Wild Garden

Page 1



.&0

4'


/


THE WILD GARDEN



The

WILD GARDEN Or our Grov^es and Gardens made

Hardy Exotic

by the Naturalisation of

Plants

Dark Ages suggestions

of

for

Bare Borders

By W.

from

the

Flower Gardening,

with

of

the

one

being

5

beautiful

the

way

onwards

Regeneration

of the

London

ROBINSON,

Parks.

F. L. S.

THIRD EDITION Illustrated

by Alfred Parsons

LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET NEW YORK: SCRIBNER AND WELFORDf 188:;


By

the

same Author.

THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN AND ARRANGEMENT.

ITS

:

STYLE

ALPHABETICAL DESCRIPTION OF all the PLANTS BEST SUITED FOR ITS EMBELLISHMENT, their CULTURE, and POSITION. With numerous

Illustrations.

Followed

Medium

by

8vo.

THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF

an

15s.

PARIS, considered

Relation to the Wants of other Cities and of Public AND Private Gardens. Third Edition. With 350 Illustrations.

IN

8vo.

i8s.

ALPINE FLOWERS FOR ENGLISH GARDENS. How THEY MAY BE GrOWN IN ALL PaRTS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. Third With Illustrations of Rock-gardens, Natural and Artificial. Edition. With Woodcuts. Crown Svo. 7s. 6d.

THE SUB-TROPICAL GARDEN; IN

THE Flower Garden;

for this purpose.

or,

with Illustrations of

Second Edition.

With

Beauty of Form all

the finer Plants used

Illustrations.

Small Svo.

5s.

HARDY FLOWERS.

Descriptions ok upwards of 1300 OF THE MOST ORNAMENTAL Si"ECiES with Directions for their Cul;

ture,

&c.

Fourth Edition.

Post Bvo.

GOD'S ACRE BEAUTIFUL THE Future.

Third Edition.

;

With

Art

ÂŤ

3s. 6d.

or,

The Cemeteries of

Illustrations.

Svo.

7s. 6d.



Colonies of Poet's Narcissus and Broad-leaved Saxifrage,

etc.

窶認rontispiece.


AJf

Ciihimbines and Geraniums

in

meadow-grass.

PREFACE. When

I began,

some years

ago, to plead the cause of the in-

numerable hardy flowers against the few tender ones, put out at that time in a formal way, the

cannot go back to the mixed border

way

of arranging flowers in borders.

of the vast world

gardens by the

ways

in

among

which

"

"

— that

is

to say, the old

Knowing, then, a

countries

might be introduced

amount

"

number wliich

little

of plant beauty quite shut out of our

to our gardens

various ideas that then occurred to me, was the

enormous

We

system," in vogue, I was led to consider the

it

and scope of the

"

answer frequently was,

wild garden." of

beautiful

I

was led

many

name

to think of the

hardy plants from other

might be naturalised, with a very

of trouble, in

and,

;

slight

situations in our gardens

and


PREFACE.

vi

woods

— a world

of delightful plant beauty that

way make happy around

this

bare, or useless.

what

is

.

are

in

number which,

have no chance whatever of being seen

plan,

This

us.

or half

commonly seen

called the flower garden, Ijut also a

by any other around

now weedy,

in

saw that we could not only grow thus a

I

more lovely flowers than

tliousandf()ld i

us, in places

we might

is

a

system which will give us more

beauty than ever was dreamt of in gardens, without ing with formal gardening in

interfc^r-

any way.

In this illustrated edition, by the aid of careful drawings, I

have endeavoured

but

if I

were

I could not

to suggest in

to write a

book

for

what the system

consists

;

every page that this contains,

hope to suggest the many beautiful aspects of

vegetation which the wild garden will enable us to enjoy at

our doors. Tlie illustrations are, with a

work have

of Mr. Alfred Parsons,

been

few slight exceptions, the

and the drawing and engraving execution.

They

are

after

nature, in places where the ideas expressed in the

first

small

several

edition of the

years

in

book had been carried

out, or

as in the case of the beautiful group of

where accident,

Myrrh and white

Harebells, had given rise to the combinations or aspects of

vegetation sought. skill

and

I

cannot too heartily acknowledge the

and pains which Mr. Parsons devoted to the success

which he has attained in

motive of the book, and such good

to the drawings,

illustrating the

effects as

have already

been obtained where the idea has been intelligently carried

out.


PHKFACE.

vii

There has been some misunderstanding as to the term "

Wild Garden."

It

is

a|t[)liud essentially tu

Ihu placing of

perfectly hardy exotic plants in ]tlaces and under conditions

where they will become established and take care of themselves. "

has nothinff to

It

wilderness," though

witli

mav

it

do with the old idea of the be carried out in connection

It does not necessarily

that.

garden, for a garden

may

mean

be highly picturesi[ue, and yet in

What

every part the result of ceaseless care. l)est

a

grove

naked

of

in

trees

does

it

mean

winter Aconite flowering under

explained by the

is

the picturesc[ue

February

;

by the Snowflake

growing abundantly in meadows by the Thames side perennial Lupine dyeing an

islet

with

its

;

by the

purple in a Scotch

and by the Apennine Anemone staining an English

river;

wood blue

before the blooming of our blue bells.

these instances a tliousandfold, illustrated by

Multiply

many

dilferent

types of plants and hardy climbers, from countries as cold or

colder

of the it

as

tlian

our own,

allowing a garden ;

whereas

the garden proper at

all,

to

I

;

wish

Ijut it

to

get

it

a

just

idea

represented

run wild, or sowing annuals

studiously avoids meddling with

except in attempting the improve-

ments of bare shrubbery borders elsewhere

may

Some have erroneously

wild garden.

•promiscuously

and one

in the

London parks and

these are waste spaces, not gardens.

be kept distinct in the mind from the ^ariuus

in groups, beds, and important phases of hardy plant growth l)orders, in

which good culture and good

taste

may

produce


PREFACE.

viii

many

liappy effects

;

distinct

from the rock garden or the

borders reserved for clioiee hardy flowers of the best phase of the sub-tropical garden

hardy plants of garden

;

fine

form

;

and from the gardens, so

may

— that

be carried out as an aid

any of the above in the smaller

our

to say, of

How

to,

own

from

spring-

beautiful

far the wild

or in connection with,

class of gardens,

decided on the spot in each case.

;

of growing

from the ordinary type of

native flowers in our woods and wilds.

garden

kinds

all

can be best

In the larger gardens,

where, on the outer fringes of the lawn, in grove, park, copse, or

by woodland walks

fair

or drives, there

gardens and wholly

tation

May

may

be created by

28, 188].

new and its

means.

is

often ample room,

beautiful aspects of vege-


CONTENTS. CHAPTEIi

EXPLANATORV

I.

......... CHAPTER

... in

Grass

.

15

.

.

21

V.

Plants chiefly fitted for the Wild Garden

CHAPTER

.

IV.

Example from the Globe Flower Order

CHAPTER

9

III.

Example from Hardy Bulbs and Tubers

CHAPTER

1

II.

Example from the Forget-me-not Family

CHAPTER

rA(!K

.

.

32

VI.

........

Ditches and narrow shady Lanes, Copses, Hedgerows,

AND Thickets

CHAPTER Drapery for Trees and Bushes

3G

VII.

.....

43


CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE

VIII. PAGE

The common Shrubbery, Woods and Woodland Drives

CHAPTER The

.

51

.

67

IX.

Brook-side, Water-side, and Bog Gardens

CHAPTER

.

X.

Roses for the AVild Garden, and for Hedgerows, Fences,

AND Groups

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

81

CHAPTER XL Wild Gardeninc! on Walls or Ruins

CHAPTER Some Results

.

.

.

....

88

Xn. .

.

.

.

.

92

CHAPTER Xm. A

Plan

for

the

Embellishment

Borders in London Parks

CHAPTER

Shrubbery

the

of .

.

.

.

.111

XIV.

The Principal Types of Hardy Exotic Flowering Plants .120 for the Wild Garden .

.

CHAPTER

.

•

XV.

Hardy Exotic Plants for various the Wild Garden

Selections of IN

.

.

.

.

.

Positions .

.103


LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. Colonies of Poet's Narcissus and Broad-leaved Saxifrage,

etc.

....

F'l'ontispiece

Columbine and Geraniums in meadow-grass Large flowered

Meadow Rue

.....

Wild Garden, type

in the

mostly excluded from the Garden of large

effect

Night

"mixed border" with

beautiful hardy flowers of

edging,

To face

when gfown

noble

plants

Plumieri)

;

excluded

j-iwje

4

world have been grown in

tlie

at all.

(Sketched in a large

1878)

Blue flowered Composite plant of

way

in whicli the

........ .........

gardens hitherto, (jarden,

tlie

1

Wild Garden

...

.

tile

of plant

tlie

evening Primrose in

Lamarkiana)

(ffinotliera

A

v

and habit

fine foliage

from Gardens.

5

type

;

(Mulgedium

6

......

8

The Cretan Borage (Borago cretica) Flowers of Geneva Bugle (Ajuga genevensis). Dwarf Boragewort Star of Bethlehem in Grass

W(Jod Anemone

,

.

.

.

Caucasian Comfrey in shrubbery

.

.

.

The

association of exotic

Garden.

— The

,

.

.

S)

.

,

.

13

.

.

.

15

tlie

Wild

and British wild flowers in

.

.

.

Lily, naturalised in the grass

Crocuses in turf, in grove of

Group

.

.

.

14

Bell-flowered Scilla, naturalised with our

own Wood Hyacinth The Turk's Cap

.

.

Summer

little

.

.

by wood- walk

leafing trees

of Globe flowers (Trollius) in

the nobler Northern flowers

.

.

marshy place

.

;

.

17

.

19

.

20

type of

cultivated in gardens

.

21


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

xii

PAGE

Tlie

Mountain Clematis

montana)

(C.

.

...

.

.

White Japan Anemone in the Wild Ganleii Anemones in the Riviera. Thrive eij^ually well Tlie

soil here,

only flowering later

The Green Hellebore

.

.

Wild Garden

in the

in .

.

.

.

in grass

.

.

Eupatorium purpureum The Giant Scabious (8 feet Giant

Cow

tion.

Type

parsnip.

lai'ge

.

30

.

.

,

.

32

.

.

33

..... ...

35

.

of Great Siberian herbaceous vegeta-

For rough places only on hedge-bank in spring

Foliage of Dipsacus,

The

28

.

(Cephalaria proL'era)

high).

26

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

white Bindweed, type of nobler climbing

annual stems.

For

The Nootka Bramble

;

jilants,

and shridjberies

.

Si)

....... ....

40

copses, hedgerows,

type of free-growing flowering shrub.

Periploca gra3ca (climber)

.

Large White Clematis on Yew

—wintev

.

.

.

tree at

.

.

The way the climbing gardens

.

.

ing

woody

A

beautiful accident.

away from

(C.

.

(;f

;

way

trees in

Lilies

shrubbery

45

,

46 4!J

Myrrhis odorata, established

.

.

uji through carpet of

44

.

walls or other supports

into wide masses

.

43

of grow-

in shrubbery, witli white Harebells here and there

Large White Achilleas spread

.

...

.

Aristolochia and Deciduous Cypress

— A colony

42

montana

.

.

.

world are crucified in

plants of the

effect (a faitJifid sketch)

Climl)ers

Liane in the North.

.

.

Great Tew.

Climbing shrub (Celastrus), isolated on the grass

A

36

with

For copses and woods The Yellow Allium (A. Moly) naturalised

grandiflora)

23

any open To face pa(je 24

Tall perennial Larkspurs, naturalised in Shrubbery (18/8)

Double Crimson Pceonies

22

.

.

51

under shade of

.

White Arabis

.

.

.

53 55

coming 57 Colony of Narcissus in properly spaced shrubbery The American White Wood-Lily (Trillium grandiflorum) in To face page 58 Wild Garden, in wood bottom in leaf-mould .

.

.

.

.

.

...... .

The

Lily of the Valley in a copse

Solomon's Seal and Herb Paris, in copse by streamlet

.

.

63 67


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

xiii I'AfiE

Colony of lianly exotic Flowers, naturalised by brook-side

......

Valley in Somersetsliin', witli Narrissi,

Primroses Cyiierus longus

The Cape Pond "Weed

Day

Lily

.

.

in an English ditch in winter .

.

.

.

Marsh Marigold and Iris in early spring The same spot as in pre^dous sketch, with aftergrowth Meadow Sweet, and Bindweed .

.

and

To face

.

69

.

IVIarigolds,

.

.

.

margin of water

b\'

]\rarsli

]>a'je .

73

.

.

75

.

.

7G

.

.

78

.....

Partridge Berry (Gaultheria)

.

.

of Iris,

.

.

79 80

.

.

.........

Wild Eose growin" on a Pollard Ash Somerset

in

70

.

Orcliardlciuh

Paik,

83

White Climbing Rose scrambling over old Catalpa Tree

......

84

Tew

88

To face

Climbing Rose isolated on grass

Arenaria balearica, in a hole in wall at Great

ixvje

87

.

.

.

89

.

91

Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, and Ferns, on cottage wall at Mells Yellow Fumitory on wall (Corydalis lutea) Large Japan Sedum (S. spectabilc) and Autumn Crocuses in the Tlie

.

.

Wild Garden

92

Crane's Bill, wild, in grass

.

.

Tiger Lilies in Wild Garden at Great Large-flowered Clematis

.

.

.

....

Tew .

.

.

.

Wild Garden

Large-leafed Saxifrage in the

.

.

.

.

.

To

face jkujc .

.

94 97

98 101

......

Sun Roses

(Cistus) and other exotic hardy plants among heather, on sandy slope To face jjacje 104 "\\'ood and herbaceous Meadow-sweets grouped together in Mr.

Hewittson's garden

.

.

.

.

.

.

.105

Woodruff and Ivy Tailpiece

108

110

.

Dug and mutilated Shrubbery winter

Colony

of

o/1879. the

Anemone Colony of the

.

in St. James's Park. .

Snowdrop-Anemone

.

in

.

Sketched in .

taking the place of weeds or bare earth

Summer

.

Shrubbery not .

Snowflake, on margin of shrubbery

.

Hi

dug. .

115

.

119


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

XIV

PACE

The Monkshood, naturalised by wet The white Narcissus-like Allium, in type of family receiving

little

wood

ditch in

The

foliage of the

Meadow

.

.

alpina)

,

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saffron in Spring

The White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta) Cyclamens in the Wild Garden from nature ;

A

A

Sea Holly

Groups of

A

.

.

;

.

.

hardy Geranium Avild,

.

in

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

by streamlet

.

142

.

Wild Garden

146

Type of fine-leaved umbellate plants seldom grown The Bee Balm, Monarda. American wood plant

.

The Great Japan Knotweed (Polygoniuu cuspidatum). ing the plant in flower)

The

of

Type

proper

.

;

149

.

.

150

(Show.

.152

admiraljly suited for

153

daisy (Pyrethrum ser(itinum)

The Great Reed

of Southern

.

.

Europe (Arundo Donax)

.

.154 .

155

of the Larger Composites, excluded I'lum gardens .

.

Group

of Tritoma, in grass

A

Mullein

tall

.

Type Wild Garden

tall Ox-ej-e

Telekia.

.

handsome Labiates

.148

in gardens

.

the

.140 .141

.....144

in valley

Everlasting Pea, creeping up stem in shrubbery

Phlomis.

Iris

.135

.

138

Sun Rose on limestone rocks White Lily

133

.134

.

Eryngium

Funkia Sieboldi

Snowdrops,

123

.124 .126 .127 .132

.

South European Bindweed creeping up the stems of an in an English garden

.

.

.

;

may

,

.

.

.

.

l:il

.

place in gardens which

Siberian Columbine in rocky place Tall Asphodel in copse

.

the orchards of Provence

be beautiful for a season in wild places

The Alpine Windflower (Anemone

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.150 .100 161

Ophrys in grass Rock ste]3s witli Omphalodes Butterbur and Double Furze on margin of lake .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.163 .175

.

.

.

.

176


THE WILD GARDEN. OXE WAY OXWARD.S FROM THE DARK AGES OF

FLOWER GARDEXIXG.' -

CHAPTER

I.

EXPLANATORY.

About

ago a taste began to he

a generation

manifested for placing a plants in

tlie

open

nnmber

air in

of tender

smnmer,

witli a

view to the production of showy masses f

decided colonr. The suhjects selected

were mostly from sub-tropical climates

and

^j]v>-"

"1-

r^l;-^^/iti-

of free

growth

;

placed annually in

the open air of our genial early sum-

mer, and in fresh rich earth, every year

they grew rapidly and flowered abundantly during the

summer and

autumn

1

)y

and

months, cut

until

^

early

the

down

first frosts.

The showy colour of this system was very Large-flowered

Meadow Rue

in the

Wild Garden, type of

plant mostly excluded from the Garden.

B

,

attractive, .

•.

•

j.

and SmCCltS UltrO-


THE WILD GARDEN.

2 ductioii there lias

been a gradual rooting out of

favourites in favour of this

bedding

carried to such an extent that it

has been the

rule, to find

all

"

"

it

This was

system.

was not uncommon, indeed

the largest gardens in the countrv

without a single hardy flower,

all

energy and expense being

devoted to the production of the few exotics required

summer

decoration.

It

should

how many

may

years

sharp frost of

for the

distinctly borne in

lie

that the expense for this system

matter what amount of

the ohl

an annual one

is

;

mind

that no

be spent in this w\ay, or

money may

be devoted to perfecting

November announces

it,

the

first

a yet further expense

and labour, usually more heavy than the preceding. Its highest results need hardly be described; they are seen in all our great public gardens our London and many ;

other city parks

show them

in the shape of beds filled with

vast quantities of flowers, covering the ground frequently in a

showy way,

or in a repulsively

private garden

is

gaudy manner

:

nearly every

taken possession of by the same things.

I

will not here enter into the question of the merits of this

system

;

it

is

beginning to

enough pall.

to state that

Some

old mixed-border gardens

even on

its votaries it is

are looking back with regret to the ;

others are endeavouring to soften

the harshness of the bedding system by the introduction of fine-leaved plants, but all are agreed that a great mistake has

been made in destroying

all

our old flowers, from Lilies to

Hepaticas, though very few persons indeed have any idea of the numbers of beautiful subjects in this

way which we may

gather from every northern and temperate clime to adorn our

gardens under a more

My

object in the

artistic

system.

Wild Gardeyi

is

now

to

show how we


EXPLANATOTiY.

may have more

of

3

varied beauty of hardy flowers than

tlie

the most ardent admirer of the old style of garden ever dreams

by naturalising innumerable beautiful natives of many regions of the earth in our woods and copses, rougher parts of,

of pleasure grounds,

and

in

unoccupied places in almost every

kind of garden.

wood and brake

allude not to the

I

country, but to that which finds

home

its

flora of

any one

in the vast fields of

the whole northern world, and that of the hill -ground that

from beneath

in furrowed folds

falls

tlie

hoary heads of

all

the great mountain chains of the world, whether they rise

The

from hot Indian plains or green European pastures.

Palm and

sacred Fig, as well as the

Wheat and

the Vine, are

separated from the stemless plants that cushion under the

snow

for half the vear,

beautiful

mountain

life,

varied

sides,

and

as

bv a zone the

of hardier

breezes

as the rills that

the Lilies, and Bluebells, and

and not

that whisper

seam

tliem.

Foxgloves, and

less

on the

They Irises,

are

and

Windflowers, and Columbines, and Eock-roses, and Violets,

and Cranesbills, and countless Pea-flowers, and mountain Avens, and Brambles, and Cincpiefoils, and Evening Prim-

and Clematis, and Honeysuckles, and ]\Iichaelmas Daisies, and "Wood-hyacinths, and Dafl'odils, and Bindweeds,

roses,

and Forget-me-nots, and blue-eyed Omplialudes, and Primroses,

and Day

Lilies,

and Asphodels, and

St.

Bruno's

and the almost innumeralile plants wliich form the

Lilies, flora of

the northern and temperate portions of vast continents. It is

beyond the power of pen or pencil

beauty of these plants.

Innumerable and

scenes occur in the wilder parts of

all

to picture the

infinitely varied

northern and temperate


THE WILD GARDEN.

4 regions, at

many

different

The

elevations.

to descrilie or

imagine

the essential thing to Lear in

;

that the plants that go to form

in our

dim ate

as well as

natwe

Such beauty may be

them

our woods and wilds have no liere

and

difficult

mind

is

will thrive

jjlanfs.

every wood and copse

realised in

and slnnibbery that screens our

have

arc hardy,

and

loveliness

ceaselessly varying charms of snch scenes are indeed

"

trim gardens."

little

Naturally

loveliness in spring

we

;

and there the Lily-of-the-valley and the Snowdro]*,

and everywhere the Primrose and Cowslip

;

the Bluebell and

the Foxglove sometimes take nearly complete possession of

whole woods

;

we have

but, with all our treasures in this way,

no attractions in or near our gardens compared to what There are

within our power to create. winters as cold flora

;

countries with

as, or colder than, our own, possessing a rich

and by taking the best hardy exotics and establishing

tliem in wild or lialf-wild ful

many

it is

pictures

in

plant in a free denizen.

It

is

spots,

To

such places. state is

more

taking care of

we may produce

lieauti-

most people

pretty

attractive itself;

a

than any garden

and, moreover,

it

is

—

some degree of graceful wild spray the green above, and tlie moss and brambles and grass around. By the means presently to be explained, numbers of plants usually surrounded

l^y

of the highest order of beauty

pleasant associations, spaces

now devoted

may to

and fragrance, and clothed with

be seen j)erfectly at home in

rank grass and weeds, and

Ijy

tlie

wood

walks in our shrubberies and ornamental plantations.

Among my following First,

:

—

reasons for advocating this system are the

because hundreds of the finest hardy flowers will


Night

effect of large

evening Primrose

in

the Wild

Garden (CEnothera Lamarkiana).



EXPLANAT0E7. thrive

licLter

iiuicli

(lid in

in

rough

AviM places than ever tliey

iiiid

Even eoniparatively small

the old-fashioned borcU'r.

Cyclamen, a

ones, like the ivy-leaved

heautii'ul ])lant that

in perfection in gardens, I

rarely find

naturalised and spread

ovi-r the

all

we

have seen perfectly of a thin

mossy surface

wood. Secondly, l)e(;ause they will look infinitely better than ever

they did in gardens, in consequence of fine-leaved plant, fern,

and and

urass

climbei",

trailing

shrub,

relieving each other

ways innumerable and delightful. Any

in

one of a thousand combinations

will

prove as far superior

any aspect of the old mixed border, or to

the ordinary type of

modern den

as

tloAver-gar^ A "mixed is

a

lovelv •^

mountain valley a piece of the

"

to

wilh

tile

edging, the

when grown

gardens liitherto, /nrgri:an{cn, 1878.)

at

way

all.

in

which the

grown

in

{S/cetc/ieii in

a

black country."

Tliirdly, because, elfects result

liorder

beautiful hardy flowers of the world have been

arranged as

from decay.

I propose,

The raggedness

of the

old

mixed

and early summer bloom

border after the

first

had passed was

intolerable, bundles of

flush of spring

no disagreeable

decayed stems tied

to

making the place look like the parade-ground of a number of crossing - sweepers. A\'hen Lilies are sparsely sticks,


THE WILD GARDEN. dotted through masses of shrubs, their flowers are admired

more than

if

they were in isolated showy masses

when they

;

pass out of Lloom tliey are unnoticed amidst the vegetation,

and not eyesores, etc.

as wdien in rigid unrelieved tufts in borders,

In a wild or semi-wild state the beauty of individual

species will proclaim itself

when

at its height

;

and when out

bloom they will be succeeded by other kinds, among the numerous objects around. of

Fourthlji,

because

it

will enable us to

or lost

grow many plants

that have never yet obtained a place in

our

"

trim

allude to the

I

gardens."

multitudes of plants which, not being so

sho\\y as

those

worthy of a place seen therein.

usually considered

in gardens, are

The

flowers of

never

many

of

these are of the hinhest order of beauty, especially when

seen

isolated

An

numbers.

in

one of

of

tuft

these, seen in a formal

may

border,

sidered I

of

worthy

nxrc,

while

place, Blue flowered Composite plant fine foliage and habit ; type of noble plants excluded from gardens.

not be con-

in

its

some

;

(Mulgedium Plumieri.)

wild glade, in a wood, as a

little

naturally, or associated witli like subjects, aV.'

exquisite.

Among

garden cultivation

Asters,

effect

may

be

the subjects usually considered unfit for

may

in gardens, are

grown American

colony, grouped its

be included a goodly number that,

no addition

Golden Rods, and

to

them

;

subjects like the

like plants,

which merely


EXPLANATORY.

7

overrun the choicer ami more beautiful Ijorder-flower.s Avhen

These coarse subjects would be

planted amonast them. at

home

(|uite

and woody places, where their blossoms

in copses

might be seen or gathered

due season, and their vigorous

in

To

vegetation form a covert welcome to the game-preserver.

these two groups might be added subjects like the winter

handsome

Heliotrope, the

Willow

British

herb, and

many

other plants whicli, while attractive in the garden, are apt to

spread about

so

Clearly these should only

become a nuisance

to

rapidly as

there.

planted in wild and semi-wild

l)e

places.

because

Fifthly,

we may

in this

way

settle

also

the

question of spring flowers, and the spring garden, as well as

In the

that of hardy flowers generally. parts of every country garden, l:)e

made

way

I suggest,

with spring flowers, without interfering at

alive

with the geometrical beds that have been the worthless

least

stock

-

in

-

the

of

trade

The Idue

centuries.

places,

under

ment, and

trees,

so

-

called

"

-

gardener for

wild," in

shady or half-shady bare

way

I propose.

because there can be few more agreeable phases of

communion with nature than countries in whicli

we

naturalising

are infinitely

the

natives of

more interested than

those of which greenhouse or stove plants are native.

Xew

ruin

—home

of

many

Europe

;

in

From

flowers, the prairies of the

World, the woods and meadows of

tains of

Ije

than in any conceivable formal arrange-

that will succeed perfectly in the

Eoman

will

but one of hundreds of sweet spring flowers

it is

Sixtklij,

landscape

Apenuine Anemone

stars of the

seen to greater advantage

the

many

and many suburban ones, may

all

the great moun-

from Greece and Italy and Spain, from the


THE WILD GARDEN.

8

liills

sunny

of

Asia

great continents

— in

region the traveller

near his

he has

home

]\Iinor

;

from the alpine regions of the

a word, from almost every interesting

may

bring seeds or plants, and establish

the pleasantest souvenirs of the various scenes

visited.

Moreover, the great merit of permanence belongs to this delightful phase of gardening.

and embellish plants,

it

— say the

sweet

"

creepers

with the handsomest and hardiest climbing noble mountain Clematis from Nepal, the

Flammula from

C.

Select a wild rough slope,

in variety,

tlie

Southern

"

Europe,

and R. odoratus), various species of hardy Honeysuckles — British

and

Arranged with some judgment be

left

to

attractions,

and

find

it

take care of

Virginian

Nootka Bramble (Eubus nutkanus

itself;

European, at

first,

Jasmines,

vines.

and wild

such a colony miglit

time would

luit

add

and the happy owner might go away beautiful on his return.

Roses.

to

its

for years,


CHAPTER

11.

EX A:\irLE FKOM THE FORGET-.ME-XOT FAMILY.

r

•i4>i^;»^s^

,4:-.

mf'^^m T^l&}i^, ^5^.^^ Caucasian Comfrej-

witli

in

shrubbery.

WILL HOW

endeavour to

my

illustrate

by what showing

meaninL!:

Uia V hC (loUG

one type of northern vegetation

that of the Forget-me-not order, one far from being as rich as others in subjects suited for the wild garden.

considering

its

Through

capabilities in this way, the reader

form some idea of what we

may

be

may

do by selecting from

the numerous plants that grow in the

meadows and moun-

al)le to

tain-woods of Europe,

xVsia,

and America.

The Forget-me-not or Borage family is a well-marked and well-known one, containiuG,' a great numljer of coarse weeds, not,

1

tut

which,

if it

possessed only the

would have some claims on

us.

common Forget-me-

Many

persons are not

acquainted with more than the Forget-me-nots;

l)ut

what

lovely exotic plants there are in this order that AV(udd atVord delight

if

met with creeping

aljout

along our

\V(jod

and


THE WILD GARDEN.

10

shrubbery walks true bhies

;

Nature, say some,

!

sparing of her deep

is

but there are obscure plants in

order that

this

possess the truest, deepest, and most delicate of blues, and

common

whicli will thrive as well in the wild garden as

weeds.

The creeping Omphalodes verna even surpasses the Forgetme-not in the depth and Ijeauty of its blue and its other good

qualities,

and runs about quite

freely in

any shady or

lialf-shady shrubbery or open wood, or even in turf in moist soil

mown.

not very frequently

or semi-wild spot,

where

it

Its proper

takes care of

home

the

is

I'ut

itself.

wood

it

in a

garden, and probably, unless the soil and region be moist,

soon perishes.

Besides, in the border,

agreeable object

when once

would be a not very

the sweet s])ring bloom had passed

the positions spoken

wliereas, in

it

of,

served to see

till

when

;

in consequence of the

low plants

predominance of trees, shrubs, atid tall herl)s, the are not noticed

it

out of flower, but crawl about unob-

returning spring reminds those fortunate enough

them how

superior

is

the inexpensive and natural kind

of gardening here advocated.

Another plant of the order is

two of

])urpose, that if a root or it

will soon

(piite

so suitable

it

and useful

for this

be planted in any shrubbery,

run about, exterminate the weeds, and prove

a lesson in wild gardening.

I allude to the

Caucasian

Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum), which grows about twenty inches high, and bears quantities of the loveliest blue pendulous flowers.

It,

like

many

others,

does

much

better in

a wood, grove, or any kind of shrubbery, than in any other position, filling sliruljs,

in the

naked spaces betw^een the

trees

and

and has a quick-growing and spreading tendency, but

never becomes weedy or objectionable.

As

if

to

contrast


EXAMPLE FROM THE FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY. M'itli

it,

there

the deej) crimson Boliemian Comfrcy (S.

is

bohemicum), which its

11

vivid coloiirinu-

sometimes startliug from the deptli of

is

and

;

tlie

white Comfrey

(S. orientale), (j^nite

a vigorous-growing kind, blooming early in April ami ^lay,

with the blue Caucasian C.

These Comfreys, indeed, are admirable plants

—the places

for

similar place,

they ever did in the garden proper, in prim borders. are about

twenty

species,

Europe, Asia, and

Silieria.

I

There

mostly from Southern and Central

purposely omit the British Forget-me-nots, wishing

chiefly to

as our

;

This

dissitiflora.

down among

is

lilvc

all

— the

early Myosotis

a patch of the bluest sky settled

the moist stones of a rockwork or any similar

spot, before our is

now

show what we may do with exotics quite as hardy wildlings and we have another Forget-me-not,

own

not British, which surpasses them

and

rougli

and vigorous ones thriving in a ditch or any and flowering much better and longer than

tall

own Forget-me-not has opened

its

blue eyes,

admirable for glades or banks in wood or shrubbery,

especially in moist districts.

For rocky bare places and sunny sandy banks we lune the spreading Gromwell (Lithospermum pirostratum), which,

when

had assumed the form of

own among it

l^ut

low

alj)ine

Ijush, to enable

little

The Gromwells

known

native kind, being

Among

a

it

Gentian

to hold its

creeping things and stouter herbs than accompany

on the Alps.

genus

some exquisite

in flower, looks just as if

are a large

in gardens,

handsome

and important

some of them,

like our

plants.

the fairest plants

we have

are

tlie

Lungworts,

Pulmonaria, too seldom seen, and partly destroyed through


THE WILD GARDEN.

