effects of beauty in the spring garden, for a complete enumeration
would occupy many times the amount of space at disposal. There is,
however, one other bulbous plant which should be included in any
collection of spring flowers, the Erythronium or Dog's Tooth Violet.
The beautiful European species, _E. dens-canis_, has been grown in
England for nearly three hundred years, and, in light soil and an
open sunny site, produces its rose coloured flowers with freedom. The
more recently introduced American species are equally worth growing.
Spring is the great season for the flowering of bulbous plants for
the very obvious reason that only plants with an accumulated store
of last season's solar energy can produce flowers so early in the
year. For like reason it is that the thick-rooted primroses and other
species of primula are such early bloomers. The hybrid primroses
(mostly descendants of _P. acaulis_ and _P. altaica_) often produce
their variously coloured flowers long before the native _P. vulgaris_
begins to bloom. The primroses rejoice in moderately rich soil and
partial shade. It is well to divide and replant every two or three
years--especially in the case of the pretty _P. rosea_. In July it is
a good plan to top-dress them with a fine and well rotted mixture of
manure, leaf mould and loam. Most of the primroses are easily raised
from seed, sown as soon as ripe in light soil kept shaded and slightly
moist. The old double primroses cannot of course be raised from seed,
and are by no means so vigorous as the single kinds. They require
partial shade, and are somewhat intolerant of frequent interference.
Oxlips, Cowslips and Polyanthuses are all beautiful and easily grown.
Among other species of Primula which are easily grown and worth growing
are _P. denticulata_, with long stems surmounted by large mauve flower
heads, _P. d. Cashmeriana_, similar to _denticulata_ but with yellow
centres to the flowers, _P. cortusoides_, with beautiful rose-coloured
flowers, and the many varieties of the handsome _P. japonica_, which
specially likes moisture and shade.
Given a well-drained, yet not too dry, situation, the various Alpine
Auriculas are not difficult to grow, and include varieties with many
beautiful colours.
The charming _Hepatica Angulosa_ and _H. triloba_, in its many kinds,
are lovers of shade, leaf-mould, moisture and non-interference. Of the
Gentians, the two species best worth cultivating are the little _G.
verna_ and the old Gentianella (_G. acaulis_), both bearing flowers of
the purest blue. They are not plants which thrive everywhere, but they
like well-drained soil, an open situation, and moisture in summer. The
Gentian of Pliny was probably the medicinal _G. lutea_, which is not
very valuable for garden decoration.
Candytuft, Violets, Doronicums, Aubrietia, Alyssum, Adonis vernalis,
Double Daisies, Thrifts, Lilies of the Valley, Wallflowers, Dog's-tooth
Violets, Asphodels, Trilliums, Dodecathons, Veronica prostrata,
Saponaria ocymoides, Lithospermum prostratum and some of the species of
Trollius are but a few of the very many beautiful spring flowers which
may be grown in the open borders of English gardens.
To give the names of trees, shrubs and climbing plants which flower
in spring is unnecessary, for everyone must be well acquainted with
the blossoms of Apple, Pear, Plum and Cherry, of Hawthorn, Wistaria,
Guelder Rose, Syringa, Lilac and Laburnum. There are, however, a few
good shrubs which are not grown nearly as much as they should be. Those
who can afford warm and sheltered sites should certainly try to grow
the magnificent Magnolias, especially _M. conspicua_ and _M. stellata_;
and everyone may grow _Forsythia suspensa_, with long sprays of yellow
flowers in April and May, _Spiræa Thunbergii_, the leaves of which turn
a crimson in autumn, as also do the leaves of _S. prunifolia_, which is
covered with white double-daisy-like flowers in spring, and _Exochorda
grandiflora_ (The Pearl Bush), which likes plenty of sun and hates
being cramped or cut.
THE GARDEN IN JUNE
The flowering of the Columbine is the beginning of summer. Tulips and
Double Narcissi and stray Anemones may still afford bright colour or
sweet fragrance, but they do not charm us any longer, for they are of
the spring, and the spring is past. What a beautiful old flower it
is--"the Columbine commendable," as Skelton called it four hundred
years ago! Indeed, all the old garden writers mention it, its vigour
and grace having always earned it a secure place in the English garden,
where it has been grown for centuries "for the delight both of its form
and colours." The Columbines of our ancestors were all varieties of
the wild English species (_Aquilegia vulgaris_), and so vigorous and
handsome do some of these plants become under garden cultivation, that
it is questionable if any of the newer kinds surpass them in beauty.
