Plants with Flowers in Shades of Red.
Kniphofia.—Torch Lilies. The old Torch Lily of the cottage gardens has been superseded by some of the new hybrids. One of the finest of the group is K. Burchelli, with purple spotted stem. K. nobilis is another beautiful variety. Except in quite sheltered situations Kniphofias should be protected with a covering of ashes or dry litter during winter.
Lilium Chalcedonicum.—One of the hardiest of the lily tribe. The colour is exceedingly rich, and the effect of the clustering flowers on the tall stems is remarkably handsome.
Papaver Orientale.—Oriental Poppies. Too well-known to need comment. They should be in every herbaceous border.
Lychnis.—Another old-fashioned flower, giving glowing spikes of colour. In a rich sandy loam it attains a large size.
Monarda Didyma.—Bergamot. An easily grown plant, with flowers produced in whorls.
Tritonia syn. Montbretia. In addition to crocosmiflora which is generally grown, such kinds as Etoile de Feu, and Phare should be included. The whole group is very charming, resembling as they do miniature gladioli.
Gladiolus Brenchleyensis, and hybrids, of which there are innumerable varieties, should be found in every garden.
For the front of the border the following are valuable.
Mimulus Cardinalis.—Monkey Flower. This showy plant does best on a moist border, and should not be planted if the situation is dry and parched.
Lychnis Viscaria.—German Catchfly. The variety splendens is the best, as being brighter in colour than the type.
Dianthus Barbatus.—Sweet Williams.
Agrostemma.—Rose Campion. Well-known hardy plants, suitable for the border. The best variety is A. Walkeri, with compact flowers of great depth and richness.
The above lists do not include plants with flowers in shades of pink, mauve, rose, purple, violet and other elusive hues. These, however, must be used in conjunction with the more pronounced colours to produce the best effects. In order to avoid discord, red flowers should not be grouped near those in shades of blue, purple or lilac. The warm colours are easily arranged, and beginning with pink, may pass to rose, crimson and finally scarlet. Following these comes a procession of yellows, from orange to pale sulphur, when an opportunity occurs for introducing flowers in shades of mauve, lilac and violet. Blues are best approached by pale yellows and creamy whites. However no absolute rules can be given, the matter being one for the exercise of good taste and an eye for colour.
CHAPTER IX
PLANTS FOR ALPINE, AQUATIC, AND BOG GARDENS
Whilst every garden, no matter how small, should contain its herbaceous border, well stocked with hardy perennials, only a comparatively small number will admit of those delightful features, the bog, aquatic and alpine gardens. For this reason I shall not attempt to give more than a brief list of the plants suited to each. In a book which attempts to outline all, or at any rate the chief points connected with garden design, consideration of individual sections must necessarily be brief. I have endeavoured to mention all the most deserving plants in the following lists, but for further and fuller information the reader is advised to consult a work specially dealing with the particular “garden” in which he is interested.
A list of deserving plants for inclusion in the alpine garden:—
| Gentiana | Erigeron |
| Scilla | Linaria antirrhinifolia |
| Soldanella | Muscari |
| Anemone Pulsatilla | Iris pumila |
| Veronica | Linum narbonnense |
| Aubrietia | Dracocephalum |
| All with blue or purplish flowers. | |
| Saponaria | Bulbocodium | |
| Colchicum | Mesembryanthemum (not hardy) | |
| Silene | Tunica saxifraga | |
| Armeria | Daphne | Menziesia |
| All with rose or pink flowers. | ||
| Alyssum | Oenothera |
| Cheiranthus | Linaria dalmatica |
| Ranunculus | Genista |
| Narcissi (Queen of Spain, etc.) | |
| All with yellow flowers. | |
| Saxifraga | Silene |
| Iberis | Asperula |
| Sanguinaria | Galanthus |
| Leucojum | Linnæa |
| Arabis | Helleborus |
| Cyclamen | Cerastium |
| All with white flowers. | |
In many places there are pieces of rough marshy land, unsightly through neglect, filled with sedges and rough tussocky grass, which might, with the expenditure of a little trouble, be converted into charming bog and water gardens. There are such hosts of delightful little plants, which thrive only in thoroughly moist situations, and are, therefore, but seldom seen in English gardens, that an opportunity for growing them must not be lost. Bog plants are many of them diminutive, but there are few which are not interesting, and to know them a little is to desire their further acquaintance. The same may be said of aquatics, though these belong to a very different class. Anyone who has seen the gorgeous water-lilies, which have been steadily finding their way into English ponds and tanks during the last few years, must realise that a water garden is worth making for their sake alone.
A LILY TANK
The following plants are suitable either for growing in the water itself or for grouping on the margins of ponds and streams:—
Nymphæa.—Water-Lilies. The beautiful hybrids, which are associated with the name of M. Marliac are by far the most handsome of available kinds. Among them the Canary Water-lily (N. M. chromatella), with reddish brown leaves and soft yellow flowers, darkening to the centre, is very beautiful. N. Robinsoni is another fine variety with rose-coloured blooms, abundantly produced. Our own native lily (N. alba) flowers early, and should be in every collection, but the variety rosea is a shy bloomer, though the colour is extremely pretty. N. tuberosa.
Aponogeton.—The Cape Pond-flower. A pretty water plant, the flowers are white and delicately scented. It requires fairly deep water, and does best in a warm district. A. distachyon.
Villarsia. Yellow Buckbean. Small lily-like leaves, and a profusion of yellow flowers.
Stratiotes.—Water Soldier. Interesting on account of its foliage.
Shallow water is needed for the following:—
Typha Latifolia.—The Common Bulrush.
Sagittaria.—Arrowhead. Handsome plants with white blossoms and arrow-shaped leaves.
Caltha Palustris.—Marsh Marigold.
Pontederia.—Pickerel Weed. Graceful foliage, with spikes of blue flowers.
Butomus Umbellatus.—Flowering Rush. Bears umbels of rosy flowers.
Menyanthes Trifoliata.—Buckbean. Grows freely, the scented white flowers being faintly suffused with pink.
A few good plants for localising in marshy ground on the margin:—
Iris Kaempferi. The Japanese Flag. A more strikingly beautiful subject for the position could scarcely be found. The swordlike foliage, and large handsome flowers render it especially noteworthy.
Gunnera.—Prickly Rhubarb. Noble plants, with immense fan-shaped leaves. They should be slightly protected during winter.
Osmunda Regalis.—Royal Fern.
Spiræa Palmata. Fine foliage. The flowers produced in dense clusters are a soft rosy pink.
Arundo Donax.—The Great Reed.
Buphthalmum Speciosum. A handsome plant with heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are yellow with dark centres.
Gynerium Argenteum.—Pampas Grass.
Lythrum Salicaria.—Purple Loosestrife. This is the well-known showy plant of the country streams. For garden culture the improved variety roseum should be grown.
The plants enumerated above will make an interesting collection for the water garden, others can be added from time to time. The great point to be observed is the proper regulation of plants of varying growth, so as to prevent overcrowding. Water gardens are frequently made and filled with interesting subjects, but owing to neglect the coarse growing plants are allowed to monopolise the space and crowd out those of shyer habit.