THAT DRY PLACE

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 19

THAT DRY PLACE

“Nature provides flowering plants for the hot, dry places of the earth just as she does lor the margins ot the streams. It is for us to select the right kinds for each situation ” (says “Mary Rose,” in ‘Homo Chat’). It is far better to choose those which will resist droughts successfully and bring forth their flowers whatever the conditions may be like. Chief amongst this kind of plant is the antirrhinum, and these simply revel in borders under walls facing south. Almost every color is available, and tho height varies Irom a few inches to 31t or 4ft. Glorious beds can bo made of these in two color schemes, like pink and scarlet, pink and white, and yellow and bronze. Next to these I would place members of the diaiithus family, which includes all kinds of pinks and carnations A lot of people seem to think that carnations are flowers which can only bo grown in the gardens of the well-to-do. It is a mistake, because border carnations will flourish _ with the minimum amount of attention. And n you have never tried them, let me recommend tho annual Margaret carnations for following a bed of wallflowers. The colors are almost equal to the named varieties, _ and the scent is delicious. Sweetwilliam belongs to the dianthus family, too, and they also are suitable for dry places. Other plants which can be grown with success are lupins, helianthemums, ervngium, gypsophila, and aclnloa alpina. For the front of the border you need look no farther than alyssum, arahis, armeria, and aubretia, which gardeners cal! the four As, to provide you with a wealth of color lor months on end. For late summer the perennial sunflowers will give you bright yellqiy, which are excellent for cutting, and then you must have verbascums, because they are so stately. Between these and-the border plants the soapwort will flourish, saponana, the muservmen call it, and the variety Ocymoides with its pretty pink flowers is the host one to get.