AUTUMN FLOWERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6064, 30 December 1897, Page 1

AUTUMN FLOWERS.

The advantages of many of the autumn flowering plants for beds and borders are set forth by an English writer, as follows: — The merits of Papa Gontier rose, as one of the very best autumn flowering kinds, have often been mentioned, and at the present time a bright bed is one in .which occasional plants are rising from a carpet of heliotrope. The plants are as full of buds in different stages at the present time, or even more so than I have had them all the summer. Certainly the delicate tints are not so pronounced as when there was plenty of sunshine. Tlie buds not only, however, afford a pleasing contrast against the heliotrope, but are very acceptable as occasional buttonhole flowers. A fine combination at the present time is afforded by good bushes of Salvia patens, set thinly on a carpet of Centaurea candidissima, and, given exemption from frost, this bed will be bright until autumn is well advanced. From a flowering standpoint this Salvia is no better .than other varieties. It is the colour that is the chief attraction, being met tf ith in few plants suitable for outdoor work, and the scarlets make good beds, but then one gets the scarlet shade in so many different species, and in heights varying from one to six feet. Portions of beds intended for this Salvia should always be deeply dug and fairly well manured, as it does not flourish in poor soil. In exposed situations it is liable to be blown over with high winds, and should therefore be lightly staked and tied on the appearance of the flower spikes. Two of the very finest autumn beds 1 have seen this year are filled with dahlia flambeau. Afewwhite Marguerites were planted with them ; but the dahlias have quite monopolised the whole of the beds, and at the present time are simply a mass of flower. Can any reader say where this dahlia originated, and where it caa be obtained ? I cannot find it in any catalogue. The idea as to the association of white Marguerites with this glowing mass of scarlet, is a very good one, only the dahlia must be. planted thinly, as, in addition to its ' extraordinary freedom of flowering, it is of vigorous growth, and throws the flowers well above the foliage. The dahlia beds are, as mentioned above, exceptionally fine, and for a mass of colour could not be beaten. Equally effective, however, and still more pleasing are big groups of Anemone japonica rubra and alba. So far as my own experience goes, I cannot coincide with the opinion that gives the newer Lady Ardilaun as more free than aiba. The flowers are certainly larger, but it is absolutely impossible to have them produced with greater freedom than has been the case this season with the old white. All forms have, however, flowered splendidly this year, and as they were earlier than usual the display has been very fine and well sustained. Rubra is the best form to group with the white, the colour being deeper than in the better known rosea. Pompon chrysanthemum Flora has been noted as a good autumn flower and T saw it in capital form the other day as a foreground to bold groups of Lobelia cardinal^. The group was on a slope with i shrubbery behind, and the contrast was very effective, and on the same slope ■ was an equally effective association, viz., . the white Japanese Anemone facing Primus Pissardi. This association of late flowers , with autumn foliage is well worth noting in all planting operations, as in addition to those already named such things as chrysanthemum maximum and C. uliginosum, the various forms of helianthus, and nearly all the starworts show to advantage against respectively light or richly , coloured foliage. Many shrubs at this season of the year are very brilliant, and , their beauty is enhanced by the contrast with the flowers. Again, autumn beds may be strengthened, where facility is afforded by natural surroundings, by plauting certain things in partial shade and thereby retarding the flowering season. I have an instance of this to hand at the present time (Oct. 1), ir. the shape of some fine spikes of Lilium auratum. the bulbs of which were dotted about last spring in a bed of hardy azaleas that are screened from the sun the greater part of the day by surrounding trees ; also in some bold groups of Montbretias in a similar position. The idea has the effect of introducing variety at a season of the year when flowers are naturally represented by only certain families. Among shrubs in flower at the present time is Choisya ternata, a plant that ought to be much more frequently seen in gardens. It is easily propagated from layers, and grows freely ia light, poor soil.