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. | |