The Children's Book of GardeningSidgwick, Alfred, Mrs.
General
The Children's Book of Gardening
Sidgwick, Alfred, Mrs.
Children's gardens; Gardening -- Juvenile literature
_Antirrhinums_ (_Snapdragons_).—We think the good dwarf ones are
charming on rockeries. We once had some pink ones grown from Sutton’s
seed that were as pretty as little Rose-bushes. On walls some of the
taller ones often look well, and when they are self-sown they seem to
flourish in chinks where there cannot be much food for them. If you
have a wall you should sow a little seed, and be careful not to mistake
the seedlings for weeds.
_Anthericum Liliastrum_ (_St. Bruno’s Lily_).—A charming plant, growing
from one to two feet high, and flowering in May or June. It likes a
sandy loam. If you want to increase it, you can divide it in the autumn.
_Arabis._—If you are a London child, you will have seen this with
London Pride in every London rock garden. It is the commonest of rock
plants, and its white flowers make a pleasant show near Aubrietias and
Alyssum in spring.
_Arenaria Balearica._—This is the little creeping mossy plant we have
told you of already. Put a bit on some soil near any stones you want
covered.
_Aubrietias._—You must know these if you have ever looked at a garden
in spring. They are in various shades of mauve and purple, and make
great sheets of colour on walls and rockeries. It is sometimes called
Purple Rock-Cress. You can divide them in autumn, or you can grow them
from seed sown in May or June.
_Campanulas._—There are many varieties of blue and white Harebells that
do well on walls and rockeries. Pumila, Pulla, and Cæspitosa are three
well-known dwarf ones. Isophylla is a good hanging one, but not quite
hardy. Persicifolia is an easily-grown tall one. They are increased by
division.
_Helianthemums, or Sun Roses._—These must not be confused with the
Cistus, or Rock Roses, which are charming, but not so hardy as the
Helianthemums. If you grow them from seed sown in May or June, you
should in the following year have a number of dwarf shrubs bearing
single flowers in a variety of shades, ranging from white and yellow to
bright crimson.
_Iberis Sempervirens_ is often called Perennial Candytuft. We have
known people buy it by its Latin name, and be much disappointed to find
it was the well-known white flower they had seen in all their friends’
gardens. It is not proud, and will grow almost anywhere.
_Iris Pumila and Iris Stylosa._—We mention two out of the many
beautiful Irises suitable for a rockery. Try to get the variety of
Pumila called Cœrulea, a lovely sky-blue. Stylosa is the scented Iris
that flowers in winter. It likes sun and shelter, and dry, hard ground.
It must be manured.
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