In the GARDEN

Northern Advocate, 27 November 1937, Page 14

In the GARDEN

A Garden of Little Flowers.

At this season of'the year, the rackgarden is at its best. In a garden which I recently visited I found the rockery section particularly pleasing. The garden was composed of plants with small flowers, and the whole effect reminded me strongly of old tapestry. In this effect, the rockgarden was particularly outstanding, with its many shades of grey, green and brown foliage, freely sprinkled with tiny flowers, and, here and there, just a corner of a rock showing through. j

I was impressed with the fact that the stones were used to support the plants. The mat-plants were allowed to clamber at will, and other plants could nestle into the crannies and against the larger rocks, as if for protection. In this way, the rocks were used to show off the plants to advantage. and the plants were not used, as they so often are, to show the rocks off at their best.

The intermingling of colours of both flowers and foliage where different species of mat-plants met, was a particularly attractive feature. A brief description of some of the plants found in this “tapestry garden” may help the reader to form a mental picture of what I saw. Aubretia was freely planted and, although the flowers were over, the foliage made an excellent background. Perennial phlox made a mass of bloom and was planted near the convolvulus mauritanicus, which clambered down over the rocks forming the base of the garden. The rocks were also showered with rock rose (helianthemum). The convolvulus has a small lavender-blue flower, while the rock roses are like small single roses in various shades of pink, red and yellow. Nearby, the tiny royal blue star-like flowers of lithospermum gave a beautiful effect on their deep green carpet of leaves, as the plants formed mounds when they completely covered the underlying rocks. The small mauve-flowered mesembryanthemum made many a pretty patch with its grey-green foliage making a very attractive background. Cerastium, with its grey foliage and white flowers, provided the lightest touch of colour, while Ajuga metallica, variety rainbow, supplied deeper tones with its cream and salmon pink splashes on leaves with deep brown and plum background. |

Arenaria, armenia and thymus gave touches of bright green, the former two being also useful flowering species, and the last-named was useful for its scent. The necessary touch of yellow was provided by flowers of the small hypericum. On the shady side of the rockery, a good show was made by campanula muralis, with its masses of violet bells. Near the royal blue lobelia, dwarf begonia made a vivid red splash, and violas helped to brighten the general effect. A clump of linaria alpina and another of heuchera were prominent. The violet blooms of the former and the coral bolls of the latter made a very pretty contrast. The tiny flowers of the pink tunica, and the white flowers of silene, formed showers among plants in many places. The tufts of dianthus foliage are always attractive and, covered with flowers, they looked- beautiful. Blue linum and the rde linum were also there, and the favourite edging plant sisyrinchium along with the lovely violet daisy flowers of the small shrub felicia and nierembergia, another violet-

[BY “TAINUI”.

flowered small shrub. Just for a change from the violet shades, the alonsca in jflnk and scarlet had a lovely corner to itself. Then for a final splash of colour, verbena chamaerifolia, that bright scarlet rockgarden verbena, was just the right plant Tn the right place. I thought as I wandered home that small flowers with neat foliage are truly very charming, and they are not readily damaged by wind and rain.

Tomatoes.

Tomatoes are making good headway and will need some “attention. Un- • wanted laterals should be removed as early as possible, otherwise the plants may get a serious set-back. The plants will also want tying to their supports. Use some soft material such as binder twine or raffia, so. that the stems will not be injured. *, ■ ■■ ; vi Caterpillars are often very troublesome. Arsenate of lead spray is the best remedy.* Spray every part of the plant. Give the plants water only when they want it badly. If the soil has ! been prepared as advised, watering j should be seldom necessary. But if the plants are showing signs of distress through drought, give a thorough watering; but do not water the foliage. Watering indiscriminately during hot weather is inclined to predispose the plants to attacks‘from the many blights to which they are so sensitive. Do everything possible to avoid a steamy atmosphere about the plants. Keep the surface soil lightly stirred, and remove all dead lower leaves from the plants. If the'soil has been well prepared, manuring should not be necessary. The application of nitrogenous fertilisers such as nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, or liquid animal manure, will certainly stimulate growth; but this should be aimed at in moderation. The great thing is to keep the plants healthy. A dressing of wood ashes or superphosphate, or both, is good, and likely to add to the plants’ resistance rather than lower it. But if the plants are standing still, give liquid manure, preferably animal manure. Always follow this with a thorough watering,'or apply the manure during wet weather. If the plants are developing excessive foliage, they may be leaf-pruned, moving some whole leaves, or cutting away portions of the foliage. When the fruit shows signs of setting, see that it is allowed to get as much sun as possible by the removal of obstructing leaves.