Evening star., 1909-05-01

expanSe and area. AS a general rule II
may be said that those evergreens that
attain a height of not more than twelve
feet at maturity are most suitable. Bear
always in mind however. that a stiff.
angular hedge, even of the most desirable
evergreens, does not make a beautiful,
harmonious or artistic background. 1t
is far better to select three or four sorts
and to plant them in wholly irregular
| though symmetrical, style-in clumps
small masses. single specimens or pairs
than to run them In the form OF rigid
rectangle about the place. Here is
suggestion in planting evergreens-put
those having light. feathery foliage In
the darker, more obscure places, and those
the foliage of which Is dark and somber
In the more open spaces. BY doing thus
the general effect is more pleasing; dark
spots are somewhat lightened. while the
measure subdued.
When one does not care for evergreens,
however. there is long list of shrubs
and tall-growing perennials from which
to choose. The following list OF such
plants. for background purposes. was re-
Gently published In Suburban Life; the
plants are here arranged In groups ac-
cording to colors. and the height at ma
turity Is also given:
Red-sweet william. 1s inches; poppy.
Is inches; phlox. feet: cardinal flower,
2 feet: peony. 2la feet: pyrethrum, 2 feet.
Purple and lavender-Hardy aster. Z
fee; bee balms Is inches; blazing star. 2
to feet; ironweed, feet
White-Sweet alyssum, inches: can
terbury bell, 3 feet; German iris. 2 feet;
phlox. } feet: yucca, to feet: Japa-
nese anemone, 3 feet; hardy pinks ls
inches; peony. 2ls feet; pyrethrum, 2 feet;
Yellow-Coreopsis. feet; hardy sun
flowers. 8 feet; gaillardia. IL feet; golden
glow, 8 feet
Pink-Hardy pinks. 1s feet: mallows.
6 feet: foxglove. feet; eupatorium, to
Blue--Canterbury bell , feet; lupine 21a
feet: German iris. 2 feet; speedwell to
3 feet.
Selecting Shrubs.
Besides the above there are the pink,
red and white cosmos. which are among
the most effective Of the ANIMALS for
grouping and background though as
they have to be planted anew each year
they are scarcely to be given serious con-
sideration, while among the hardy peren-
malls Of hardly less merit. though. per-
haps, not so showy as those in the above
list. may be mentioned columbine CO.
hosh. lemon lilies. evening primrose,
golden rod. meadow rue. larkspur and a
host of others. Where one can secure
good roots or we'll started plants a back
ground of hollyhocks form most beautk
full feature for any garden. large of
small: they must be kept from spreading.
however. as otherwise they would within
A choice from the above list will cer-
tainy prove satisfactory, as one can
not go astray i'm planting any Of them
Where the grounds are spacious enough
for selection is afforded. For early
spring bloom. for use in masses, or for
single specimens. there Is nothing better
than forsythia. You have seen. in late
March or early April. shrubs bearing
long streamernke branches of bright
yellow blossoms: there are many of them
about the Capitol grounds. while along
massachusetts avenue. just west Of
Thomas Circle. there is a hedge of the
shrubs. These are forsythias. and the
early blooming habit, together with the
profusion of handsome warm yellow flow
ers borne in long. dropping racemes.
make them about the most useful. as
s Wen as ornamental shrubs for any gar
The oak-leaved hydrangea is another
very desirable shrub. either for ma ssin1
or for individual use. 1t grows to the
helgnt of six feet. has masses Of white
equals In beauty that of any Of the oaks,
The common barberry produces fra
grant yellow blossoms. followed by at
tractive fruit. 1t grows TO the height of
six feet. The purpurea variety has pur-
pie foliage.
Among the many varieties of spirea
one may choose a selection that will give
blooms from early spring until late sum
mer The Thunbergii is white-f1owered
sort blooming late in March or early In
April. Best of the taller spireas is the
Van Houttei. producing white blossoms
In June. while the Anthony Waterer and
Douslasii have red flowers, blooming late
In the summer.
Lilacs Always Popular.
Lilacs are favorites with almost every
one. There are many sorts, single and
double. white and all shades OF purple
from palest lavender to almost blue.
Althea. or rose OF Sharon, makes an
especially symmetrical shrub eight feet
high and produces a wealth Of blossoms.
ranging from purple or deep magenta to
pure white. False indigo grows to
height of six to seven feet and bears
large spikes of indigo-blue flowers.
Redbud blooms in mid-ApriI. before the
leaves start. The flowers are shaped like
small pea blooms and are a purple-red in
color Hawthorns or the common haws
Of the woods, grow to ten or twelve feet
high bear a profusion of white flowers In
May, these being followed by bright scar
let haws in late summer and early au-
tumn.
Magnolia stelata is the earliest bloom
ing of the magnolias. 1t blossoms in