12

on bare

exposure

dug and

often

Pulmonaria (Mertensia virginica)

one of

tlie

old

loveliest spring

Imt

if

moist place near a stream, or in a peat l)ottom,

it

flowers ever introduced.

placed in

a

will live

whereas

;

is

The

liorder.

dry

it

verv rare in

It is

i>-ardens,

frequently dies in a garden.

The newer

and more easily grown Mertensia sibiriea is a lovely plant, taller and flowering longer. These two plants alone would repay any one for a trate the

fiict

trial of

the wild garden, and will illus-

that for the sake of culture alone (apart from

beauty, or arrangement) the wild-garden idea

art,

is

worth

carrying out.

Among

the

look more at

many plants

home than

suitable for the wild garden none

Borage, a few seeds of which scattered

over fresh dry ground soon germinate, and form fine that

will flower

annual, once

it is

during

the

summer.

introduced there

is

])atclies

Although only an

no fear of losing

it,

as

it

comes up somewhere near the same spot each succeeding year, and when in bloom the peculiar Solanum-like sha])e of the blossoms,

and

their rich blue colour,

make

it

beautiful.

in

The Cretan Borage is a curious old perennial, seldom seen gardens; and deservedly so, for its growth is robust and

its

habit coarse.

It

is,

however, a capital plant for the wild

garden, or for rough places

— in

where the ample room which grudged, and where year,

it

may

copse, or shrubljery, or lane,

it

re(piires

would not

Ije

be-

take care of itself from year to

showing among the boldest and the hardiest of the

early spring flowers.

Thus, though I say several of

little of

the Alkanet (Anclmsa) tribe,

which could be found worth a place with our own

handsome Evergreen Alkanet, and do not mention other im-


EXAMPLE FROM THE FOKOET-ME-NOT FAMILY. portant genera, limy tlu'

1)0

it

be seen that

will

a

1

:5

whole garden nf heauty

reaped from this tribe ahme.

Any

one wlio doubts

advantao'es of carrvino' out the idea of the wild garden

could settle the matter to his satisfaction in a couple of years

with these plants alone,

'I'hu

in

shrubbery, ditch, lane, copse, or

a

Cretan Horage (Borago Cretica).

wood, always })roviding that he takes care to adapt each hind to the position

will

grow

and the

six feet

shaded ditch,

and

soil.

For instance,

high in rich or moist therefore,

tlie

Giant Conifrey

soil in a partially

once fairly started, might

trusted to take care of itself in any position.

b(>

The Caucasian

Comfrey, on the other hand, grows fi'om eighteen inches to

two

feet high,

and

is

at

home

in the spaces in a copse or


THE WILD GARDEN.

14

slirubbery. is

a

little

The creeping Forget-me-not (Ompalodes verna)

plant

tliat

not over a span points

creeps about in grass or

liigli,

among vegetation, own these

—

or forms a carpet of its

must be considered, and

the happiest kind only.

tlien the rest is

gardening of

These Borageworts, richer in

Ijlue

flowers than even the gentians, are usually poor rusty tilings in exposed

sunny

borders,

out of flower, whereas in

and

also

much

in the

way when

shady lanes, copses, open parts of

not too dry or impoverished sliruliberies, in hedgerow-lianks, or ditches,

we only

notice tliem in their lieautiful bloom.

Flowers of Cleneva Bugle Dwarf Boragewort.

(Ajiiga genevensis),


^v,v.1:i?^.^>'

Star of Bethlehem

in CJrass.

CHAPTER

III.

EXAMPLE FROM HARDY BULBS AND TUBEES

We

will

now

different type

IN GRASS.

turn from the Forget-me-not order to of vegetation — liardy

a

very

and other plants

l)ulbs

dying down after flowering early in the year, like the Winter

How many

Aconite and the Blood-root (Sanguinaria). really enjoy the beauty of

which a judicious use

of us

of a profusion

How many

hardy Spring -flowering Bulbs affords?

get

beyond the miserable conventionalities of the flower-garden, A\ith its edgings

and patchings, and taking up, and drying,

and mere playing

many

"with our beautiful Spring Bull)S

any time

Bulbs

How

enjoy the exquisite beauty afforded by flow^ers of this

class, established naturally,

at

?

is

?

The subject

merely in

its

without troubling us for attention

of decoratiug w4th Spring-flowering

infancy

;

at present w^e

few of the showiest of them in geometrical w^e do leads to such a very poor result, that

merely place a

lines.

The

little

numbers of people,


THE WILD GARDEN.

16 alive to the real

Bulbs at

all,

charms of a garden

modes of

bedding-out This

;"

is

and

likely to be the

them

is

unused

;

that

way

is

and semi-wild parts of country

in wild

how

more

it

real interest

may

be arranged.

and beauty than any

This

all

the placing

and in

seats,

the rougher parts of a garden, no matter where situated or

in fact, as

the most effective and satisfactory of

of arranging

them

"

pains they occasion.

tlie

long as

so

case

.

regarding them as things which require endless

trouble, as interfering with the

not worth

too, scarcely notice Spriii

way

it

may

be

will yield

other.

Look, for instance, at the wide and bare belts of grass that

wind

and around the shrubberies in nearly every

in

country place ]ilant-l)eauty,

;

frequently, they never display a particle of

and are merely places

But

and then.

if

mown now

planted here and there with the Snowdrop,

Anemone, the Crocus,

the blue

to be roughly

Scillas,

and Winter Aconite,

they would in spring surpass in attractiveness the gayest of spring gardens.

Cushioned among the

have a more congenial medium in which offered spring,

would

grass, these

to unfold

than

is

by the beaten sticky earth of a border; in the grass of their natural bed, they would look far better than ever

they do

when arranged on

carefully

planted,

greatest interest

the bare earth of a garden.

— while they

— occasion no trouble whatever.

Their leaves die

down

scarcely interfere with

so early in spring that they

tlie

mowing

till

Surely

it is

would

of the grass, if that were

desired, but I should not attempt to

places

Once

an annual source of the

mow

the grass in such

the season of vernal beauty had quite passed

enough

carpet at all times,

to

liy.

have a portion of lawn as smooth as a

without sending the mower to shave the


EXAMPLE FROM HAKDY BULBS AXD TUBERS. •

lung and pleasant grass

It ^vunld

grass in

of tlie other parts of the grounds.

indeed be worth wliile to leave

nnniown If in

it.

"

fur the

17

sake of growing

some spot where a wide

parts of the

many

beautiful plants

many

fringe of grass spreads

out in the bay of a shrubbery ov plantation, and upon this carpet of rising and unshaven verdure there be dotted, in

addition to the few pretty natural flowers that of

session

Anemone,

happened

^^"

Apeunine

^-<;:

the Snowdrop, the Snow-

Crocuses

flake.

blue

the

it,

'

to take pos-

in

4^-

-^.^jm

variety, Scillas,

Grape-Hyacinths, earlier and smaller Xarcissi, the

"Wood Anemone, and

any other pretty Spring flowers that were suitable to the

we should have A'ernal

lieved leaves,

trace of

ness

and

position,

a glimpse of

Ijeauty

northern

soil

climes,

temperate

every

the

of

and

flower

re-

bv I/Ograss blades and Ooreen the whole devoid of any man, or

for

his exceeding

tracing

rhe association of exotic and British wild flowers in the Wild Garden.

weak-

— The

wall-paper pat-

ing

of

nature

in

sacrificing one jot liut,

her of

artist

In

own Wood

such

a

garden

it

had caught the true meanof

disposition

anything

our

with

Hyacinth.

terns, where everything should lie varied, indefinite, and changeful,

would be evident that the

Bell-flowered Scilla, nat-

uralised

of

vegetation,

value

in

the

without garden,

on the contrary, adding the highest beauty to spots

devoid of the slightest interest.

matter

I

may

In connection with this

as well say here that

G

mowing

the grass once


THE WILD GARDEN.

IS

a fortnight in pleasure g7Vimds, as now

and and is

We

costly mistahe.

there,

but what

to shave as

Who

want shaven carpets

cruel nonsense both to

many

are indeed places

pjxictised, is

foolish

men

a great

of grass liere

men and

shave their faces

grass

it

There

!

where they boast of mowing forty acres

would not rather

see the

waving grass with countless

than a close shaven surface without a blossom

flowers

!

i

Imagine the labour wasted in this ridiculous labour of cutting the heads off flowers and grass.

we may enjoy

cut for hay, and

Let the grass grow in

it

to

till lit

a Avorld of lovely flowers

that will blossom and perfect their growth before the grass

mown more

has to be

;

than one person who has carried out

the ideas expressed in this book has waving lawns of feathery

where he used

grass

prairie of flowers

some addition grow

till it is

to

to

shave the grass every ten days

where a daisy was not allowed his

hay crop

and

allows

peep

the

;

grass

a

and to

ht for that purpose.

It is not only to places in tions,

as he

to

;

which shrubberies, and planta-

belts of grass in the rougher parts of the pleasure-

that these ground, and shady moss-bordered wood-walks occur

The suburban garden, with its single fringe may show like beauty, to some extent. It may

remarks apply. of planting,

have the Solomon's Seal arching forth from a shady behind

tufts of the

case tliere

may

sweet-scented Xarcissus, while in every

be wild fringes of strong and hardy flowers in

the spring sun, and they cannot he cut off

when exposed stated

is,

places,

in the

mny

What

open garden.

I hope, sufficient to

place that

recess,

show

to

l>y

harsh winds as

has already been

everybody the kind of

be used for their culture.

Wild and semi-wild

rough banks in or near the pleasure-ground or flower-


EXAMPLE FROM HARDV BULBS AND TUBERS.

19

garden, sueli spots as perhaps at present contain nothing but

weeds, or any naturally ruugh ur unused spot ahout a garden

— such

are the places for them.

must be mown

the Snowdrop

for its leaves die

there

is

down,

anv occasion

But the

prettiest

The

I'urk^

grass need not

l)e

Cap

(ir

to

may

K\'en

mow

results are oidy attainable

Lily, naturalised in the grass

mown

the lawn

the grass.

till

where the

by wooJ-ÂŤa!k.

nearly the time the

meadows

of Narcissi, such as

never dared to dream about a dozen years ago

one ever thought

all

at all events ripen sufficiently before

Then we may have gardens

ninwn.

where

be enjoyed in early spring,

possiljle in a garden.

;

are

men

such as no

In grass not

mown

We may even enjoy many of the Lilies, and all the lovelier and more stately Ijulbous flowers of the meadows and at

all

mountain lawns of Europe, Asia, and America.

On on

a stretch of good grass

fairly

good

which need not be mown, and

soil in an}" part of

our country, beauty

may

be


THE WILD GARDEN.

20

enjoyed such as has hitherto only giaddened the heart of the rare

wanderer on the

May when

mountain hiwns and

higli

copses, in

the earth chikh'en laugh in multitudes on their

mother's breast.

All planting in the grass should be in natural groups or prettily fringed colonies,

growing

planting.

copses, heaths, as they go.

and

fro as

they like after

and meadows, by those wlio look about them

At

first

many

formal masses, but that

will find

may

groupings of wild flowers. begin to

to

Lessons in this grouping are to be had in woods,

it

difficult to get

be got over by studying natural

Once

group themselves in a

established, the plants soon

way

that lea^'es nothing

desire.

Crocuses

in turf, in

out of

grove uf Sunnucr leafing

trees.

t(j


Group of Globe

flowers (Trollius) in

Northern flowers

marshy place

type of the nobler

;

cultivated in gardens.

little

CHAPTER

IV.

EXAMPLE FROM THE GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. Let us next

see

order of pLmts. in

from

aspect

meadows and from

it

Virgin's

to

what may It

embraces

these

done with the Buttercup

1)e

many

liuniished

The

muuiitains.

embellish the wild

tilings

ornaments

first

thing

wood

Bower (Clematis flammula),

the to

breath

of early

summer,

the autumnal months.

beautiful as

and

if

its

fragrance

when crawHng

it,

so

northern

should take

a native of the south

as the

will

parts

of Britain

Hawthorn sweetens this

It is never to

add fragrance

be seen half so

over some tree or decayed stump

profuse masses of white liloom do not attract,

is

sure to do

spaces on banks near a for

And

common Hawthorn.

of

I

the sweet-scented

is

of Europe, but as hardy and free in all as the

widely diverse

so.

An

wood

;

its

open glade in a wood, or open

or shrubbery,

would be charming

while in the garden or pleasure-ground

it

may

be used


THE WILD GARDEN.

22

creeper over old stumps, trellising, or the like.

as a

Cle-

matis campaniflora, with flowers like a campanula, and of

a

pale purplish hue, and the beautiful white Clematis montana grandiflora, a native of Nepaul, are almost ecpially beautiful,

and many others of the family are worthy of a

place, rambling-

over old trees, bushes, hedgerows, or tangling over banks.

Tliese single wild species

Clematis are more graceful than the

(if

large

Hybrids now common

very hardy and

tbey are

;

In mild and sea-

free.

common

shore districts a beautiful kind, in Algeria,

and in the islands on and

shores

the

of

]\Iediterranean

cirrhosa), will be found

tlie

(Clematis

most valuable

—

being nearly evergreen, and flowering very early in spring

— even

winter

in

the

we come

to

the

in

South of England.

Next

Wind

in

ful

flowers

(C. montana).

floM'ers.

niOM'n

?

If

Anemones

the

so,

of the

Anemones, and here

or

ilowers,

we must pause The Mountain Clematis

order

tliis

to select, for

do not adorn

Have we

lieautiful

more beautithis

world

oi'

a bit of rich urass not

downy white and yellow

Alps (A. alpina and A. sulphurea)

may

l>e

Any sunny bushy l)aid<; or southern slope grown there. which we wish to embellisli with vernal beauty ? Then select it it

Anemone

blanda, a small

l)ut

lovely blue kind; ])lace

in open bare spots to l^egin witb, as

will at

the spring,

it is

very dwarf, and

Christmas, and from that time onward through

open

its

large flowers of the deejDest sky blue.


EXA^r^'^K vui)M cloiu-:

The

ciuniiioii

f;i-ti(li(ins,

and as

An.ciiioiu!

jiad iM'tlciUc

tlu' s])leniliil

Ancnmnf

glows with

it

free,

l.iii

unnlcii

(A.

placed in

(

njicii

to he

23

oiidkr.

'ormniria)

fulLiriis will

will

liarc sainly

iioL

l)e

places

;

proxe niosl attractive,

Of other Anemones, hardy,

tiery scavh't.

and hcantifnl enough

Fl.o^^•|•:I;

made

wild

in <>nr shrnljheries,

'A. j'aponica) ]ileasnre-gronnds, and wilds, the dapan Ancniunc

The White Japan Anemone

and

its

white varieties, A.

hest of the exotic species.

strongly that they stiff

hrushwuod,

and groups.

unlike our places.

trifolia

the Wild Garden.

and A.

sylvestris, are the

The Japan Anemones grow'

take care of themselves even

brambles,

fitted for scattering

beries

Avill

in

etc.

;

so

among

and they are beantifully

along the low, half- wild margins of shrub-

The

interesting little A. trifolia

own wood Anemone, and

M'ill

otow

in

is

not

similar


THE WILD GARDEN.

24

Few

more lovely in the wild garden than the White Japan Anemone. The idea of the wild garden first arose in the writer's mind as a home for a numerous class of

plants are

coarse -growing plants, to which people begrudge

in their borders, such as the

Compass

plants,

room

Golden Eods, Michaelmas Daisies,

and a host of

otliers,

which are

l)eautiful fur

a season only, or perhaps too rampant for what are called choice borders and beds.

suited

for

Anemone

the wild garden

grows well in any good

the

as

in copse or

soil

beautiful in half- shady places.

where they are

for the

blue variety),

it

is

it

now

sln-ubbery,

and

it

;

and

in

any

is, if

(the wliite as well as the

"

naturalised."

and

wilds

and

borders,

woods and shrubberies,

so

It is scarcely a British

a native of the south of

into our

strayed

It

in every garden, in the

l)e

may become

flower, being

to.

one of the loveliest spring flowers of any

scattered thinly here and there in

that

well

fully exposed.

Apennine Anemone

clime, and should

as

anything, more The flowers, too, are more

case the effect of the large white flowers

lasting here than

is

kinds alluded

Partial shade seems to suit

increases rapidly.

As

one of the most

is

garden flowers, and one which

of

beautiful

This

Europe

plaiitations

;

l)ut

having

occasionally,

it

is

included in most books on British plants.

A. ranuncnloides, a doul)tful native, found in

but not really British,

is

well worth growing, tliriving well

on the chalk, and being very

The

large

freely as

and we garden

Hepatica

The yellow one or two spots,

Ijeautifiil.

angulosa

will

grow

almost

as

Celandine among shrubs and in half-shady spots, all

soils

know how

readily the old kinds

of ordinary quality.

grow on

all

There are about ten or


^'^

W--'-'l

MM



EXAMPLE twelve varieties of

grown

FLOWER ORDER.

FRO^r OLOBE

tlie

common Hepatica (Anemone and gardens, and

in British nurseries

;dl

25

Hepatica)

(lie

colours

of llie species should he represented in evcrv collection

of

spring flowers.

There are

many

which would urow

of the Eaimnculi, not natives of r>ritain,

as freelv as our native kinds.

remember with pleasure

doubtless

white flowers of the aeonitifolius l}order.

fl.

This,

Fair

(Ranunculus

ornament of the old mixed

and the wild form from which

meadows

frecpient plant in alpine

— may

Quite distinct from

our wild garden.

beauty when well grown,

is

11.

ISIanv will

button-like

pretty

of France

IMaids

a frecpient

pi.),

tlie

also

all these,

it

l)e

comes

—a

enjoyed in

and of chastest

amplexicaulis, with flowers of

pure white, and simple leaves of a dark glaucous green and flowing graceful outline

almost any

This

soil.

is

;

a

hardy and charming plant on

one of the elegant exotic forms of a

family well represented in the golden type in our meadows,

and therefore

it

welcome

is

as

giving-

us

Such a plant deserves that pains be taken good

soil,

in spots

or destroy

in

it.

apart from our own,

garden plants

cpiite

(Trollius), there are various

rich in colour, fragrant,

all

kinds

and hardy

These are amono- the noblest wild-

in a remarkable degree.

hardy, free of growth in the heaviest of

and wettest of climates, affording a lovely type of early

summer

flower- life, and one distinct from

in our fields or gardens

are

it

where a rank vegetation may not weaken

Of the Globe Flowers

soil

a strange form to establish

among

the

many

;

for these

any usually seen handsome Globe flowers

flowers that for years have found no

place in the garden proper.

They

are lovely in groups or


THE WILD GAKDEN.

26

wonld

cold

in

colonies,

grassy places,

where ninny

]>lants

perish.

The

Winter Aconite

(Eranthis

do so as to introduce the

thistle.

It

under the Ijranches of deciduous

when

the trees are naked,

—

may

have

be

as easy to

it is

he placed

trees, will

Avill

shonld

hyenialis)

naturalised in every country seat in Britain

flower

otliei-

(piite

come up and

its foliage

developed

come on

before the leaves

the trees, and be afterwards

hidden from

sight.

masses of this

earliest flower

'"^'^'""ivr"^'^-

•''"

Thus

may be grown without

the

slightest

of

sacrifice

space,

and only be noticed

when

a

Itearing

bloom on every little stem.

That

])lant,the

Rose

(

fine old

Christmas

Hellel lorus The

niger), likes partial

shade better

thaii

dantly, giving flowers

may

it

full

(Ireeii

Hellebore

in the

Wild (iarden.

exposure, and should be used abun-

rather snug and

warm

positions, so that its

be encouraged to open well and

other kinds might also be used,

liecently

fully.

many

Helleborus have been added to our gardens, not

Any

kinds of

all

of

them

so conspicuous at first sight as tlie Christmas Eose, yet they

are of remarkable beauty of foliage

and habit as well

blossom, and they flower in the spring.

These, too,

as

of

show the

advantage of the wild garden as regards cultiAation

They


KXAMPLK FROM much

llu'hc

\\']\]

mniually

hedge hanks, old

cases

it is

Rome them

any

even in

ditlereiice

in

effect

tlie

in

tAvo

tlie

needless to speak. of the ^Nronkslioods are very handsome, hnt all

virnlent

at

slopes,

or rough movnds, than in the ordinary

Of the

and,

poisons;

l)earin,u

mind what

in

accidents have arisen from their nse, they

used

27

or copses, or in

htsliy places,

groups on irarm hanks and

i/i/arrics,

harder.

garden

in

hetfrr

shelf rriny

(ILOBE FLOWRIJ ORDEH.

in

all

the

,^ardeii

ai'e

fatal

l)etter

not

tall

and

Amongst

proper.

ol"

vigorous herliaceous plants few are more suitable for wihl

and semi -wild to

grow anywhere

in

An

sliady

with

spikes, loaded

tall

Tliey are hardy and rohust enougli

places.

illustration in the

(ir

l)lue

('ha])ter

lialf-sliady

very

tlieir

beautiful.

on the ])lants suited for the

common Aconite

wild garden sliows the

and

s])ots:

are

flowers,

in a Somersetshire

valley in

company with the Butterbur and the Hemlock.

In

]ilace its

.such a

l)lue

kinds,

grown

When

in

beauty

deep

stiff

wild garden

Tlie larger rich

very striking.

and the blue and white one, are very showy soils, in

out of flower, like

were often

is

and ugly

tlieir

Mdiich

many

they attain

a

great height.

other stately Perennials, they

in the old borders

stately beauty

Avill

and

l)eds.

In

tlie

be more remarkable

than ever under the green leaves in copses and by streams.

And when

Hower-time

is

gone, their stems, no longer tied into

bundles or cut in by the knife, will group finely with other vigorous herbaceous vegetation.

The Delphiniums, the most lieautiful of

shade of

lilue,

or tall Terennial Larks|)urs, are all flowers.

amongst

They embrace almost every

from the rich dark tone of D. grandiflora to the


THE WILD GARDEN.

28

eharming can-ulean

tints of

such as D. Belladonna

and being

;

make way among long grasses and vigorous weeds, unlike many things for which we have to recommend an open space, or a wood with notliing usually of a tall

and strong

type, will

but a carpet of moss under the

One

trees.

of the prettiest effects whicli

I liave ever seen

was a colony

of tall

Portions of old roots of

Larkspurs.

several species

and

had been

varieties

chopped of

l)ed

when

off

these

a

plants

was dug in the autumn. For convenience sake the

had

refuse

been

thrown into the neighl)Ouring shrubbery, far in

among

and

the shrubs

trees.

Here they

grew

in

half- open

spaces,

which were

so

Tall Perennial Larkspurs, naturalised in Shrubbery (1878).

far

removed from

margin that they were not dug and were not

saw the Larks]iurs

in flower they

things that one could see.

seen.

were certainly the

tlie

When

I

loveliest

They were more beautiful than they

are in borders or beds, not growing in such close stiff tufts, but

mingling with and relieved by the trees above and the shrubs around.

Little

more need be

cares about such plants,

and

said to lias

any one who knows and

an opportunity of planting

in such neglected places.

This case points out that one might

make wild gardens from

the mere parings and thinnings of


EXAMPLE FKOM GLOBE FLOWER ORDER. the beds and borders in

autumn

in

2!)

any place wliere there

is

a collection of good hardy plants.

The engraving on the next page represents one beautiful effects

of tlie

most

obtained in his wild garden by an acquaintance

mine who began when he knew very little of plants and their favoured haunts, and succeeded well in a not very of

favourable

Herbaceous Piconies were amongst those

site.

The

that succeeded best.

hand

close at

effect

was very

of perennial plants, beautiful effects

room.

Even

may be

carried out in

free, vigorous,

most places where there

in comparatively small gardens, a group or

two outside the margin of a shrubljery woidd be

The

effect of the

garden

is

liner

Herb-

off.

and hardy and with them alone most novel and

aceous Pseonies are amongst the most

is

l^eautiful, either

or seen at a considerable distance

desirable.

blooms amongst the long grass of the wild

than any they present in borders, and when

out of flower they do not seem to be in the way, as they often are thought to be

when

in borders

and beds.

It is almost

needless to speak here of the great variety of forms

obtainable amongst these herbaceous Pieonies, are agreeably scented.

(jf

of

which

The older forms were not remarkable

in that respect, but rather the contrary.

splendour

many

now

In addition to the

colour for which Pffionies are long and well

known, there are now many delicately -coloured and tinted varieties. The whole race is undeservedly neglected. People spend plenty of money on greenhouses which will nevei" produce anything so handsome as a well-grown group of herbaceous Pieonies in the open garden

;

yet

when they

they are often begrudged a few feet of good is

all

soil,

they would require for years at a time.

are

grown

though that

My

friend's


THE WILD GARDEN.

30

Pieonies formed a group that could be seen from a distance

wlieu

T

grass.

;

saw tliem they were surrounded by long and waving I

cannot give any idea of the

tine effect.

The Clematis-like Atragene alpina

one of

is

flowers— seldom seen now-a-days, or indeed of a botanical garden, It lii<es to trail

and

till

at

my

favourite

any time, out

lately not often seen in one.

over an old stump, or through a thin low busli.

Âťrja ^^^ hHt""

Double

or over a rocky bank,

Criiiisoii

and

it is

Peeonies

a perfectly hardy plant.

would

ing of such plants as this, one distinction

between them and the

subjects wliich are

now

in tfrass.

vari()us

creeping into cultivation owing to

the revival of interest in hardy plants.

some botanical garden. tion

Our

interest, but they can

chief danger

now

which are neither very

perhaps we neglect

Speak-

draw a sharp weedy and indistinct

like to

many

is

Many

l)e

of these have

only useless in the

getting plants into cultiva-

distinct nor \'ery beautiful, while

of the

really

tine

kinds.

This


EXAMl'i.K Atrageiie

is

a

FROM

(iLol'.K

F]A)\\l-:il

OKDKi;.

plant tur kiw Imsli and

precious

:U

liaiik

wild

oardeii.

Aiuon,u plants which une nevL^- sees, and which, indeed,

uue never ought

Eues

;

to see, in

and vet there

is

plants which entitle flowers,

shown

When

—

in

too,

of

garden,

a quiet beauty

them

certain

aw

and grace

the ]\[eadow aliout

some consideration

to

species,

particularly

and the

;

one

tlie

these

here

])age 1, are of singular beauty.

considered that

the species will grow anywhere

it is

anv hedgerow or lane

common

should not Li'arden.

tiowt-r

in the illustration im

or in a copse, or to

a

under

or

bvewav, or among coarse

the shrubs, in places usually

weeds, there

be

all

rescued

is

no

from

rea-^on

the

why numbers

oblivion

of

grass,

abandoned

the

of

them

botanic


CHAPTEE

V.

PLANTS CHIEFLY FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN.

What

tirst

suggested the idea of the wild

garden, and even the

was the desire

to

to provide a

number

for a great

name

me,

home

of exotic plants

that are unfitted for garden culture in the old sense.

plants

of these

Many

have great beauty when in

and perhaps

flower,

at other seasons, but they are

frequently so free

and vigorous in growth

that they overrun and destroy all their delicate neighbours.

Many,

more

too, are so coarse

that they are objectionable in choice borders,

and

after flowering they leave a

mass of unsightly stems. unsightly in gardens, the neglect of hardy flowers; yet

A

stages.

tall

blank or a

These plants are

and the main cause of

many

are beautiful at certain

Harebell, for example,

stiffly

tied

up

in a

garden border, as has been the fashion where plants of this

kind have been grown at object

;

but the same

all, is

plant

at best of times

growing

an unsightly

amongst the

long


PLANTS FITTED FOR THE a

in

UTass

wooel

tliiu

WlT.l)

GAEDEX.

luvelv.

is

The Golden -rods and Michaelmas overrun

used to

Daisies

mixed

and

horder,

abolished.

were

wood

autumn

also there are

old

mn

fi

Xew EuQ-land ^

So

numerous exotic plants

not he so striking,

Ijut

in groups

and

some

distance

colonies, off,

may

which, grown

and seen

at

/^

afford heauti-

ful aspects of vegetation,

new

ir

a picture.

of whicli the indi^•idual iiowers

little

iP

with

even the poorest of

lUit

these seen to£i-ether in a in

the

and

cpiite

so far as gardens are concerned.

"When

I first

one of

tliese

wrote this book, not plants was in cultiva-

tion outside botanic gardens.

It

was

even considered by the best friends

ALf

of hardy flowers a mistake to recom-

mend one that

it

of them, for they

was the j^redominance

weedy vigorous

knew

of these

subjects that

made

people give up hardy flowers for the sake of the glare of bedding plants therefore, the wild

garden in the case

of these particular plants opens

us a

new world of infinite and

beauty.

In

it

;

up

ti

w^ rA:i

i

stranae

every plant vigorous

/ \

V5«r~

£v:

enough not to require the care of the cultivator or a choice place in the

D

The Giant Scabious

(o feet high).

(Cephalaria procera.)


THE WILD GARDEN.

34

mixed border numbers travellers

may

find a

home.

taller

Of

sucli plants there

are

and mountainous country, wliich

gather and

The

gardens.

the

Avill

in every northern

afterwards

grow

the

Achilleas,

seldom -seen Actreas, the huge

in

own

their

stately

Aconites,

and vigorous, but

certain seasons handsome, Altlueas, Angelica with

its

at fine

foliage, the herliaceous kinds of Aralia from the American

woods,

with

also

(Artemisia),

the

(Asclepias),

certain

Asters and

fine

stronger

foliage,

Wormwood

the

family

kinds of American cotton -weed

of the vigorous

species

their allies in great variety,

of Asparagus,

the larger and more

vigorous species of Astragalus, certain of the larger species of Betonica, pretty, and with delicate flowers, but hardly

fit

for

the mixed border, various free and vigorous exotic Grasses,

and showy Bupthalmums, the handsome creeping Bindweeds, too free in a garden, the most vigorous Campanulas,

large

exotic Thistles (Carduus)

able kinds

of Carex,

coarse for the garden;

and their

allies,

the more remark-

numerous Centaureas, somewhat too and among other strong and hardy

genera, the following are chiefly suitable for the wild garden Cramlie.

Galega.

Rhaponticum.

Digitulis.

Helenium.

Rheum.

Dipsacus.

Helianthus.

Rudbeckia.

Doronicum.

Heracleum.

Scolymus.

Echinacea.

Inula.

Senecio.

Ecliiiiops.

Kitaibelia.

Sida.

Elymiis.

Lavatera.

Silphium.

Ejnlobiuin.

Ligularia.

Solidago.

Eryngiiun.

Ligusticuni.

Sonclius.

Eupatorium.

Mulgedium.

Symphytum.

Euphorbia.

Onopordon.

Veratrum.

Ferula.

Phytolacca.

Verbascum.

Funkia.

Polygonum.

Vernonia.

:


PLANTS FITTED FOR THE WILD GARDEN.

Giant

Cow

Parsnip.

Type

of Great Siberian herbaceous vegetation.

For rough places only.

35


CHAPTER

VI.

DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES, COPSES, HEDGEROWS,

AND THICKETS,

Men

usually seek sunny positions for tlieir

v^

gardens, so that even

those obliged to be con-

tented with the north side

would scarcely

of the hill

some

appreciate

above named -

What,

the

weedy dyke

the

of

positions.

gloomy

and

as a garden

!

Yes, there are ditches, dry

and wet, that

in every district,

may

readily he

made

more beautiful than many -'

^*

'

"

a

Foliage of Dipsacus, on hedge-bank in spring.

them

?

of our

]\Iany of the beautiful

own and

"

modern flower-garden,"

-g^^^

^^,|^^^

^^.^^^^d

grOW

wood and shade-loving

similar latitudes

— things

iu

j^lants

that love not the

wide meadows, but take shelter in the

open sunny

hillsides or

stillness of

deep woods or in dark valleys, are happy deep


DITCHES AND XATtROW SHADY LANES. between riven rocks, and gaily

37

dark caves

oc('n]iy the little

beneath the ureat boidders on maiiv a horror-stricken nioiintain gorge,

and whicli garland

Avith

inimitable grace the vast

flanks of rock that gnard the dark conrses of the rivers on their

the

paths throngh

ruined

ceaseless

by

And

hills.

pulse

of

the

as

these dark walls,

ties

the shady

all

dykes and narrow lanes that occur everywhere the nymph-gardener of the raA^ne

beautiful

are

torrent,

moiv may we make

exceedingly, liow iniich

may depend

For while

!

for

her novel-

on the strav grains of seeds brouuht in the moss bv the

robin

wave,

when

building her nest, or on the mercy of the hurrying

we may

by side the snowy white wood lily whose home is in the shades of the

place side

(Trillium grandiflorum),

American woods, with the twin flower of Scotland and northern Europe, and find Ijoth thrive on the same spot in ha^jpy com-

And

panionship.

may we

so in innumerable instances.

