Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
Preparing the Flower Garden.

"HE time has arrived when all hardy
trees. shrubs and Towering plants
l. grown under natural conditions
may be set out. The average city yard
has not much room for shrubs. but where
space permits these always give satisfac-
ton, as a selection can be made to pro-
duce Towering effects from March to
October, and many Of them are also beau
tiful by reason Of their brilliant foliage
in the autumn and fruit during the WIN
ter. Generally. however. what are known
as towering plants have to be relied
upon for floral effects in small yards. ana
l wish in this article to principally call
attention to and emphasize the great
value of that class known as hardy
herbaceous perennials. as against those
called bedding plants"
The effects produced by bedding plants
are, at the best, ephemeral. giving
blaze of fiat color for month or two, a
state of things which has been called
annual fireworks"
The character of hardy perenn1als
causes them to be the best suited for a
natural style Of gardening and they are
available for growing in either large or
small gardens. Species can be selected
that are adapted for every situation
where plant of any kind will grow; bare
ground under trees where grass 1alls'
without sun, a stone wall; all these be-
sides other and waste situations can be
made permanently beautiful by means OF
perennialS.
4
Both the shady and sunny side OF the
house may have it's border Of hardy
<l,i ho N
blossom from March to NOvmber. Some
of them are evergreen. and there are
ferns and other things which are beau
tful for their foliage alone. Perennials
may also be planted in front Of the
boundary hedge and of shrubbery. IN
fact. anywhere and everywhere except
in beds cut in the lawn, and every day
in the season something may be coming
into flower.
There is always a freshness in connec-
ton with perennials. A stroll about a
garden where they are used invariably
reveals something new some flower that
was not there a few days before. Dur
ing the whole year there is a reverend
ing interest which tends to invigorate the
brain and drive away ennui.
There is nothing in the usual style OF
bedding plants to approach the beauty
and general charm Of hardy plants. 1t
may be want of properly trained eye
sight, but l have never been able to see
anything beautiful In, for instance. the
large gorgeous beds of cannas Perhaps
the greatest drawback to them Is that
they are always the same; they present
nothing but a gaudy monotonous appear.
ance day after day, which it Is relier
to get out Of ones sight.
X
Compare these with q border OF lovely
things like narcissi. iris, peonies. del
phinium, lilies. columbines. anemones
and legion of others OF a similar ma
ture equally beautiful. In a border of
these we find something new. something
charming and restfpl every time We pass
it and there is nothing to tire the eye.
The charm of association can exist in
perennial garden and one can there form
lasting friendships that cannot be the
case in a garden devoted to ephemeral
bedding plants. If garden Of perennials
is given intelligent appreciation it will
soon grow to have almost human at
mosphere. We meet our old friends each
year with added interest. How We watch
for the blooming of some favorite!
Not the least important fact in support
of the praise given to hardy perennials
is that they comparatively care for them
selves. They grow and give pleasure for
the greater part of the year, die to the
ground and send I'D new growth each