FIG. 221. BEDDING-OUT DESIGNS.
Nursery Bed. This is merely a reserve ground or nursery for a large stock of plants of various sorts, such as Roses, &c. One of the first requirements is an easy access to the individual plants, and with the least possible waste of space. This may be obtained by arranging the Beds in regular geometric figures, as shown in Figs. 219 and 220, and, by exercising a little care and taste, the whole can be so contrived as to present an ornamental appearance.
We are indebted to Messrs. Cannell and Sons for the diagrams of Bedding-out designs shown at Fig. 221, which may be made very effective:
Bed A. This Bed may be planted with the following: Summer-flowering: 1, Gain's Yellow Calceolaria or Ageratum Lady Jane; 2, Geranium Vesuvius or another scarlet; 3 and 4, Viola Blue-bell or Purple King Verbena; 5, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum, or Antennaria tomentosa, white foliaged plants. Summer Foliage: 1, Coleus Verschaffeltii; 2, Centaurea ragusina compacta; 3 and 4, Mrs. Pollock Geranium; 5, band of any of the Echeverias, or Kleinia repens.
Bed B. Plants mentioned for A will do for this.
Bed C. This is really intended for a Carpet Bed. 1, Alternanthera amabilis, with a narrow line of amœna for the edge; 2, Mentha, or Herniaria glabra; 3, band of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum. Flowering: 1, Any kind of Scarlet Geranium; 2, Golden-leaved ditto; 3, Blue Lobelia (edge). Spring: 1, White Arabis; 2, Myosotis dissitiflora; 3, Golden Feather.
Bed D. Summer: 1, Pink Geranium; 2, Iresine Lindenii; 3, Golden Feather. Carpet: 1, Alternanthera versicolor grandis; 2, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum; 3, Alternanthera magnifica, edged with Sempervivum montanum.
Bed E. 1, Scarlet Geranium; 2, Pink ditto; 3, Lobelia speciosa; or, 1, Alternanthera amœna; 2, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum; 3, Echeveria secunda glauca.
Bed F. 1, Dracæna, Chamæpeuce, or any other graceful foliage plant for the centre; 2 and 4, Alternanthera amabilis, the divided lines, 6, being filled with Mentha or Echeverias; 3 and 5, Alternanthera amœna; and the outer edge, 7, with Sempervivum californicum. This bed would look well if planted with any of the above-mentioned spring flowers. Spring: Bed might be raised to a mound, and lined out with hardy Sedums, or Sempervivums, placing a larger growing one in the centre; and 2, 3, 4, and 5 divisions may be filled with any spring-flowering dwarf-growing plants.
Bed G. 1, Small plant of Yucca; 2, Coleus Verschaffeltii; 3, Alyssum variegatum; 4, Lobelia pumila magnifica.