And

not only

be assured of numbers of the most beautiful plants of

other countries thriving in deep ditches and in like positions,

but also that not a few of them, like the white wood thrive

much

borders.

as

This plant,

any white

them than

Ijetter in

lily,

when

while

it is

in

any

111}-,

will

position in garden

in perfection, has a flower as fair

seldom a foot high

;

but, in con-

sequence of being a shade-loving and wood plant,

it

usually

perishes in the ordinary garden bed

or border, while in a

shady dyke or any like position

be found to thrive as

well as in

vegetable

its

it

native woods; and

soil, to

grow

will if

in

deep, free, sandy, or

so as not to be surpassed in loveliness

by anything seen in our stoves or greenhouses.

Our wild

flowers take j^ossession of the

stiff',

formal, and


THE WILD GARDEN.

38

shorn hedges that seam the land, often (heaping them with such innnitable grace that half the ecjuservatories in the country, with their collections of small red pots and small

mean

plants are

stiff

and poor compared with a few yards'

The Wild

length of their blossomy verdure.

Eoses, Purple

Vetch, Honeysuckle, and the Virgin's Bower, clamber above

and throw a

smaller, but not less pretty, wildlings,

graceful

life

over the mutilated shrubs, reminding us of the

plant-life in the nest-like thickets of

dwarf shrubs that one Tn these

often meets on the Ingh Alpine meadows.

bushes in a sea of grass one

have been

all

may

browsed down on the

interesting aspects

tracery of low -climbing things

grass,

gather Howers

Next

turf.

there

of Alpine vegetation,

nothing in the world of plant-life

northern and

veil of

they

to the

most

is

more lovely than the

wedded

to the

islets of

after

perhaps delicate

bushes in

all

Perishing like the

temperate regions of the earth.

they are happy and safe in the earth's Ijosom in winter

in spring they

come up

finding the bushes once

as the

buds swell, and soon

more enjoyable, rush over them

joyously as children from school over a

meadow

Over bush, over brake, on mountain or lowland

;

after,

as

of cowslips.

copse, holding

on with delicate but unyielding grasp, they engrave themselves on the mind as the central type of grace.

In addition to

of

which the stems

climbing Pea-flowers, Convolvuluses, perish in winter, in

foliage

we

etc.,

have the great tribes of wild vines, noble

and often in

fruit,

from coral red to pale yellow,

the numerous Honeysuckles, all beautiful

;

and the Clema-

and lovely beyond description, from those of which each petal reminds one of the wing of some huge tidie, rich,

varied,


DITCHES AND XARROW SHADY LANES.

39

tropical butterfly, to those with small flowers borne in showers

from a fountain

like drops

jet,

and often sweet as Hawthorn

blossoms.

This climbinti'

vegetation

be trained and in

Q-ardens,

but

never be seen

will

its

beauty

until

we

entrust

it

may

tortured into forms

to the garland-

ino-

and

of shrub,

copse, or hedge-

row,

of

fringes

dwarf plantation, or

of

groups

and

shrubs

trees.

All to be done

few

put in a

any

is

to

tufts of

desired kind, and leave tliein

alone, adapting the kind position.

The

Bindweed,

for

to

the

large, flesh-coloured

example, would be best in

rough places, out of the pale of the pleasureground or garden, so that its roots would not spread wliile a

where they could do harm,

dehcate Clematis might be placed

beneath the choicest specimen Conifer, and allowed to paint flowers.

its

rich gi-een witli fair

it

type of nobler climbing plants, with annual stems.

For copses, hedgerows, and shrubberies.

In nature we frequently see a Honeysuckle clamber-

ing up through an old

with

The large white Bindweed,

as to

Hawthorn

tree,

and then struggling

which should produce the greatest profusion


THE WILD GARDEN.

40 of blossoms this

— hut

cannot he done in gardens

hetter in gardens than for gardens

can

we can

Some may say

gardens not yet.

in

it

has ever been done in nature

from

select plants

effect contrasts, in

can he done infinitely

l)nt it

;

which nature

that

many

because,

;

We

countries.

poor in any one place

is

in consequence of the comparatively few plants tliat naturally

art itself is nature;

"

and

"

People seldom remember that

inhabit one spot of ground.

foolish old laws laid

down by

the

land-

scape-gardeners are yet fertile in perpetuating the notion that a garden

"

a

is

work

we must

fore

of art,

and there-

not attempt in

it

to

imitate nature."

Sometimes,

and bare

Uirge effect

may

where slopes,

there

are

an excellent

be obtained by planting

the stouter climbers, such as the

Mountain

Vines,

Clematis,

and

Honeysuckles, in groups or masses

on the grass, away from shrubs or

low

trees

;

while,

when

the banks

are precipitous or the rocks crop forth,

we may

allow a curtain of

<!S*!^

climbers to The Nootka Bramble

;

growing flowering copses and woods.

spots are

near

among

type of freeFor shrub.

may

most the

fall

country

be made in this way in

houses.

climbing and

The following

clinging

suitable for garlanding copses, hedges, lasting Peas

Clematis

(many

(wild

kinds), the

species

over tliem.

Endless charming; combinations

many genera

hardy plants most

and thickets

:

— Ever-

hardy exotic Honeysuckles,

maiiily),

the

common

Jasmine,


DITCHES AND NARROW SHADY LANES. tlu'

Amines

Ui'iiialilc,

tlitiil)l(,'

and

(Ainerican

41 (•(tmiiioii

llie

varieties), single Ivoses, the A^irginiau creepers (Anipelopsis),

Bindweed (Calystegia and A. tomentosa, and several

ol'

T.

and tuberosum.

the hirge

pentaphylhini,

speciosnni,

Sniihix, too, are very

only

daliuiiea), Aristolochia Sipho,

the ]ierennial Tro])ieohims,

handsome, and the Canadian Moonseed, kind of gardening.

suita])k' for this

the families of plants

Among

tliat

various positions enumerated at the

may be

The hardy

named — Acanthus,

are suitable for the

head of

this

variety, Viola,

any

chapter

both

the

sweet varieties and some of the large scentless kinds, the I'eriwinkle,

Globe

Speedwells,

Ferns (Struthiopteris), and the Valley and

its

many

Flowers,

many

Trilliums,

other kinds, the

varieties

and

allies,

I'lume Lily of

the Canadian

Bloodwort, the Winter Greens (P}'rola), Solomon's Seal, and allied

exotic

Narcissi,

hardy

many, the

common

Peas and

May Apple, Orobus in variety, Common Myrrh, the perennial Lupin, the

species,

Lilies,

the Snowflakes,

allied plants,

all

kinds of Everlasting

admirable for scrambling through low

hedges and over bushes, Windflowers, the taller and stronger kinds in lanes and hedgerows, the various Christmas Eoses wliicli will

repay for shelter, the European kinds of Crladiolus,

such as segetum and

Coh^illi, the taller

and more vigorous

Cranes Bills (Geranium), the Snake's Head variety, Strawberries of

any variety

(Fritillaria)

in

or species, the beautiful

Plume-leaved Giant Fennel, Dog's Tooth Violets in bare spots or spots bare in spring, the for

peaty spots or leaf

soil

under

Winter Aconite, the Barren Worts,

soil,

the j\Iay Flower, for sandy poor

trees, the Dentaria, the

coloured and sliowier forms

of I'rimroses, Oxslips, I'olyantlius, the hardy

European Cycla-


THE WILD GARDEN.

42

mens

in

carefully chosen

spots,

under

Crocuses in places

branches and trees not bearing leaves in Spring, the yellow

and pink Coronilla forms of Bindweed,

(C.

montana and

many

varia), the

larger

and

finer Harebells,

among

the taller plants

of the taller

Star worts (Aster), for hedgerows, and

C.

the Italian Cuckoo Pint (Arum), and also the Dragons, for

warm sandy

soils,

the

Monkshoods which people

dens and which do admirably in species of Onion, also

are very

beautiful,

many positions

unwelcome

as,

for

in gardens,

;

fear in gar-

the different

some

of

which

example, the White Provence

kind and the old yellow garden Allium (Moly).

With

above almost exclusively exotic things and our

own

flowers and ferns Ijeautiful colonies

'I'he

may

be made.

Yellow Allium (A. Moly) naturalised.

the

wild


CHAPTER

VIL

DKAPEKY FOR TREES AND BUSHES.

The numerous hardy climbers

wliicli

we

pos-

sess are very rarely seen to advantage, owingto

tlieir

stifHv trained

l)eing

Indeed, the greater

number

of

against walls.

hardy climbers

have oone out of cultivation niainlv for this reason.

One

using them

is

manner over

ways of

them

in a free

way many

beautiful

that of training

trees

be

may

effects

of the happiest of all

;

in this

Established trees

secured.

have usually exhausted the ground near their

which may, however,

base, to a

hardy climbing

the graceful companion

the stem only

may

In some low trees

garland their heads

may

at first

shrul).

afford nutriment

be adorned.

;

in tall ones

But some vigorous

climbers could in time ascend the tallest trees, and there can be

nothing more beautiful than a veil of such a one as Clematis

montana suspended from the branch host of lovely plants

may

Ije

of a tall tree.

A

whole

seen to great advantage in this

way, apart from the well-known and popular climbing plants.

There

are,

for

example, man}- species of Clematis which


THE WILD GARDEN.

44

have never come into cultivation, but which are quite as beautiful

as

any climbers.

The same may be

said of the

Honeysuckles, wild Vines, and various other families of which

Large White Clematis on

the names tree

may be

Yew

tree at

found in catalogues.

and shrub world

is

in hedgerows. first

The

[C.

montana

grandifiora.)

IMuch of the northern

garlanded with creepers, which

be grown in similar ways,

have the

Great Tew.

as,

for

may

example, on banks and

trees in our pleasure-grounds, however,

claim on our attention in planting garlands.


DRAPET^Y FOR TRp]ES There would scldtun

AND BUSHES.

45

need to fcnr injury to established

1i<'

trees.

Some time a^o a lake, that had

smv

T

a AVeepiiig' AVilloM',

on

margin of

tlu;

trunk clothed with Virginian Creeper, and

its

when

the effect in autumn,

the sun shone throuLih the

branches

drooping

AVillow— whose l)ecoming

just

gold

— upon

the

leaves were

the crimson of

trunk

creeper covered

The Hoji

fine.

effective

very

a

draping

with

tinged

-

was very a

the

of

plant

thin

Arbor -vita', or

specimen

Yew

the shoots should

is

for

l)e

tree,

but

thinned

out in spring, and not more

than three or four allowed to

climb

When

u])

the

to

the

leader

tree.

emerges The way

from the top of the Imsh,

and throws

most

— winter

efifect (<x

faith-

fnl skfUh). its lonu;, o-raceful

wreaths of Hops over is

the climbing plants of the world are

crucified in gardens

effective.

tlie

dark green

The Wistaria,

if

foliage, the

planted before

contrast

its sup])ort

has become old, will combine with excellent effect with any single specimen of not too dense a habit.

A

correspondent,

a place in

follows

:

"

who has added

Suffolk l)y

means

Some time aso

largely to the

charms of

of the wild garden, writes as

I disc()^'ered

and had removed from

the woods to the pleasure-grounds a robust round-headed


THE WILD GARDEN.

46

which had been taken

entire possession of

by a

wild Honeysuckle, which, originating at the root of the

tree,

Holly

tree,

had scrambled up through the branches to the extending itself in all directions, had formed a

hung

in

festoons

round

all

—a

and

top,

highly ornamental object

The Holly had endured the subjection

indeed.

there,

large head and

years,

seemed

for

many

and

still

put forth

to

sufficient shoots

leaves

annually

and to

ensure a steady supjiort to

its

climbing-

The

companion. Ijirds

had

also

thicket

the

that

covered

dense

dis-

and

tangled

created

by

the Honeysuckle was a suitable

home

for

their young, for in'^My^t Climbing shrub (Celastrus), isolated on the grass way of growing woody Climbers away from walls or other

side of it was a regular

:

settlement

supports.

and,

since

of

the

tree

complete possession

has of

in

moA'ed

l)een

again is

1jy

instance, than

white

Clematis

a

lofty

What

the

various

nests

kinds

;

has been taken

bird

tribe."

The

an example of what might

(piestion" Honeysuckle done with such handsome and 1)6

and scraml)ling Eoses.

it

of

free

growing climbers

could be more effective, for

tree -like

mass of the purple and

mixed, or either of

tliese alone, or,

better


DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES. still,

a

gigantic head of Eoses

for those

who

such as I

have described,

choose to

?

47

tlirow out these

I

act

upon them.

may

soon be had.

hints

Draped I

do not

trees,

know

that a better tree than the Holly could be selected for a support.

Where

the trees are not in

are wanted, they sliould be to the desired situation,

decayed manure it

is

place in which they

tlie

moved about the end

and

if

some good

rich soil

furnislied to the roots at tlie

will he in proper condition

f(^r

August

same time,

climbers in spring.

latter sliould be planted pretty closely to the

and a

of

—loam and

stem of the

Tlie tree,

should be made with good vigorous plants, whether

start

of Honeysuckle, Eoses, or Clematis.

The Eoses and other

things will want a

first till

little

leading off at

of their supporters, but afterwards

they get hold

no pruning or interference

should be attempted.

Mr. Hovey, in a

letter

from Boston,

follows, on certain interesting aspects of

]\Iass.,

wrote as

tree drapery

:

Some ten or fifteen years ago we bail occasion to plant three or four rows of popular climbers in nursery rows, about 100 feet long these consisted of the Virginian creeper, the Moonseetl (Menispermum), subsecj^uently, it hajj^jened Periploca gra-ca, and Celastrus scandens ;

;

accidentally that four rows of rather large Tartarian (so-called) Arbor'\ita\s were planted on one side, and about the same numl)er of rows of

Smoke

trees,

For Philadelphus, and Cornus tlorida, on the other. many of these climbers were taken up annually

three or four years

and year l)y year the Arbor-^vitits and shrubs were thinned out until what were too large to safely transplant

until rather too old to remove,

But the land was not wanted then, and the few

remained.

scattered

and climbers grew on while cultivation was partially neglected, a large specimen being occasionally taken out until the climl)ers had fairly taken possession of the trees, and are now too beautiful to trees

disturb.

ever seen.

It

forms the most unic|ue specimen of tree drapery I have of the Arbor-vita^s are entirely overrun with the

Some

Moonseed (Menispermum), whose

large, slightly-scalloj)ed leaves over-


THE WILD GARDEN.

48

lap one unotlier from the grouml to tlie top like slates on a roof. Over others, the gloomy leaves of the Periploca scramble, and also the Celastrus, and on still others the deep green leaves of the Ampelopsis of some trees all fonr and otlier climbers completely festoon the tree and from taken have among the tops of the Snmach the possession ;

;

feathery tendrils of the Ampelopsis, and, just now, its deep bine berries And these are not all. Tlie Apios tuberosa is hold full sway.

indigenous, and springs np everywhere as soon as onr land is neglected. has also overrun several trees, and coils np and wreaths each out-

Tliis

stretching branch with its little bunches of fragrant brownish coloured It is the Arbor-vita's which give the peculiar l^eanty of this

flowers.

description of tree drapery. lengthens rapidly, and the Arbor-vitiBs,

On

the deciduous trees the

new growth

branches soon get far apart

but with

;

which always present a round compact head, the

effect

they are covered so densely that it is impossible, in some instances, to say what the tree is that supports the climljers. One Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis) has every branch loaded with is

entirely ditt'erent

;

but this one sees happen witli the Apios and profuse with blossoms The Smoke tree looks interesting just now, while its other trees. flowers are fresh, but soon they will fade, and the dry tops will be a ;

disadvantage

but

;

foliage, flowers, frosts

the Arbor-vitse

and berries

too,

will

remain

of the Celastrus

have shorn them of their beauty, and

The

scattered around.

Arbor-^'itte

is

(dothed

with

imtil the

the

autumn

no

falling leaves are

the tree I

would recommend

when it is desirable to produce such effects as I have described. When such strong-growing climbers as Begonias and Wistarias take possession l>ut the very slender stems of of a shrub they generally injure it ;

Menispermum and Apios

ground after the first sharp do not stems of the others slender the and appear to arrest the growth frost, of the Arbor-vita'S, which are restored when the climbers are down, and, after full

die entirely to the

eight months' rest, are again ready to aid in sustaining tlieir

The Honeysuckle, the Clematis, and more dependent companions. similar plants might, no doubt, be added to the list, and give more variety, as well as fragrance and beauty, but I have only detailed the effects of

future

what has been done, leaving what might be

effected for

some

trial.

But

tlie

noblest kind of climbers forming drapery for trees

are not so often seen as

tioned above.

A

some

of the general favourites

men-

neglected group are the wild Vines, plants


DRAPERY FOR TREES AND BUSHES. of

the

liighest

and

beauty, if

M'liicli,

lowed

al-

to spring

through the

tall

trees,

Avhich

they

\yould

quickly

do,

would

soon

charm by their bold grace.

Some

them

of

are fine in colour of

autumn.

Witli

these be

in

foliao-e

might

associated,

though not

so

;^

fine in form, cer-

tain free -grow-

ing

species

of Ampelopsis, in

some

nurseries.

The

grown

Wistaria

is

also

worth

well

growing

on

in

dis-

trees, tricts

where

flowers

it

freely

A

Liane

in the

North.

E

.Aristolochia

and Deciduous Cypress.

49


THE WILD GARDEN.

50

away from at

In visiting the garden of INIM.

walls.

Haarlem, I was

surprised to see a Liane, in the

well-known Aristolochia clambered high into a

much

interested in

was able

to procure,

old deciduous Cypress.

through the kindness of

leaves

tlie

and

When

was engraved.

had not appeared on

its

I

Being

companionship,

long-estahlished

Eden, photographs of the tree illustration

shape of the

Dutchman's Pipe, which had

or

fine

this

Van Eden,

INIessrs.

I

Van

Liane, from wliich this

saw

it

early in spring

either the tree or its

com-

was very panion, and the effect of the old rope-like stems picturesque.

The Aristolochia ascends

to a height of

35

ft.

G in. on the tree.

The injured

tree

was a superb specimen, and was not

in the least

What

a beautiful

by the growth

of the climlier.

effect a graceful flowering

climber would afford in a similar

Imagine one of the white-flowered Clematis (which may be seen as many as over forty feet in height under suitable conditions) garlanding such a tree, or any tree, with case

!

wreaths of fragrant blossoms. vegetation

Strange and lovely aspects of

be created in our pleasure-grounds by the

may

to the trees judicious use of these climbers, varying according

and

their

position,

summer-leafing.

and also

little

value,

old or dead trees.

to tlieir being evergreen or

Even where one might

valuable tree by a

found of

as

fear to

vigorous climber, trees

and much

may

may

injure a easily be

be done even with the


A

—

A colony of Myrrbis odorata, establisbed white Harebells here and there. (See p. 60.)

beautiful accident.

CHAPTER

in

shrubbery, with

VIII.

THE COMMON SHRUBBERY, WOODS AND WOODLAND DRIVES. It

must not

1)6

formed in places where there ground.

wild garden can only be

tliouglit that the

Excellent results

is

some extent

may

in comparatively small gardens,

Ije

of rough pleasure-

obtained from the system

on the fringes of shrubberies

and marginal plantations, open spaces l)etween shrubs, the surface of Ijeds of Rhododendrons,

where we may have plant-

beauty instead of garden -graveyards.

I call garden -grave-

yards the dug shrubbery borders which one sees in nearly

all

Every shrubbery and plantation needlessly and relentlessly dug over by the

gardens, public or private. surface that

is

so

gardener every winter, propose,

as

may

well as wild

shrubbery borders prevails

be embellished in the

places.

now

in

The custom

way

I

of digging

every garden, and there

is


THE WILD GARDEN.

52 ill

tlie

whole course of gardenmg no worse

custom.

Wlien winter

altliougli

animated

to

.

make war upon

is

M-itli

or

more

profitless

once come, almost every gardener, hest intentions, simply prepares

tlie

the roots of everything in his shruhliery

The generally-accepted practice is to trim, and often and to dig all over the surface that

border.

to mutilate the shrubs,

must be

full of

Delicate half- rooted shrubs

feeding roots.

are disturbed; herbaceous plants

displaced and injured are mutilated

the roots as well as the tops of shrubs

;

and a sparse depo^Dulated

;

the margins, while the only

by the process

are destroyed; bulbs are

is

"

asjiect is "

improvement

that

given to effected

is

the annual darkening of the surface by the

upturned earth. Illustrations of these

London parks

in winter.

bad practices occur

l)y

Walk

of

through any

miles in our

them

at that

season, and observe the borders around masses of shrubs, choice

and otherwise.

Instead of finding the earth covered, or nearly

covered, with vegetation close to the margin, and each indi-

vidual plant developed into something like a fair specimen of

its

kind,

plants upon

we

find a spread of recently-dug ground,

it M'ith

an

air of

and the

having recently suffered from a

whirlwind, or some calamity that necessitated the removal of

mutilated l)ranches.

Eough-pruners precede the diggers, and

bravely trim in the shrubs for them, so that nothing the

way

;

and then come the

deeply about plants, shrubs, or

may

be in

diggers, plunging their spades

The

trees.

first

shower that

occurs after this digging exposes a whole network of torn-up roots.

There

no

is

occurs everywhere

West-end parks

;

relief to the

— in

spectacle

;

the same thing

liotanic gardens as well as in our large

and year

after year

is

the process repeated.


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. AVhilu sucli

is

the case,

it

53

will he impossible to

have an

agreeable or interesting margin to a shrubbery or plantation.

What these

where first

secrets one

might have in the central hidden portions of

now dug and little

l)are

shrubberies

—

in the half-shady sj)ots

colonies of rare exotic wildlings

introduction to our

^^"ild

garden

1

might have their

Of course

all

the labour

required to produce this miserable result of dug borders

worse

tlian tlirown

awav, as the shrubberies

Large White Achilleas spread

if let alone,

and by

into

wide masses under shade of trees

utilising the

we

in

shrubbery.

power thus wasted, we might

that are liighly beautify the positions If

resolve that no annual

now

so ugly.

manuring

or digging

is

at permitted, nobody will grudge a thorough preparation

When

a plantation of

shrubs

is

woidd do better

is

keep the ground open by lightly

quite

stirring

young it

it

is

to be first.

well to

for a year or two.

Then the planting should be so arranged as to defeat the To graduate the vegetation from the taller subjects digger. behind to the very margin of the grass

is

of

much

importance,


THE WILD GARDEN.

54

and

be done best by the greater use of dwarf ever-

this could

greens.

Happily, there

suitable for every

is

quite enough of these to be

had

Light, moist, peaty, or sandy soils,

soil.

where such things as the sweet-scented I)a})hne Cneorum

would spread

more desirable than,

say, a stiff clay

might be found.

suitable plants

we

dwarf cushions, would

forth its

;

somewhat

l)e

but for every position

Look, for example, at what

could do witli the dwarf- green Iberises, Helianthemums,

Aubrietias,

Arabises,

Alyssums, dwarf

conifers like the creeping

shrubs,

and

little

Cedar (Juniperus squamata), and

the Tamarix-leaved Juniper, in spreading groups and colonies.

All these are green, and would spread out into dense wide cushions, covering the margin, rising but grass,

and helping

which usually

to cut off the formal line

divides margin and

1

above the

little

Behind them we might use other evergreen, in endless variety; and of

)order.

shrubs, deciduous or

course the margin should be varied also as regards height.

In one spot we might have a wide-spreading tuft of the prostrate Savin pushing

over the grass

;

its

graceful evergreen branchlets out

in another the

dwarf

little

Cotoneasters might

be allowed to form the front rank, relieved in their turn

pegged -down Eoses plants, that die

;

and

down

afterwards, should not

near the front.

so

on without end.

in winter

and leave the ground bare

be assigned any important position

Evergreen Alpine plants and shrubs, as

before remarked, are perfectly suitable here

herbaceous type, and the larger bulbs, like in groups

we

sliould

effect,

Ijy

Herbaceous

;

but the true

Lilies,

should be

between spreading shrubs. By so placing them, not only secure a far more satisfactory general

but highly inii)rove the aspect of the heihaceous plants


THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. To cany out such

tlieiuselves.

more time at

All

tliat

;

Init

more

Here and

what a

a

little

diti'erence in

the

borders would require

well- covered

llie

would be an occasional weeding of the

plautiiig properly,

and a great deal more taste than are now

first

employed would be required result!

55

or thinning, and, in the case

select spots, a little top-dressing -with fine soil.

between and amongst the plants, such things as Forget-me-nots and Violets, Snowdrops and Primroses,

might

l>e

there,

scattered altout, so as to give the borders interest

Lilies

coming up through carpet of White Arabis.

even at the dullest seasons; and thus we should be delivered

from digging and dreariness, and see our once ugly borders alive Avith flowers.

the naked earth to rise in their

a

:

The clothe

it,

rule should be

is

— never show

and then allow the

own way through

sketch of what

little

cliief

taller plants

the turf or spray.

meant.

A

Here

is

colony of the white

Arabis carpets the ground in which strong hardy Lilies are

growing

;

and the

The

shoots.

Lilies are

latter are

pushing up their bold unfolding

none the worse in winter

for this light

carpet of foliage over the l)order; and then for a long time in

spring

it

is

good seasons

bedecked with white flowers. it

l)looms in winter too.

It

Indeed, in

fiairlj^

would take a big


THE WILD GARDEN.

56

book

charms and merits belonging

to tell all the

to tlie nse

of a variety of small plants to carpet the ground beneath and

between those of larger growth.

need hardly be said that

It

this argnnient against digging applies to

shrubs, and places

where the

the dining-room, as

much

two or three beds of

"

shrubbery"

is little

larger than

as to the large country seat, public

park, or botanic garden.

There are great cultural advantages

too, in leaving tlie

whole of the leaves to nourish the ground and protect

it

from

append a note from a correspondent inquiring about what he sujjposes practical difficulties, and an answer

frost or heat.

to

them

:

—

Ydu draw and biiw

and the

I

a pretty picture of

what a

fallen lea\es should be

left.

^jlinibbery border sliould be

There .shouhl be no digging,

j^bould be kept in winter.

it

I

fully agree, except as to the

seems quite right to allow the leaves to lie and decay amidst the surrounding plants, but in practice it does not There are, for instance, in most gardens such things as slugs answer.

leaves.

and frost

the

Theoretically,

it

by the

These delight in a leafy covering, and, protected from shelter, will prey upon the perennial green leafage and

starting

crowns of the herbaceous plants, and do an immense

snails.

Then there are usually in gardens in Avinter, in hard weather, blackbirds and thrushes, which in their especially efforts to obtain food set all notions of tidiness at defiance. troop

amount of

mischief.

A

would hardly turn a flower border more topsy-turvy than would a few of these birds. The first storm that came would whirl

of fowls

the disturbed leaves

all

over the place,

much

to

the disgust of the

cultivator, and the hardy plants would find that the theory of a natural I detest the forking of dressing of leaf manure had broken down.

borders so first

common

A

in winter.

with a two or three-tined rake

moderate stirring of the surface good, then a dressing of soot or

is

guano, or both, and over all a thin surfacing of old pot soil, or the rough screened jjroduce of the rubbish heap, or, in fact, any kind of refuse soil that

that such

a

may

offer.

I

think that most cultivators will agree Ijetter than the natural, but very

plan Would answer

inoperative leaf-dressing.

— A,


THE COMMON .SHEUBBERY.

57

How do the swarming herbs of the woods and copses of the world exist in spite of

tlie

shigs

A good protection

?

for

them

hard gravel walks and paths, where they lay their eggs without danger. Against the door one may dn wliat one is

likes,

a

clump

ground.

dug

not one leaf would

liut

on

of shrubs or trees I

I

ever allow runiuVL-d

my

lawn or in

would prefer the leaves

l)order,

Imt

I

would,

if

need

l)e,

all

my

iiuni

pleasure

over the place to a

meet that

difticulty

by

liPi Colony of Narcissus

in

properly spaced shrubbery.

scattering a light dressing of soil over them.

should

call a

In what

I

properly managed shrubl)ery or clump, with the

bushes well spaced, and their liranches resting on the ground,

with low shrubs between, and evergreen and other herbs, there are natural impediments to the leaves rushing ab()ut in

the

way you

suppose.

This

is

a subject of the greatest interest

and the utmost practical importance.

Our annual digging


THE WILD GARDEN.

58 luutilatioii,

scriipiii<;-

and exposing on bare Natnre shelter each other, and

of leaves,

away

sloppy borders plants that in

are shielded from bitter frost and Ijurning heat

by

layers of

fallen leaves, gradnally sinking into excellent light surface soil for

the

yonng

roots, are ignorant

must be given up by hardy garden

With

all

who

and brutal practices that

really look into the needs of our

flora.

reference to

point, I piint this letter

tiiis

observer of what goes on in the woods of

Our own woods Mr. Falconer's

are full of lessons, letter is

method which must be future

:

and

so

it is

New

from an England.

in all countries.

very suggestive of the revolution in carried out in

the

yardens of the

—

I go into the woods in the spring time, and find tliem carpeted with Dog's-tooth Violets, Wood Anemones, bhie and purple Hepaticas, Spring beauty, Trilliums, Blood-root, Star-flowers, False Solomon's

Seal,

Gold Thread,

trailing Arbutus, wild Ginger,

and a host of other

bright and gay, arising from their bed of decaying herbage and tree leaves, and many of them are in perfection, and thus they glow and revel in too, before a tree has spread a leaf

pretty

little

all

flowers,

;

their cosy bed, fed

and sheltered

1

ly their tree friends.

When their petals

drop and their leaves are mature, the trees expand their leafy canopy and save the little nurslings from the torture of a scorching sun. And early as the earliest, too, the outskirts of the hosts of Violets are painted blue

with Bluets, or

woods and meadows with

and white, and speckled everywhere

Innocents, as the children call them.

little

tiny Aspleniums, and other Ferns are unfolding

Woodsias,

their fronds along the

the common Polypody is reaching over and even the exposed rocks, with their rough and Lichen-bearded faces, are aglow in vernal pride. Every nook and

chinks

among

the stones

blocks and boulders

;

;

cranny among them, and little mat of earth upon them are checkered with the flowery print of the Canada Columbine, the Virginia Saxifrage, and the glaucous Corydalis. But to the carpet. What can be prettier or

more appropriate than the Partridge-berry (Mitchella

Twin-flower (Linnsea borealis

— does

well with

us),

repens), the

Creeping Winter

Green (Gaultheria proiumbeus), Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-LTrsi),




THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. Cowberry (Vacciniuin Fringed Polygala

Vitis-idseu),

59

Dwarf Cornel (Cornus Connnon Pipsissewa

(P. paucifolia), the

canadensis), (Cliiniapliila

lunbellata) witli

it^; shining deep green heaves, tlie Sjjotted Pipsi^sewa the sombre -luxed Pja'oha and Gakx, and that bright (C macuhita),

and

easily

-grown Club Moss ( Lycopodium luciduluni) as Winter Aconite, Apennine Anemone, ?

these such plants

Add

to

Creej)ing

Forget-me-not, and the like, together with a few of the most suitable kinds of the host of bulbous ornamental plants which A\-e now possess,

and our shrubbery carpets may be

It is replete with garden jewels. surface conceded that in beds whose shrubs thrive better generally undisturbed than Avliere it is annually loosened bv digging or ijoint-

now is

This, coupled with

ing.

light rich vegetable

and

a yearly top-dressing of decayed leaf-soil or

heap compost,

is

ec|ually beneficial

fur i]w slirubs

tlicir carpet.

