Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-26


Plants for Vases.
From Harper's Bazaar
what shall we put in our vases? Is question
which no longer troubles us, for IL there is one
thing more than another about which we have
bought knowledge by experience, it is the selec-
ton Of plants for vases
Nhen, TWO years ago, we first decided to buy
some vases, we intended to get two only-one
very large vase, which was to be placed In the
most conspicuous place on the lawn. where IL
would show Its attractions OF flower and foliage
to the best advantage. and greet the eve of each
visitor on his first approach. and a smaller one
winch was 70 grace more retired situation
out When we came to make selection we found
IT difficult to decide. One vase had this attrao-
tion, another an equally endearing but totally
different charm; that vase We must have because
1t had such graceful standard: this one because
1t had such high and graceful arms; and so on,
until We had taken five, not one of which we
could relinquish; and We returned home with
light hearts and lighter purse.
Inose I'VE vases proved veyttable white ele-
plants on our hands that first year We made
out our list Of plants without thought OF fail
ure, lor our very ignorance saved US from I'M
pleasant anticipations. We selected the yery
choicest plants, for we intended, our vases to be
models or elegance and beauty, and we had
some kind Of an indstinct, half-formed idea In
our minds that they were to be q sort of expo-
nent OF our Individuality and taste Perhaps
they were.
AS soon as the weather would permit the
plants were put out In the vases and accordingt to
our hopes and plans. should have soon filled
them with masses OF flowers and foliage. But
they did not. We covered them IL the sun
seemed too hot, and watered them daily but
LOT all our care, our plants proved failure
which we did not know how to remedy. The
plants which bad filled our mind with visions OF
beauty when we read in the catalogue of the
glories that would cover them I'm their perfec-
ton rewarded our care by dwindlpg away in a
most heart-breaking and unaccountable manner
The Cterode'adrOn bal fotr1i which was to have
been "a Climber OF great beauty" with clusters
OF flowers upward Of six inches in width"
utterly refused to do anything at all in the way
OF mounting the spreading arms which rose a
foot or more about the top of one vase but in
sisted on waving around in sorry, discOnsoate
ana very eXasperating way. Our heliotropes
turned yellow in the most peculiar manner, and
our rex begonias, of which we had procured a
number, because we felt so confident that their
large, richly marked leaves would make a
lovely show OF color, never sported two full
grown leaves at the same time. And SO 1t was
with almost every pant-they withered, wilted,
and died. in O variety of ways but surely
strong suspicion of what the trouble was
began at last to dawn on us. Our ferns seemed
to point their stiff dried stems at US in contempt
because we did not know better than to put
them where they must endure uninterrupted
sunshine, when they should have changed
places with the gerapiums. which were onIy
punches OF green leaves because they were Ia
the shade, for geraniums are regular salaman-
ders, and love to bask all day long in the hot
sun, while ferns care for only few stray beams
We found that no water must touch the leaves
OF the rex begonia Just in time to save one root.
which We removed &c pot for house culture
1t was the LIST of August when we made our
interesting discoveries quite too late. we
thought, to have our vases make a very hand
some show that year; but We determined to
mend matters as far as We could. A little study
and some carefully put questions at the florists
gave us some new ideas.
We pulled up the dead mementoes of our foIly
transplanted such as still had some life in them,
and filled up the vacancies from the flower beds
using even such common flowers as petunias
and blue pansies; and although verbenas and
pbl0r dy'untBl0sada are not considered particu-
larly fitted for vases, we added them and much
to our surprise. our vases did become objects of
real beauty.
Although in our first anxiety to have our
choice plants grow We would willingly have held
an umbrella over them. and. famed them with
our most breezy fan, If that would have revived
them. still, as general thing. one does not care
to devote ones summer leisure to training flow
ers: SO those plants which can take care OF them
selves to considerable extent are decidedly the
most desirable.
I'm each vase there should be plants TO trail
over the edge, plants to vine over the arms or
handles. if there are any. and plants to grow
erect, and make a good display OF flower and
foliage In the center. The situation of the vase
must be taken into consideration when the
plants to ill 1t are selected. III it stands In the
shade, plants which flourish only In the sun
shine must not be used; or IL 1t gets the sun
during the heat Of the day, delicate plants must
be avoided.
The following are good trailing plants for
edging vases: A0aonna crdssif otia. German ivy,
Kenilworth Ivy, Ipomea gr'andit5ora mdrmorata,
and the pretty nolana. All the above will hang
down over the edge Of the vase from one to
three feet, and the first three will stand almost
any amount Of sunshine. Sweet alyssum lie also
desirable for edging vases, and will trail over
the rim for six inches or q foot Lobelia hybs-ida
grdndlford is good variety for the purpose.
For plants to vine up over the arms OF a vase
maur andia. IropOotsnt pe-egrinun Thunbergia
bdkeri and Z. alatd, CdLampeis scdbrd, LophOs-
per-nun scdndens, Torenid bdiAoni and 4.
.totu7aieri, and German ivy are among the best.
For o vase that gets little or no sun. a sword
fern makes a good center and nemophlla ana
browala are both plants having blue flowers
which do well in the shade. GLdueitnn coTnicu-
LdtIm, Artemisia drgented and A. stead'1dnd,
Centd,aed cynlnocd'Pd, and hontgd ndr1tsnd
Udriegdtd are white-leaved plants WHICH Thrive
in sunshine or shade.
The coleus stands sunshine well. and Is good
to make spots OF bright color Inc nowering
begonias do well In q vase where they do not
mucn
iensis are summer blooms, with lovely foliage
and scarlet flowers.
Geraniums stand the heat, and can be used In
large vases. but we do not consider them q
graceful plant and do not like them In vases,
with the exception Of some OF the ornamental.
Ieaved varieties. Heliotropes grow and do wei,
In vases, provided they do not have too much
water.
Some common ANIMALS are very useful In
vases The small-nowered petunias and Phiox
drummonda are particularly desirable because
they require so little room for roots. and will
crowd themselves through other plants to show
their bright flowers on the top. Phlor d,1rn-
mondii can be pruned back to take little room.
or 1t will dwarf itself IL crowded in among other
plants.
He Had No Wife.
From the Philadelphia Call
First Female sympathizer.-"It Is too bad That
poor man Will have to be hung. They can't get q
respite, and the death watch has already been set