GARDEN NOTES

Shannon News, 21 September 1926, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES

(BY “LORNA.”) The - Flower Garden. Sow hardy annuals in the open ground, or thinly in seed boxes; the latter is ; the safer method if your garden is infested with slugs and wood lice. Lift and divide any perennials which need attention. Where early dahlias are required place the tubers in sand, - and stand in a w'arm place to sprout. Take tbe side shoots off chrysanthemums and plant where needed. Keep the growth of the autumn sown peas tied, to prevent damage from rough winds. Loosen the soil around the anemones, ranunculus and pansy beds, forking ir> a little manure where possible. Prepare the ground in readiness for the summer annuals. The Vegetable Garden. Attend chiefly to what is heeded for early use. Make sowings of lettuce, mustard, cress and radishes. Make a fortnightly sowing of peas and broad beans. .Sow onion seed for. main crop, also a little carrot seed for'early use. Plant potatoes and antiehokes, cabbage and early cauliflower., " Sow tomato seed in ' heat, also cucumber, melon, pumpkin and marrow. Prepare all ground 'available for main crops. What to Sow and Plant for Summer , Display. First decide the colouring of individual borders and then sow' and plant accordingly. If. a scarlet border should find' favour, plant masses of the scarlet Geum, order Bonfire Salvia plants, or sow th: seed, plant the effective scarlet bedding Begonia as a bordering. If the width of the border allows plant generously in the background with bright scarlet geraniums, with masses of scarlet verbena and alonsoa near the foreground. Plan a sunshine border, and sow sunflowers for the background, clumps of lion’s tail, and golden rod. Masses of tritomo (red hot poker) could bn planted, filling Li with annuals as soon as ready to handle. Masses of yellow Iceland poppies could be used, the lovely cheirknlhus allonii, marigolds, calceolaria,. calliopsis, the orange dimorphotheca, eschscholtsias, yellow geums, yellow alyosum, and gaillardia. For a blue border, provide delphiniums, lupins, cornflowers, erigerons, blue lace flower, blue poppies, blue scabious, linums, campanulas, perennial miehaelmas daisies in blue shades, and lobelia. Whatever colour is decided on choose those subjects for preference, which have a lengthy flowering season, the object being to keep the borders bright as long as possible. Herbaceous Borders. Now is the time to plane and arrange the herbaceous border. With the wide choice of hardy herbaceous perennials available for our gardens to-day it is not surprising that the cult of herbaceous plants is an evergrowing one, and that this phase of modern gardening attracts a continuously widening circle of adherents. Not only does it enable the expense of artificial heating and other essentials in the growing of bedding plants to be dispensed with, but the results are also more pleasing, for even the gorgeous colouring and cleverly arranged effects of the average bedding out become monotonous in their uniformity, and cease to have the same attraction after the first flush of enthusiasm has worn off, wheieas the greater variety, softer beauties, and graceful forms of the occupants of the herbaceous border provide a more .interesting and lasting allurement. By making a wise selection of plants and giving careful attention to grouping combination beautiful living pictures can be fashioned from comparatively little material where space is limited, and where ample space is available the scojie offered in arrangement )*. very wide, for one can specialise in mixed borders, 1 colour scheme borders,' or seasonal borders. In large gardens the latter scheme has much to recommend it,-for it enables one to have a border at its best at varying seasons in w r hich the plants can be left when on the wane, to be succeeded by, some other border.

To plant and maintain in beauty a border with a good scheme of colour is by no means an easy task, and the devoting of certain borders to certain times of the year is a sure way of gaining success. One colour borders are a speciality of present-day gardening, and are very beautiful.. What could be more charming thanthe blue borifer at the height of its season, and if one enters the golden garden, even on a dull day, one gets the impression of going into cheerful sunshine. The grey garden on a summer evening is the acme of restfulness, while the scarlet garden is unique in its dazzling brightness.

Much has been written on the relative merits of mixed borders and colour scheme borders, and while each system has its adherents, it is not wise to dogmatise on this point, for both serve their purpose in decorative gardening, and both-are subject to a wide range of individual taste. A successful colour scheme border ranks high in outdoor decorative art, and given all the necessary attributes, that is s ample space, boldness of design, skill in arrangement, wise choice of plants, and good cultivation, the creation of the most charming and beautiful pictures is possible. More experience and skill are necessary, however, to produce a colour scheme borter than a mixed border, and partial failure in the colour scheme border is much more disappointing- than in the mixed border should not be attempted unless the necessary attributed to success are there. The width of a border is an imports lit factor in its effectiveness, particularly if a colour scheme border is decided on. For a mixed border of miscellaneous plants a width of six or eight feet may be practicable and give good results, but where a colour scheme is to be carried out a

width of at least twelve feet isdesiral/le if its full purpose is to be achieved. It should be borne in mind that in arranging plants to create a definite colour display, one colour running into the other on more or less definite lines, it is the distant view that is the most effective, hence it is essential that ample width should be available to enable the planter to arrange his subjects in massive groups so that they carry their effect to' the distance required. The group should run rather lengthwise in the border than in round clumps or square blocks, as this planting system is much more effective. ■ Moreover, when the border is getting past its best the appearance from the distant view is less broken

when this kind of drift planting is practised than it when block planting is adopted. Care should be exercised to avoid abrupt lines in the division of colours, as the effect is much more pleasing'when an arm of one colour is allowed to run well in to the main arrangement of the next colour. The planting of subjects on rigid lines according to their heights should also be avoided. Plants of medium height should be brought well towards the front of the border at intervals, while moderately dwarf plants should fill the intervals, and at times be taken well back in some positions. The material available for colourscheme planting is ample foV the production of such borders to suit every possible taste and in every range of colour. The Woodland Garden.

At this time of the year the bush garden is at its best. Sheltered from rough winds masses of blue forget-me-nots peep out from unexpected corners, while the delightful scent of violets fill the air, mingled with the sweet, subtle scent of primroses, delighting in their cool moist situations. Clumps of arum lilies are rapidly throwing out flower spikes, while the ferns are throwing out new fronds in beautiful soft green tones. Overhead masses of the love'/" native clematis is to be seen with its wealth of starry white blossoms, which show to per-

fection against the background of evergreens. In partial shade the early rose-coloured rhododendron adds a touch of colour. Under ciduous trees the ground is carpeted with masses of gracefully nodding narcissi. While in sheltered sunny nooks clumps of the charming yellow rush narcissi are to be seen, and the sun seems to shine out of the quaint golden blooms of the hoop petticoat daffodils. Yet another attraction is the masses of heavenly blue of the grape hyacinth, each little bell tipped with purest white, while near by groups of snowflakes show to perfection in their natural setting of green.