"

One day last spring, when strolling through the Medford wood, I came ii]ion an open meadow with a high bank

cleared timber land

— on

one

rough and rocky course, came a

Adown

side. little

bank

this

in a

stream of water, bordered

on both sides with streaks and patches of Blood-root in

The

its

and showy blossoms, clasped erect and sparkling in the sun, while the sward and other vegetation around were yet dormant, had a state.

gayest

in their

own

large

leaf- vases

cheerful influence indeed.

True, near by in the IioILjw, the

malodorous Skunk Cabbage was rank in leaf and flower, and the Indian Poke Avas rushing out leaves,

and away

'•littered

in

its

plaited, broadly oval

the streamlet a few

on the water.

Marsh Marigolds

But the Blood -root

aquatic nor a bog plant, but most at

home

is

neither an

in the leaf-mould

beds and linings of rich woodlands." "

Hereabout, a little wild flower (Erythronium americanum)

more commonly known

as Dog's-tooth Violet, is a

charming

plant, with variegated liandsome leaves, and comely flowers in earliest spring.

In low copses in rich deposits of A'cgetable


THE WILD GARDEN.

60

mould

grows around here in the utmost profusion.

it

one phice by the side of a wood filled is

with water in winter

collected a

mass of

l)ut

a sort of ditch, which

is

(hy in summer, and wherein

Here the Erythronium runs

leaf-soil.

and forms the densest kind

riot,

is

In

of

matted

sod, all bespeckled

with yellow l)lossoms before a bush or tree has spread a

leaf.

Then blackberry bushes get a growing and sprawling everywhere, the trees expand their leafy shade, and Grrass and weeds grow up and cover the surface of the earth. But all too late for evil, the Adder's-tongue's mission for a year

ended

;

has Ijlossomed, matured, and retired.

it

densest mass I

know

of

is

in a

is

The next

low piece of cleared timber

land, where, besides the profusion in the hollow, the carpet

extends, thinner as

the

As garden

hill.

it

ascends, for

many

yards up the slope of

plants they are at liome anywhere, under-

neath bushes, or in any out of-the-way corner, merely praying to be let alone.

But what

I desire to

ation in your rich woodlands,

Buttercups and

Violets,

urge

their naturalisa-

is

where Anemones and Primroses,

grow up and flower

together."

I cannot better conclude this cliapter than of the It

most interesting aspects of vegetation

was

in

I

by showing one have ever seen.^

an ordinary shrubbery, forming a belt round a

botanic garden.

In the

iinier parts,

hidden from the walk

probably from want of labour, the digging had not been carried

Some

out for some years.

roots of the

common Myrrh

(Myrrhis odorata), thrown out of the garden in digging, had rooted by accident and spread into a

grows freely in any

were

tall

soil.

Among

little

colony.

The plant

the graceful tufts of ]\Iyrrh

white Harebells, and the effect of these, standing 1

See illustration on

p.

51.


THE COMMON SHRUBBERV. above the elegant spreading foliage of of the trees, front of the

was very

slirulibery

discovered was as

stiff

Myrrh

tlie

which

in

and shrubs cut in

winter

Longleat

was

— raw

for the con-

venience and according to the taste of the diggers. in tlie botanical

shade

exquisite scene

this

and liideous as usual

earth, full of mutilated roots,

in the

Note particularly that the

beautiful. in

61

The beds

arrangement near were ugly beyond description.

is

one of the

places in whicli the idea of

first

was practically carried out and ably by the Mr. Berry. With such a fine variety of surface and

the wild garden forester, soil,

the place naturally offers numerous positions in which

the plants of other countries as cold or colder than our

own

could be naturalised, or so planted that they would increase

and take care of themselves

and opportunities are generally such difficult for

him

A forester's

in the woods.

to carry out

plants even that are likely to succeed

make

as

such an

extremely

To know the

idea.

is,

it

duties

in itself, a species of

knowledge which every planter does not possess

;

however,

the idea was clearly understood and carried out well, so far as possible in the face of rabbits,

which

are the great destroyers

of almost all flowering ground vegetation.

To get the neces-

sary quantities of subjects necessitated a

which a

sufficient

perennials, bulbs,

little

nursery in

numl)er could be raised of the more vigorous

and climbers.

If this

new

idea in gardening-

be carried out on the old dotting principle of the herbaceous border, its great value realised.

does.

To do

it

and

rightly

its

way

is

effects

we must group and mass

Though we may enjoy a

there, the true

charming

cannot be as

Nature

single flower or tuft here

and

natural fringes and masses of plants,

one or two species prevailing in a given spot

;

in that

way we


THE WILD GARDEN.

62

may secure

several important ends

places, a variety as

the wants

mass, or carpet, in putting

we walk

them

we can best in

any

distinct effects in different

and better means of meeting

along,

inasmuch

of a plant,

—

dealing with a group, or

as,

observe the result of our judgment

soil or place.

Therefore, although the

quantity of vigorous hardy flowers essential for making good effects in a place of this size

some very charming

effects

features that Mr. Berry

is

has not yet been planted

have been obtained.

working

and

other bushes of

Many

will be

value.

the

to introduce are vigorous

hardy exotic creepers on old little

Among

(Mit,

inferior trees. Thorn,

some time before they show

and

are already planted, but

their full beauty

— among

them Japanese and other Honeysuckles, Virginian Creepers, A part of the arboretum is Clematis, Wistarias, and others. more particularly devoted

to this

eventually form a very Avild the Poet's Narcissus

may be

kind of decoration, and will

wood and wild

garden, where

found among Sweet Briers, Lilacs,

and many kinds of fragrant - flowering shrubs and vigorous While carrying out the scheme of wild gardening, perennials. pure and simple, that

is

to say, tlie naturalisation of foreign

hardy plants, opportunity has been taken

to establish beautiful

native kinds wliere they do not happen to be present in

brouglit in quantities

and planted

along the drives, and so have the

Snowflakes and Daffodils. natural and easy

tendency of tlie

way

men

in wide-spreading colonies

Meadow

To group and

Saffron

and

tlie

scatter these in a

has required considerable care, the

being invariably, and almost in spite

of themselves, to plant in stiff

Few

sufti-

Tluis the Lily of the Valley has been

cient al)undance.

and

set or too regular masses.

things are more delightful to anyl^ody

who

cares


THK COMMON

SIIHUBBEIIY.

63

liavdy ])liints tlian natnralisiii^- the Lily of the Valley

altnut

in pleasant spots about a coimtiy house,

it

in

is

every gar-

den, of course, and very often so crowded and so starved that it

seldom flowers

able for or in light,

it

A bare

well.

as that in wliich

little

in

openings

and gets shelter

a

too.

would be more welcome garden

;

also

to

by planting

it

Tlie Lily of

garden border

may

it

is

not so suit-

be found in a thin wood,

copse,

where

it

it

than the worn-out

in various positions

tfie

enough

enjoys

Frequently the fresh

wood soil

and

soil

in a

we

soils,

Valley in a copse.

an important difference as regards blooming. In a cool woody place it would bloom ten days later

may

secure

than in an exposed could

lie

increased

warm

by

garden border, and this difference

carefully selecting the position.

altogether from the wild garden and in the time of

as

trouble.

it

Apart

charms, this difference

blooming of the Lily of the Yalley would be a

great advantage to all

much

its

who have

w^ould give

them

to provide cut flowers, inas-

late

However, giving reasons

the Lily of the Valley

is

l)loom in plenty without for the naturalisation

surely unnecessary.

The only

of

sur-


THE WILD GARDEN.

64

that

is

prising tiling

already, because

Eecently a good

— nearly

as

it

is

many

many

has not been done to a large extent

it

as

so very easy

and so very

delightful.

different varieties of Lily of the Valley

twenty

— have been

and are

collected,

beginning to be cultivated by some of our growers of herbaceous

The

is not owing to soil or situasame tion. When grown place they manifest differences in length of spike and size of foliage and also in time of blooming. In some the spike is short, and in others nearly

plants.

difference in these in the

;

one foot long.

This important fact should, of course, be noted

by any who would, in places where the Lily of the Valley does not grow wild, interest themselves in establishing

There are advantages in wood- culture

—the plants conditions

shelter, shade,

more

the wood, too,

is

and

for

it.

many hardy

some things The warmth of

soil affording for

suitable than our gardens.

an advantage, the fallen leaves helping to all ways. In a hot country plants that

protect the plants in

love cool places could be

perish

if

exposed,

grown

Mr, G,

F.

in a

wood

whei'e they

would

Wilson has made himself a

remarkably interesting and successful wild garden in a wood, from W'hich he sent me in the autumn of last year (1880) a flowering stem of the American eleven feet

liigli.

No

Swamp Lily (L. superbum) such result has ever l)een seen in any

garden or border of the ordinary type.

These Lihes of his

grow in a woody bottom where rich dark and where there is shelter and shade.

soil

has gathered,

Placing every plant in one border with the same condi-

and exposure was a great mistake. A great many beautiful plants haunt the woods, and we cannot change tions as to soil

their nature easily.

Even

if

we should grow them

in

open


•rill':

})laces

O.M.MOX SHRUBBKKY.

.V curious instance of ilic

at

gathered to

])laniing

may

where a

A

cool wood.

a

in

indeed be

later bloom,

A\(irlh

wood.

niucli later

little

Mooni was

woodland

for the sake

doing

is

owing

i)lanting

of a prolonged or

e\en fn)m plants that thrive in sunny places.

Okchaed Wild Gakden.

Tup:

Although three years have elapsed since the of this book were connueneed, I regret to issue satisfactory one

showing the beauty which

in the orchard from flowers in

In our orchard

counties — pity

not worthy of the position and climate

it is

— one

without a

it

iiiay l)e

obtained

that all our counties are

the possibilities of their

may now and then see a cloud of Summer SiiowHake, enough to suggest

they would

}ilaces

illustrations

the grass or fences around.

name within

Daffodils or a tuft of

what happy

tlu'

colony of the popular Hoteia japonica,

off a it

in

advantage of planting in a wood

in Anglesey,

Bodorgan

()5

will not l)e so ciuliiring as

lilouiii

tlii'ir

(

for

l»e

many

Inilbous flowers

in the urass.

A

A

AVlLD (JRCHAUD.

correspondent of the

After reading in there named,

and

tlie

tlie

our Orchard in Sussex

— Quince,

"

"

Garden

Garden "'

Cranberries, '•'

of

"

writes

November

tlie

:

1 6,

idea struck

about the Bullace

me

of adding unto

a wild Orchard," witli fruit trees sucli as follows,

Medlar, Mulberry, Bullace, Crab, Pyrus Maulei, BarBlackberries (the large kinds for preserving), Filberts, and in a berries, All these, besides the interest of cultivating suitable place. Cranberries. viz.

For instance, we have oldthem, would yield fruit for preserving, etc. fashioned receipts for making an excellent Bullace cheese, Crab jelly. Quince

jelly, etc.

1

venture to trouble you with

F

a

\iew

to

asking

if


THE WILD GARDEN.

66

you can suggest any other similar fruit-bearing

[An excellent idea

There are

!

trees or shruLs, as

Our house

should like to carry out our idea well. C. S. R. Midhurst and Haslemere.

many

is

fruits

which could

be grown this way that people do not usually give space

and

we

in Sussex, l)etween

to,

this applies to the varieties of cultivated fruits, as well as

The natural order

species that are never cultivated.

most of our

fruit trees

without merit as

belong contains

fruits, scattered

regions of the northern world.

which

other species, not tlie

throughout

temperate

These trees and shrubs happen

most beautiful of flowering

also to be

spring,

many

to

and shrubs

trees

and are well worthy of culture on that account

in

alone.

In Japan, North America, and even the continent of Europe, one frequently sees

fruits that are

home

never seen in our gardens

;

in the wild orchard.

For

the sake of growing one family of fruiting bushes alone

— the

such

fruits will

be quite at

fruiting brambles of

America and other countries might be

of ground

able piece

is

can only be grown fairly where there iDcauty

and

interest,

found in one neglected family, subject

is

our hardy

when

considerable space.

and even good suggests

how

fruit,

l)e

most remarkable

and shrubs.

A

may

be

interesting the

considered in relation to the great

fruit trees

garden would

it

is

considerable

Such plants

variety and a good deal of unrecognised merit.

much

Even

prufitaljly devoted.

amonccst the Enolish wild Blackberries there

If so

— a consider-

number

of

good feature of such a

plantations of such Apples and Pears as are for the

some being much more

beauty of their flowers and

fruit,

striking in that respect than others.]


CHAPTER

IX.

THE BROOK-SIDE, WATEK-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. ISTearly

all

landscape

gar-

deners

seem

have

put

to

a

hidier value on tlie

lake or

|)()nd tlie

fisli-

on

than

lirook as

an

ornament

to the

garden while we

but,

;

allow

that

many places

are

enhanced in

heautv and dignitv,

bv

a broad

expanse of water, Solomon's Seal

might be

and Herb

Paris, in

copse by

streamlet.

nianV

pictUrCS

formed by taking advantage of a brook as

it

meanders through woody glade or meadow. No such beauty is afforded by a pond or lake, which gives us water in repose

—


THE WILD GARDEN.

68

imprisoned water, in fact

by confining water,

in

still,

and altbuugli we obtain breadth

;

many

we

cases,

prefer

brook, or

tlie

water in motion, as

lovers of

it ripples between mossy rocks or flowerThe brook -margin, too, otters opportnnities to hardy flowers which few other situations can rival.

Hitherto

we have only used

fringed banks.

in

and near such places

aipuitic

bog plants, and of these usually a very meagre selection but the improvement of the brook-side will be most readily or

;

by planting the banks with hardy

effected it

a wild garden, in fact.

A

number

great

making

flowers,

of our finest herb-

aceous plants, from Irises to Globe-flowers, thrive best in the

moist also,

found in such positions

soil

numbers

water-side will

Land

pictures.

ones, that

we

to

apt

of hardy flowers,

soil,

would

exist in

The wild garden illustrated by the give us some of the most charminu,- garden

perfect health in

are

;

that do not in nature prefer such it.

])lants

could

would have

this :uh;intage over

fix their position,

water

whereas water plants

everywhere, and sometimes one kind

spread

exterminates the rest

therefore

;

it

might, in

many

cases,

be

better not to encourage the water or water-side vegetation, l)ut to

form

little

colonies of

plants, of course, should be such as

would grow

Grass and take care of themselves. vegetation were encouraged on each effect

would be

all

the better.

hardy things,

be best

;

Day

;

among

types of

of the water, the

The connnon way

different in each place as

Lilies

freely

If different siile

ing a favourite plant at intervals would spoil free

The

hardy flowers along the banks.

all

of repeat:

groups of

one passed, would

Phloxes, which love moisture

;

Irises,

mainly the beardless kinds, whicli love wet places, but the flne Germanica forms will du

;

all

Gunnera; Aster; Anieri-


AND

P.ROOK-SIDE. WATKINSTDK. can swaui}) Lilies in peaty or boggy vavioty of the Loosestrife 1

Sell-flowers

;

(Campanula)

virginica), of whieli

soil

the

fi!)

the taller and stouter

;

Wort

Spider

there are a good

({AEDENS.

the deep rose-coloured

;

Golden Rods ;

1500,

many

(Tradescantia

forms, differing

Colony of hardy exotic Flower?, naturalised by brook-side.

in colour

(Silphium) (Galega)

;

the Broad-leaved Saxifrages

;

;

Everlasting Peas

Baptisia

;

;

IMonkshood

;

;

the Goats Eues ;

the hardiest

the stouter kinds of Yarrow (Achillea)

the common perennial Lupin — these

hardy flowers

the Compass plants

the free-flowering Yuccas

flame-flowers (Tritoma)

of

;

are

;

some of many types

which would grow freely near the water-side


THE WILD GARDEN.

70

apart wholly from the plants that natural]}' freipient sucli places or which are usually placed there.

as the Struthiopteris

;

these hardy thrive,

the finer types of the Unil)ellate order

(Ferula and others) would also

now

With

hardy ferns would

plants too, a variety of the nobler

come

We

in well liere.

will

consider the plants that naturally belong to such situa-

tions so to say.

Water-plants of northern and temperate regions, associated with those of our own country, add much beauty to a garden

A

well selected and well grown.

if

great deal of variety

be added to the margins, and here and there to the sur-

may

face, of

ornamental water, by the use of a good collection of

hardy aquatics arranged with taste been

Usually we see the same monotonous

fairly attempted.

vegetation

all

round the margin

where the bottom

cases,

but this has not yet

;

is

the soil be

if

of gravel, there

licli is

;

some

in

little

or no

vegetation, but an unbroken ugly line of washed earth be-

tween wind and water. till

they are only an eyesore

Anacharis,

A

gether.

— not

well-developed plant or Lily, with

gi'ouj)

it

increases

and water-fowl cannot make plant loses

to-

of plants of the

in our gardens

;

but

and runs over the whole of a piece of water

— thickening together and being in this

when matted

large leaves and noble flowers,

its

an object not surpassed by any other

when

like

submerged plants

such as the Water Lilies

l>ut

queenly Water is

In others, water-plants accumulate

its

their

charms.

consequence weakened

way through

No

it,

—

then even

garden water, however,

should be without a few fine plants or groups of the Water Lily.

ment

Where

the bottom does not allow of the free develop-

of the plant, earth

might be accumulated in the spot




BKOOK-SIDE. where

was desired

it

Tliiis

phtTpa.

flAEDENS.

I'.OG

71

encourage the growth of the Nyni-

to

arranged

is iiut dillifult

I

WATER -SIDE, AND

But

woulil not spread too imidi.

it

to prevt'iit tin:

indeed

plant I'rom spreading;

have known isolated plants, and groups of

almost the same size for years.

it,

remain of

The Yellow Water

Lily,

lutea, though not so beautiful as the preceding,

Xuphar

and

well worthy of a place;

the

also

little

K

it

is

pumila, a

variety or sub-species found in the lakes of the north of Scotland.

Then

there

is

the tine and large X. advena, a native of

America, which pushes is

leaves boldly above the water,

its

very vigorous in habit.

It is

most gardens of the same kind. Lily

prove quite hardy in Britain. plant

is

Lily.

in

noble species, which would

It is a pity this

not more frequently seen, as

own Water

some extent

The American AVhite "Water

a

is

(Xympha?a odorata)

Man-

very plentiful in the

chester Botanic Garden, and will be found to

and

noble aquatic

quite as fine as our

it is

Eose-coloured varieties are spoken

of,

but

are not yet in cultivation here.

One

of the prettiest

afforded

by

effects

a sheet of Yillarsia

the margin of a lake near a

have ever observed was

I

uAinphaoides belting round

woody

recess,

and

towards the deep water, a group of Water

it,

more

The

Vill-

l^efore

Lilies.

arsia is a

charming little water-plant, with its Nymphsea-like leaves and numerous golden-yelloM- flowers, which furnish a beautiful efiect on fine days, under a bright sun.

very commonly

It

distributed as a native plant, though,

is

not

where

found, generally very plentiful.

Xot Britain

rare

— growing,

— but

beautiful

in

and

fact,

in

nearly

sinc:jular,

is

districts

of

Buckbean

or

all

the


THE WILD GARDEN.

72 INIarsli

Trefoil (IMeiiyanthes trifoliata), with its flowers deeply

fringed on

inside witli white lilaments,

tlie

and

unopened buds blushing on the top with

a

of an Apple-blossom.

a bog or

place, or

It will

by the margin

of

in

grow

tlie

round

rosy red like that

any moist

For grace, no water-

any water.

plant can well surpass Equisetum Telmateia, whicli, in deep soil,

and sheltered places near water, often grows

in shady

several feet high, the long, close-set, slender branches depend-

ing from each whorl in a singularly graceful manner.

grow on the margins

of lakes

It will

and streams, especially among

water-side bushes, or in boggy spots in the shade.

For a bold and picturesque plant on the margin of water, nothing equals the great Water Dock (Rumex Hydrolapathum), which Isles;

it

becoming mass of

is

rather generally dispersed over the British

has leaves quite sub -tropical in aspect and of a lurid red in

foliage

on rich

tlie

autumn.

muddy banks,

It

and, unlike

plants, lias the good quality of not spreading too Cat's-tail

(Typha) must not he omitted,

allowed too angustifolia) folia). its

much is

The

liberty.

l)ut it

many watermuch.

is

The

should not be

narrow -leaved

more graceful than the common one

Carex pendula

size,

forms a grand

one

(T.

(T. lati-

excellent for the margins of watei',

elegant drooping spikes being quite distinct in their way.

common

It is rather

in

England, more so than Carex pseudo-

cyperus, which grows well in a foot or two of water or on the

margin of

a

muddy

pond.

Carex paniculata forms a strong

and thick stem, sometimes 3 tree Fern,

or

4

and with luxuriant masses

on that account cultivated

ft.

is

ft.

high,

somewhat

like a

of drooping leaves,

and

transferred to moist places in gardens, and

by some, though generally these

large s]iecimens


RPvOOK-STDE. WATKh'-SIDK.

remove and soon

arc difficult to

stems, sometimes attaining

even 8

ft.,

desirable

found

Scirpus lacnstris

height of more than 7 :

and Cypeius longus

in flower.

some

is

as it.

its

and

also a

-*?Ji>

the

of

aspect

in

perish.

reminding

plant,

Papyrus when is

a.

look very imposing

the

one of

D'X; (JAIiDHXS.

too distinct a plant to be omitted,

is

(the Bulrush)

AND

of

It

the

southern counties of England.

Poa aquatica might also be Cladium Mariscus is used. another distinct and rather

/}j^i0il

scarce British aquatic whiidi is

wortli a place. If

tlie

one chose to enumerate that

plants

British and

sess

those which pos-

luit

no distinct

very best kinds satisfaction

we

;

cliaracter or

it

Cyperus Longus.

would

flowei'

for

useless,

weeds,

might be

list

no beauty of l)e

in

European waters,

a very long

made,

grow

is

only by

a

judicious selection of

tlie

gardening of this description can give

tliat

therefore, omitting a host of inconspicuous water-

will endeavour to indicate others of real worth for

our present purpose.

Those who have seen the flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) in blossom, are not likely to

water-plants, as

it is

omit

it

from

conspicuous and distinct.

of the greater part of

a collection of

It is a native

Europe and Russian Asia, and

is

dis-


THE WILD GARDEN.

74

persed

Plant

Ireland.

mnddy

the central and southern parts of England and

(n'er

The common Arrow Head

soil.

England and Ireland,

freipient in l)e

not far from the margin, and

it

associated with this

which

exotic kind,

is

but there

;

very

(Sagittaria),

a very

much

finer

doulde

its

flowers

a liandsome plant,

really

likes rich

not in Scotland, might

l)ut is

it

white, and resemblino;, but larger than, those of the old white

Double Eocket.

This used to be grown in abundance in the

pleasure gardens at

Eye House, Broxbourne, where

sort of oblong basin, or

know

I

water.

Calla sethiopica,

of the Nile,

is

ducks destroyed the

these, is

a beautiful bog-plant,

more pleasing

notliing that produces a

boggy ground.

rich, soft,

for

Calla palustris

plants occasionally.

and

wide ditch, and was very handsome in

and in searching

of farina,

all it

will

will not thrive.

cultivated,

it

may be

Pontederia cordata

is

over

also

may

if

planted rather

be placed out for the

but, except in quiet waters, in the south of it

effect

grow by the side of the well-known and beautiful Lily It

hardy enough in some places

deep, and in nearly

land,

a

forms large egg-shaped tubers, or rather receptacles

It

flower.

it filled

However,

as

it is

summer

England and

;

Ire-

a plant so generally

tried without loss in favourable positions.

a stout, firm-rooting,

and perfectly hardy

water-herb, with erect and distinct habit, and blue flowers,

The

not difficult to obtain from botanic garden or nursery. Sweet-flag will be associated with the dacorus),

ground,

and a number of exotic

i.e.

I.

sibirica,

Water

Iris

(I.

Irises will thrive in

ochreleuca, graminea, and many

Aponogeton distachyon

is

a native of the

a singularly pretty plant,

which

climate, and, from its sweetness

Pseu-

is

Cape

of

wet

others.

Good Hope,

hardy enough

for our

and curious beauty, a most


BROOK-SIDE, WATER-SIDE, AND BOG GARDENS. It frequently succeeds in

desirable plant to cultivate.

not choked Ly weeds or springs that tend it

seems

I(Âť

ami

innliiess.

keep the watei'

Ranunculuses, which

slieet

water

wlierever there are

a lilUe

warmer than usual

any part of the country.

to thrive in

75

over our pools

in

The Water

spring and early

sunnner with such silvery beauty, are not w(ulh an attempt at cultivation, so I'amlding are they

;

not a few other things of interest. scarce and

handsome

'rhe

beautiful as

any

Cape

is

acpiatic for a

I'cind

the

occurs most frequently

England and Ireland.

Weed

in

in the

it

to

Orontium aquaticum is a choice collection, and as

an English ditch

in winter.

Water Violet (Hottonia

palustris).

It

eastern and central districts of

The best example

seen was on an expanse of soft

where

and the same applies

mud

of

it

that I have

near Lea Bridge, in Essex,

covered the surface with a sheet of dark fresh green,

and must

liave looked better in that position

than

when

in

water, though doubtless the place was occasionally flooded.

A

suitable

its

varieties

companion is

which grows

for the

Marsh Marigold

the very large and

in rich

ground

(Caltha) and

showy lianunculus Lingua,

to a height of tln-ee feet or more.


THE WILD GARDEN.

76 rr Nvith this

land plants

water-garden

—herbaceous,

effects possible in

we combine

trailers, etc.

the wild garden of

— some of the

The margins

gardens will be produced.

lakes and streams are happily not upturned

winter iuiy

and hereabouts, just away from

;

loveliest

by the spade

of in

water-line, almost

tlie

vigorous and really hardy flower of tlie thousands now in our gardens may be grown and will after-

wards take care of

The Globe-

itself.

flowers alone

would form beauti-

effects in

such positions, and

ful

would endure

as long as the Grass.

Near the various

Irises that love

the water- side might be planted those

that

thrive

moist

in

ground, and they are many, including the most Ijeautiful kinds.

Among

recently in-

troduced plants the singular Californian Saxifraga peltata is

likely to prove

a noble

one for the water- side,

its

natural habitat being beside

mountain watercourses, dry Day at

rest

;

Lily

by

both

in

margin uf water.

and

flowers

growth very vigorous require a very long

v,-]\en

list

to

foliage in

;

are

autumn wlieU effective,

moist ground.

enumerate

would grow near the margins the aquatics proper

thc

of

all

Avater,

it

is

and the It

would

the plants that

and apart from

but enough has been said to prove that,

given a strip of ground beside a stream or lake, a garden of


AND

iinooK-SIDK, WATKIf-SJl)!-:. the must

kind could

(luliglitt'ul

of [)hiuts inhahitiiioside pLiuts,

and

CAIiDKXS.

I'.OC

The

Ite I'urined.

77

juxtapositiini

situations — water-phints, water— woidd grouuLl so undesirable — a many

dil'tereiit

Liud-iilaiils iliriNini; in iiadst

prevent what wuuhl, in

Ije

cases,.

general admixture of the "whole.

Two

distinct classes of effects

could be obtained, the beauty of the Howers seen close at hand, and or from

An

more conspicuous kinds

of the

tliat

tlie otlier

in the distance,

side of tlie water of a stream or lakelet.

interesting point in favour of the wild garden

succession of effects which

it

may

afford,

is

the

and which are sug-

gested by the illustrations on the next pages, both showing a sticcession of life

summer

early

on

tlie

to flower -gardening is

when

A

the earth

very

make

it

Avithout

same spot of ground. In gardens in whole of the portion de\'oted

at present the

is

dug

is

consideration and oljservation will sufhce to

clear

that a

succession of effects

this

\iolent

disfigurement of our

pernicious in

is

as a plouglied field, just

little

diyuinu' or i»lantin<i- either,

It

raw

naturally must thickly strewn with flowers.

days of early sunmier.

fairest

them

\\\)

may

be secured

gardens in the

These are not the days

for

and the svstem that necessitates

its effects

equally an enemy of

on our gardens. all

peace or rest for the gar-

dener, who, having trenched, dug, enriched, planted, and sown,

through the autumn,

wintei',

to look for the fruits to face the

and flowers of

most trying

flower-garden in

and spring, might certainly begin

May

effort

liis

of all

labour,

— the

and .June with

when he has

planting of the

a host of flowers tun

tender to be committed to the earth at an earlier season.

The bog -garden

is

a

home

for the

numerous children

of

the wild that will not thri\e on our harsh, bare, and dry


THE WILD GARDEN.

78

must he cushioned on moss, and associated

fjarden borders, Ijut

with

tlieir

own

relatives in moist peat soiL

plants, like the

Wind Gentian and

encroached upon.

own

of the multitude of

liogs have, as a rule,

wood.

own

these

are

now

but a feeble notion

charming plants, natives of northern and

temperate countries, whose Tn our

as

even those acquainted with the l^eauty

P)Ut

of the plants of our

l)eautiful

Creeping Harebell, grow-

much

on our own bo^s and marshes,

Many

home

country,

we

is

the open marsh or Ijoggy

liave l)een so long encroach"J^'UVHi' Will

'

|i^

Marsh

ing upon

them

tlie

INIarigold

and

Iris in

early spring.

See

p. 77.,

bogs and wastes that some of us come to regard

as exceptional tracts all over the world.

travels in

new

countries in northern climes, one soon learns

what a vast extent covered with bogs.

by the margins of

of the world's surface

was

at

one time

In Nortli America day after day, even tlie

railroads,

one sees the vivid blooms

of the Cardinal -flower springing erect

hollows.

But when one

from the wet peaty

Far under the shady woods stretch the black bog-

ground between being so shaky that you move a few steps with difficulty. One wonders how the trees exist And where the forest vegewitli their roots in such a bath.

pools, the

tation disappears the

American Pitcher-plant

(Sarracenia),


P.ROOK-SIDE. WATKH-SrOK. ANJ) BO(i (iARDEXS. Golden

Cinl) (Orontiuni),

Water Anim (Calk

palustris),

7!)

and

a host of other liandsonie and interestmg bog-plants cover the uround fur hundreds of aeres, with perhaps an occasional slender bush of Laurel ^Magnolia (Magnolia glauca^

among

In some parts of Canada, where the painfully long

them.

and straight roads are often made through woody swamps, and wliere the few scattered and poor liabitations offer little to cheer the traA'eller,

The same

he

will, if

a lover of plants, find con-

spot as in opposite sketch, with aftergrowth of and Bindweed. (See p. 77.

of beauty

servatories

in

the

ditches

Iris,

Meadow

Sweet,

and pools of black

water beside the road, fringed with the sweet-scented ButtonIjush,

with

a

profusion of stately ferns, and often

filled

with

masses of the pretty Sagittarias.

Southwards and seawards, the bog-flowers become tropical in size

and

brilliancy, as in the splendid kinds of lierbaceous

Hibiscus, ^vhile far north, and west and south

along

tlie

mountains, the beautiful and showy Mocassin-flow^er (Cypripedium spectabile) grows the queen of the peat bog. Then in California, all along the Sierras, there are a delicate little annual plants

number

of

growing in small mountain bogs


THE WILD GARDEN.

80

long after the plains have become quite parched, and annual N'egetation has

(-[uite

But who

disappeared from tliem.

record the beauty and interest of

shall

flowers of the wide-

tlie

spreading marsh-lands of this glolje of ours, from those of the

wet woods of America, dark and brown, and hidden

\'ast

from the sunbeams, to those of the breezy uplands of the high Alps, far above the woods, where the

little

bogs teem with

Nature's most brilliant flowers, joyous in the sun

worthily little

;

for

known

many mountain-swamp

many

many

we may

plants

who

one

regions are as yet as

strange and lovely flowers.

