Evening star., 1936-05-25
GEORGETOWN.

Dear Sir: I've wanted to write you
for long time and tell you how much
I've always enjoyed your columns In
were birds and flowers.
"I am writing to ask If you will be good
enough to tell me what flowers I could
plant along two sides of o driveway
about 40 feet long. What can I plant
that will grow and bloom each year?
Besides peonies and tulips7 Also. do
you know Of fast-growing vine could
plant over an arbor?
Il would greatly appreciate reply
when you find 1t convenient. Thanking
you, r. L. M.
"P. 81 realize you are not in the
gardening business and are not sup
posed to answer personal letters Of the
kind. but the truth is I trust your tudg-
ment in this more than could trust any
one else I mean simply-I know you
know about such things even better
than some experts whose articles I've
read"
Letters such as this open up vistas Of
gardens.
They take US right In amid growing
things of the earth and present US with
the pleasant problems Of the back yard.
Only in this case it probably is q side
yard, but 1t doesn't make much differ
ence, for the problem Of plant selection
is always interesting, wherever found.
If we had forty-foot driveway and
wanted something nice on each side of
1t, we believe we would use German
(beardeO iris and tawny daylilies.
The daylilies, being taller, could be
placed in the center Of the long beds
and the iris on either side
If third and lower plant were desired,
Phlox subulata, which comes in several
colors, could be used as an edging. Dwarf
ageratum ian annuaD might be used,
but does not meet our correspondent s
requirements.
If one side of the driveway runs close
to the house, as is often the case, the
daylilies should go on the inside, or
house side, then the iris and then the
phlox. These are all perennials. The
leaves of the iris should be cut of in
the Fall. preferably, but can be left on
and will look good all Winter unless
the latter is severe.
1t is best to cut back the tops of the
daylilies after frost injuries the leaves,
but it is not absolutely essential. Iris
leaves will get yellow in Autumn if severe
frosts visit them, so it is usually best to
trim them back to within few inches of
the ground and apply lime or bonemeal.
These help daylilies, too. Use no manure
on this border.
The tawny daylily (hemerocallis)
blooms in July, so the border will not be
f1owerleSS after the grand splash of the
German iris. The little phloxes are an
early Spring bloomer. We believe this
border will do as well as most, consider
ing its limited number Of varieties.
*x*
Clematis paniculata is a nice vine for
an arbor in almost any situation.
Among the rose vines the DR.. Van
Fleet climber still is one of the very best.
Its only drawback is its luxurious
growth!
Usually this punches on the top of
an arbor, where it is difficult to thin it
out or to spray for the inevitable aphids
which get on the plant in June.
Aside from these slight difficulties the
DR.. Van Fleet is one of the very best
climber selections. Surely it is grand
old rose, not only for leaf and flower, but
also for hardness and general all-around
health and satisfaction.
One must be patient with vines. Many
of them, though heralded as quick
growing" and sturdy, are far from it in
actual practice There is a great diff
ference between theory and practice, as
every one knows.