GARDENING

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 4, 2 October 1922, Page 46

GARDENING

by ACHIMENES

Method in Planting The Garden of Thought

T WAS out walking with a keen garden friend of mine last summer, and we were strolling round having a look at . the gardens in one of the. suburbs. All of a sudden he pulled up, looked at a very beautiful garden, and then remarked to me: “Now that is what I call a thoughtful garden.” It was not a very large section, butperhaps the frontage was about ninety feet. On one side of the residence there, as a gracefully curved wide drive flanked by a splendidly planted border. _ Along the edge of this border, which was of generous width, was an edging of the charming dwarf polyantha roses in three varieties — Baby Tausendschon, Princess Eva, and Leonie Lamesch. These were all in flower, and the blending of their delicate tints produced a beautiful effeet. Beyond the polyanthus came a double row of bush roses of moderate height, and then at the back were a fine lot of shrubs standing above them and setting them off to per feetion. An easy looking path that one would follow without the slightest desire to make short cuts, led to the front entrance, and the green lawns were set off by borders of flowers about four feet wide. The borders at the back of the lawn immediately in front of the house, were six feet in width and the proportions of these beds struck me as being particularly good. A long narrow bed ran down the other side. It was about five or. six feet wide, and was completely filled with bedding petunias, with the exception of climbing roses, which were splendidly trained all along the fence. The planting of the front borders was excellent. The wide beds in front of the house were filled with giant zinnias reaching a height of some three feet, and in front of these was a treble row of celosia, which made a very striking show, the bold colours going well with the zinnias, while the rich foliage of the celosia hid the lower parts of their taller neighbours, which are often rather scraggy in appearance. One of the narrow borders was planted with a two-feet wide row of phlox, and behind was a triple row of tall asters. The other border was ,planted with pink phlox, and behind them was a triple row of fine rosepink antirrhinums. Every plant in that garden seemed to be in its right place, and my friend’s remark that, it was “a . thoughtful garden” was undoubtedly deserved.

TWHENEVER you intend to plant, ” spend a few minutes in thinking things out. There are far too many gardeners who rush things with their gardens without thinking what the results will be, and those results are too often a muddled garden, which does not please anybody. Tall plants seem to get in front of short ones, in some parts shrubs interfere with the annuals, trees and roses are mixed, and nothing grows really well. - If you carefully study the nurserymen’s catalogues you will find that the heights of the shrubs are usually shown. In most cases the shrubs need the same width as they have height, This may not be quite exact in some instances, but if you follow this rule your planting will be as nearly as possible correct. If you allow, say, an extra foot with the dwarf shrubs you will be nearer still, as some of those that are listed as being four feet high spread to nearly five feet in width, but with the taller varieties this does not so often happen. The planting season is now here, and the greatest care must be taken to set the annuals and perennials correctly. In the long, narrow borders, plant the Iceland poppies at the back, and in front of them a strip of violas, primula malacoides or English daisies. A border of butterfly delphiniums in front of Iceland poppies makes a delightful show, the deep blue of the delphiniums setting off the yellow and orange poppies to perfection, _ Primroses and polyanthus planted in front of primula malacoides make a dainty bed. ; , Phlox in front of bedding petunias look well, and a bed planted with pink phlox or rose-coloured petunias is charming. A bed of pansies can be edged with the small English daisies or a dwarf sweet alyssum. Antirrhinums in separate’ colours can be used with the most telling effect. If the border is a fairly long one, six feet each of these colours will be found to make a wonderful bed. Be sure, if you are planting in this manner to start off from the front with the lighter shades and work back to the darker colours. These antirrhinums are very suitable for planting in the furthest back beds, just in front of the house, as they stand up well, and give the necessary height. In these beds, taller plants, such as the giant delphiniums, arc very suitable. Nemesia in front of ranunculi blend well in colour, ■ and are very suitable, as they come out at the same time. "