium qrocium is to be seen, the glowing blooms being held upright on short spikes. That beautifully scented lily rcgalo is commencing to open, its lovely trumpet blooms, whilo tho madonna lily or Christmas lily in favoured warm spots is also flowering. Tho lily-like spikes of alstromeria aro also with us, and very showy aro their masses of soft orange, toning well with near-by gaillardias. Cooler days havo given the pansies and violas a new leaso of life, and how beautiful those aro when viewed in the mass. Tho blues, inauvcs ar.fl purples of delphiniums are with us, their towering spikes tho most arresting feature of the gardens. Tho fragrance of the carnation once again, fills the garden, together with sweet-peas, lavender, and the over-pop-ular honeysuckle which climbs at will in the wild parts of the garden. Dwarf polyantha ro'ses arc a feature of tho borders, and one great asset is tho longkeeping qualities of the. massed spikes, whoso colourings, as newer varieties como to hand, aro more and moro entrancing. Rose hedges, archways, aud pergolas feature glorious masses of climbing rosos, and on viewing a hedge of these, one is struck with their usefulness, the thick growth, glossy foliage, the low-growing tendency which effectually stops that passing of cold air along tho ground-level common to many so- called shelter hedge's. In tho shrubbery the escallonias are making quite a display in various shades of red, pink and white. In' the rock-garden, tho wild thymes are quite a feature, the yellow of the hypericums, the blue of early campanulas, tho crimson heads of arehilloa lcelwayi, the lemon-shaded flowers surmounting the silvery foliage of archiiIca lewesii, with the glory and splendour of many varieties of mesembryanthemums. Tho beautiful ipomea mauritanicus is a mass of beautiful blue, while its pale pink companion makes a pretty contrast. Massed with pink and white daisies is erigeron mucronatus, a gem for dry spots. Gentian semtifida is a beautiful sight with its clusters of bright blue trumpets, while tho handsome foliage of ajuga motallica is wonderfully effective. Attractive, too, is the prostrate form of the double broom, genista sagittalis, densely packed with its sunshiny flowers. Near the margins of ponds and streams, tho large, open flowers of the Japanese irises are to be seen, the lovely spikes of astibles, with water-lilies afloat on the surface of the water.

Routine Work in the Flower Garden Numerous showers have favoured the planting-out of all thoso things which tend to brighten up the autumn garden. The wise gardener will take all possible advantage of such conditions and refill all bare spaces in every part of the garden.

Continue to plant asters, zinnias, lobelia, salvia, petunia, ageratum, french and african marigolds, nemesia, phlox drummondii, antirrhinums, etc. Sow seed of Iceland poppies for winter and early spring blooms. Attend to tho mulching of choice plants and shrubs.

Complete plantings of dahlias, gladioli and chrysanthemums. Keep all dead flowers gathered from plants, their flowering season will be greatly prolonged.

Cut back hard calendulas, work and manure between, setting in plants of asters, phlox drummondii or any thing that has a fairly short flowering season, as the growth of calendulas will make active growth agaiu with the coming of autumn showers. Sow seeds of anemone,, polyanthus, primrose, ranunculi and seeds of many perennials. See that newly-planted things do not lack moisture. The Vegetable Garden. The next few weeks are among the most important of tho year. At this season we plant and sow those things which are so valuable during tho winter and early spring months. Root crops are well on tho way, and in most cases marrows and pumpkins also, and it only needs to provision the garden with winter greens, celery and leeks to

Specially written for the Times by “Lorna.”

complete an all-tho-y ear-round supply. Both mid and late season cauliflowers should bo planted. Curly Kalo. and purple sprouting broccoli aro indispenible for providing a Constant supply of greens, whilo savoy cabbage is a good standby. A row or two of celery and leeks should bo mado at a monthly interval.

Attend to tho pruning and training of tomatoes. Keep all garden things well hoed, and tho root crops well thinned. Continuo to sow peas and beans, lettuce, and othor saladings; also spinach in a shady, moist spot. Alpines—Some Thymes for the Rock Garden. With experience one becomes more ■and moro impressed with tho extraordinary value and beauty of the various forms of thymus for tho rack garden. They are, perhaps, tho most beautiful of all carpeting plants through which to grow small bulbs, iris reticulata, species of crocus, etc. They make such neat dark green carpets, following the contour of the ground closely in the most beautiful manner. They flower, too, at different seasons. Flowering now is serpyllum coccineus, a native of English downlands, with crimson-hucd flowers. A later development of this is “Major,” dark leaved and flowering later. A most beautiful plant. The pure whito variety, albus, forms a very thick mat, bright green in colour, and a littlo later on will bo clothed with snow-white bloom. The pretty, woollyleaved form, lanuginosus makes a carpet of rare beauty, tho full extent of which is not realised until one secs a massed planting covered with dew. Another later addition is “Annie Hall,” a most lovely thing, with flowers of a delicate flesh pink. Growing near serf yllum coccineus is thymus herba barona, which a collector discovered when sitting on the plant by the roadside and suddenly becoming aware of a delicious smell of seed cake, with the ultimate discovery of its source. It is rather more wiry and does not hug the ground so closely as most other varieties. The leaves aro also more fleshy and deep green. Besides bulbs for growing among tlio above-named plants, tho campanulas are excellent. All the forms of campanula pusilla, that tiny, dainty harebell of the high alps, also C. rotundifolia, white and pale lavender blue, and then again tho forms of C. linifolia, deep purple, lavender blue and white.

Broad plantings of these campanulas and thymes, thoroughly mixed, are not only beautiful, but aTC recommended for making a break among the rocks. Too often one sees the rock garden monotonously studded with stone evenly distributed’in all parts.Two or threo rocks omitted, leaving the space open to bo planted with such plants as described, throws up the other rocks in a remarkable manner.

Thero arc, too., a number of bush thymes which are desirable in a fairsized rock garden. The best of these is thymus carnosus and T. nitidus. The former commences life very like a tiny Irish yew, neat and dark green, but the branches gradually multiply and it assumes the aspect of a forest of Irish yews. The plant blooms, but tho flowers arc not its strong point. Tho latter forms a strong bush, sometimes growing two feet high and as much through, and in October covers itself with a billowy cloud of rosy lilac flowers of great beauty. It has the true thyme scent and can be used in the kitchen. The lemon thymes are of.great beauty in the rock garden. Thymus argentcus with its tiny leaves narrowly edged -with silver, is a pretty sight, and during frosty weather the foliago takes on added pinkish tints, and is one of the most desirable of varigated plants. Silver Queen is another good variety, the leaves being rather larger than argentcus and with a wider margin of silver. Both these silver leaved forms may be grown in small pots, and are then most useful for introducing into the dwelling rooms. A recent addition to tho carpeters is one named serpyllum aureus. This, in summer, is just ordinary green leaved with flowers of heather colouring, but in the autumn the whole plant turns to gold, giving a delightfully sunshine effect wherever it is placed. Those thymes, given good drainage, arc among the easiest of plants to manage, suitable for rock walls, the high and dry parts of the rock garden, as well as being ideal for massing about tho lower parts, around steps, and for crazy paving. Treatment of Aubretias. Most plants have now finished blooming and should bo cut back to within two inches of tho ground. This may sound somewhat draste, but the plants will do well after it, often blooming again during summer. In this way, too, the partly bare, unsightly appearance of the plants is much diminished. If it is desired to increase the plants, take up a Toot which has been cut back in March, divide it carefully, and place the pieces in the nursery garden, transplanting them into their permanent position in May.