One

gather from our small experiences

commonly termed

mountains, are true bog-plants.

one

No

to us as those of the HimahiA'a, M'ith their giant

Primroses and

however,

:*

"

alpine,"

thing,

— that

and found on high

This must be clear to any-

has seen our pretty Bird's-eye Primrose in the wet

mountain-side bogs of Westmoreland, or the Bavarian CTcntian in

the spongy soil by alpine rivulets, or the Gentian ella

(Gentiana acaulis) in the snow ooze. Bou'S are neither

found or desired in or near our <'ardens

n(jw-a-days, but, wherever they are, there are

many handsome

flowers from other countries that will thrive in as in their native A\'astes.

Partridge lierry (Gu;iltheiia).

them

as freely


CHAPTER

X.

HOSES FOE THE WILD GARDEN, AND FOR HEDGEROWS, FENCES,

The wild Eoses alone

make

tlie

l)eautiful

the "Wild Eose

is

which the Eose of a kind

of

is

AND GROUPS.

world, had

other plants, wonld

The unequalled ^raee

wild warden?.

as remarkable as the beauty of

The culture

gro^vn in gardens.

which tends

to conceal

shoot and foliage of the Eose.

may

we no

bloom is

of for

mostly

or suppress the grace of

Therefore

do good work in bringing before the

the wild garden

many who

love

gardens, but have fewer chances of seeing the Eoses in their

native haunts, the native grace of the well-loved Eose, which

even in

charms

and trained into the form of a mop, The Eev. H. jST. Ellacombe writes

its obesity,

us.

:

I lifive liere

a very large

still

—

and thick Box bush, in

tlie

centre of

been for many years an Ayrshire Rose. The long branches covered with flowers, and resting on the deep green cusliion, Other Eoses may be used in the same have a very beautiful effect.

which there

lias

The Musk Rose

of Shakesjieare and Bacon would be particularly and would climb up to a great height. Rosa this, scandens or sempervirens, Rosa multiflora, and perhaps some others,

way.

well suited for

might be grown in the same way experiment

^\'it]l

]^)0ursault, etc.

;

and

it

would be worth while

to

other garden forms, such as Aimee Vibert, purple If grown against a tree of thin foliage, such as a

G


THE WILD GARDEN.

82

but this is not Robinia, they would grow quicker and flower sooner near a tree if even for thick-foliaged tliey will soon grown necessar}'', ;

But besides climl)ing bring their branches to the outside for the light. which in Eoses be combined with is another there may way Roses,

by planting some of the taller-growing These would grow from 6 feet to 10 bushes in rough grassy places. For such a feet high, and would flower well iu such a position. trees to great advantage, viz.

purpose the old Dutch Apple Rose (Rosa villosa var. pomifera) Avould be verj' suitable, and so would R. cinnamomea, R. fraxinifolia, R. sallica,

common monthlv

R. rubifolia, and the

And

China.

if

"rowers

would rear the perpetual and other Roses by autumnal cuttings instead of by budding, they might have hundreds and thousands of fine Roses which would do well planted

woods and plantations.

in the

Another correspondent, Mr. Greenwood Vim, writes ring to the preceding note

I

:

two large exotic

have

refer-

Hawthorns

— round-headed

standards,

close together, so that their edges touch, forming, as it were,

growing two gentle

with a valley between, and sloping down to within Of these one is Crataegus Crus-galli the other C. tanacetifolia. Behind, and j)artly through these, climbs a very all that now remains of an arched trellis old Noisette Rose producing

about 6

hills

ft.

of the lawn.

;

a

vast number of bunches of white flowers,

about lA

in.

or 2 in. across.

six or eight together,

The old gnarled stem

and

of the Rose

is

those of the Thorns till it reaches the top scarcely noticeable amongst of them, whence it descends between the trees in a regular torrent of

blossom, in addition to occupying the topriiost boughs of the Cockspur The general effect is almost that of a large patch of snow Thorn.

between two bright green

hills

hio'her districts of Switzerland.

recently been trained lost its

up a

a combination very

A smaller

large Arbor-vitas which,

lower branches for some 4

ft.

or 5

common

plant of the

ft.,

in the

same Rose has

from moving, has its stem clothed

and has

It is now festooned with snowy flo-\\-ers hanging down from and against the dark green of the Arbor -vittx; and Ivy, forming a

with Ivy.

It seems a great pity that we do not oftener thus charming contrast. a stout and strong to a slender and clinging to another tree one wed " one as Virgil in the Georgics" talks of wedding the Vine to the Elm,

as

is,

I lielieve,

done

to this

day in

Italy.


ROSES YOU THE WILD (lARDEX.

"We lection

have,"

a correspondent,

"

a pretty extensive col-

ol'

Eoses.

but

one

(if

the

most

attrac-

tive

sayi?

83

speci-

mens on

the

is

an

place

double

old

white Ayrshire

Eose,

growing a

in

grou])

common

of

Laurel inthe shrul3beries.

We tell

cannot

how

the

plant

may it

old

be,

but

has prob-

ably been in its

present

situation for

thirty years,

struo-o-ling

the best \vay it

could

to

keep

its

place

among Wild Rose growing on a Pollard Ash

in

Orchardleigh Park, Somerset.


84 the

Laurels,

tall-growing

of

side

to

on

Howers

white

of

up

THE WILD CxARDEN.

tlie

the

this

of the

and

side

sometimes on that

and sometimes

of l)ushes,

clump to2:)s

sometimes sending out a shoot

limbs

tallest

and

scraml)ling

its

blossoms

six feet of the

Nearly to

within

straggling limbs of the

tlie

ground, leaving

them

draping

throughout June and -Tuly. three years ago we had the Laurels headed down with

Eose which were found amongst them, and since then

it

has

grown and thriven amazingly, and now fiiirly threatens to We had the curiosity to measure the gain the mastery. plant the other day, and found circumference.

it

rather over seventy feet in

Witliin this space the plant forms an irregular

undulating mound, nearly in

Eoses that not so

much

all parts so

densely covered with

as a hand's breadth

is left

vacant any-

where, and the Laurel branches are quite hidden, and in fact are

now

dying, smothered

luxuriant development

A

by the Eose.

we never

saw.

mouth

perfect sheet of bloom for a

finer

example of

The plant has been a and there are

or more,

thousands of buds yet to expand, and hundreds of Ijunches of

buds have been cut just

at the

opening stage

than a (lardenia —

neater and whiter

to send

— when they are away.

The

tree

has never received the least attention or assistance with the exception of the removal of the Laurel tops before mentioned, to let the light into

it.

It is

growing in a tolerably deep and

strong dry loam, and this, together with head room, seems to

be of

No

We

all it requires.

what the Eose

is

record this example simply to show

capable without

much

cultural assistance.

doubt, in order to produce fine individual

restricted culture

is

necessary

;

blooms certain

but almost any variety of

Eose will make a aood-sized natural bush of

itself,

and

as for


S^^'-^^^ii-^W'

AVhite Climbing Rose scrambling over old Catalpa Tree.



Lhc

ROSES FOR THE WILD GARDEN.

85

tliey are

touched the

or pilku' Ifoses, the less

eliniliiiig

l)etter.

Of course we

are not

rtlluiliiig

to the

Eosery proper,

but of Itoses iu their more natural aspect, as wlien phnited to hide fences, cover rockeries, or as striking objects on kxwns.

Except against walls, and in similar occasion to prune climbing Eoses.

make by

far tlie grandest display,

necessary to provide

them with

the beginning, and to let

situations, there is

no

Left to themselves, they

and

to insure this

it is

only

a good, deep, strong soil at

them have a

fair

amount

of liglit on

Wliether planting be carried out with the object

all sides.

above described, or for the purpose of co^ering naked tree

stumps or limbs, or

for

draping any unsightly object whatever,

liberal treatment in the first instance is the

good

makes

soil

all

nent vigour of the

thing.

A

the difference in time and in the permtitree,

great Eose tree (whether

de Dijon,

main

and were it

Ave desirous of

common

be a

having a

Ayrshire or a Gloire

we expected to produce thousands of blooms in we should, if the soil were not naturally strong

tliat

a few years),

and deep, provide a well-drained pit and fill it with two or three good cartloads of sound loam and manure thus treated, ;

the result

is

certain,

provided an unrestricted growth be per-

mitted."

Eoses on grass are a pleasant feature of the wild garden.

No

matter what the habit of the

hardy, and growing on will

suit

it

of liowers,

will do on level grass,

banks or

own

rose,

provided

roots,

it

be free and

planting on the grass

So treated, the more vigorous climbers

well.

would form thickets

They

its

and graceful vigorous

and be

still

shoots.

more picturesque on

slopes.

The following

description, [)y Mr. E. Andre, of Eoses in


THE WILD GARDEN.

86

suggestive of what

we may

obtain in our

the

Riviera

own

climate later, by using the free kinds on their

or

is

on stocks equally hardy and not

roots,

less vigorous, as in the

case of the Banksian Eoses mentioned below

On my

own

:

—

excursion from Marseilles to Genoa, I was greatly one any seeing them for the first time would be, with the The of the Roses all along the Mediterranean shores. magnificence Rose hedges, and the espalier Roses, especially, offer an indescribably last

struck, as

"orgeous sight.

Under

the genial influence of the

warm sun

of Pro-

veuce, from the Corniche to the extremity of the Riviera di Ponente, that is as far as the Gulf of Genoa, and protected to the north liy the

mountains, which gradually slope down to the sea -coast, Roses attain the size of Pseonies, and develop a depth and brilliancy of colour and But this is in part due to another fragrance of unusual hiteiisity.

two other causes, which lead to the same result, the main point being the choice of suitable subjects for stocks to graft The These stocks are, Rosa Banksise and Rosa indica major. upon.

cause, or rather

Banksian Rose presents three varieties, namely. White Banksian, producing a profusion of small white flowers, scarcely so large as those of Yellow the double-flowered Cherry, and of a most delicious fragrance ;

Banksian, with still larger clusters of small nankeen -yellow scentless flowers Chinese Thorny Banksian, flowers less numerous and ab(jut ;

three times as large as in the two jn-eceding, and of the most grateful odour. These three forms attain an unsurpassable vigour in this region.

In two years one plant will cover an immense wall, the gable of a house, or climl) to the top of a tall tree, from which its branches hang like flowery cascades, embalming the air ar(jund with a rich perfume during

months of April and May. Now, if these be taken for stocks upon bud some of the choicer Teas, Noisettes, and Bourbons, the The stock should be two years of the latter will be prodigious. growth the

Avhich to

old,

In this way such having well ripened, though still smooth, wood. Marechal Niel, Lamarque, Safrano, Chroma-

varieties as Gloire de Dijon, tella,

Aimee

Vibert, le Pactole, and

all

the Teas, attain such dimensions

be no longer recognisable. Rosa indica nuijor is almost naturalised throughout the whole of this region. It possesses the additional claim to faAour of flowering nearly all the winter, forming beautiful hedges of dark green shining as to

foliage,

from which thousands of clusters of lovely flowers

rise,

of a


EOSES FOR THE AVILD OAEDEN.

87

tender

delicate transparent pink, or a]nuj?-t pure wliite, with a brighter This Rose is an evertinge in the centre and at the tips of the petals. It is green, and makes an excellent stock for gi-afting or budding. eitlier

planted iu nursery

bed.-*,

aide for standards in the same

hedges, and left to

where

way

it

as

quickly throws up a stem

we employ

the

Dog

suit-

Rose, or in

naturally luxuriant growth to produce its own charming floAvers in rich pi'ofusion, or rows of cuttings are put in where it is

its

intended to leave thnii, and >ubsoi|Ut'ntly budded with some of we have named.

varieties of the' diverse trilies

^>^^''

Climbing Rose isolated on grass.

tlie


CHAPTER XL WILD GARDENING ON WALLS OR RUINS. TiiEitE are

of

many hundred

species

mountain and rock plants

which will thrive much better on an old

wall, a ruin, a

fence,

a

stone,

Avitli

sloping

sunk

bank

earth

of

behind,

than they do in the most carefully

and therefore

may here,

border,

prepared

their culture

be fittingly considered particularly,

as

once

established in such positions

they increase and take care of themselves unaided.

deed, Arenaria balearica, in a hole Great Tew.

in wall at

would, thrive on any old

in its Avail,

many

which may

In-

an alpine plant

have

perished

place in the garden,

near at hand,

as, for

example,

the pretty I'yrenean Erinus, the silvery Saxifrages

of the

Alps, pinks like the Cheddar Pink, established on the walls


AVILD at Oxford,

GARDENING ON WALLS OR RUINS.

many

Stonecrops and

alliiMl

8f)

plants, the Aubrietia

and AraLis,

A on

most interesting

the

in

opposite

In

page.

this

Oxfordshire,

exani})le of "wall gardening is

the

exquisite

little

Great

at

gardens

alpine

shown

plant,

Tew,

which

usually roots over the moist surface of stones, estal)lished itself

high up on a wall in a small recess, where half a brick

had been displaced.

The

illustration tells the rest.

It

is

z^:^^^--,

'Mm Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, and Ferns, on cottage wall

as so

suggestive,

things are, of the numerous plants

grown on walls and such unpromising surfaces. A mossy old wall, or an old ruin, would afi'ord a position many rock -plants which no specially prepared situation

that

for

many

at IMells.

may

could

l)e

rival

;

lÂťut

some

establish

even on well-preserved

little

walls

we can

beauties, wdiich year after year

Mill

al)undantly repay for the slight trouble of planting or sowing

them.

Those who have observed how dwarf plants grow on

the tops of mountains, or on elevated stony ground,

have seen perfect

in

what unpromising

health —

fine

tufts

j^ositions

many

must

tiourish in

sometimes springing

from an


THE WILD GARDEN.

90

almost imperceptible chink in an arid rock or Ijoulder.

and diminutive

are often stunted

more lonu-lived than when

Now, numljers

ground.

f'rown

is

viijorouslv

l)ut

They always

upon the

of alpine plants perish if planted in

the ordinary soil of our gardens,

pains

such places,

in

and many do

so

where much

This results from

taken to attend to their wants.

over-moisture at the root in winter, the plant being rendered

more

by our moist green winters make a lingering growth. But it is interesting of

susceptiljle

inducing

it

and useful ])lants

to

know

to

injury

that,

by placing many

of these delicate

where their roots can secure a comparatively dry and

well-drained medium, they remain in perfect health. ])lants

from latitudes a

from alpine regions,

little farther

may hnd

Many

south than our own, and

on walls, rocks, and ruins, that

dwarf, ripe, sturdy growth, stony firmness of root medium, and

dryness in winter, M'hich go to form the very conditions that will

grow them in a climate entirely

In

many

parts of the country

it

different

may

from their own.

be said with truth

that opportunities for this phase of gardening do not exist; l)ut in various districts, such as the

are miles of rock

AVye and other

valleys, there

and rough wall-surface, where the scattering

few pinches of Arabis, Aubrietia, Erinus, Acanthus, would give rise Saxifrage, Violas, Stonecrops, and Houseleeks,

of a

to a

"arden of rock blossoms that would need no care from

the gardener.

Growing such splendid alpine plants

as the

true Saxifraga longifolia of the Pyrenees on the straight surface of a wall is quite practicable.

I

have seen the rarest

and largest of the silvery section grown well on the face of a the dry wall therefore there need be no doubt as to growing :

more common and

liardv kinds.


WILD GARDENING OX WALLS OR RUINS.

A

tew seeds of the Cheddar Pink,

Cor

91

examph;, sown

in a

(hist n( line mossy or earthy chink, or even covered with in a dwaif and for years soil, would soon take root, li\inLi; ;i

perfectly healtliful state.

'I'he

seedling roots A'igoronsly into

the chinks, and gets a hold which

many

of the plants wliieli will

amoii'''

the selections near

tlie

it

rarely relaxes.

grow on walls end

of the hook.

"I^^^m

The Vellow Fumitory on

wall (Corydalis lulea).

will

A l)e

list

of

found


Large Japan Sedum

(S. spectabile)

and Autumn Crucuses

CHAPTER

in the

Wild Garden.

Xll.

SOME RESULTS. In addition to Longieat, and other cases previously mentioned, a

few of the results obtained, where the system

was

and

tried,

interest.

fully

well

so far as

How much out

carried

shown

known

to nie,

may

not be without

a wild garden intelligently and taste-

may

effect for

in a garden in

a

country seat

Oxfordshire.

Here

is is

fairly

one of

the earliest, and probably one of the largest wild gardens existing, full

and which,

visiting

of novel charms.

No

it

on the 27th May, I found

old-fashioned garden yields

its

beauty so early in the year, or over a more prolonged season,

than the wild garden, as there

is

abundant evidence here

but our impressions shall be those of the day only.

may

serve

to

throw light on the

possibilities

;

It

of garden


SOME RESULTS. embellishment in one blank in

maker which

many

of

gardens

at a season

— the

attempts in this direction so variety of

soil,

grown

with rather a poor gravelly part,

little

there

much

;

surface,

before.

with

site

iu^'iting

easier

Tlie

which makes

and happier

;

no

different

only a neglected plantation,

soil

variety of surface

thrown up long

a great

is

which might enable plants of widely

natural habitats to be

and

or

no great variety of

;

when

time of "l)ed(lnig out."

had no favourable

this

deal

to

way

93

and a gentle slope in one

beyond a few gravel banks

The garden

is,

for the

most

part,

arranged on each side of a Grass drive among rather open ground, few trees on the one hand and rather shady ground

The most beautiful aspect at the end of IMay a singularly ungenial spring, which had not allowed the

on the of

other.

I'ieonies

to

was that of the German

unfold,

Irises,

with

Orchid-like blossoms seen everywhere through

their great

the wood, clear above the Grass and other herbage, stately

and noble flowers

that, like the Daffodils, fear

no weather,

yet with rich and delicate hues that could not be surpassed

by tropical

flowers.

this effective

kinds

good

of Iris service.

If this wild garden only should teach

way of using the various beautiful and vigorous now included in our garden flora, it would do The

Irises are perfectly at

and among the Grass and wild

flowers.

home

mixed

rest

border," tempting one to

quietly

among

wood

By-and-by, when

they go out of flower, they will not be in the "

in the

remove them,

way lÂťut

as in a

grow and

the grass until the varied blossoms of

another year again repay the trouble of substituting these noble hardy flowers for some of the familiar weeds and wild plants that inhabit our plantations.


THE WILD GARDEN.

94

In

may

tlie

wild garden the fairest of our

own

wild flowers

be happily associated with their relatives from other

Here the sturdy Bell -flowered

countries.

panulata) grows wild with our wliite

and

jiink

own

nutans); the

(S.

common well-known

earlier Scillas are of course past

wild garden,

of

tlie

which thrives

:

freely

Valley did not inhabit the before

/

The

form.

they are admirably suited

;

especially S. Ijifolia,

The Lily

in woods.

Bluehell

cani-

(S.

forms also of the last-named look beautiful

here associated with the

for the

Scilla

t'M:

wood

therefore

;

was pleasant out some of

it

to thin

over-

its

matted tufts and carry

them garden, Crane's

'^^i beauty. stately

Bill wild, in grass.

relation

the

when is

with

Solomon's

Solomon's Seal, wliich

is

it

this plant when

spots for

it.

its

thev fullest

tall

Seal.

and

The

effective

issuing forth from fringes of shrubberies,

here best arching higli over the Woodrufi'

seems a giant, with every

lines of beauty.

in

usually

and other sweet woodland which

where

now

are

associated

It is

wild

the

to

leaf,

flowers,

among

and stem, and blossom

The additional vigour and beauty shown by in rich soil well

repays one for selecting suitable

The greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) and

its

double form are very pretty here with their tufts of golden flowers

;

they grow freely and take

all

needful care of them-

The same may be said of the Honesty, the common forms of Columbine, and Allium Moly, an old-fashioned plant,

selves.


SOME RESULTS. and one of

tlie

subjects at

nmny

home

95

in the wihl garden,

and

The myriads

wliich are better left out of the garden proper.

of Crocus leaves dying off without the indignity of being tied into Itundles as

common

is

and Snowdrop

Aconite

I'rinu'oses

garden in

dense growth of

in gardens, the

leaves,

of

and common

coloured

and Cowslips, suggest the [)eauty of this wild The yet unfolded buds on the many tufts spring.

and groups of the numerous lierbaceous Piconies, promise nolile effects early in

Jmie

so do the tufts of the splendid

;

Eastern Poppy (Papaver orientale) and the Williams, and Adam's Needles, and that will

show

many

their blossoms above or

Grass in due time.

Among

here at present, are

tlie

the

Lilies,

best

and Sweet

other subjects,

among

summer

the

of the Borageworts

Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum

caucasicum), an admirable wood or copse plant, and

red-

purple or Bohemian Comfrey

very

handsome me-nots

here.

And what

bohemicum), which

— the wood Forget-me-not, and the

not (M. dissitillora) are here l)lue in

(S.

is

lovelv effects from the Foroet-

!

where

Early Forget-me-

their soft little clouds of

the Grass are nnich prettier than tufts of the

kind surrounded by

the l)rown earth in a prim l)order.

same Here

the pushing of the delicate Grass blades through

tlie

mass and the indefinite wav

the tufts

in

which the

frinijes of

blue

mingle with the surrounding vegetation are very beautiful.

The onlv gravel lÂťanks, Saxifrages,

noticeal)le variation of surface

which are properly covered

and the

like,

chance in the Grass,

which would,

is

that of

some

witli Stonecrops,

as a rule,

have a poor

Surfaces that naturally support a very

sparse and dwarf vegetation are valuable in a garden, as they

permit

(jf

the culture of a series of free-growing alpine and


THE WILD GARDEN".

96

rock r)lants that would not

able to liold their

l)e

Grass and ordinary weeds and wild flowers.

own amonoOne

of the

happiest features of this wild garden results from the in

which dead

have been adorned.

trees

smaller branches are

of the

lopped

climbers planted at the base of the

new kind

Eose, a

a climbing

Virginian Creeper, have

all

off,

way

Once dead, some and one or more

Here a Clematis,

tree.

of Ivy, a wild Vine, or a

they require, a firm support on

which they may arrange themselves

after their

own

natural

habit, without being mutilated, or without trouble to the

and fresh ground

planter,

admirable way, of Clematis

and

may

roots

mixed border

look

to

A

and is

tosses

up a mass

ready with some

adorn the projection, and

collection of Ivies

much more

all

"

Fernery

it

among

may

and

interfere

be grown in

the flowers than in

properly so called.

Ferns, and in some cases

old

Ferns are at home in the wild

air.

the strong hardy kinds

better in

grown on

satisfactory than on a wall,

liable to robe each other at the roots,

with each other in the ;

varied species

allow some choice Bramble or wild Vine to scramble

tree-stems would be

garden

old tree falls

the wild gardener

over the prostrate stem.

and not

many and

an

as beautiful as varieties with flowers as large as

!

subject from his

he

What

themselves.

to

growing the

Even when an

saucers.

of soil

too, of

free

more

Even more

the

it,

"

and

hardv

graceful than the

useful, because

they send up

their plume-like leaves very early in the year, are the giant

Fennels (Ferula), which grow well here, and hold their own easily

among

also here,

but

The common Fennel

the strongest plants. it

seeds so freely that

it

is

becomes a troublesome

weed, and shows a tendency to overrun plants of greater


SO-ME KESULTS. This reniiiuls

value.

introduced with

wild garden.

many

others,

but destroy

lis

97

of certain sulijects that should be

I'autioii into all

Imt the remotest parts of the

Such plants as Heracleuni, Willow Herb, and that overcome all obstacles, and not only win

all

only be planted

their fellows in the strujigie for in

untlving

])(i>itinns. islands,

life,

should

hedges, small

-^S'ff'

Large-leafed Saxifrage

l)its

of isolated

wood

visible for a season,

destroying. it

is

in

the Wild (larden.

or copse, where their effects might l)e and where they might ramble without

In short, they never should

l)e

planted where

desired to encourage a variety of beautiful sul)jects.

liabbits

— dreaded

vermin

the wild gardener

to

out here effectually by means of wire fencing.

— are

kept

The presence The

of these pests prevents all success in the wild garden.

encouragement of creatures that feed on slugs

is

desirable, as

these are the most potent cause of mischief to liard}^ flowers.

H


THE WILD GARDEN.

98

To succeed with the wild garden, one should have a good hardy flowers from which

collection of

can be supplied.

it

Here one has been

1100

formed, consisting of about

From

mostly arranged in borders.

species,

these, from time to time,

over- vigorous and over-abundant kinds

may

be taken to the

wilderness.

In a large collection one frequently finds species

most suited

for

good

in all

liberty in woods.

full

positions,

increase

may

Tlie in

many

these

subjects

l)orders

till

enough for planting out in some quantity in the wild garden. The wild garden here lias l)een wdiolly formed

plentiful

by the owner, who planted with

now adorn

subjects that

been done within four or

own hands

his

the various

throughout the year.

it

five years,

It

has

and therefore many uf

the climbers have not as yet attained full growth.

Tew Park

will long be interesting, from the fact that

it

Loudon practised agriculture before he began the writing the works which were such a marked addition to The Grove there is a horticultural literature of England. was there

J. C.

plantation of fine trees, bordering wdiich varies in width.

This grove, unlike

of the ground, does not vary tliat

a wide sweep of grass,

one of the greatest aids

much

in surface, or luit is

absent.

of the rest

very

little,

Originally this

so

now

on pleasant grove was a dense wood, with Gout-weed mainly the sround, and troublesome

flies

in the air.

A

few vears

ago the formation of a wild garden was determined upon, and the

first

moving

operation was the thinning of the

air

removed.

were This,

let into

so

far,

it,

wood

;

light

and weak or overcrowded

was

a gain, quite apart

flowers that were in good time to replace the few

weeds that occupied the ground.

Of

and trees

from the

common

these the unattractive




SOME RESULTS.

99

Gout-weed was the most abundant, and the

was

to

di'j; it

It

up.

was found that by deeply digging the

wood Forget-me-not

ground, and sowiug

tlie

weed disappeared.

Who

Lilies of the

in its place, this

would not exchange

Yallev aud AVood Forget-me-nots

broad sheets of this

thing to do

first

Wood

foul !

weeds

The

for

effect of

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)

beyond, and seen above the long waving Grass gradually receding under the trees, was very beautiful now (June) its ;

is

beauty

not so marked as earlier,

when

from the plants being more compact wild garden

is

source of a

but one charm of the

that the very changes of plants from

thought their most perfect

be

;

the colour was fuller,

new

may

state,

be in

what may the

itself

pleasure instead of a warning, such as so

often occurs in the garden, that

we must

cut

them down

or

replace them. to

iSTot

mow

is

almost a necessity in the wild garden

considering that there

is

frequently in large gardens

more

mown

surface than

this

need.

Here the Grass

manv it

necessary, is

be cut

when

ripe,

of danger

no flowers are planted the Grass

meadow.

may

quite as

Grass

good an

in

Of course

saved.

;

even in parts where

is left till

long enougli to cut

Except where actually required as a

often be allowed to

unmown

left

and most of the spring flowers have

past and their leaves are out

as

is

much

will not regret

many

desi^nedlv

and therebv much labour

iilaces,

may

is

:

carpet. Grass

grow even in the pleasure ground

effect is afforded

by the unmown

— indeed, better when the long Grass

is

as the

;

mown

full of flowers.

Three-fourths of the most lovely flowers of cold and temperate regions are companions of the Grass ness, like Grasses in

summer

life

— like Grasses

and winter

in hardi-

rest, like

them


THE WILD GARDEN.

100

Whatever plants may seem best more gardens, an innnense nun:iher

even in stature.

with in

thousand species of those perfection

to

among our meadow

Grassy breast of the mountain

Grasses, as they do on the in

many

above the delicate bloom of the will

multij^lying

the

The

varieties of

open

tlieir

variety

(

their heads clear

irass

;

cups below

of effects

Some, like

lands.

show

the tall Irises or Columbines, will

Cerastiums,

to associate

— than two now cultivated — would thrive

that

others, like the

in

it,

this

way

be obtained.

may

Columbine in the Grass were perhaps

prettiest flowers at the time of

tlie

my visit. The white, purplish,

and delicately -variegated forms of

this

charming old plant,

just seen above the tops of the long Grass, growing singly, in little groups, or in spreading colonies,

were

sufficient in

themselves to form a wild garden for June.

among

the Grass, they will henceforward, like

The

themselves.

rosy,

Established

it,

take care of

heart-shaped blooms of the Dielytra

spectabilis are recognised at

some distance

tlirough the Grass,

and, so grown, furnish a bright and peculiarly pretty effect.

Tree Pa^onies succeed admirablv, and their oreat heads of flower quite light up this charming wilderness. Goat's Beard Spinea ful,

(S.

I'lants of the

Aruncus) are very stately and grace-

even now, before their flowering, being quite G

It.

high.

In a few weeks, when the numerous flowers are open, they will present quite another aspect.

In the wild garden, apart

from the naturalisation of free-growing

ment

of rare British flowers

occupations

;

and

here,

is

exotics, tlie establish-

one of the most interesting

under a Pine

tree,

the modest,

ing Linmea borealis of the northern Fir- woods to spread.

The Foxglove was not

is

trail-

beginning

originally found in the


SOME RESULTS. iiei"hl)oiiili(Âť(t(l

forms of

tliis

now

;

fino

llio

10]

ordinnrv kind and the various other

wild fiower adorn

tlie

woods.

In

also the Lily of the Yallcv has heen introduced and ino-

rapidlv.

^lanv

clinddnii-

have been ])lanted

at

lie

good

wny

spread-

Eoses ami various other climbers

the bases of trees and stumps, but,

though thri\ing, the plantation 1

tliis

is

effect that these will

is

as yet too

young

eventually produce.

to

show

There

is

Large-flowered Clematis.

no finer picture

at present to

be seen in gardens than a free-

growing flowering creeper, enjoying its own wild way over an old tree or stump, and sending down a rain of flower -laden shoots.

A

wall, sent

Clematis montana here, originally trained on a

up some

of its shoots through a tree close at hand,

where, fortunately, they have been allowed to remain, and

now large

the long shoots hang from the tree full of flowers.

plumes of the

noljler

The

hardy Ferns are seen here and


THE WILD GARDEX.

102

there tliroiigh the trees and Grass, and well they look

here

the Grass and flowers, partially shaded by trees,

among

than in the hardy Fernery, which

when

a success, often

"

too

much

so often

is

the Ferulas, and

of foliage,

a failure,

tlie

in the wild garden.

true

home

rivals of the

um-

have also their

The Welsh Poppy

might be expected, admirably in the grove,

of

Ferns

various other

belliferous plants with beautifully cut foliage,

homes

and

of a muchness," so to say.

The wild garden of the future will he also all the more important hardy Ferns. The in beauty

—better

thrives, as

rich yellow

its

cups just shoAving above the meadow.

In another part of the grounds there

away from

quite

each

This

side.

trees,

may

Eoses,

Rock

open and dry, with sloping banks on

Eoses, etc.

will probably soon

ing

flora.

a raised walk

be called a sun-walk, and here quite a

different type of vegetation is

Sun

is

grown

;

Scotch Ptoses, Brooms,

It is quite recently formed,

and

accommodate a more numerous and interest-

Such an open sunny walk, with dry banks

near, is

a capital position in which to carry out various phases of the

wild garden. is

Peculiarly suitable, however, in such a position

a good illustration of the vegetation of the hot, rocky, and

gravelly hill-sides of the Mediterranean region, and this

is

quite easily represented, for the various leguminous plants

and dwarf Pea-flowered shrubs, such

many

of the beautiful

Eock Eoses

(Helianthemum), and the Lavenders,

as the Spanish (Cistus), the will,

Broom,

Sun Eoses

with a host of com-

panions, for the most part thrive quite as well on a sunny

sandy bank in England garden

it

is

as in Italy or Greece.