However, the various species of Aquilegia which have from time to time
been added to our garden flora are to be counted with the most valuable
of plants, among the best of them being the very curiously coloured
red and orange species known as _A. Skinneri_, the tall golden _A.
chrysantha_, and, perhaps most beautiful of all, the Rocky Mountain
Columbine, _A. cærulea_, with its quaint green "horns of honey."
This is the month when the Pyrethrums and Pæonies, of which such
splendid varieties have been raised by Messrs. Kelway and others, are
in their glory, as also are the Snapdragons, Bride Gladioli, Pansies,
Ranunculuses (of which the old _R. asiaticus_, though somewhat tender,
may be easily grown in rich light soil if planted in February at a
depth of two inches and kept well watered during the growing period),
Madonna Lilies (which must be planted in good garden soil and left
alone), _Lilium elegans_, and _L. longiflorum_, with its beautiful
varieties (which like well-drained spongy soil containing plenty of
leaf-mould).
If asked what was the typical garden flower of June, I suppose that
nearly everyone would name the Rose. As a matter of fact, however,
the great bulk of the Roses now grown in gardens--that is the members
of the two great classes known to gardeners as Hybrid Perpetuals
and Tea-Roses--are not seen at their best before July. But it is in
June that the Wild Dog Roses of our English hedgerows are in their
glory, as also are most of the Briars imported from other countries,
together with the old Provence and other "Summer Roses." And, with the
possible exception of some of the Teas, it may well be doubted if any
roses surpass in beauty such "unimproved" species as the deliciously
fragrant Macartney Rose (_R. bracteata_), the trailing Rosa Wichuriana
with its pure white cups, or the sweet Eglantine. Speaking of the
Eglantine, one is reminded of the lovely hybrids derived from it, known
as the Penzance Briars, which combine the fragrant foliage of the
Sweet-briar with various beautiful blossoms according to parentage.
Perhaps the most beautiful of all of them is the variety known as
Lady Penzance--descended from the Austrian Copper Briar and the
Eglantine--which has single flowers of the most delicate blend of pink,
yellow and orange. One great advantage which these single-flowered
briars, as well as most of the June-flowering roses, have over the
Hybrid Perpetuals is that they may be left practically unpruned, and so
display the naturally graceful habit which is as important a part of
the beauty of the Rose as is the flower itself.
Of all the flowers of June, I should myself crown the Pink (or
Pentecost flower--for such is said to be the source of its name) for
its fragrance, the Spanish Iris for the beauty of its flowers, and the
Rose for its grace. The Flower-de-luce, or Iris, is of nearly a hundred
species and of many hundred varieties, among which are some of the most
beautiful flowers which can be grown in the open air of England. Many
of the irises, however, require the expenditure of much knowledge and
skill that they may prosper, but the so-called Spanish Irises, which
are among the most wonderfully formed and coloured of all, may be grown
by anyone who can grow ordinary hardy plants. They rejoice in sun,
shelter and a light, well-drained soil.
The Iris is well named, for nearly every shade given by the rainbow
is represented in one or other of its kinds, though there is none of
the gaudy glaringness, commonly--though wrongly--attributed to that
phenomenon. Spenser appreciated the unique quality of the beauty of the
Iris, although he had not met with many of the splendid kinds which
everyone may now grow.
"Strow mee the grounde with Daffadown-Dillies,
And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and lovéd Lillies;
The Pretty Pawnce
And the Chevisaunce
Shall match with the fayre Floure Delice."
June is a great month for old-fashioned flowers--the flowers of
sentiment, as time and literature have made them--"gold-dusted
Snapdragon," "Sweet William with his homely cottage smell," "Woodbine
hanging bonnilie," "Foxglove cluster dappled bells," Pæony, Lilac,
Laburnum and "fresh Hawthorne," each full of tender associations, and
each very beautiful in itself.
In June a spirit of indolence begins to come over the gardener who
grows his flowers in the open air. All through the months of spring,
the garden contains--or should contain--numerous objects of beauty and
numerous objects of interest, but not until June does the garden become
swamped by a great sea of beauty, in the presence of which the modest
gardener can but stand aside and gaze with wonder and enjoyment.
HOW TO GROW ROSES
Roses are lovers of pure air and are therefore difficult to grow in
large cities, though even there beautiful specimens are occasionally
to be seen. They require the shelter of a high hedge on the north
side, and also dwarfer shrubby screens at a little distance on the
east, south and west in order to break the force of winds from those
quarters. Yet these screens must not be sufficient to shade the plants,
for roses are great sun lovers.
