DECORATED PATHS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 13

DECORATED PATHS

PLANTS WITH BLOOM AND PERFUME Paved paths, whether of natural stone or of cement, are ideal for enabling one to get about the garden even in the worst of weather, and if the crevices between the stones are planted with fragrant plants the garden will become uoubly interesting. At first one will be troubled with weeds growing between, but with perseverance these may be eradicated by simply pulling them out as fast as thev grow; they will soon become disheartened and refuse to trouble you any more as their place will be taken plantT belter and more interesting The Thyme Varieties The Thyme species are among (he best for tnis kind of planting for the mere pressure of the foot will cause them to fill the air with a spicy fragrance. Thymus serpyllum, the wild thyme, and the garden thyme vulgaris are equally good for the purpose although the latter will need to be drastically cut back each summer to prevent it from becoming too large. There is also a dark-leaved variety azoncus, with purplish red flowers’ that is very elective. The Cheddar pink, Dianthus caesius will provide neat clumps of many shades of pink from me one packet of seed, sending up masses of flowers all the summer. Drop a few seeds of the Virginian stock here and there in the crevices, thinning out the surplus when the seedlings come up. The tiny rock cress, lonopsidium acaule may be safely sown in the crevices at almost any season of the year where it will make neat domes of little green leaves, bearing a profussiuii of lilac or white blossoms. For so dainty and frail looking a plant It is surprisingly hardy and will often give a show of blossom in midwinter when the weather is mild. For this reason it is advisable Io make sow-

ings at intervals in spring, summer and autumn. Little "Cultivation” There is very little trouble involved in "cultivating” between paving stones, just an occasional look over, to pull out any weed which has managed to survive, is all that is needed to keep the paths tidy. When all the rest of the garden is soaked with wet, the paved paths are a pleasure to wander round to enjoy the small plants which are there, perfectly at nome. It may be as well to add that the best way to keep quick-growing plants like the thymes in a dwan condition, and prevent them from becoming too leggy and straggling, is not only to cut the plants back Horn the top, but to lift the plant and cut back the roots also. With thymes the rootstock is sometimes so woody that it is necessary to use the secateurs, cutting away large bunches at a time. The rock roses, too, which are inclined to become leggy, will under this treatment form green cushions of foliage again very quickly. Aubretia and catmint will also appreciate this being done for them, and it is delightful to be able to step out of the house among the growing things whatever the weather.

Willows also take a good share in providing the garden with coloured stems that are definitely ornamental, while leafless in winter. Salix vitellina S. v. Britzensis (the Cardinal Willow) and Salix Babylonica ramulis aureis are three good willows. A stiff, stubby branched shrub that has claimed much attention during the past season is the Syrian mallow (Hibiscus Syriacus). The foliage is a very dark green and the flower buds appear during summer. The flowers may be single ob double and are not unlike those of a hollyhock, smaller, with, however, a tendency to shade off to white l.i the centre. This is a shrub which has been much neglected of late years, which probably accounts for the fact that one rarely sees a young specimen, the large old bushes having existed from the time it was one of the popular shrubs for planting.