HERBACEOUS FLOWER BORDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 158, 24 September 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

HERBACEOUS FLOWER BORDERS

SOME USEFUL PLANTS A border planted with hardy perennials is a source of great delight throughout several months, and provides a blaze of colour from November till March. Much can be done by careful planning to keep the herbaceous border attractive. It is necessary that the border be trenched and freely manured, as most of the perennials are gross feeders, and when once planted need not be disturbed for three years, after which it will be advisable to lift and divide the roots. The best time to plant is September and October. Choose a limited number of good varieties and grow them well. One of the most showy and hardiest plants is the golden rod, or Solidago. This plant grows from six to eight feet high, bearing long-plumed heads of flower a golden yellow colour, and invaluable for cutting. The name Solidago is derived from Solidare, meaning to unite, because of the supposed healing properties contained in the plant. It is a native of North America and easy to cultivate. Plant the roots in clumps of three at the back of the border. No more cultivation is required other than that stated previously, except staking when in a windy situation. Many a beautiful garden picture may be made by the placing of some stately plant by itself in the border. Lilium Auratum or Speciosum with their noble flower spikes and glistening leaves are a good example or the mauve tree Dahlia, with its graceful hanging bells. Other perennials worthy of note are Helenium Bronze and Gold, Campanulus* all shades of blue, Golden Glow, Yellow, Michaelmas Daisy, Scarlet Lobelia, Perennial Phlox and Fenstemons. Delphiniums and Aquiligia. Much also depends on the way the plants are grouped, not only from a colour point of view, but regard must be taken of the time the plants flower so that other dwarf annuals may be intermixed and used for tilling up any gaps. CELOSIA OR COCKSCOMB This hardy summer annual is easily raised from seed, which can be sown in a seed-box filled with fine sandy soil. The seed is round, black and very hard, and so requires considerable heat to germinate. Cover the dox with a pane of glass and keep well watered in a warm spot. The name cockscomb comes from kelos, meaning burning, in reference to the fierylike appearance of the flower.

There are several varieties of Cockscomb, the oldest being the above. Plants may be grown in pots and make a splendid table decoration, the comb or flower lasting for several weeks. Young seedlings should be planted out nine inches apart. Celosia Pyramidalis, or feathered Cockscomb, is an improvement on the old variety. They carry tall graceful plumed spikes, ranging in colours of red, purple and yellow shades. These make stately border plants and remain in flower for several months.