Like other hardy plants, they rejoice in deep, rich, well-drained soil
containing plenty of humus derived from the decomposition of stable or
farm-yard manure. Most of the hybrid perpetuals do best in a rather
heavy soil, though sandy loams are often to be preferred for the
culture of Tea roses.
Purchase roses grown on the briar stock or on their own roots, and
insist on the plants having plenty of fibrous roots.
[Illustration: HONESTY]
Order from a reliable florist early in October, requesting that the
roses may reach you early in November. The ground having been trenched
and manured some weeks previously, the roses should be carefully
planted immediately on their arrival. For each rose should be dug a
hole about a foot square, and of such a depth that the planted rose
shall have the junction of its stock and scion about two inches below
the surface of the soil. In this hole the plant should be placed, and
its roots (which may with advantage be dipped into a pail of water
just before being planted) carefully spread out and covered with a
few inches of fine soil. This should be firmly trodden in and the hole
then filled with the ordinary soil. If the weather be dry, yet not
frosty, it is well to settle the soil above the roots by means of a
heavy watering. If the roses are to form a bed, they may, if dwarfs, be
planted at an average distance of about eighteen inches apart.
But a bed of roses, beautiful as it is, is but one expression of the
culture of these precious flowers. Over walls, trellises, arches and
arbours they should be allowed to trail and climb at will, showing
the graceful curves of briar stem, as well as the beautiful flowers
themselves. Many roses, too, can be used to form hedges either alone,
in the case of such varieties as the Ayrshires and Evergreens, Rosa
Brunonii, the Crimson Rambler, the Scotch Briars and some of the
Penzance Sweet Briars, or with other shrubs in the case of more leggy
and straggling kinds.
In the April of each year, cut out all weak sappy growths, and, in the
case of hybrid perpetuals, cut back to about eight inches from the
surface of the ground the strong shoots which remain. Teas, if required
for garden decoration, need only be thinned out, any dead wood being
removed at the same time, and similar treatment is applicable to most
of the summer roses.
It is difficult to select a few varieties as specially worthy of
cultivation where so many are excellent. The old Provence, Gallic and
Moss Roses bloom only in June and July, but are well worth growing
for their fragrance, beauty and associations, as are also such summer
bloomers as that vigorous hybrid China known as Blairii No. 2, and
the very floriferous white Madame Plantier. The hybrid sweet briars,
notably Lady Penzance and Anne of Geierstein, are of the easiest
culture, but a warm sheltered situation is required by the beautiful
Austrian copper briar, which is not everyone's rose.
Easiest of all roses to grow are the Climbing Evergreen and Ayrshire
varieties, of which Bennett's Seedling bears white flowers, most of the
other kinds producing flowers of sundry shades of pink. The Japanese
roses (_R. Rugosa_) are almost equally vigorous and rampant, and are
specially valuable for their scarlet fruits which help to brighten the
garden in late autumn.
But, after all, it is the so-called perpetual bloomers on which most
gardeners will place the highest value, and here the choice of good
varieties is very great. There are seven principal classes of perpetual
or autumnal roses, known respectively as Hybrid Perpetuals, Teas,
Hybrid Teas, China Roses, Bourbons, Noisettes and Hybrid Moss Roses.
From these classes, if I were asked to select eight varieties for a
beginner to "learn on," I should name Madame Berard (Tea), Marie van
Houtte (Tea), Blanche Moreau (Moss), Celine Forestier (Noisette),
Souvenir de la Malmaison (Bourbon), Ducher (China), Prince Camille de
Rohan (Hybrid Perpetual) and Viscountess Folkestone (Hybrid Tea).
A few more names of good roses are these--Among Hybrid Perpetuals:
Fisher Holmes, Ulrich Brunner and Mrs John Laing; among Hybrid Teas:
Mrs W. J. Grant, Bardou Job, La France and Kaiserin Aug. Victoria;
among Teas: Marechal Niel, Hon. Edith Gifford, Niphetos, Madame
Lambard, Belle Lyonnaise, Madame Hoste, Madame Falcot and Souvenir de
S. A. Prince; and, among Noisettes: William Allen Richardson, Aimée
Vibert, Madame Alfred Carrière and l'Idéal. To mention Gloire de Dijon
is, of course, superfluous, though I am inclined to regard its general
utility as somewhat overrated.
THE GARDEN IN JULY
A flower with a history, with a name long honoured, full of that blue
blood which a genealogical tree is supposed to imply, the Carnation
needs no apology or recommendation. It was among the most admired of
the flowers used by the Greeks and Romans in the making of chaplets,
and hence derived its name of Coronation by which Spenser and other
early writers knew it. Its generic name, Dianthus, or Flower of
Jupiter, equally points to the high honour in which it was held by
the Latins. It was formerly much used both medicinally, "wonderfully
above measure comforting the heart," and for the flavouring of
liquors--whence it obtained its name of Sops-in-wine:--
"And many a Clove Gilofre,
To put in ale,
Whether it be moist or stale."