In the wild

easy to arrange aspects of vegetation having a

geographical interest, and a portion of such a sunny bank as


SOME RESULTS. i

nllude

lo

worthily funiisluMl with the various

lÂťe

uii^lit

niniiiatic jiliints (nearly all

wild

tlie

Tliynie,

103

hardy) which one meets with on

of Southern France,

liill-.sides

and which include

Bahn, Mint, Eosemary, Lavender, and various other

old oarden favourites.

True taste in the garden

is

iuihai)pily

Xo amount

much

rarer than

of expense, rich collec-

many

people suppose.

tions,

good cultivation, large gardens, and plenty of

suffice

;

these and nnich more

all

it is

glass, will

not difficidt to see, but

a few acres of garden showing a real love of the beautiful in

Nature, as is

seen

This

is

it

it is

can be illustrated in gardens,

is rare,

and when

it

often rather the result of accident than design.

partly owing to the fact that the kind of knowledge

one wants in order to form a really beautiful garden

Xo man

unconmion.

is

can do so with few materials.

very It is

necessary to have some knowledge of the enormous wealth of beauty

gardens liut

;

which the world contains and yet

this

for the

adornment of

knowledge must not have a leaning, or

very partially, towards the Dryasdust character.

disposition to

"

"

dry

and name

The

everything, to concern oneself

entirely with nomenclature and

classification, is not

cordance with a true gardening spirit

—

it is

the

life

we

in ac-

want.

The garden of the late Mr. Hewittson, at Weybridge, contained some of the most delightful Ijits of garden scenery Below the house, on the slope over Oatlands Park, and Ijelow the usual lawn beds,

Avhich I have ever seen.

the water of

heathy ground which, when we saw it, was charming beyond any power of the pencil to show. The ground was partially clad with common Heaths with trees, etc., there is a piece of

little

irregular green paths through them,

and abundantly


THE WILD GARDEN.

104 naturalised

which are shown there

among

warm sandy

the

in

were the Sun Koses,

soil

the

Heaths,

creeping

])rostratum), witli other

Among

to the situation.

large

a

in

aliout

natural-looking fashion, too, was the (Jentian

(Lithospermum

Here and

in the foreground of the ]ilate.

perfectly

Cromwell

l)lue

hardy plants suited

these naturalised groups were

tlie

Evening Primroses and Alstrcemeria anrea, the whole

so being well relieved by bold bushes of flowering shrubs,

grouped and arranged as not

tastefully

formality.

Such plants

show a

to

trace of

and

as these are not set out singly

without preparation, but carefully planted in beds of such outline, that

naturally irregular established they

seem

the Bracken and

the

from

tlie

that require special care and attention

It is

more

free

all

as all

most

Closely-shaven glades and wi(U^

Grass belts wind about among such objects, while

they find

much

remarkable how

It is

in the least detracting

perfect order and keeping.

size that

l)econie

plants

native children of the soil, as

Heath around.

done without

this is

when

show

l)y their

all trees

health and

they require in this beautiful gardeu.

from needless or offensive geometrical-twirling,

barren expanse of gravelled surface, and

all

kinds of puerilities

— than new-fangled

nny garden

following, from a correspondent,

shows wliat

— old-fashioned and

I liave

seen for years.

The

done with few advantages as

We tlirough carried

have a it.

with a small

ilell

When

to

I

first

underground by a

came tile

to

— space or situation

may

lie

:

stream of

Brockhurst

culvert,

sjiiini,^

I

water

found

and the valley

nuniiiiL;

this stream

sides covered

between carefully raked and kept

free with Rhododendrons, the soil from weeds, so that it was only during springtime that flowers relieved After five years this has all been the sombre eff'ect of this primness.


Sun Roses

(Cistus)

and other exotic haidy plants among heather, on sandy

slope.



SOME changed into

wlial

]ia\e clieerfuliicss Ill tlie first

tliink

I

and ln'auty

r!KsrT/rs.

ymi WdiiM

call

all tlu- yt-ai'

nmiid.

was

tlu- liidnklft

jilacf

10;

wild

a

to

ludui^lit

,L;ai'ili'ii.

ainl

the surt'ace, iuul

\vv

its

Marsh Marigolds, Forgetme-nots, CVlandiiies, Irises, Pi-i mioses, and Kanumuluses, together with Osnuunlas, Hart's-tongnes, and other Ferns. Many large-growing Loiirse

fringed with

inaisli

Carexes and ornamental

Wood and

and

filled

T!

plants,

siu'li

nsh<-s are als(

I

as

tierbaceous Meadow-sweets grouped together

with

peat,

in

which

(

Little llats

liere.

in

Vprijiediiuns,

were formed

Mr. Hewittsnu's garden.

Trilliums,

Orchises,

In the valley Solomon's Seal, and many rare bog plants find a home. we have planted hnlhs by thonsands Crocuses, Snowdrops, Daffodils, The Rhododendrons were thinned and interspersed with Narcis.?i, etc.

—

Azaleas, Ancnbas,

and other handsome-foliaged shrubs,

to give bright-

ness to the sjiring flowering, and rich colour to the foliage in autumn. In the spaces between we introduced wild Hyacinths everywhere, and


THE WILD GARDEN.

106 in patches

amongst these the Red (Jampion, together with vvcvy other flower

]tretty wilil

we couhl obtain

—Forget-me-nots,

Glolje- flowers,

(Jolunri lines,

Anemones, Primroses, Cowslips, Polyanthuses, Campanulas, Golden Rods, ete. All the bulbs which liave bloomed in the greenhouses are planted out in these spaces, so that there are

\u>^y

large

clumps of choice soils of Crocus, Tulip, Narcissus, and Hyacinth. We have also planted Ijulbs very extensively, and as they have been allowed to grow on undisturbed we have

now

large patches of Daffodils,

and other spring flowers in great beauty and exuberance. we trim the garden all tlie spare plants are brought here, where

Narcissi,

When

they form a reserve, and it is thus gradually getting stocked, and all the bare ground covered witli foliage and flowers. Lastly, iov autumn

blooming we raised large quantities of Foxgloves in every colour, and the larger Campanulas, and these were pricked out everywhere, so tliat we have a glorious show of Foxglove flowers to close the year worth all

A

the trouble.

ground, wliere

wild garden of this sort

many

is

a plant survives after

a very

it

useful

reserve

has been lost in

tlic

Such spare seedlings as the Acpiilegias, Campanulas, Primulas, Trolliuses, and other hardy plants can here find space until wanf('(l

borders.

elsewhere, and one can dell Avlien the

Sweet Violet

Hower more

frecj[\iently

find

also

flourish

blooms

for bouc^uets

The Lily

in the

of the Valley

and

here, creeping over heaps of stones,

and

garden flowers are over.

freely than they do in more open situations.

A^isitors

often say tliat the dell beats all the rest of the garden for beauty, and it

certainly gives less trouble in the attainment.

Brockhurst, Didslmry.

Wm. Brockbank.

In (hvnh'n.

THE WILD GARDEN IN AMERICA.i Probalily

When liad

I

many

came

to

of your readers will ask,

London,

al)out

fifteen

but one mode of expression only,

harshest form

—

viz.

"What U

a Mild garden /"

years ago, "flower-gardening" " bedding out," and that in its

ribbons, borders, an<l solid masses of flowers of one

The old hardy flowers had been completely colour and one height. the once popular race of so-called florist's flowers various and swept away ;

As a consequence, gardens were indescribably monotonous to any person with the faintest notion of the inThis kind of flower-gardening exhaustible charms of the plant world. were rarely or never seen.

has the same relatidu to true art in a garden which the daubs of colour 1

A

letter written

by

re([uest, in the

Rural

New

Yorker, July 1876.


SOME on

ail

Indian's blanket havi- to

years later, in

tin-

In fighting, some

best pictures. tn

various' journals njicn

tlie

107

KESUI/rS.

tin-

me,

battle nf nature

and variety against this saddening and blank nKmotony, I was occasionally met by a ridicule of the old-fashioned mixed border which the bedding plants had supplanted. Now, a well -arranged and varied mixed border may Vie made one of the most beautiful of gardens Imt ;

some kncjwledge of plants, as well as good taste. the Nevertheless, objection was just as concerned the great majority of mixed borders they were ragged, unmeaning, and even monotonous. to so fijrm

it

re(|uires

;

next began to consider the \'arious ways in which hardy plants might be grown wholly apart from either way (the bedding plants or I

mixed

that of the

border),

and the

vsild (jurden, or

garden

foriiu'd

in

the wilderness, grove, shrubbery, copse, or rougher parts of the pleasure garden, M-as a ]iet idea which I afterwards threw into the form of a

book with

this

name.

In nearly all our gardens we have a great deal wide spaces in the shrubbery fre(|uently

of surface wholly wasted

dug over

in

banks, slopes,

—

the winter, plantations, grass- walks, hedgerows, rough etc.,

ami on these a

which hitherto have grown only grass and wee<ls, Hundreds of the garden flora may be grown.

rich

more vigorous and handsome herbaceous plants that exist will thrive and do further good in exterminating weeds and pre-

in these jilaces

venting the need of digging.

Every kind

by a person

knowledge

vrith.

any

slight

of surface

of

may

hardy plants

be embellished

—ditch-banks,

gravel-pits, old trees, hedge-banks, rough, grassy places that are never

mown, copses, woods, lanes, rocky or The tendency has always been another country than our^ own was a

stony ground. to

suppose

that

subject retjuiring

a

from

plant

much

attention,

not thinking that the conditions that occur in such places as mentioned above, are, as a rule, quite as favourable as those that obtain in nature throughout the great northern regions of Europe, Asia,

and

Here some common plants of the woods of the Eastern States are considered rarities and coddled accordingly to their destrucAmerica.

tion.

It is quite a

phenomenon

to see a flower

on the

little

Yellow

Dog's-Tooth Violet, which I remember seeing in rpiantity among the When one has but a few specimens grass in your noble Central Park. of a plant,

it

is

best no

doubt

to

carefully watch

exposed and carefully dug garden border

many wood and

copse j^lants

such places), and in

many

is

them.

But

an

the worst place to grow

(I mean plants that grow naturally in uncultivated spots here the American

Dog's-Tooth Violet would flower

([uite

as freely as at

home.

Your


THE WILD riARDEN.

108

beautiful little Mayrt(jwer, Epigpea repejis, we liave never succeeded in growing- in our best American nurseries, as tliey are called, whicli

grow vdur Rliododendrons and

number

of

young

otlier fioweriiiiT;

shrubs so well.

If a

plants of this were put out in a sandy fir-wood,

under the shrubs and pines, as they grow in

Your

succeed at once.

l)eautiful

New

Jersey,

we should

Trillium grauditloruni

is usually seen here in a pour state luit I have seen a plant in a shady position in a shrubbery, in rich, moist soil, ([uite two feet through and two ;

feet high. I

mention these things to show tliat tlie wild garden may even from the point of view of cultivation. Another

have a<lvantages

Wuodruft and Ivv.

the facilities

is

atl'ords us

for

fujoying representations of Here, for example, the j)oorest soil in the most neglected copse will grow a mixture of golden rods and asters, whicli will give ns an aspect of vegetation everywhere seen in

advantage

it

the vegetation of other conntries.

American woods in autumn. place delight Besides,

we

the garden

;

but as

in this

This to you

we have nothing

may at

all

appear a very commonlike it, it is welcome.

way get the golden rods and which they nsed to overrun

coarser asters out of

proper, in

and where they did much in

New England

manner, you may, of such of our English flowers

or

the choicer jjlants,

mixed border.

to disgrace the

New

So, in like

make wild gardens For example, the now

Jersey,

as you love. numerous and very handsome varieties of our Primroses, Polyanthuses, and Oxlips would probably succeed better with you in moist places, in

woods, or partially shaded positions, than

in

the open garden.

There


SOME KKSULTS. caul>e

IK) (Iniil>t

fur a

.suppose

in wliidi

"ardcn in America inhabit the land,

jKisilidii

that

nuiiui'iit lliaii

umwiiiL;

tiie

dtlicr

Ini'

olijecL

lovdv wild

iiiaiiv

we

darlings of our rock-garden _L;rowers, though all

Bui

wdulil Link Lest. in)

the hi'ight Howcrs an<l graceful

Wddds and heaths nf the Kastern

trailers

States.

lis

tlowcr.s

tliat

the

arc,

are far tinm |nisscssing

that aduin It

Ift

the wild

Here some of your wildlin^s

sullicicnt.

it is

lIu'V

was

llicic

10!)

wnuld

the

lings

and

ninst wise, in

ln'

case of possessing a little liil nf wnnd or copse, adorned naturally with the trailing Partridge Berry, and the rosy Lady's Slipper ((Jyju'ipediuni acaule), which I noticed growing so plentifully, to jireserve the spot as

wild garden, and add to it such home and plants, as one could ohtain.

a

foivign, free

and

handsome hardy It

is

ini])ossible

in

this

letter

to

sjieak

nf

tlu'

\ai-ious

kinds of

gardens, hut the opportunity which the system otters for eniludlishing mol shady places is one which should make it interesting \\ild

the people to whose language belongs the term Usually flower beds and borders are in the full sun

to

arrangement the

in a

But even

cool country.

warm months many days

in

in

"

shade

trees."

a very projier

our climate, there are in

which the woodland shade

is

sought

the open lawn, and when the fully-exposed garden is Therefore, it is clearly desirable that we have flowers in

in preference to

deserted.

shady as well

as

sunny

places.

Many

plants, too,

l(.i\e

the shade, and

we (jnly require to plant the most suitable of these to enjoy a charmIt need not be pointe(l out to Americans that a vast ing wild garden. In America, iiiunl)er of herbaceous jdants naturally inhabit woods. where shade

is

such a necessity, the wild garden in the shade will be

In it many of the the most delightful retreat near the country house. countries will, witlujut plants common in the gardens of all northern

wearisome attention, flower in the spring. For the early summer numths flowers of ^vill

be selected,

as, for

a

exam})le, the later Irises-

somewhat

later period

— lovely hardy

flowers,

Asphodel A. ranmsus, the Day Lilies (Hemerocallis), the Solomon's Seal and some of its allies, the Veronicas, tall Phloxes, the

the

tall

great Scarlet

Poppy (Papaver

bracteatum),

Symphytums

in variety

;

these are all free-growing ami admirable plants for the wild wood-garden.

Mulleins (Verbascum), Salvias, Harebells (Campanula), Willow herbs, tall Lupines, Geianiums, Sjiurges, Meadow Rues, Columbines, Del-

phiniums, and the latest \\ind flowers (Anemone). Later still, and in the sunny days, would come the various beautiful

everlasting

jieas,

various

])lants

of the

Mallow

tribe,

the

Poke


THE WILD (4ARDEN.

110

otlier vigorous kinds, the Globe the free-flowering Yuccas, such as Y. flaccida and Thistles, Acanthuses, and in Y. filanientosa, the common Artichoke, with its nol)le flowers

Weeds, broad-leaved Sea Lavender, and

;

autunni, a host of the are so

common

in

Golden Rods and Michaelmas

America that adding them

probably be considered a needless labour

;

Daisies.

to tlie wild

Init

These

garden would

the substitution of the

various really beautiful species of aster tnr those ccimmonly found of inferior beauty M'ould well repay.

In case

it

were thought

and

desir-

making a wild garden in a shady position to grow plants that do not attain perfection in such positions, they might be grown in the more open parts at hand, and sufficiently near to be seen in tlie picture. able in


CHAPTER

XIIL

A PLAN FOR THE l-LMF.ELLISILMENT OF THE SHRUBBEIIY

BORDERS

IN

LONDON PARKS. In the winter seaor indeed

son,

at

any other season, one of

the

most

melancholy things to be seen' in our

parks and gardens are the long, hare,

naked

slirul)heries,

extending, as along

the Dug

:ind

mutilated Shrubbery in St. James's Park. Sketched in iinntcr of i^-]g.

Bayswater

Eoad, more or less

for a mile in a place; the soil greasy, black,

seamed with the

mutilated roots of the poor shrubs and trees

none the

better,

l)ut

;

which are

very mucli the worse, for the cruel

annual attention of digging up

tlieir

young

roots

M-ithout

any adequate nourishment or good to the soil. Culturally, the whole thing is suicidal, both for trees and

returning

plants.

Tlie

mere

fact of

men having

to pass

through one


THE WILD GARDEN.

112 of those

slirubberies

"

"

prune

low

every autumn,

trees, leads to this,

and especially

u.s

tliey

done, and at great waste of labour. l^e

in the

ground

ance of the shrubbery

is

is

fancy,

shrul:)s

and

to the shrubs taking

Thus a double wrong

the appearance of inverted besoms.

might

and,

and otherwise attend to unfortunate

Any

interesting

life

is

that

destroyed, and the whole appear-

made hideous from

the point of view

good culture of flowering or evergreen shrubs This system is an orthodox destroyed or made impossible.

of art;

all

one, that has descended to us

from other days, the popular

idea being that the right thing to do in shrulÂťl)ery.

The

autumn

to dig the

and the adop-

total abolition of this system,

tion of the one to he presently described,

is

would lead

to the

and be a perhappiest revolution ever effected in gardening, the inverted easy, practicable means for the aljolition of fectly

besoms, and the choke-muddle shrubbery, and these awful

wastes of black

Two

soil

and mutilated

ideas should

lie

the one being to allow

roots.

fixed in the all

mind

of the improver,

the beautiful shrubs to assume

their natural shapes, either singly or in groups, with sufficient so that the space between to allow of their fair development,

shrubbery might, in the flowering season, or indeed at all a beautiful winter seasons, be the best kind of conservatory

—

garden even, with the branches of most of the shrubs touching the ground, no nmtilation whatever visible, and no hard dug line outside the shrubs.

be effected

l)y

This last improvement could easily

forming a natural

fringe, so to say,

up the usual hard edge from good planting fact,

;

by breaking

by

letting, in

the edge be formed by well-furnished shrubs projected the hard line, and running in and out as they do on a

beyond


KMBELLTSHj\mNT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS.

box bushes sometimes do on a Sussex

copse, or as the

liil]

Here

down.

variety in selection, taste

care,

113

and

in

skill

grouping, so as to allow different subjects, whether placed singly or in groups, or little groves, being in a position tliey

well and be seen to advantage, would lead

may grow

to the

most charming

results in the open-air garden.

sufficient preparation at

cause of very

where

little

With

such shrubberies would be the

first,

trouble afterwards.

Now, such beauty could be obtained without any further aid from other plants

and

;

able to consider the trees

and

let the turf

])rivilege

of

adding

this

another world of l)eauty

many

cases

it

might be

and shrubs and their

spread in to

in

desir-

effect only,

among them; but we have the beautiful

—the

tree

and shrub

life

bulbs and herbaceous plants,

and innumerable beautiful things which go to form the ground flora, so to say, of northern and temperate countries,

meadow

and which

light

up the world with

or copse, or

wood

or alpine pasture in the flowering season.

The surface which

is

loveliness in

dug and wasted

in all our parks,

and

in numljers

of our gardens, should be occupied

varied

not in the miserable old mixed border fashion,

with

life

;

eacli plant

keep

would not fresh,

this

stuck up with a stick, but with the plants in

groups and colonies between the shrubs. turf

Avitli

thrive, or

where

we should have

it

irises,

In the spaces where

might be troublesome

to

or narcissi, or lupines, or

French willows, or Japan anemones, or any of scores of other lovely things which people cannot stiff'

gardens.

whicli

the

The

soil

tree-roots

now

find a place for in our

which now does

little

work, and in

every year are mercilessly dug up,

would support myriads

of lovely plants. I

The necessity of


THE WILD TxARDEN.

114

allowing abundant space to the shrubs and trees, both in the

young and the adult stage, gives us some space to deal with, which may be occupied with weeds if we do not take care of

The remedy, then, is to replace tlie weed by a beautiful flower, and to let some handsome hardy plant of the northern it.

world occupy each

little

space

it

keeping

;

clean for us, and, at

the same time, repaying us by abundant bloom, or fine foliage

This system in the

or habit.

place allows the shrubs

first

themselves to cover the ground to a great extent.

London parks now every shrub the digger to get near

it

;

and

In the

cut under so as to allow

is

this leads to the

most comical

and villainous of shapes ever assumed by bushes. Even the lilac bushes, which we see so horril)ly stiff, will cover the ground with fore, to

l)ranches if allowed

tlieir

a great extent,

room enough

we should have

little

l)ays

there-

the branches them-

selves covering the ground instead of wdiat

open spaces,

;

we now

see.

But

and avenues running in among the we want to fully enjoy

shrubs, are absolutely essential, if

what

ousfht

garden. flowers,

to

l^e

the beautiful inhabitants of our shrul)

Such openings offer delightful retreats for hardy many of which thrive better in semi-shady spots

than they do in the open, wliile the

effect of the flowers is

immeasurably enhanced by the foliage of the shrubs around.

To carry out

one should have,

this plan well,

good selection of the shrubs plainest shrubbery,

may plan

which

is

to

begin

witli,

if possible,

although the

not overgrown or overcrowded,

be embellished with hardy plants on the ground.

may

a

be adopted in the case of

formed, or in the case of old ones

;

new

The

shrubberies being

though the old ones are

frequently so dried up and overcrowded that great alterations


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHHUEliERY would

liave

young

slirubberies

to

be

made it

is,

lier(>

and

TlORPErtR.

115

In the case of

tlicr(\

of course, necessary at first to

keep

the surface open for a while until the shrubs have taken hold of the ground

alluded

An

may

;

then the interesting colonics to which

we

he planted.

essential thing

is

to abolish ntterlv the old dotting

Colony of the Snowdrop-Anemone in Shrubbery not dug. the place of weeds or bare earth.

principle of the

mixed

border, as always ugly

from a cultural point of view. of things in one place, with

from the back

Anemone

taking

and always bad

Instead of sticking a

many labels,

number

and graduating them

to the front, so as to secure the stiffest imagin-

able kind of arrangement, the true

way

is

to

have in each

space wide colonies or groups of one kind, or more than one


THE WILD GARDEN.

116

Here

kind.

is

a

little

bay, for example, with the turf running

handsome holly feathered to the turf forming one promontory, and a spreading evergreen barberry, with its fine into

it,

a

As

leaves also touching the "round, forminu; the other.

two

turf passes in between those

with

the grass

begins to be colonised

it

groups of the pheasant's-eye Narcissus,

little is

and soon

changed into a waving meadow of these

and their long grayish

the

in

fair flowers

They carry tlie eye in among the other shrubs, and perhaps carry it to some other colony leaves.

of a totally difl'erent plant behind

boragewort,

with

say,

spreading colony.

only last a certain

The answer

is,

its

— an

bright

early and beautiful

blue

in

also

flowers,

a

Some might say. Your flowers of narcissi time how are you going to replace them ? ;

that they occupy, and l)eautifully embellish, a

place that before was wholly naked, and worse than naked,

and in

this position

seen in

that our narcissi should be

bud and bloom and decay without world as soon as their fair bloom is

all their stages of

being hurried out of over, as they are

are

we contend

on the border or in the greenhouse.

worth growing

of vegetation

tlie

if

we only

where before

They

secure this one beautiful aspect

all

was worse than

lost.

We

also

secure plenty of cut flowers without troubling the ordinary resources of the garden.

We

might then pass on

to

another, of the

German

occupying not only a patch, but a whole clump

;

iris,

for these

enormous London parks of ours have acres and acres on every side of this greasy dug earth which ought to sparkle

with flowers; seen

to

gardener

a

and, therefore, a very fine

larae

or

extent.

cultivator

to

And how have

to

plant might be

nnich better for the

deal

with one in one


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBET^Y BORDERS. witli a place than Le tormented

tlowers

— alpine,

mixed up

in

No

!

are good plants.

we could

all

are speaking

Day

of.

lilies,

for

In some hold opening what a

example, fine effect

get l)y having a spreading colony of these therein

places.

want no

Each plant having a

own

its

forming

soup called the "mixed

scores of plants might be named, that

such

plants

plants that require staking ought to be used

way we

the

"dots" of

little

meadow

wood, copse, or

in that usually wretched

"

border

rock,

liuiulred

117

colony, there

of alterations as to

is

sufficient

much

less

what should be done.

;

sticking, for

and

space

doubt in case In

fact,

in the

case of an intelligent cultivator, there should be no doubt.

Observe the advantage of

this plan.

Instead of seeing the

same plants everywhere, we should pass on from narcissi to and thus meet with a different kind iris, from iris to bluebell, of vegetation in each part of the park or garden, instead of the

eternal

monotony

and long dreary line of " goldenThe same kind of variety, as suggested

of privet

"

feather

everywhere.

for the

flowers, should

sad planter's

mixture —

colour and all the

be avoided

;

life

so, too,

The

be seen among the shrubs. privet,

laurel,

etc.

— taking

all

the

and charm out of the shrubbery, should the oppressive botanical Inisiness, with

of doors as they everything labelled, and plants classified out

They should be put where they would look well and grow liest. Well carried out, such a system would involve labour, and, above all things, taste at first but are in an herbarium.

;

it

would

eventually resolve itself into the judicious removal

of interloping weeds.

The labour that

and mutilate once a year and keep clean

is

now

given to dig

at other times of the

vear would easily, on the plan proposed, suffice for a

much


THE WILD GARDEN.

118

More

would certainly be required. ignorant man can dig around and mutilate a shrub and up a white lily if he meets it But any person tauglit to

larger area.

Any cliop

intelligence

!

distinguish between our coarse native weeds and the beautiful plants

we want

would keep

On

to establish, passing

round now and then,

all safe.

a large scale, in the

London

parks, such a plan wouhl,

be impossible to carry out without a nursery garden to say, the things

making the

wanted should be

features of the kind

The

to the superintendent.

should themselves

where the

afford

many hardy

suggest would be easy

and

plants adapted

in the pure air

a

tliere

for this

little

ground

kind of garden-

This, supposing that a

want of the public gardens of London

managed nursery

is

and acres of black surface

ing might be placed and increased. real

that

in such abundance, that

we

acres

here

;

is

—a large and well-

never carried out

:

the

even the wastefulness of buying everything they want is a costly drawback to our London commonest things

At

public gardens.

the very least

we

acres of nursery gardens for the planting

the London parks.

So, too, there

some variety

taste for

100

and replanting of

ought to be intelligent

labour to carry out this artistic planting;

awakened

should have

and with the now-

in the garden, one

cannot

doubt that a few years will give us a race of intelligent

young men, who know a little of the plants that grow in northern countries, and whose mental vision is not begun and ended by the ribbon border.

The treatment

important point here. in

or tlie trees

margin of the shrubbery

of the

cut

At in,

present

and

it

is stiff

is

a very

—the shrubs cut

an unsightly border running


EMBELLISHMENT OF SHRUBBERY BORDERS. straight along, perhaps with a tile edging.

way

is to

have a broken margin,

out themselves, and

come

to the

ground

let

Well, the right

to let the shrubs run in

tliem form

in fact, not

11!)

tlie

stitiiy,

let

margin;

and

them

and here and there

growing right outside the ordinary bcjundary, in a

little

group.

Throw away altogether the crowded masses of starved pri^et and pruned laurel, and let the turf pass right under a group of fine trees where such are found. This turf itself might be dotted in spring Avith snowdrops and early flowers in fact,

would be

knew and cared for trees wall of .shrul)bery into

abounding

most delightful of open-air gardens

life,

from the red

tassels

to flowers in the grass for children.

Colony

nothing,

any intelligent person, who and shrubs, to chano'e the monotonous

tlie

in beautiful

most maples

;

easier than for

of the

Summer SnowHake,

on margin of shrubbery.

on the top-

;


CHAPTEE

XIV.

THE PRINCIPAL TYPES OF HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS FOR THE WILD GARDEN.

Wherever grown

there

is

room, these plants should be at

in nursery beds to ensure a

The number

good supply.

of nursery collections of hardy plants being

now more numer-

ous than they were a few years ago, getting the plants so difficult as

nurseries

many

;

it

once was.

seed houses,

kinds

may

The sources

who have

lists of

first

not

is

of supply are these

hardy plant seeds

be easily raised from seed

;

botanic gardens,

which many plants are grown that hitherto have not found a place in our gardens, and were not fitted for any

in

mode

of culture except that herein suggested

cottage gardens

in

pleasant

country places

desirable things from time to time

may

;

;

orchards and

may supply

and those who travel

bring seeds or roots of plants they meet with in cool,

temperate, or mountain regions.

Few

plants, not

free

of

growth and hardy in the British Islands without any attention after planting, are included here

Bear's Breecll,

Acanth^is.

:

—Vigorous

perennials witli noble

from Soutliern Europe. Long cast out of gardens, now beginning to receive more of the attention tliey deserve. age, mostly

foli-

tliey are

In no

position will they look better than carelessly planted here and there on the margin of a shrubbery or thicket, where the leaves of the

Acanthus contrast well with those of the ordinary shrubs or herbaceoiTs


HAKDY EXOTIC FLOWERTNd PLANTS. Tliou-li quite liunly in

vesetation. in free

loamy

Not

sdils.

vnryiiij;-

all

very

snils,

iiiiich

tlicy tlower in

121 iiinst

diai'acter, all

freely

nhtaiii-

hardy species would j^'roup well toj^ctluT. The most vigorcjus kind at present in cultivation is one called A. latif<jlius, almost everFew plants are more green, and a fine plant when well established. fitted fur adorning wild and semi -wild places, as they grow and ul)le

increase without care, of the

are for foliage or bloom unsurpassed by any that have been so long neglected through tlieir

and

numerous plants

not being available in

any popular system of " Hower gardening."

Monkshood, Aconitum.

— These

are

handsome peren-

tall,

with very poisonous roots, which make nials,

it

danger'ous

them

to

or

in

plant near

gardens. Being usually

very vigorous in con-

they spread

stitution, freely,

and hold their

own

amongst

strongest

plants

masses in

the

herbaceous

and of

weeds

;

them seen

flower in copses or

near hedgerows

very

fine effect.

are

many

atfi

ird a

There

species,

nearly of equal value for the wild garden.

Coming from

'J"he

Mon]<shood, iiauiralised by wet ditch

in

wood.

the plains

and mountains of Siberia and Northern Europe and America, they are

among the hardiest

of plants.

When

spreading groups of Aconites are in

bloom in copses or open spaces in shrubberies,

their effect

is

far finer

The old than when the plants are tied into linndles in trim borders. in blue-and-white kind is charming half-shady spots, attaining stately The species grow in any dimensions in good soih .somewhat stunted in growth on clay.

soil,

but are often


THE WILD GARDEN.

122

Not a very iiuintToiis family so far as represented but some of the species are valuable for the wild _i,'arden,

Bugle, Ajuga. in gardens,

notably Ajuga genevensis, which thrives freely in ordinary

soils

in

open and half- shady places among dwarf vegetation, and affords beautiful tufts and carpets of l)lue. It spreads rapidly and is hardy

The plants mostly come from the cool uplands and hills of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. everywhere.

A numerous family of hardy plants spread Achillea. Northern Asia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, etc., but more in Soutliern than in Central or Northern Europe. In the Alps Yarrow,

tlirougli

and Pyrenees numerous species are found. The Golden Yarrows (A. Eupatorium and A. filipendulina) are stately herbaceous plants, witli

handsome corymbs of brilliantly showy flowers, attaining a height and growing freely in any soil. These are well Various other Achilleas would grow worthy of naturalisation. liroad

of 3 feet or 4 feet,

quite as well

in

we know

of

l)ut

copses and rough

none more

places as

distinct

and

the

brilliant

common Yarrow,

than

tlie

preceding.

