The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS.
Some of the Plants Always to BE
Found in GrandmOthe Garden.

Home and Flowers.
London pride deserves a place in all bor-
ders where brightness is needed, and the
Sweet William is still one of our best hardy
early blooming plants.
remember that grandmother always took
a handful of pinks ito meeting with her
in pink-time. When they were gone, arte-
misa took their place in the Sunday posie
Southernwood, they were called in those
days. In some localities it was known as
"Old Man." The significance of this name
could never learn. Its pungent, spicy frag-
rance had a refreshing quality in it. used
to fancy it had the ability to ward off a
threatened headache. if used in time 1t
grew to be quite a bush, and would be a
great addition to the border of to-day. for
its f1nely-cut foliage is attractive, and there
are but few who do not like its odor 1t is
still plentiful in country gardens, where
roots of il can be obtained in any quantity
for the asking. Another plant that seemed
akin to 1t was chamomle So far as / know
this has been lost sight of. 1 have not seen
IL Ior good many years 1t was of creeping
habit, soon covering quite space of ground
with carpet of bright green foliage above
which its little white flowers, quite like
miniature daisies in form and color, were
held to attract the attention of the gardens
nal virtues, In the opinion Of old ladies, and
quantities of 1t were gathered and hung
up In the attic every season, along with
boneset and thoroughwort and smartweed
Nearly all old gardens had their clumps
or peonies, and all, so far / can remem-
Der them, were alike. They were great GRIM
son flowers globular as to form and profuse
as to petal strong old plant would often
form mass of stalks and foliage a yard
or more across, and bear a hundred flowers.
The peony was the showiest of all garden
fnu-lrS IN dove o,,l t.
celled in that respect. / know of clumps
which were planted more than a hundred
years ago, II the unwritten records of fam
lily history can be depended on. and they are
as vigorous to-day when first knew
them score of years ago. The peony was a
favorite in those days and il is fayorite
still, and its popularity is well deserved
For borders, where il can grow to large d.
mansions, 1t is one of the best of all hardy
flowers. Give 1t a rather heavy soil, which
should be we'll manfred each season, keep
the grass away from 1t, and 1t will take
care of itself after that. Nowadays we have
scores of Varieties, ranging from pure white
to darkest crimson, with many intermediate
shades of pink and rose and carmine and
all are beautiful No flower is of easier Gull
tive-ion, and no flower gives greater salts
faction. 1t Is among herbaceous plants what
the lilac is among shrubs. If you own
garden, and 1t is without peOnies, you are
not living up to your privileges.
The hollyhock was always favorite flow
er with our grandmothers. In their day it
was quite unlike the hollyhock of the pres
ent time. Its flowers were single They
were red and pink and white, as a general
thing, with now and then an intermediate
shade They grew TO a height of seven or
eight feet, each plant sending up several
stalks from its strong roots. In those days
ii was a long-lived plant The modern holly
hook is dwarf in stature, weak in consti-
tuition and short-lived. 1t has fine double
flowers. of many colors, but its beauty has
been gained at the expense of vitality Beau
tiful as 1T is. 1t lacks the dignity which
characterized the old type, and am glad to
know that some gardeners who have an eve
for real beauty are making of the old
varieties In groups on large lawns and in
prominent places with fine effect know of
no perennial plant with greater decorative
possibilities. i can we'll remember when the
first double hollyhock was introduced into
our neighborhood. 1t attracted great atten-
ton, and its owner was besieged with ap-
plications for seed from it, or a root In those
days comparatively few persons bought
plants.