The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-14
The following Is tho first Of two
articles on the perennial. or old
fashioned, garden. reprinted by cour-
tesy Of American Homes and Gar
dens."
THERE are few homes. however

THERE are few homes, however
unpretentious, that have not
some part of the grounds avail
able for garden purposes. There may
be only a strip Of soil in front of a
border Of %shrubbery planted for a
screen, but this will make an ideal
bit OF perennial or old-fashloned gar
den.
The charm of the old-fashioned
garden lies, as a rule, In its simplicity
Of design and surroundings. Many
Of us remember the clumps of lilac
and mock orange that formed the set
ting for the gardens of our early
homes, also the clumps of cedars or
OF hemlocks around which grew the
tiger lilies and iris. Afterwards came
the phlox, the Michaelmas daisies and
chrysanthemums.
Each had its natural background to
emphasize its natural effect. That is
why the impression of such gardens
rests always with m The bed Of
luy-of-the-valley that came year after
year, spreading until it came up
through the foliage of its companions
and forming in its natural way an
pndercover for the lilies, columbines,
larkspur, etc., that were to follow,
Is indeed a sweet garden memory.
II you have decided to make an
old-fashioned garden, make a good
start by preparing the ground thor
oughly, working into it well-rotted
mamma and nnrt1y donouod 1nouna nr
other vegetable matter. A garden
border well made is more than half
the secret of success, and in later
years when the plants come to be sep
arated, one will have very little trou-
BILE In the matter Of replanting In
such soil.
When one reflects that peonies, for
Instance, will probably occupy the
Same spot for seven or more years,
one will have an appreciation of the
fact that deep digging is not only
necessary but essential for the well
fare Of the plants. Should the sub
soil be composed of hardpan or clay
It would be advisable to drain it.
While many perennials will stand a
lot Of water, they will not thrive with
wet feet. This Is the cause of a
great many plants being lost every
Winter. 1t Is not the low tempera-
ture altogether, 1t is unnatural ON
ditions.
When border or garden has been
well prepared and given a few days
to settle rake in a good dressing OF
bone meal. October Is the best month
to do your planting. Most Of the
plants are forming new roots at this
time and 500 become established and
will reward you with a good show Of
flowers the next season..
Now for the arrangement Of plants
in the border. 1t is not advisable
to paint in squares or set lines. Aim
to have an irregular outline rather,
planting the taller-growing species in
the background as a rule, still allow
ing some of them to break in between
the lower-growing kind. For in
stance, a clump of peonies will be
taller when in flower than many of
the later Towering plants, while many
Of the phlox, b%occonias, hollyhocks,
and helianthus, etc, will tower above
them later on.
I would advise the planting OF
phlox to run into peonies; hollyhocks
Into aquilegias; larkspur into core
opsls, etc. In this manner you will
have a succession Of bloom and a
broken outline. Many desirable
plants have been added to the lists Of
p%erennials and biennials of recent
years, hardy and free-flowering. One
bf these, auchusa I~talica, drop more
variety, is a genus growing from four
to five feet high with a mass of beau
tiful gentian blue flowers. This
blooms a little in advance of the del
phiniums, frightening the season Of
blue flowers.
II hollyhocks r planted quite
close to the auchusas, they will take
their place later In the season. Dab
las will also serve the same purpose
Another real acquisition to the gar
den are the giant mallow marvels,
growing as high as the %hollyhock In
one season and producing in August
and September a wealth of gorgeous
flowers, ranging from white to dark
red.
have used these in lake an6
stream planting as well as the ordin.
ary border, and they have been JUS
as tloriferous in one place as the 9th.
or. With a background Of hemlocb
or pines they ire seen to better ad-
vantage and their superb flowers are