The beautiful form of the flowers of the various species of
Dianthus--Pinks, Carnations and Sweet Williams--partly accounts for
its distinguished position, but the characteristic fragrance has been
even more contributory to its reputation. The old name of July-flower,
gilli-flower, or gylofre was but a corruption of caryophyllus--the
nut-leaved clove tree--which name it earned by its delicious spicy
scent. Much more regard was paid to fragrance by the old gardeners and
flower-lovers than seems to be the case to-day, and it is very much to
be regretted that many of the most beautiful of the newer varieties
of carnation are nearly scentless, or as nearly scentless as any
member of the family can be. In ordinary good garden soil most of the
carnations can be easily grown. It is a good plan thoroughly to prepare
and enrich the ground in August, and to raise on it a crop of mustard,
digging in the latter a month later, at which time the Carnations
should be planted. Two varieties which I would recommend to a beginner
are the pure white clove variety, Gloire de Nancy, and the old Crimson
Clove. It should be borne in mind that carnations do not thrive in the
shade, and that they will not tolerate the presence of rank manure.
They are, however, among the plants which can be grown in the muggy
atmosphere of cities.
Blue is the only colour which is not to be found among the carnations,
and indeed it is a colour not very common in the garden flora.
Gentians, Forget-me-nots, Veronicas, Borage, and a few others are the
only blue flowers commonly to be seen, but among these few others
there is one of the stateliest and most beautiful of the ornaments of
the July garden. The Larkspur, Lark's-heels, or Delphinium (Dolphin
flower) is one of those few old fashioned flowers which have been
really improved in every way by the selection and hybridising of the
florist. The varieties raised during the past few years by Messrs
Kelway of Langport and others are more robust and more beautiful than
the original species or than any of the old garden kinds. The sepals
are of every shade of blue and their beauty is enhanced by the white
petals within. The foliage too is very beautiful, and, the plant
being of the same width throughout--cylindrical rather than conical
in form--the leaves, with the exception of those near the ground, are
finely divided in order to allow light to reach the leaves below.
The Delphinium is elaborately equipped with machinery for securing
effective cross fertilisation by its bumble-bee visitors. The stamens
ripen before the pistil, and are so placed that the bee cannot get at
the honey without covering its head with pollen, which it then bears to
another flower. The stigma is not in evidence until the stamens have
died, when it occupies a similarly obstructive position in the road of
the pollen-covered bee. Martagon Lilies, Alstroemerias, Montbretias,
English Irises, Hollyhocks, Lupins, Perennial Peas, Coreopsis,
Scabious, Galega officinalis alba and all the species of Campanula are
among the July bloomers. Pretty as they are, the old blue and white
Canterbury Bells are by no means so graceful as many of the other
Bellflowers. _C. pyramidalis_, _C. persicifolia_ and _C. glomerata_
are among the best of the tall kinds, whilst from the dwarfer species
may be selected _C. isophylla_, _C. carpatica_, _C. alpina_, and _C.
turbinata_.
In July also the handsome plants of the Thistle family are at their
period of greatest beauty. _Echinops ruthenicus_, _E. ritro_, _Eryngium
amethystinum_, _E. Oliverianum_, _E. giganteum_ and _E. glaciale_
are among the finest, but those habitants of the kitchen garden--the
Cardoon and the Globe Artichoke--require much excellency in their peers.
July is the month of climax for the gardener who grows only annual
flowers raised afresh each year from seed. A very fine show he
may have, too, during his somewhat brief season. To the grower of
herbaceous plants who aims, and wisely aims, at having flowers all the
year through, July is but one month out of twelve. Spring means for
him not a season for sowing, so much as a very flowery season, full
of Crocuses and Anemones, of Primroses and of Hepaticas; for him even
winter itself is not flowerless, since he has his Hellebores and winter
Aconites and fragrant Coltsfoot. But with annual flowers the case is
different. It is true that, by sowing in July or August, one may obtain
such beautiful flowers as those of Erysimum, Nemophila and Saponaria
calabrica in the spring, but the great bulk of annual flowering plants
are summer bloomers. Many of them are among the most beautiful, and
certainly among the most showy, of our garden occupants. Sweet-peas,
Convolvuli and Nasturtiums are as beautiful as any perennial climber;
and one has but to name Cornflowers, Mignonette, Coreopsis, Escholtzias
and the glorious and gaudy army of Poppies in order to show what a
garden of annuals may offer in the months of summer.
