The sun., 1919-05-04

OF Colu frames, Dut merely n little IN
telligent consideration of their require
ments. have come into favor again.
perhaps, some one will happen along
with a name that will fittingly de-
scribe these new, old style gardens.
Perennial garden" is not entirely ac-
curate because We need some ANIMALS
in it to fill up the gaps when such
plants as the gorgeous Oriental pop
pies have had their little day and
ceased to be-for the time being any
how. "Old fashioned garden" is surely
misnomer when one thinks Of the
improvements that the horticulturist
has effected by cross breeding and
otherwise with many OF the plants
used to-day. Real arlstocrats these
liable to turn up their noses at their
humble progenitors and be resentful
at being dubbed "old fashioned" Old
fashioned indeed. Are not some of
them-the gorgeous iris. the stately
peony and the summer blooming phlox
numbered among the latest produc-
lions Of the hybridist?
The "hardy garden" Is all right as
far as it goes, but does not entirely
comprehend all the plants that It is de-
sirable to include in the type of garden
we are considering. If none but hardy
plants were included we would be
forced to reject our old and worthy
friends the dahlias and many others
which most assuredly have won a
place in the "old fashioned garden
The "herbaceous garden" will not do.
partly because We sometimes need
trees or shrubs as a background for
our garden. as yet without fitting
, name. and partly because "herbaceous'
sounds pedantic, redolent of stuffy
herbaria, and does not express any
, thing of the feeling with which we re-
. gard these gardens, grateful TO the eye
and fragrant with memories. Rather.
for want of better name, let us stick
to "old fashioned garden" or "peren-
NAL garden" which last, at least, Is
suggestive OF something of perma-
hence on this INITIATIVE and unstable
sphere.
There are good reasons for the re-
vival of interest in the perennial gar
| den, especially when compared with
the claims of the formal bedding SO
much in evidence during recent years.
Formal beds are stiff and forbidding
there is nothing friendly about them.
Think Of what would happen II in a
| reckless mood you were to Gull a nose
| gay (supposing any OF the plutocratic
denizens of formal bed were of value
for this purpose) from a carpetlike
parterre. Think OF the horror of
the gardener at your heretical con-
duct Perhaps the excavations
showered upon the perpetrator OF
| such an act as this would be per-
! fectly Just. for after all 1t is equiva-
lent to cutting a piece from the best
carpet-the design is spoiled in both
| instancesl
Then, too. many of these aggrega-
| tons of formal beds are more likely
| to remind one of a lesson In geometry
! instead of being conducive to the peace
and restfulness that one likes to asso-
! ciate with the garden.
Another objection to formal bedding
| is the plants cannot be set out much
! before the first of June. and just al
the time they are beginning 10 look
their best they have to be hurried in
doors for fear the poor darJings will
| be nipped by frost. Not so with ouI
| perennial garden. With proper man
| agement something of beauty and in
terest may be had in bloom from
March until November. There is moth
| ing monotonous about 1t. The interest
J Ii continually changing with the sea-
sons. In early spring snowdrops, GRO
cuses and the glory of the snow spring
| up to remind us that winter is over
These are followed In turn by the
| rises, ftly termed the poor mans
| OF child; bleeding heart, peonies, inef'
| faceably associated with Memorial
| Day. and then In the plethoric mid
summer days the phlox. golden glow
| the stately hollyhocks. yucca, fox
|, gloves, the plantain lilies, blanket now.
ers, the gorgeous marshmallows and
| the dainty bluebells. AS the days be-
| gin to draw In the great composite
| family has its innings. Tho many
| garden forms of our wild asters re-
| mind US that fall Is coming. These re-
ceive greater appreciation abroad thar