THE CHARM OF THE GARDEN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1931, Page 5

THE CHARM OF THE GARDEN

HINTS FOR THE ENTHUSIAST. LECTURE AT VICTORIA LEAGUE. With the broad table in front of him covered with a richly-coloured mass of autumn shrub cuttings, Mr. V. C. Davies kept a large gathering of enthusiasts keenly interested in his Victoria League talk on “The Garden” at New Plymouth last night. Mr. Davies had a host of hints for garden lovers, but nevertheless he had to respond to a bombardment of questions at the conclusion of his talk. He was going to give not a lecture but just a talk, said Mr. Davies. A house, whether a humble cottage or%a pretentious dwelling, remained unhomlL like and lonely without a garden. Suri round it with living plants and flowers of glowing colours and it became a joy. There were, however, gardens and gardens. They all knew the flower pa.tch where plants were jostled together without harmony and order, where choice flowers struggled against odds to display their perfection. Almost as bad from a garden lovers’ point of view was the stiff and formal garden where everything was precise and charm was lacking. Orderliness was necessary, but formality had to be avoided. The object of his talk was to consider how the elusive charm of the garden could he secured for every month in tho year. August was the month above all others when the garden called one. Everything wa,s bursjjng into renewed life and one’s, first thought was for bulbs—the real emblems of spring. The narcissus took pride of place, and there were also crocuses, anemones, ranunculi, freesias and laehenalia. Early shrubs, too, were corning into bloom in August, while iu the herbaceous borders violets and .primroses were in full bloom. September followed with choicer varieties of late narcissus and the addition of hyacinths and tulips. Among the shrubs the azaleas, flowering cherries, rhododendrons, wistaria and brooms were all a mass of colour. Perhaps no month gave such a wealth of colour and fragrance as October. Sprint was at its zenith, the days were mild ‘and gardens a source of endless delight. There were the bronze maples and° copper beeches in addition to the azalea mollis among the shrubs, and perennials included amaryllis and spider lilies. November, the' month of roses, also had a great wealth of shrubs, with ncmesias, °p a,isi<;s and salpiglossis blooming freely among the annuals. They °desircd flowers probably more in December than any other month, but it was a difficult period. Japanese irises, with their large clematis-like flowers, and aquilegias vied with each other, and one must not omit the ponutukawa with its wealth of crimson blossom. Dahlias were in their prime tor January and February, and there were also delphiniums in all their beauty, and aster, the queen of summer annuals, quickly coming to perfection. March was a gay month in the garden with'its ' many annuals.

April, said Mr. Davies, was chrysanthemum month, and he thought it was difficult to surpass the glorious autumn flowers. Add to them the vari-tinted Japanese maples and liquidamber or scarlet viburnum berries, and the effect was recompense for the lest summer. May, June and July were the hardest months for the garden, but shrubs continued to save the garden from any drabness.

To those who were building a home Mr. Davies would suggest that they take care to have the garden on the sheltered and sunny side of the house. It was certainly not desirable to lay out the grounds before building, but he thought hedges should prime consideration—shelter was the jfirst essential to successful gardening One should always allow room for grass, whether a spacious lawn or a narrow strip, and shoukl have shade trees for a source of summer days, J The gardener dould derive a great deal of pleasure fj’qm planning the layout. A great variety was not essential, but it was nSeessary to pay attention to eolour-grcfeiping and arrangement. A dark greqfe hedge, in front of < which could be interspersed Japanesef'brbnze maples and the gorgeous orange arid flame shades of azalea mollis, a splendid combination. A* rhododendrons with lilacs and kalmia'was another fine colour scheme. There*«were many little touches that added charm, said Mr. Davies. Plant daphne, Jticulia, boronia, or mignonette near the door and the whole home was perfumed; have rosemary, lavender or verbena near front gate and visitors would take a fragrant memory away.

“If you desire success,” said Mr. Davies, “see that your soil is good, that most plants are cut back after flowering, and that tljyre is plenty of shelter from westerly dud southerly winds for all tender planM, and roses.” Every hour spent in garden would repay handsomely. In '"beautifying their, own gardens they were., rendering service not only to the aqd district, also to the -

Mi’s. P. C. Davie, on behalf of those present, thanked Mr. Davies for hi? address. ’