I know of no floral sight more brilliant than that of a garden full of
poppies in full bloom. Each flower is bright almost to gaudiness, yet
with petals so thin and flimsy that no insect can rest on them, and
each cup is accordingly furnished with a substantial alighting stage in
its centre. Shirley poppies in every shade of red; Iceland poppies in
every shade of white, yellow and orange; scarlet Tulip poppies; white
Alpine poppies--one knows not which to prefer. The poets have generally
used the poppy only for its assistance in pointing a moral. Thus, for
example, Burns--
"Pleasures are like poppies spread--
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed."
"Faire without and foule within" has generally summed up its popular
reputation, though Ruskin has spoken with appreciation of its beauty
and delicacy.
All the hardy annuals are easy to grow, their requirements being ample
sunshine, deeply dug soil, finely broken up and moderately, though not
excessively, enriched, and ample space for individual development.
Where failure occurs, it may usually be traced to omission of one or
other of these conditions--most commonly, perhaps, of the one last
named. There are few annuals which will thrive in the shade, though
Forget-me-nots, Venus's Looking-glass and Nemophilas will succeed in
damp situations if the shade be not too intense.
Personally, although I should not like to grow annuals alone, I should
regretfully miss my hedge of Sweet-peas, my Poppies, and the soothingly
fragrant, though insignificant, flowers of my Mignonette.
One other annual flower is the prettily and appropriately named
Love-in-a-Mist, with the daintiest of blue flowers enveloped as in a
green cloud. If our poets were wont to look at flowers for themselves
instead of copying one another's natural history, they might be
referred to this delightful plant. Mr Swinburne, I think alone among
poets, has used it as subject for one of his roundels. Fortunately, the
neglect of poets has little influence on the beauty of flowers.
NIGHT IN THE GARDEN
During the heated days of late summer, few but the most enthusiastic
of gardeners care to loiter in the open garden until evening. Then,
the sun having sunk in the west, we venture forth from the shade
of house or of trees, and leisurely walk the round of our paths,
refreshingly fanned by the little rippling breeze which makes the
leaves flutter as it rhythmically comes and passes. The last bees
have reached their hives, laden with the sweet product of their hard
labour. The honeyed flowers, which look to their visits and to the
visits of other sun-loving insects for aid in fertilisation, have, so
far as possible, covered their tempting cups to avoid the damping or
loss of the precious pollen within. Snails and slugs crawl from hidden
caves, prepared to work in darkness the evil which fear of feathered
warders hinders by day. Except for these workers of ill, these foes of
beauty, the garden is apparently going to sleep. But wait. Wherefore
is this increasing fragrance streaming from the honeysuckle trellis
into the cooling air--a fragrance surely not without seductive purpose?
Straight as the course of a homeward bound bee, a hawk-moth flies to
the expanded blossoms and extracts the honey from the narrow tubes,
too deep for bee or wasp to sound. Look, too, at this bed which but
an hour ago showed nothing but a green mass of leaves serrated as
those of dandelions. Great white flowers, three inches or more across,
have now appeared and produce a truly wonderful effect. These are the
flowers of one of the evening primroses (_Oenothera taraxicifolia_),
originally imported from America. Not so pure a white are the larger
blossoms of another evening primrose (_Oe. marginata_) which is just
beginning to send forth from the border a fragrance as of magnolias.
The old double white Rocket (_Hesperis matronalis_), or Damask Violet,
as it was formerly called, smells more strongly as evening draws in,
and its scent now takes on the character of the scent of Violets. Even
more noticeable is the delicious fragrance which begins to be yielded
by the Night-scented Stock (_Hesperis tristis_), a fragrance which
will continue until the commencement of the dawn. In the presence of
these happenings, we begin to realise that the garden is not after all
asleep. Indeed, we see that a part at least of the living beauty of
nature only awakes at the approach of night.
Convention rules over us, and in the most unlikely places we see those
unadaptive, stereotyped results which mark the realms where she is
sovereign. How otherwise can we account for the fact that, although
evening is the best time for enjoying the flowers of our gardens during
the months of July and August, few gardeners ever think of devoting
any part of their borders to the cultivation of flowers which bloom at
night? Yet the pleasure to be obtained from them is very great, and the
possible variety is considerable. Nearly all are fragrant, as otherwise
it would be difficult in the darkness for them to attract the moths
which they mostly desire as pollen bearers.