The vigorous white-flowering kinds are superb for shrubberies, where tlieir numerous white heads of flowers produce a singularly pleasing effect under the trees in summer. With few exceptions these plants have never been grown out of botanic gardens, many of them being thought too coarse for the mixed border. They are, nevertheless, remarkablj^ l)eautiful

both in flower and foliage, and many effects never before seen may be obtained by massing tliem under trees in shrubberies

in gardens

or copses, as a rule allowing one species to establish itself in each place

and assume an easy natural boundary of its o\vn. The small Alpine species woidd be interesting plants for stony or bare rocky places.

— A most

extensive genus of plants scattered in abundance the northern throughout temperate and alpine regions of Europe and and also iu Some of the species are very beautiful, America. Asia,

Allium.

so

mucli so as to claim for them a place in gardens notwithstanding It is in the wild garden only, however, that

their disagreeable odour.

this family can find a fitting

home

;

tlrere

species tliat

do not seem

garden proper would afford novel effects at enough certain seasons. One of the most desirable effects to produce in the wild garden would be tliat of the beautiful white Narcissus-like Allium attractive

for the

Europe (A. neapolitanuni). The sheets of this in the orchards of Provence will be remembered with pleasure by

of the south of

Lemon

many allied

travellers.

species

(A.

would thrive in warm and sandy soils there is an ciliatum) which does well in any soil, affords a

It

:


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. similar

eftect,

and

myriads

produces

of

star-like

123

white

flowers.

Numerous singular eft'ects may be pi-oduced from species less sliowy and more curious and vigorous, as for exampli- lln- old yellow A. Moly.

The

white Narcissus-like Allium, in the orchards of Provence tj^pe of family receiving little place in gardens which may be beautiful for a season in wild places. ;

All who care for hardy iiuwers must admire the Alstrcemeria. Leauty of Alstroemeria aurantiaca, especially when it spreads into Ixdd

healthy

tufts,

and w1k-u there

A

flowering stems.

is a great variety in the height of the valualde (piality of the plant is, that in any light

For dry places between spreads freely, and it is quite hardy. shrubs, for dry or sandy banks (either wooded or bare), co^jses, or soil it

heathy places, this plant the shade of

fir

plant, thriving in

is

It

trees.

any open

admirable. is

I

have noticed

it

thriving in

interesting as beinu a Soiith

American

soil.

Marsh Mallow, Althmi. These are plants rarely seen out of botanic gardens now-a-days, and yet, from their vigour and showy The flowers, they may aftbrd unique effects in the wild garden. common Hollyhock is an Altluea, and in its single form is typical of the vigorous habit

and the numeroiis showy flowers

pant species, such as A.

ficifolia.

A

of other

grou}> of these plants

ram-

would be

very eflective seen from a wood walk, no kind of garden arrangement It is not a numerbeing large enough for their extraordinary vigour. ous genus, but there are at least a dozen species, ])rincipally found on the shores and islands of the Mediterranean, and also in Western Asia.

Alyssum.

— In

s^jring

every

little

shoot of the wide tufts and flakes


THE WILD GARDEN.

124 of these plants sends

up a

little

fountain of small golden flowers.

For

sandy ground, and ruins, they are admirable. Alyssiun Wiersbecki and A. saxatile are strong enough to take care of themselves on the mai^gins of shrubberies, etc., where bare, stony, or rocky banks, poor

the vegetation is not very coarse, but they are more valuable for rocky or stony places, or old ruins, and thrive freely on cottage garden walls iu

some

districts

in such places.

France, Siberia,

;

some of the

less

There are many

grown

would be welcome

species

species, natives of

Germany, Russia, Hungary, and Dalmatia Asia, principally the Altai Mountains, Georgia, Persia, and the entire basin of

Ital^',

the Caspian,

Corsica, Sicily,

is

rich in them.

Windflower, Anemone.

;

—A

numerous

The Alpine Windflower (Anemone

race of

dwarf

herT)s that

alpina).

contribute largely to the most beautiful effects of the mountain, wood,

and pasture vegetation of all northern and temperate climes. The flowers vary from intense scarlet to the softest blue most of the exotic kinds would thrive as well in our woodlands and meadows as they do ;

in tlieir own.

There

is

—

hardly a position they may not adorn warm, tlie Grecian A. blanda might open its

sunny, bare banks, on whicli large Iduc flowers in winter

the tangled copse, where the Japan might make a bold show in autumn and the shady wood, where the Apennine Windflower would contrast

Windflower and

its

charmingly with the

;

varieties

;

Wood Anemone

so

abundantly scattered in our


IIAItDY iiwii

T]n' HeiKitiras shmild

woiiils.

same

EXOTIC FLOW'KlilXC IM.ANTS.

gciius,

not

tin-

InruvttiiiL;'

cnnsiilcrcd as

lie

lliuiuaiiaii

Hepaticas thrive best and are seen

l^est in

125

bi'l(iiigiu<;' t<i tlic

A. aiigulnsa.

oir',

liall'-wuddy places,

Tin-

where the

8U11 may elieer tlieni bypassing through the branches, which afterwards become leafy and shade tliem fi'um the scorching heats of summer. One of the most lovely as])ects St. Bruno's Lily, Antliericvm.

spring

meadows

of vegetation in the alpine delicate wlnte

flowers of the

of

summer, looking like miniature white would no (hmbt like to enjoy the same places,

and there shonhl be no

is

Europe

St. l>runo"s

that affordeil l)y the

Lily in All

Lilies. in their

the

({rass in early

who have

seen

it

turfy lawns or Grassy

difticultv in establishing

The

it.

.large-

flowered or major variety might lie tried with advantage in this way, and the smaller-flowered kinds, A. Liliago and its ^•arieties, are equally suitable.

Tliey are not so likely to tind favour in gardens as the larger

kind, and therefore the wild garden is the home for them, and in it many will admire their graceful habit and numeron.s flowers. All the sjiecies best

worth growing are natives of the alpine meadow.s of Europe Tall and handsome herbaceous plants, with

Alkanet, Anchusa. numerous flowers of a places in

suimy

tine blue,

admirable for dotting aljout in open copses. They mostly come from

woods or

glades in

Southern Europe and Western Asia. A. italica and A. capensis are among the most usefuL The English Anchnsa sem])er\irens, rare in

some

places, is

an excellent wild garden plant.

Snapdragon, Antirrhinum. A'arieties

beautifully spotted ruins by sowing the

seed

Asarinnm, rupestre, and

ohl

in

niolle

do

or

mossy chinks.

well

They mostly come from

Columbine,

Aquilegia.

treated

in

Antirrhinum the

same way.

The

the shores of the Mediterranean.

—Favourite

herbaceous plants, generally purple, white, and sometimes Itright

various shades of blue and

(U'ange.

its

many

in cultivation.

of

common Snapdragon and

other species would be fonml good in like places. two dozen species are known, but comparatively few of these are

Proljably

About

— The

are easily naturalised on old walls and

varieties of the

common kind

(A. vulgaris), whicli are

In elevated very numerous, are those most likely to be naturalised. and moist ilistricts some of the beautiful Eocky Mountain kinds would be worth a

trial

been tormed the

in bare places. ett'ect

of

In places where wild gardens have in the Grass has been one of the

Columbines

most beautiful that have been obtained.

The flowers group themselves showing just above the long Grass, and The vigorous and handsome A. possessing great variety of colour.

in all sorts of pretty ways,


THE

]2fi

AVILD OARDEN.

most hardy and enduring of chrysantha of Westevn America is the a truly northern and alpine of are The the American kinds. species family, most alnmdant in Siberia. Wall Cress, Arabis. Dwarf alpine plants, spreading in hal)it, and generally producing myriads of white flowers, exceedingly suitable for the decoration of sandy or rocky ground, where the vegetation is

—

very dwarf.

With

tliem

may

be associated Cardamine

Thlaspi which

trifolia

and

latifolium,

resemble

Arabises in

the

habit and

All these are

flowers.

particularly

suited

for

association

with

the or

Aubrietias,

purple

yellow Alyssums, and in bare and rocky or gravelly places, old walls,

sunk

fences, etc.

Are-

Sandwort, naria.

family of plants wild garden,

ant for

— A most import-

the

though perhaps less so lowland for gardens where more vigorous There types flourish. certain

however,

are,

are vigorous species that

and indispensable, such A. montana and as A.

graminifolia.

smaller Siberian Columbine in rocky place.

places,

and the

value, inasmuch It

covers

numerous

are

alpine

charming

creeping A. balearica has (pite a moist rocks or stones suttice for its

little

as

such surfaces with a close carpet star-like

flowers.

Some

of green,

of the smaller

The species

for rockj-

peculiar

support. dotted with

species,

such

as

Arenaria c;espitosa (Sagina glabra var.), better known as Spergula be grown in the gravel, and even used to convert pilifera, miglit In certain bare and sandy places into carpets of Mossy turf.


H.AKDY EXOTIC KLOWKlJlXCi PLANTS.

127

largo gardens it \vonl<l bo an inijuovfniont to allmv or drives to become walks covered with very dwaif very be walked which could upon witli little injury. The plants plants

in

positions

the

surface

would be dry enough, being drained below, and would Ix' Removing any coarse weeds that established

more agreeable to the feet. themselves would be much or

rough

— the places walks

than the continual hoeing and scraping Of course this only refers to walks in

picturesque wild gar-

den and the like Avhicli

easier

keep the walk bare.

required to

formal

in

l>are

somewhat

are

out of place.

Asphodel, Asjohodelus.

are

— The have

that

Asphodels the plants never been

among

popular in the mixed border, nor are they likely

to

be

habit

of

the

so,

the

species

being somewhat coarse

and the flowering period not long, and yet they of a stately and

are

distinct order of beauty,

which well deserves

to

be represented in open sjiaces,

in shrubberies,

or on their outer fringes.

The

plants are mostly natives of the countries

Tall Asphodel in copse.

round the Mediterranean, and thrive

freely in ordinary soils.

Lords and Ladies, Arum.

a tropical

family,

some of which grow

— Mostly

as far north as southern

are cpiite hardy in our gardens. a place in the wild garden, from

The

Italian

its line

Arum

foliage in winter.

be placed in sheltered half-shady places where

much from

storms.

The

old Dragon

and

it

snb-tro])ical

These Europe. is well worthy of It

would not

should suffer

(A. Dracontium) grows of rocks or walls in sandy, or dry, peaty freely enough about the foot

plant


THE WILD GAEDEN.

128

The nearly

place.s.

as a water

allied

Annii Lily

and water- side plant

and Ireland.

in

(C'alla icthiopica) is ipiite

hardy

the southern counties of England

Silkweed, Asdepias. Usually vigorous perennials, ^\hh \-ery curious and ornamental flowers, common in fields and on river banks in

North America and Canada, where thej' sometimes become troubleOf the species in cultivation, A. C'urnuti and A. Douglasi

some weeds. could

naturalised easily in rich deep soil in wild 2)laces. The and dwarfer Asclepias tuberosa requires very warm sand soils showy to flower as well as in its own dry hills and fields. A good many of l>e

the hardy species are not introduced

Some

garden.

Swamp

of

them

for such the place is the wild are water-side plants, such as A. incarnata, the

Silkweed of the United

Starwort,

Aster.

—A very

;

States.

large family of usually vigorous, (iften

showy, and sometimes beautiful perennials, mostly with bluish or white flowers, chiefly natives of North America. Many of these, of an inferior order of beauty, used to be planted in our

which they very much helped

to

mixed

borders,

bring into discredit, and they form a

very good example of a class of plants for which the true place is the copse, or rough and half-cared-for j^laces in shrubberies and coi:)ses, and

by wood-walks, where they will grow as freely as any native weeds, and in many cases prove highly attractive in late summer and autumn. Such kinds as A. pyrenseus, Amellus, and turbinellus, are amongst the most ornamental perennials we have. With the Asters may be grouj^ed the Galatellas, the Yernonias, and also the handsome and rather dwarf Erigeron speciosus, which, however, not being so tall, could not fight way among such coarse vegetation as that in which the Asters may

its

be grown.

Associated with the Golden Rods (Solidago) also common American woods and copses the best of the Asters or

plants of the

Michaelmas Daisies It is that

when (

)ne of

Avill form a very interesting aspect of vegetation. one sees in American woods in late summer and autumn

the Golden Rods and Asters are seen in bloom together. It is numerous aspects of the vegetation of other countries which the

" wild garden" will

make

possible in gardens.

To produce such

effects

the plants must, of course, be planted in some quantity in one part of a rather open wood, and not repeated all over the place or mixed up with many other things. Nearly 200 sjjecies are known, about 150 of

which form part of the rich vegetation of North America. These from Mexico where a few are

fine plants inhabit that great continent,

found \\l^

to the

United States and Canada, where they abound, and even

to the regions altogether arctic of that quarter of the world.


HARDY EXOTIC I'LUWERIXG PLANTS.

129

Astrdf/alu!^.— An enormously numerotis

family of

Milk Vetch,

beautiful liardy plauts, represented to but a very sli<j;lit extent in our of them are hardy, and many of them among gardens, though hundreds the most pleasing of the many Pea flowers which adorn the hills and

mountains of the ntnlhern world in Asia, Europe, and America.

They

are mostly suited for rocky or gravelly situations, or bare banks, though some of the taller sj)ecies, like A. galegiformis, are stout enough to take care of themselves

This plant

the larger perennials.

among

is

valuable

handsome port and foliage, though its flowering equalities The numerous such as recommend it for the garden proper.

for its

are not species

and islands could be successfully introduced on banks and slopes in our chalk districts and in rocky places. A. ponticus, a tall kind, and A. monspessulanus, a dwarf one, are both

from the Mediterranean

worth

"I'owiiiL!;.

Masterwort, species are

known,

among

— This an — found genus, being European — from Europe

Asfrantia. five

Greece, and the centre of are

sIku'cs

is

elegant

of

which few

in Italy, Carinthia,

jSTorthern Asia.

others

They

the few umbellates with attractive and distinct flowers, and

In the wild garden they are quite yet they are rarely seen in gardens. home among the Grass and medium -sized lierbaceous plants, and

at

partial shade prolongs their cpiaint beauty.

home

in the thin

wood

Blue Rock Cress,

Auhrietia.

lish flowers, quite distinct in aspect

in our gardens,

In fact they are far more at

or copse than in the open exposed

— Dwarf Alpine

mixed border.

plants, with purp-

and hue from anything

and never perishing from any

else

grown

cause, except being over-

run by coarser subjects. They are admirable for association with the Alyssums and Arabises in any position where the vegetation is very There are several species and varieties, dwarf, or in rocky bare places. all

almost equally suitable, but not differing much in aspect or stature The Aubrietias come chiefly from the mountains of

from each other.

Wherever there is Greece, Asia Minor, and neighbouring countries. or sunk or a bare a bank, evergreen curtains may wall, fence, be formed of these plants, and in spring they will be sheeted witli

an old

purple flowers, no matter

Great Birthwort,

how harsh

the weather.

Aristolochia Sipho.

—A

noble plant for cover-

ing arbours, banks, stumps of old trees, etc., also wigwam-like bowers, It is American, and will grow as high formed with branches of trees. as thirty feet, A. tomentosa is distinct

will scarcely be trees

grown

and not

for their flowers

they are valuable, and

afi"ord

;

so large in leaf.

a distinct type of foliage.

K

These

but for covering stumps or


THE WILD GARDEN.

130

Virginian Creepers,

Ampelopsis.

— Although

thi«

is

chapter

the Viroiuiaii Creeper and its mostly devoted to herbaceous plants, allies are so nseful for forming curtains in rocky places, ravines, or over These plants are not very old trees, that they deserve mention here. distant relations of the vine

American vines which

wild

the

are

do in a grand worthy of a place in our groves, garlanding trees as they U. Huniin nurseries are of leaf in colour noble Some growTi way.

Iwldti being remarkable both for colour

Bamboo,

Bamhusa.

— In

many

and

parts

size of leaf.

of England, Ireland,

are perfectly hardy, and

Wales, various kinds of Bamboos In cold, dry, and inland hardy, but thrive freely.

and

not only

districts, it is true,

all the greater reason for making the best they grow with difficulty Their beauty is the more use of them where they grow freely. their being wholly distinct in habit from any other from precious

we grow. The delicate feathering of the young, plants or shrubs that the charming arching of the stems, have often tall, and slender shoots, the Japanese artist, and often adorn his be enjoyed with all the charms of life in many

fertile in suggestion to

been

best work.

wardens.

They may The wild garden, where

the climate

suitable, is the best

is

enduring at the roots that and strongest plants tallest the they will take care of themselves among

home

for

Bamboos.

They

are so tall

and

so

and the partial shelter of the thin wood or copse preserves abundant leaves from violent and cold wimls. Along by cpiiet

or bushes, their

Grass walks, in sheltered

dells, in little

or in bogs, in the shrubbery,

lawns opened in woods for the formation of wild gardens, the Bamboo will be at home. Tlie commonest kind is that generally

little

known

as Arundinaria falcata (sometimes called

Bambusa

gracilis)

;

but others, such as Bambusa Metake, B. Simmonsi, and B. viridisvalue. glaucescens, are of eciual or greater light,

and moist

Baptisia.

They

all

delight in rich,

soils.

—A

but beautiful when

in gardens, strong Lupin-like plant seldom grown of blue racemes for its in bloom pea flowers, long

c^rowin" three to four feet high

—A

;

it

will hold

its

own

in strong

soil.

Borage, Borago. genus seldom seen out of Botanic gardens, where they form part of the usual distressing arrangements honoured " with the name of scientific." Among the best kinds for our purpose are B. cretica and B. orientalis, even the well-known annual kind will be found

a

pretty plant,

mounds.

Bell-flower, Camimnula.

naturalised and

useful

for

covering

Beautiful and generally blue-flowered


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. vai'viiig iVdiu a

lu'i'lis,

scattered in

nortliern

All

iiiltivafiiiii.

tlif

few inclics to 4

ami

li'ni])crat('

nic(liuiu-pi/(Ml

in

I'l.

lieight,

and abiuulantly

Many

ciinntrii'S.

131

kinds arc

in

and large kinds thrive very well in

rough places, woods, copses, or shrubberies, among grasses and other while those smaller in size than our own harebell herbaceous plants at home, and very pretty, on any arid f)r (C. rotundifolia) are ipute ;

hare surfaces, such as sandy baidvs, chalk pits, and even high np on In such positions the seeds have only to be walls, ruins, etc.

old

scattered.

shrubberies rainmculoides and C. lamiifolia do fin(dy in

('.

Where

or copses, as, indeed, do all the tall-growing kinds.

white varieties they should be secured the great beauty of this lamily for the "rowino-

amons

Red. Valerian,

in the

many

first

The

the "rass or herbs.

than can be obtained

;

garden

CentnoifJtus

there are

people will begin to see

when they

time

effect

far

is

see

them

more beautiful

pro]X'r.

rubrr.

— This

showy and pleasing

only seen in highest perfection on elevated banks, rubbishor old walls, in which positions it endures much longer than on heaps, the level ground, and becomes a long-lived perennial Avith a shrubby is

plant

On the long bridge across the Nore at Col. Tighe's place, WoodKilkenny, it grows in abundance, forming a long line on the of course it could be easily grown on ruins, wall ahovQ the arches for banks of all kinds, chalk pits, etc., and is invaluable it while base.

stock,

;

Some of the level ground, except in heavy cold soils. of them none in but would Valerianas grow places, freely rough larger are so distinct as the preceding.

also for the

Knap-weed, plants, seldom (C.

They

Cvanus).

the wild

Ccnfaurca.

so pretty as

wood

is

— Vigorous perennial

autumn-sown plants

are scarcely important

the place for them.

or annual herbaceous

of our corn bluebottle

enough

Among

for borders

;

hence

the most suitable kinds

be mentioned macrocephala, montana, babylonica, and uniflora,

may

the last

more

suitable for l)aid<s, etc.

Mouse-ear, Cemstium.

— Dwarf

profusion of white flowers. silvery

leaves,

which, with

spreading perennials, bearing a

Half a dozen or more of the kinds have their

Most of these are used

flowers,

give

them an

attractive

bedding plants, but, as they will grow in any position where they are not choked by coarser plants,

character.

they

may

be employed with good

Wallflower,

Cheirtcntlnis.

as

eft'ect

— The

in the wild garden. varieties

of the

common

wall-

flower attbrd c[uite a store of beauty in themselves for the embellishment of rocky places, old walls, etc. Probably other species of


THE WILD GARDEN.

132 Cheirantlnts

present

we

ochroleucum sandy

will be

to

grow on ruins quite

The

but at

as well,

clear yellow

Erysimum

very like a wallflower in type, and thrives well in dry these might be associated Yesicaria utriculata.

is

With

places.

Meadow saffron,

fmmd

are not quite sure of these.

Saffron,

Cokhicum.

— In

addition

to

the

meadow

dotted over the moist fields in A'arious parts of are seA^eral other species which could be readily

plentifully

England, there naturalised in almost any

soil

and

position.

They would be

particularly

desirable where subjects that flower in autumn would

and sought they are charming, seen in tufts or be

;

colonies on

the

lawn

the

or

in

pleasure-gr(.)und.

Crocus.— One or two Crocuses are

naturalised in Eng-

land

The

foliage of the

Meadow

of

Saffron in Spring

already,

scarcely one

them

that willnot

succeed thus perly placed.

choke them

Some

They should not be placed where iip

and

is

there

coarse vegetation

or prevent the sun getting to their flowers

and

if

pro-

would leaves.

worth dotting accompany the snow-

of the delicately-tinted varieties of vernus are w^ell

about in grassy places and on sunny slopes, if only to

C

Imperati is a valuable early-flowering kind, and the autumnal drop. but we must not particularise flowering ones are particularly desirable where all are good. " In the plantations here," writes a correspondent, ;

"

on each side of a long avenue, we have the common Crocus in every shade of purple (there are scarcely any yellow ones) growing literally We have no record of when the roots were in hundreds of thousands. the estate say they have originally planted (and the oldest people about always been the same as far as their recollection goes) but they grow so thickly that it is quite impossible to step where they are without ;

The effect produced by them in spring I but unfortunately, their beauty is but short-lived. magnificent, have transplanted a good many roots to the wild garden, to the great

treading on two or three flowers. is


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWER IXG PLANTS. improvement

of tlie size of the individual

together in the sliruhheries

long in the same

placi', lliat

I

blooms

;

have mentioned, and

133

tliey are so

liave

matted

remained

so

the flowers are small."

Virgin's Bower, Ukmatis.

Mostly climbing or trailing plants, sometimes rampant, in habit, with bluish, violet, purple, white, or yellow flowers, produced most pi'ofuselj', and sometimes deliciously fragrant. They are most suited for covering stumps, free, often luxuriant,

planting on rocky places, among low shrulis in copses, for draping over the faces of rocks, sunny banks, or the bmws of sunk fences, covering objectionable railings,

rough

bowers, chalk

pits, hedges, etc.,

and

occasionally for isolating in large tufts in oj)en

where

spaces

their effect

could

be

-=C^-

seen from a distance.

Xot soil,

will

particular as to the stronger kinds

grow

in

.^-^^

ground, but the large-flowered rich,

deep

new

hyljrids will thrive best in warnr,

soil.

C. Viorna,

cirrhosa,

White-flowered European Clematis (C. erecta).

any

C

flanimula,

montana,

must not be omitted from a

new garden hybrids

Dwarf

will also be useful.

Cornel,

campaniflora,

Yiticella,

selection of the wild kinds.

C'ornus canadensis.

— This

charming

plant, singularly beavitiful from its white bracts,

is

little

and

The bushy

a very attractive

subject for naturalisation in moist, sandy, or peaty spots, in

which our

native heaths, Mitchella repens, Linna-a borealis, and the Butterworts would be likely to thrive. It would also grow well in moist woods, where the herbaceous vegetation is dwarf.

Mocassin Flower, Cypripedium spedabile.

The noblest of hardy and thriving perfectly in England and Ireland in deep rich or vegetable soil. Wherever the soil is not naturally peat or rich vegetable matter this fine plant will succeed on

orchids, found far north in America,

the margins of beds of rhododendrons, etc. It should be sheltered bj'and be Others of the genus, in a moist surrounding bushes, position.

and various other hardy orchids, are worthy of naturalisation but the is the best as well as the most easily tried at present. Sowbread, Cyclamen. It was the sight of a grove nearly covered ;

mocassin flower


THE WILD GARDEN.

134

with Cyclamen hedeKefoliuiii, near Montargis, in France, that tirst " Wild Garden." Both C. hedersefoliuni turned my attention to the with the greatest ease on light, naturalised be and C. europanim may loamy, or other

repandum,

warm and open

are also well

vernum, C. Coum, and C. Nothing can he more agree-

C.

soil.

of trial.

worthy

able to the lover of hardy plants than endeavouring to naturalise these charming flowers, now rarely seen out of the greenhouse. The best

would be among dwarf shrubs, etc., that would afford slight banks or sunny open spots in copses or woods. Bare or be chosen. borders they abhor, and a sunny Avarm exposure shoi;ld dug In the case of C. hedera) folium (and perhaps some of the others) ground under trees, bare, or with a very scant vegetation of herbs, etc., would

positions

shelter, on-

do quite well

if

tlie

soil

were

Cyclamens

free

in the

and warm.

wild garden

;

There

is

scarcely a

from nature.

now almost coimtry seat in England in whieli tlie hardy Cyclamens, not be naturalised. could the gardener, entirely neglected by

The Giant Sea-kale, perennial, leaves, finest

]>ut

its

place

is

Grambe.

—

"

C.

cordifolia

on the turf in rich

and small whitish flowers

in panicles.

ornaments in a wild garden of about

Rheums, Ferulas, Gunneras, Acanthus, and others."

Centaure;i

—

soil.

Here

is

It it

a very hue has enormous

is

one of the

five acres, associated

with

babylonica, Arundo Donax,

Bindweed, Calystecjia. Climbing plants, with handsome or rosy flowers, often too vigorous in con&titution to be agreeable in C. dahurica, somegardens, as is the case with our common bindweed. what

larger than the

common

whitt-

hind,

is

verv handsome when allowed


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERINCJ PLANTS. trail

ti)

ami

bridges, etc.,

places, or over stumps, rustic other sundry species will in time be found

in

8lirul)S,

tliruiigli

135

douljtless

rough

(((ually useful.

The

pretty little Eosy

Bindweed

shores of the Mediterranean

that one meets often

home

here depicted at

is

upon the

in an English

garden, creeping up the leaves of an Iris in Mr. Wilson's garden at Heatherbank, Weyl>ridge Heath. It is a great privilege we have of

being able to grow the fair flowers of so many regions in without caring for them in the sense, and with the troubles that attend other living creatures in menageries,

This

aviaries, etc.

is

consider

when we put

plants

in

and

circles

This beautiful pink Bind-

of the rest.

the representative, so to speak,

is

own Rosy

of our

ob-

only,

and variety

livious of the infinite beauty

weed

own, and

an advantage that we do not evia few

dently

lines

tnir

Field Bindweed in the

south, but nevertheless

it

hardy and

own

in our

free

name

botanical

is

perfectly Its

soils.

Convolvulus

al-

Calla, Calla jndustris.

—A

is

tlia3oides.

Marsh

creeping Arum-like plant, with white flowers showing above a carpet of glossy

admirable for naturalisation

leaves,

muddy places,

in

of ponds, etc.

Rosy

Coronilla, Cownilla

On

Europe.

rough

rocky

slopes or tine

in

."

plant

any

varia.

grassy banks, stony heaps, ground, spreading over

any

,

"^X

moist bogs, on the nuirgins

lor

like

positions.

T

,.

A ^1

naturalisation,

very •

thriving

soil.

Giant Scabious,

(Jcphalaria.

A

South B:uropean Bindweed creeping up the stems of an Iris in an English garden.

Allied

to

Scabious but seldom

are worth a place in the wild garden for their fine vigour alone, and the numerous pale yellow ttoAvers will l)e admired by those who do not limit their admiration to showy colours.

grown.

They

Coral-wort, Dcntaria.

—Very

slioAvy perennials, the purplish or

white llowers of which present someAvhat of the appearance of a stockflower, quite distinct both in habit and bloom, and very rarely seen


THE WILD GARDEN.

136

they will be found to thrive well and look well in beneath rhododendrons, and towards the margins of clumps

in onr gardens soil

peat of

;

American shrubs.

Leopard's Bane, Downicum.

well suited for naturalisation

;

Stout, medium-sized, or

and vigorous

perennials, with hardy flowers

constitutions,

dwarf

and very sliowy

among herbaceous

vegetation, in

any position where the beauty of their early bloom can be enjoyed. American Cowslip, Dodecatheon. All who care for hardy flowers admire the beautiful American cowslij:) (D. Meadia), found in rich woods in Pennsylvania, Ohio, to Wisconsin and south-westward, in

This would be a charming plant to naturalise on rich and sandy loams, among dwarf herbs, low shrubs, etc., in sheltered

America. light

and

sunny

American cowslip

Jeffrey's

sjiots.

vigorous-growing kind,

is

(D.

Jeffreyanum), a

also well Avortli a trial in this way,

though

hardly plentiful enough to be spared for this purpose. Fumitory, Fmnaria, Diehjtra. Plants with graceful leaves and

as yet

it is

gay flowers suited for association with dwarf subjects on open banks, except D. spectabilis, which in deep peat or other rich soil will grow a The simjde- looking little Fumaria bulbosa is one of the yard high. dwarf subjects which thrive very well under the liranches of specimen deciduous trees, and Corydalis lutea thrives in every position from the top of an old castle to the bottom of a well shaft. I saw Dielytra eximia naturalised in Buckhurst Park, in a shrubbery, the position shady. Its effect

was most charming, the plumy tufts being dotted all over witli Had I before wished to naturalise this, I should have put it

flowers.

on open slopes, or among dwarf plants, but it thrives and spreads about with tlie greatest freedom in shady spots. The blossoms, instead of being of the usual crimson hue, were of a peculiar delicate pale rose, no doubt owing

to the shade

and, as they gracefully drooped over the elegantly-cut leaves, they looked like snowdrops of a faint rosy hue. Delphinium, Perennial species. Tall and beautiful herbaceous ;

M'ith flowers

plants,

of

There are now numerous

many

exquisite

varieties.

in glades, copses, thin shrubberies,

above which their

One

fine spikes of

of the iirettiest effects

ralised plants

was a colony of

shades of blue ami purple.

They are well suited for rich soil or among masses of dwarf shrubs,

bloom might here and there which

tall

I

arise.

have ever seen among natu-

Larkspurs (Delphiniums).

Portions

of old roots

where

of several species and A'arieties had been chopped dtt' a bed of these plants M-as being dug in the autumn. For

convenience sake the refuse had been tlirown into the neiohbouriu"


HAEDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. shrubbery, for in

juiiiiiil;

the shrulis uiid

tall trees.

certain half- open little spaces, wliieli were so for

maro'in that they were not

dug and were not

137

Here they grew in removed from the

seen.

When

I

saw the

Larkspurs in flower they were certainly the loveliest things that one could see. Thej^ were more beautiful than they are in borders or beds, not growing in smdi close stiff tufts, and mingling with and relie\-eil by the trees above and the shrubs amund. Little more need be .said

any one who knows and cares about such plants, and has an opporThis case points out tunity of planting in such neglected places. pretty clearly that one might make wild gardens fr(jm the mere parings to

and thinnings of the beds and borders in autumn, in any place where is a collection of good hardy plants. The cut on p. 28 does

there

scant justice to the scene, whieh, perhaps,

wood engraving to illustrate. Pink, Dianthus. A numerous

it

is

not in the power of

race of beautiful dwarf

mountain

sometimes sportThe finer mountain kinds would

plants, ^^ith flowers mostly of various shades of

ro.se,

ing into other colours in cultivation. be likely to thrive only on bare stony or rocky ground, and amidst The bright D. neglectus would thrive in any A'ery dwarf vegetation.

