Flowers...

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1947, Page 2

Flowers...

Winter evenings by the fire give the gardener an opportunity to look into catalogues and order trees, shrubs, and perennial plants; also to plan changes in the garden. A plant that you have not tried before always gives an added interest. Plere are a few suggestions. A cherry tree looks well with its branches hanging over the lily P cl^ d Double flowering cherries, and the beautiful deciduous magnolias like a good, rich, rather moist soil, and shelter from strong winds. They look well against a background of evergreen trees, and are charming bordering ? stream. The yellow kowhai also likes a rich, moist soil. It looks well on the bank above a stream. Azalias are fine shrubs for bordering a partially shaded walk, and they are at their best planted along with deciduous trees, such as oaks, maples, pink, white and rose double-flowered peaches. Azaleas dislike lime, and are difficult to establish in heavy clay soil. The same may be said of rhododendrous. In warm, sunny, sheltered, frost-free positions, plant hibiscus, luculia, bouvardias, poinsettia, lasiandra. bougainvillea in well manured ground. On that dry bank on the sunny side of trees, that is not watered in the

summer, plant flag irises; also clumps of tingitana irises, watsonias, agapanthus, and ether bulbous and bizomous plants. In the partially shaded part of the garden between ponga ferns, shrubs, or trees, plant camellias, hydrangeas, fuchias, ceanothus, Japanese balsam, and fibrous rooted begonias. On that windy hillside try veronicas, coloured tea trees, pittosporums, panax, nerium, protea, viburnum, cydonia, japonica, lantana sellowiana, rosemary, callistemon. buddlea, cotoneaster, pyracantha, and the phoenix palm. It is not a good time to plant out annuals, except in most sheltered positions. Keep the ground forked over between plants whenever the weather is sufficiently dry for working the soil.

It is not too .early to prepare the ground for a spring-sown lawn. The soil should be allowed to consolidate for a few weeks before sowing. Rake over the area frequently, and chip out any weeds that come through, so that you can make a start with a clean soil and a fine surface tilth.