A RESTFUL COLOUR SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 20

A RESTFUL COLOUR SCHEME

Violet, blue, and grey make a charming colour scheme for any garden, and one that is decidedly novel. When we consider the number of plants with grey foliage and the delightful manner in which they blend with more brightly-coloured flowers, it seems a pity more use is not made of them.

Those who have never seen globe artichokes used in that way can have little idea of the plant’s artistic value as a background to a herbaceous border. The silvery-grey-green leaves make a most effective hedge, and the handsome rich violet flowers* like immense thistles, combine perfectly with the foliage, and remain in bloom for some time. Moreover, it is a plant which always presents a tidy appearance, provided the stems are securely staked, as otherwise the weight of the flower-heads will cause them to bend down, and probably break. In front of the globe artichokes, or, perhaps, planted alternately with them, can be grown delphiniums, ranging from sky-blue to deep royal blue. Blue lupins, monkshood, and the lovely Dropmore anchusa can also be grown in the background. Just in front of these clumps of iris should be planted in various colours; flag iris, in white and blue, mauve, pale blue, grey, and deep purple, and the bulbous English and Spanish irises, in all their many_ shades of blue and mauve. The Spanish iris blooms at least a fortnight before the English, and is invaluable for cutting. The Dutch iris should also be included in the border. It resembles the Spanish iris in form, ]jut the flowers are larger and earlier, opening about the end of November.

A good deal of grey scattered about the border will add great charm to it. Little bushes of lavender are always attractive. and the cotton lavender, Santolina chamsecyparrissus, will supply another shade of grey. Patches of silvery foliage can be provided by the rose campion. The flowers of this plant are outside the blue and violet scheme, but their colour, which is neither carmine nor crimson, harmonises delightfully with the blues and purples around.

Canterbury bells will make a brave show, if only for a short time, though the flowering period is prolonged if the dead blooms are removed as soon as they begin to fade. This also applies to all the herbaceous campanulas, several of which can be planted in the border. Huge-clumps of Veronica spicata are very lovely, and should be grown near pale blue campanulas to tone down the brilliant violet blooms, and make a pleasing contrast between spike flowers and cup-shaped blooms. Plants of the hardy_ blue geranium, nr crane’s-bill, are effective near the front of the border; though the blossoms are short-lived, they are produced very freely for the greater part of the summer, and towards autumn the dark green foliage changes to gold and crimson. \ ' The royal blue Convolvulus minor can be grown on a trellis Kt one side. The yellow-rayed flowers only live a day, but the plant always opens fresh ones every morning, from which it gets its American name of Morning Glory. Among the many annuals which cun be grown in a violet and blue colour scheme are the annual larkspur, with blue and lavender flowers, and the fragilelooking blue flax. Both have very light, fegthery foliage, which lends grace to the plants of stronger growth. Purple and mauve stocks and asters can be put into any bare spot that appears in the late spring or early summer. Blue and purple flowers arc not, as a rule, very heavily scented, and this border will lack that perfume which adds so much charm to every garden unless nightscented stocks and heliotropes arc freely planted wherever there is space. There are almost too many violet and blue flowers for the foreground. From early spring to late autmun a succession of bloom can easily be arranged, beginning in August with purple crocuses, Iris reticulata, scillas, chionodoxas, and muscari, and ending with dwarf Michaelmas daisies and autumn corcuseg in April. Blue forget-me-nots and pansies and violas of every shade of purple and mauve can be massed at the edge, with cushions of rosy-flowered thyme. Nor must the catmint, Nepeta Mussini, be forgotten. Its delicate mauve flowers and grey stems and leaves have a very soft, hazy effect among the other plants. iShould it be desired to ’ introduce any other colour to the violet, blue, and grey garden—and what artist does not? —then yellow should be chosen. A group of yellow Spanish-irises may be planted among the blue varieties,, while near the edge some eschscholtzias will give grey-green foliage and yellow blossoms. In the background, near the silver-grey globe artichokes, just three or four sulphur-yellow evening primroses will introduce a welcome note of colour-'in the twilight. Among other grey-leaved plants, the artemisias may be mentioned as providing much material. The familiar Old Man, or Lad’s Love (A. abrotanum) is well known, while a more silvery-leaved kind is the wormwood (A. absinthium). As an edging or front row plant. A. stelleriana is a good kind. Aanother good grey-leaved edging plant is the Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum); where something neater is desired, Antennaria dioica and A. tomentosa can bo grown. A charming‘pale blue edging subject is the dwarf Campanula cffispitosa, while others of purple tint, but equally suited for pathside positions, are C. muralis, or portenschlagiana, and C. fragilis. As a front row subject .to raise from seed Phacclin campanularia, with blue blossoms of campanula-like form,_ should not be orcrlooked. —P. H. A., in Amateur Gardening.