Hardy Flowers

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Hardy Flowers

A charming garden feature is an herbaceous border planted entirely with blue flowers. Although there are not many plants whi.ch have pure blue flowers, there are numerous mauve or mauve blues which can be usod. By making a careful selection, flowers may bo obtained for the greater part of the year, commencing with the scillas in early spring and terminating with the bluo Michaelmas daisies in autumn. The following are somo of the best kinds from which to make a choice:— Delphinium, Aconitum Fischerii, Anchusa Dropmore, Campanula persicifolia, Catananche coerulea, Cynoglossum aimibile, Echinops Kitro, Gentinna scmptifida, Plumbago Lnrpentae. Scabiosa Diamond or Blue Cockade, Thnlictrum dipterocarpum, Veronica Shirley Blue, Viola Maggie Mott, Phlox Mrs. Richards, Pentstemon coeruleus, Nepeta Mussini, Linum narbonense and Iris irermanica. These should be planted in largo irregular groups, the early flowering kinds being set toward the back of the border so that later blooming kinds will develop in front of them and hide their dying foliage. Bulbous plants, such as Scilla siberica, S. hispaniea, Chionodoxa Lucillae, blueflowered hyacinths and lavender-flow ered gladioli may a,lso be interplanted to prolong the display. Several shrubs may also be introduced to add variety to the border. The mauve Buddleia variabilis, Veronica Blue Gem, Ceonothus dentatus, Caryonteris mastacanthus, Lilac President Grew, Lavender, Rosemary and the blue-ilowered hydrangeas are all suitable for the purpose. -