Some of the kinds in the way of our own D. csesius ordinary soil. grow well on old walls and ruins, as do the single carnations and pinks

;

indeed,

it

is

Foxglove,

many kinds of pink would thrive than on the ground. need not be said here that our own

probable that

on ruins and old walls better Digitalis.

far

It

stately Foxglove should be encouraged in the wild garden, jiarticularly in districts where it does not naturally grow wild I allude to it here ;

nundier of exotic species for which a some of them are not very place might be found in the wild garden otherwise. The most satisfactory showy hardy flowers of midsummer to point out that there are a

are the Foxglove

and the French willoAV (Epilobiuin angustifolium),

and in wild or rough places in shrubberies, etc., their eft'ect is beautiful. In such half shady places the Foxglove thrives best and, as the French ;

willow

is

much

too

rampant a plant

garden proper, the proper It is a most showy jilant, and

for the

place for it too is in the wild garden. masses of it may be seen great distances

curiously spotted varieties of the as the ordinary wild form.

Hemp

off.

The

delicately

and

Foxglove should be sown as well

Agrimony, Eupatorium. Vigorous perennials, with white or purple fringed flowers. Some of the American kinds might well be associated with our own wild one the white kinds, like


THE WILD GARDEN.

138 iiroinaticuiu

worthy

and agenitoides, being very beautiful and

distinct,

and

\\\'\\

of a place in the best parts of the wild gai'den.

Sea Holly, Eryngium.

Very distinct and noble-looking perwith ornamental and usually spiny leaves, and flowers in heads, sometimes surrounded by a bluish involucrum, and supported on stems of a hue amethystine blue. They would be very attractive ennials,

on margins of 8hrul)beries and near wood -walks, thrive in ordinary free soil, and will take care of themselves among tall grasses and all but the most vigorous herbs.

Heath,

Erica, Menziesia.

— Our own

heathy places are pretty rich is so distinct and attractive

in this type, but the brilliant Erica carnea

that

it

well deserves naturalisaticm

The

them.

among

beautiful St. Daboec's heath

(Menziesia polifolia) deserves a trial in the same way, as, though found in the

west of Ireland, it is to the majority of It will English gardens an exotic plant. grow almost anywhere in peaty soil.

Barren-wort, Epimedium. esting and very tively little

distinct,

known

but

-Inter-

compara-

perennials, with pretty

and usually delicately tinted flowers, and singular and ornamental foliage. They most suitable

are

for peaty or free moist

soils, in sheltered, positions,

A

Sea Holly

Eryngium.

;

shrubs on rocky banks, eye.

elegans,

when

in deep peat

high, and in spring flowers, so that

it

is

soil,

The

variety called E. iiinnatum forms tufts of leaves nearly a yard

adorned with long racemes of pleasing yellow well worthy of naturalisation where the soil is

is

suitable.

Globe Thistle,

etc.,

among low

and near the

Large and distinct perennials of fine 6 feet high, with spiny leaves and numerous flowers in spherical heads. These will thrive well in almost any port,

from 3

Eclunops.

feet to

and hold their ground amid the coarsest vegetation. Being " of a " type c^uite distinct from that of our indigenous vegetation, they positi(jn,

are

more than usually suited

ft)r

naturalisation.

and E. ruthenicus, are among the best kinds, the

Eclunops exaltatus

last the best in colour.

May-flower, Epigaa repetis. A small creeping shrub, with pretty and delici(msly fragrant flowers, which appear soon after the melting


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. of the

with

snow

of pines

tlicre as

welcnnic as the liawtlinrn

inhabits woods, mostly in the shade wherever I saw it, it seemed to form a carpet usually,

its native,

and

;

ami arc

in N. Anu-rica,

In

lis.

139

countrv

it

under three or four layers of vegetation, so to speak that is to say, it was beneath pines, medium-sized trees, tall Lushes, and dwarf scrub about

18

in. lii,uh,

while the plant

itself

was nut more than one or

two inches high. In dur gardens this plant is very rarely seen, ami even in the great American jdant nurseries, where it used to grow it has disappeared. This is no wonder, when it is considered how very different are the conditions

which

it

those which I have above described. ralised easily in pine

woods on

enjoys in gardens compared with Without doubt it can be natu-

a .sandj' soil.

Dog's-tooth Violet, Enjthronmm. A few days ago I sa^v a number of irregular clumps of these here and there on a gently sloping bank of turf, and, in front of clumps of evergreens, they looked showed up to much tj^uite charming, and their dark spotted leaves better effect on the fresh trreen Grass than thev do in borders.

were

all

of the red

among them

They

and required a few of the white form

make

the picture perfect. correspondent in Ireland.

to

So writes

\ariety,

a

This beautiful plant, some

years ago rarely seen in our gardens, adorns many a dreary slope in the Southern Alps, and there should be no great difficulty in the way

charms

the wild garden

of adding

its

rather

or under decidu(tus vegetation.

l)are

to

The Winter Aconite,

in peaty or sandy spots,

Erantliishyemalis.

Classed

among

British

golden buttons peeping through the moss and grass in snowdrop time form one of the prettiest aspects of our garden vegetation in spring. It will grow anywhere, and is one plants but really naturalised.

Its

of the plants that thrive under the spreading branches of summerthe buds open leafing trees, as it lilo(.)ms and perfects its leaves before

On many lawns, spring gardens might be formed by planting some spring flowering plants that finish their growth before the trees are in leaf. Another advantage of such positions nn the beech.

is,

that the foliage

possession

of

have the ground in the moss and blossoms.

Punkia. being more

^I

of

the

tree

ground, ami

the to

prevents any coarser plants taking therefore

these

little

spring plants

themselves, and wander into natural

grass,

little

sometimes covering the surface with

groups

a sheet of

have spoken of the conditions in the wild garden many plants than those which obtain in what

suitable to


THE WILD GARDEN.

140

might seem choice positions in borders, many of the pLants attaining greater beauty and remaining longer in bloom in the shade and shrubby places than when fully exposed. As an instance saw Funkia coerulea the other day, showing a size and beauty in a shady drive at Beauport, near Battle, which I never saw it attain shelter of

of this, I

The plant was over a yard high, and bore with blue flowers. stems The Funkias are exceedhung many stately valuable for the wild not being liable to accidents ingly iilants garden, which are fatal to Lilies and other plants exposed to the attacks of under other circumstances.

slugs

and

rabbits.

Groups of Funkia

Snakes-head,

Fritillaria.

wild, as

— The

.Sieboldi.

beautiful

British

snakes-head

most people know, in ]neadows in various

grows England, and we should like to see it as well established in A^'arious other Fritillarias the grassy hollows of many a country seat. not so pretty as this, and of a peculiar livid dark hue, which is not (F. Meleagris)

j)arts of

like to

worthy

make them popular of a position also

;

fringes of shrubberies.

Giant Fennel,

Ferula.

the parsley order, with

in gardens, such as F.

tristis,

would be

while the Crown Imperial would do on the

—Noble

much and

herbaceous plants belonging to

exquisitely divided leaves

;

y\\\&\\

well developed forming magniticent tufts of verdure, reminding one The leaves appear very of the most finely-cut ferns, but far larger. early in sjiring, and disappear at the end of summer, and the l)est use that can be made of the plants is to plant them here and there in places occupied T)y spring and early summer flowers, among -which


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS.

141

With the Fcrulas mit,dit l)e tliev wcHild produce ;i very fine etl'ect. grouped another handsome umbelliferous plant (Molopospernuim cicuand no doubt, when we know the ornamental qualities of the tarium) ;

order better, character.

Ferns. a

we

sundry other charming

shall find

— Xo plants may

more charming

l)e

than

eft'ect

naturalised

ferns.

The

i)lants of similar

more successfully and with royal ferns, of wliich the

bold foliage is reflected in the marsh waters of Northern America, will The do well in the many places where our own royal fern thriA-es. graceful maidenhair fern of the rich woods of the Eastern States and the Canadas will thrive perfectly in any cool, shady, narrow lane, The small ferns that find a home on avid or dyke, or in a shady wood.

alpine

cliffs

may

be established on old walls and ruins.

Cheilanthes

odora, which grows so freely on the sunny sides of walls in Soiithern France, would be well worth trying in similar positions in the south

sown

of England, the spores to be

in

mossy chinks of the

The

walls.

climbing fern Lygodium jialmatum, which goes as far north as cold Massachusetts, would twine its graceful stems up the undershrubs in

an English wood

In

too.

fact,

there

is

no fern of the numbers that

inhabit the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and America, that may not be tried with confidence in various positions, preferring for the greater best in.

number such positions as we know our native kinds to thrive One could form a rich and stately type of wood -haunting

fern vegetation without employing one of our native kinds at all, though, of course, generally the best way will be to associate all so far as their habits

and

sizes

strong kinds out in glades

;

will permit. Treat them boldly put imagine colonies of Daffodils among the ;

Oak and Beech Ferns, fringed by early Aconite, in the spots overshadowed by the branches of deciduous trees. Then, again, many of these Ferns, the more delicate of them, could be used as the most graceful of carpets for bold beds or groups of floA\-ering plants. would form part, and a very

important part, of what we have written of as evergreen herbaceous

might well

plants,

be

and

associated

with them in true winter gardens.

Geranium, Geranmm, Erodium.

— Handsome

and

A hardy

Geranium.

They


THE WILD GARDEN.

142 ratlier

dwarf perennials, mostly with bluish,

aflniirable for naturalisation.

Some

pinkisli, or dee-p rose flowers,

of the better kinds of the hardy

geraniums, such as G. ibericum, are the very plants to take care of With them niiglit be tliemselves on wild banks and similar places. associated the fine

Erodium Manescavi

;

and where there

are

very

bare places, on which tliey would not be overran by coarser plants, tlie smaller Erodiums, such as E. romaiuini, might be tried with advantage. Goat's Rue, Gnlerin. Tall and A'igorous but graceful perennials,

with very numerous and handsome flowers, or

blue,

pink, G.

white.

and

otticinalis

white variety are

its

among

the very best of all

tall

Ijorder

and

flowers,

they are equally useful for planting in rough

and wild

places, as is

also the blue G. orien-

and

tal is

G.

are

They

biloba. free

all

Ljrowers.

Gypsophila, Gtjpand Tunica.

.•<op]i,ila

neat per-

Vigorous

l)ut

ennials,

very

hardy,

and producing myriads of

and

})inkish hue.

best Snowdrops, wild, by streamlet

in valley.

mostly

flowers,

small,

of a

pale

They

suited for

are

rocky

or

sandy ground, or even old ruins, or any

where they will not be smothered Ijy coarser vegetation. Similar in character is the pretty little Tunica saxifraga, which grows

positi(^n

on the tops of old walls, etc., in Southern Europe, and will thrive on bare places on the level ground with us. Gentian, Gentiana. Dwarf, antl usually evergreen, alpine or high-

numerous flowers, mostly handsome, and pasture plants, with large and The large G. acaulis frequently of the most vivid and beautiful blue.


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERINli PLANTS. (Gentianella)

mountains

as freely in moist places

wnnld grow

as

docs on

it

its

native

liills

;

as,

143

on any of our own

indeed,

it

would

in all

moist loams, where it could Jiot lie choked by coarse and taller subjects. Tlie tall willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea) is a handsome plant, which, in the mountain woods of Switzerland, grass in shade of trees,

and

country.

Snowdrops, when naturalised new kinds have

be seen bloomiii,^

may

this fact is suggestive as to

Galantltus.

— The

charms

of

our

its

anion.i;

long

use in

this

own Snowdrop

in the grass are well known to all, but many of the claims also in that respect, such as Elwesi and G.

It is surprising how comparatively few people take advantage of the facility with which the Snowdrop grows in grass, so as to have it in pretty groups and colonies by grass-walks or drives.

plicatus.

The accompanying

illustration,

which shows

it

streamlet in a Somersetshire valley, shows that suggests the

It

situation.

many

places

garden border.

Cow

it

on the margin of a

it is

not particular as to other than the

may adorn

Giant herbaceous plants, mostly from Northern Asia, with liuge divided leaves, and umbels (sometimes a foot across) of white or whitish flowers. They are very suitable for

Parsnips, Heracleum.

rough places on the banks of rivers or artificial water, islands, or in any position in which a very vigorous and liold tyjje of foliage may be In arranging them

desired. foliage

dies

down and

it

should be borne in luind that their

disappears

in the end of

When

summer.

sow themselves, so that seedling plants in abundance In all cases it is important that their be may picked up around them. But it is also seed should be sown immediately after being gathered. important not to allow them to monopolise the ground, as then they

established they

Ijecome objectionable. desirable to prevent

Day

To

them

this

end

it

may, in

certain positions,

be

seeding.

Lily, Hemerocallis.

—Vigorous

plants of the lily order, with

and graceful habit, and large and showy red-orange or yellow flowers, sometimes scented as delicately as the primrose. There are two types, one large and strong like flava and fulva, the other short

hjug leaves

and somewhat

fragile like

plants for naturalisation, selves

graminea.

growing in

any

The

larger kinds are superb

soil,

and taking care

of

them-

coarse herbaceous plants or brambles.

among Christmas Rose,

Helleborus.

— Stout but

dwarf perennials, with

and spring when flowers showy blooms and handsome with and leathery glossy leaves. They thrive appearing in winter

are rare, in almost


THE WILD GARDEN.

144 any position or tendency

it is

soil

;

bnt to get the

full benefit of their

early-blooming

them on sunny grassy banks in

desirable to place

tufts

or groups, and not far from the eye, as they are usually of unobtrusive

They form

colours.

beautiful

where the spring sun can reach for naturalisation.

Sun Rose,

ornaments

Helianthemum.

near

wood walks,

wild

Tliere are various kinds useful

tliem.

— Dwarf

spreading

bearing

shrubs,

myriads of tlowers in a variety The most of showy colours. tasteful

and

satisfactory

of

way

employing these in our gardens is to naturalise them on banks or slopes in the half-wild parts of our pleasure-grounds, mostly

sandy or

in

warm

soil.

They

are best suited for chalk districts (

ir

roclvy ones,

where they thrive

most luxuriantly, and make a There very brilliant display. are

many

varieties,

ing in the hue of

mostly

differ-

tlie flowers.

Perennial Sunflower, Helianthus, RudbecMa, Silphium.

— Stout

and usually very tall perennials, with showy yellow flowers, the best is

known

of

Helianthus multiflorus

which fl.

pL,

which plenty may be seen in Euston Stj^iiare and other places of

in Sun Rose on limestone

London.

are all

rocks.

better

As a fitted

rule

these

for rough,

places than for gardens, where, other plants mentioned in these pages, they will tend to H. rigidus is a brilliantly showy form a vigorous herbaceous covert. like

many

plant, running very freelj* at the root,

and an excellent subject

for

H. giganteus, common in thickets and swamj^s in and America, growing as high as 10 ft., is also desirable. The showy and larger American Rudbeckias, such as laciuiata, triloba, and also naturalisation.

the small but

showy

these plants, and

hirta, virtually

many others

belong to the same type.

All

of the tall yellow-flowered composites that


HARDY EXOTTf one sees conspicuous

of

in

cH't'cts

The Silphiums,

year.

and the cup plant

laciniatum),

especially

and there

and are

and rough

suitable for the

same

of its

numerous congeners which

places, in

They

soil.

any

and

will not

haA^e all the

same

are nearly all taller.

newer kinds have the handsome large flowers of the

of the

should be noted that the

John's Wort.

It

exhausts the

soil of

moisture that

it

may

trees,

and should therefore be looked

much

of

it,

(S.

bright yellow flowers as the St. John's wort,

Some

compass plant

are allied in general

Wort, Hypericum. Tlie well-known St. John's wort many places made good its claim as a wilderness jslant,

scarcely one

is

vrild.

the

(S. perfoliatum),

purposes. St. John's

thrive in

might perhaps more country seats at that

visit their

aspect and character to the Helianthuses,

has already in

145

T'T.AXTS.

i

and

autunni,

who only

particuLirly interest those

time

LOWERTXi

herbaceous vegetation in America, would

aiiiouL;

showy

very

jii'iKluce

1-

as they

Rocket,

Hesperis.

— The

St.

John's

St.

Wort

so

be the cause of the death of

after.

common

have of the

common

Many

places have too

Laurel.

conmion single Rocket (Hesperis matand very easily

ronalis) is a .showy useful jilant in copse or shrubbery,

from

raised

seed.

Evergreen Candytuft,

Iberis.

— Compact

little

evergreens, form-

ing spreading bushes from 3 inches to 15 inches high, and sheeted with There are no plants more white flowers in spring and early summer. suitable for naturalisation in oj^en or bare places, or, indeed, in

any

not strong enough to overrun tliem. They, however, attain greatest perfection when fully exposed to the sun, and are admirable for every kind of rocky or stony ground and

where the vegetation

position

banks. Iris, rivalling

Fhur de Lis. (or

—These

is

known in our gardens, in beaut\-, are varied and

plants, once so well

rather exceeding) the

lilies

The many a wild garden by themselves. in almost beautiful varieties of germanica will grow any soil, and may

numerous enough

be used with good

to

effect in

margin

of water.

water

and, as this

;

any one taking an

make

woods, copses, by Avood walks, or near the rather a common kind, will grow in the

I. sibirica,

is

not generally known,

interest in aquatics.

it is

worthy the notice of

It is probable that

others of

the beardless kinds will also do well -with their roots below the water,

and

if so,

they will one day

margins of artificial waters.

much imjirove the rather poorly adorned On the other hand, I. pumila, and the

varieties of germanica, are often seen

L

on the tops of old walls, on


146

THE WILD GARDEN,

facts on the Continent, flowering profusely. Tliese irises. the adorned he hy tend to show how many ditfinvnt positions may Common Lupine, Luimms pohjphyllus.— Amidst the tallest and handsomest herhaceonsplants,gronped where they may he seen from grass

tliatclied roofs, etc.,

wood walks,

or

drives

position or soil. rivfr banks, (ir it

copses,

or

in

any

Excellent for

islets

in

in

There are

worthy of culture.

several varieties, all

Lunaria.

Honesty,

or

wliich,

spreads freely.

This,

which approaches the Stocks in the of

aspect flowers,

fine

its

of

the appearance

Ijy

It is

peed-vessels.

valuable of

all

type by

plants for naturalisa-

form a

to

It shoAVS itself freely

itself.

in dryish

curious

its

one of the most

and may he said

tion,

violet

purplish

them quite removed from

is

ground or on chalk

Ijanks,

one of the prettiest objects to be met with in early summer

and

in

is

wood

or wild.

Lily, Lilium. lilies

liardy

that

— There

may

situations tliat these

The

are

many

be naturalised.

grow

in,

from the high meadows of Northern the orange lily, Italy, dotted with gorges of the Sierras

tu

the

in

California, rich

woody

fragrant tlu'ir

with

kinds, are such

tall

as

and

make

culture in copses, woods, rough In etc., a certainty.

grassy places,

woods where there of

vegetable

is

a rich deposit

matter

tbe

great

American Lilium superbun:, and no donl>t some of the recentlydiscovered Californian

lilies,

will

do

well.

The European

lilies,

dotted in the grass in the rough unmown glades, W(Uild not grow borders of our cottage gardens nearly so large as they do in the rich

;


HARDY liiit \\

tlic effect

of

ith the tops of

t

lie

FLOWETiTXri PLANTS.

P^XOTir-

lildiniis

large

siiiglr

nf

tlie

orange

the grass, in early sunuiu-r, where

it

147

lily just

grows wild,

level is

at

has hitherto presented in gardens. Along the hed of small rivulets, in the bottom of narrow gorges densely shaded by great Thujas, Arbutus trees sixty and even eighty feet high, least as heautiful as

it

any aspect

and handsome large-leaved evergreen oaks on the Sierras, I saw in autumn numbers of lily stems seven, eight, and nine feet high, so one could imagine what pictures they formed in early summer therefore deep dykes and narrow shady lanes would afford congenial homes for ;

various fine species. that of dotting

to

No mode of cultivating lilies in gardens is equal them through beds of rbododendrons and other

American plants usually

the soil of these, usually the rhododendrons alone, being peculiarly suited to the majority of the lily trilie. As for the wild garden, Mr. (t. F. Wilson sent me a stem of Lilium superbum last year (1880)

and very unwisely

])lanted in peat

;

to

left

in a rirh

woody bottom, 11^ feet high Snowflake, Leucojum. I have rarely seen anything more Ijeautiful than a colony of the summer Snowflake on the margin of a tuft of rhododendrons in the gardens at Longleat. Some of the flowers were grown

I

on stems nearly 3 soil

feet high, the partial shelter of the Ijushes and good Both, the spring and causing the plants to be unusually vigorous.

summer Snowflakes

(L.

vernum and

L. a?stivum) are valualjle plants for

wild grassy places.

Gentian Lithosperm, Lithospermum

—A

very dishalf-shrubby plant, with a profusion of flowers of as fine a blue as any gentian. Thrives vigorously in any deep sandy prostratum,

tinct, prostrate, hairy,

and in such well deserves naturalisation among low rock sunny positions. Probably other species of the genus found suitalde for the same purpose. soil,

etc.,

in

Lychnis. 1

— Handsome

dooms, mostly

of a

was only represented one.

This

is

medium

brilliant

rose

-

sized

perennials,

or scarlet

colour.

with If

plants, will be

showv

the

type

the rose campion it would be a valuable a beautiful object in dry soils, on which it does not

])erish in winter.

l)y

They

are most fitted for association with dwarf or

medium-sized perennials, in open places and in rich

Honeysuckle, omitted. Any kind

— Such favourites

soil.

must not be Honeysuckle will find a happy home in the wild garden, either rambling over stumps or hedgerows, or even planted by themselves on banks.

Pea, Lathyrus.

Lonicera.

as these

of climbing

— Much having

lieen lately written

concerning the


THE WILD (lARDEN.

148

wild garden and its suitable occupants, I venture to suggest Latliyrus Most cultivators of flowers are tlie list. pyrenaicus as an addition to

aware of

tlie

raniljling habits of the

number

greater

of plants of the

L. pyrenaicus eclipses them tribe, but in that particular It produces an immense cjuantity of bright orange- coloured all with its thorough blossoms, but the principal difficulty connected of an appro^sriate ])lace for it, for a welldevelopment is the selection

Le<Tuminous

established plant of this species

ramble over, and by

will

its

density of growth prevent every plant and

within

its

indeed,

comes

that

shruli

reach from thriving

it is

;

a greater rambler

than the Hop, the Bindweed, or the Bryony,

and

more handsome.

is

training such a plant

the

question

many

there

it

are

would be quite

home and form an

ive

or

out of

is

rough places in the wild

garden where at

but

;

decidedly

Tying up

feature.

attract-

Every kind of Pea is excellent

Everlasting for the wild garden, either for over hedgerows, scrambling or

stumps,

the grass.- -J.

lus.

the neighbourhood of

my

eye was attracted by

throughout

its

"

Wandering one day in

Gruigfoot/'a ciueer-shaped a small

visilde course

among

W.

Monkey -flower, Mima-

Everlasting Pea, creeping up stem in shrubbery.

"

growing

hill in Linlithgowshire,

burn whose banks were

literally jewelled A with an unfamiliar yellow flower.

nearer approach showed me that it was the garden Mimulus (Monkeymust have escaped from some neighbouring flower), the seed of which itself here, in the coldest part of the cottage garden, and established have naturalised it by the banks and I took the hint, British Isles. of a small stream

recommend your

which runs

at the foot of

the blue Forget-me-not, and

Grape Hyacinth,

is

equally

my

garden, and I strongly

mingles charmingly with hardy."— S. in Garden.

readers to do the same.

ilfifsca?-/.— These

It

free

and hardy

little

bulbs


HARDY EXOTIC Fr.OWERTXC are easily natumliseil ami

vtTV lianilsDino,

many shades of lilu(>. Forget-me-not, Mijosntis,

flower.s of

—There

is

willi

PLANTS. tlicii-

one exotic

little

149 .spikes

s^secies,

M.

(if

dissi-

tiHora, not inferior in beauty to any of our handsomest native kinds,

and which

well woi'tliy of naturalisation everywhere, thriving best

is

on moist and sandy

soil.

Molopospei'miim eicutarium.^ There fern-like

of

liferous

a

deep green and

profusely by the Umbel-

played

some

is

dis-

beauty

family, but

I

have rarely met with one so remarkably attractive as this species

very ornamental with large, plant, deeply -divided leaves It is a

of a lively green colour, forming a dense irregu-

The

lar bush.

tlnwers,

which are in.signiheant and of a yellowishwhite colour, are borne small roundish

in

of the

Many

lunbels. (dass,

while

gant,

perish

ele-

very

quickly,

£et shabbv indeed

l:>v

the end of June, and are

therefore

place

sarden

in ;

out

the

but this

of

flower is

Type

of fine-leaved umbellate plants seldom

grown

in

gardens.

firm

in character, of a fine rich green, stout yet spreading in habit, growing

more than 3

feet high,

and making altogether a most pleasing bush.

It

perfectly hardy, and easily increased by seed or division, but rare as It loves a deep moist soil, but will thrive in any good garden yet.

is

soil.

It is a fine

subject for isolation or grouping with other hardy

and graceful-leaved Umbelliferous plants. Stock, Mafthiola. Showy flowers, mostly

fragrant, peculiarly well

suited for old ruins, chalk pits, stony banks, etc.

Some

of tlie annual


THE WILD GARDEN.

150

kinds are pretty, and some of a bush-like cliaracter tlie

tlie

when grown

common

varieties

in gardens assume

With

in the positions above named.

may be associated the single rocket (Hesperis matronalis), thrives freely in shruljberies and copses.

Stocks

wliicli

Bee Balm,

— Large

and very showy herbaceous plants, with scarlet or purple flowers, conspicuously beautiful in Auierican and Canadian woods, and capital subjects for naturalisation in woods, copses, etc., or anywhere among medium-sized vegetaMoncmla.

tion,

thriving

best

light or well-drained

in

soils.

Mallow, Malva, A Ithwa, MalojJe, Kitaibelia, Sida.

Gallirhoe,

— Plants •

of

distinct

several

be included under this type, and

genera may from each very shoAvy and useful things maj' be obtained. They are for the most part subjects

which are somewhat

too coarse, wlien

closely examined, to be

generally

;

but among

planted in gardens the taller vegetation iu

wild shrubberies, copses, glades iu woods, of the

etc.,

Some

they will furnish a magnificent effect.

Malvas are very showy, vigorous-grow-

ing plants, mostly with rosy flowers, and would associate well with our own handsome M.

The

moschata.

common and

Althaeas, close

of the

allies

single hollyhock, are very vigorous

fine for this purpose, as are also the Sidas

and Kitaibelia

vitifolia.

The Malopes are among the best of the annual subjects for naturalisation. The Callirhoes are dwarf, handsome trailers, more brilliant than the others, and the only ones of the type that should be planted on l>are banks or amidst dwarf vegetation, as all the others are of the

most rampant

charactei'.

Mulgedium Plumieri

—A

herbaceous jJant of fine and distinct

port, Ijearing purplisli-l)lue Ijlossoms, rather

Till recently

it

was generally only seen in

uncommon among

Ijotanic gardens,

its

but

kind.

it

has,

merits as a wild garden plant, and for growing in small grou]is or single specimens in <piiet gn-en corners of pleasureIt does best in rather rich ground, and in grounds or shrubberies.

nevertheless,

many

such a position will reward

all wh<i plant it, being a really hardy an<l Tlie foliage is sometimes over a yard long, and long-lived perennial. the flower-stems attain a height of over six feet in good soil.


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWKHIXU PLANTS. Water

N'ljmplicea atxl

Lily,

Nuphar.

— Two

151

ikiMo Nurtli Ameri-

can plants Wfll deserve naturalisation in our waters, associated with our own beautiful white and yellow water lilies -the large Nuphar

advena, which thrusts parts of

England,

water

many

North America, and the sweet-scented Nymph;ea odorata, which

Hoats in crowds on

New

yreat leaves well out of the Avater in

its

to

a,

many

of the pine

non-hotaniral

lily.

ordered lakes and lakelets of

-1

oliscrver

seeming verv

like

own

our

Most people have seen the common dali'odil Daffodil, Narcissus. in a semi- wild state in our woods and copses. Apart from varieties, there are more than a score distinct species of daffodil that could be

We

naturalised (piite as easily as this in all parts of these islands.

need hardly suggest how charming these would be, flowering in early or along spring and summer in the rougher parts of pleasure grounds, wood-walks, or any like position.

Bitter Vetch,

wood -walks,

rocks,

Orohus.

— Banks, of

fringes

grassy

shrubberies,

unmown and

like

margins of places, with

deep and sandy loam, well drained, will grow the beautiful spring Bitter

Vetch or any of

its

varieties or allies perfectly.

Evening Primrose,

Enotliera.

—Among the

largest-flowered

and

The yellow types of herbaceous vegetation. allied to the common Evening Primrose species, and varieties like and be readily naturalised in any position, from a rubbish(CE. handsomest of

biennis),

heap

to

all

known

may

a nice,

sunny copse

open,

;

while such

prostrate

ones as

marginata and (H macrocar})a will prove very fine among dwarf herbs These on banks or in open sunny places, in light or calcareous soil. and flowers are noble and delicately-scented very very easily grown QL.

They, however, from their height and boldwith which they grow in almost any soil, are freedom and the ness, wild the for suited garden, for shrubberies, copses, and the peculiarly beautiful in any position.

like,

sowing themselves

Cotton Thistle,

freely.

Onoimrdon.

— Large

thistles,

with very handsome

hoary and silvery leaves, and purplish flowers on fiercely-armed stems. No plants are more noble in port than these, and they thrive freely in

rough open

places, rubbish-heaps, etc.,

and usually come up

self-sown seeds.

Star of Bethlehem,

Onutho(jaliun.

— Various

well as the species of this genus will thrive as

liem in any sunny, grassy places.

Creeping Forget-me-not,

Ohiphaludes.

from

handsome hardy

common

— The

freely

Star of Bethle-

creeping Forget-


THE WILD GARDEN.

152

is

me-not, Omplialodes verna,

one of the prettiest plants to be natural-

ised in woods, copses,- or slirubberies, running about witli the greatest

freedom in moist

on good

soils

soil.

It is

every country place.

Wood

more comjiact in habit and

lives longer

than the Forget-me-nots, and should \w naturalised round

— Dwarf

plants with clover-like leaflets and At least two of the species in cultivapretty rosy or yellow flowers. tion, viz. 0. Bowieana and 0. floribunda, might be naturalised on sandy soils

Sorrel,

Oxalis.

amidst vegetation not more than 5 inches or 6 inches high

the family

is

so

found equally

numerous that probably other members

of

it

;

and

will be

free growing.

The Great Japan Knotweed (Polygonum cnspidatum). (Showing the plant

Polygonum cuspidatum of

—

If,

in flower.)

instead of the formal character

much

were

of our gardening, plants of bold types similar to the above introduced along the sides of woodland walks and

shrubbery

how much more

enjoyable such places would be, as at almost every step there would be something fresh to attract notice and gratify the eye, instead of which such parts are generally bare, or given up to borders,

weeds and monotonous rubbish.


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING

PLANTS.

153

Vigorous lierbaceous pLniits, with large and si)lt'n(li(l of various shades of crimson, rosy-crimson, and wliite, well

Pseony. flowers

There calculated for producing the iinest eifects in the wild garden. are many species and varieties, tin- llowers of some of the \arieties llowers we very sweet -.scented, doulilc, and amimg the largest being

and of. Fringes of shrubberies, open glades in A\oods or copses, and they may indeed almost any wild place, may be adorned by them also be advantageou.sly groupe<l or isolated on the grass in the rougher

kmiw

;

I never felt the beauty of the fine saw a group of the double scarlet kind fidwering The owner had placed an irregular in the long Grass in Oxfordshire. group of this plant in an u-nnidwu glade, quite away from the gar<Ien and yet, seen from the lawn and garden, the effect was most proper

of the

parts

pleasure-ground.

colour of Poeonies

till I

;

brilliant, as tell in

may be imagined from

summer

the

way

which such high colours

in

To be

able to produce such effects in the early for six weeks or so is a great gain from a landscape point of

the distance.

view, apart from the immediate beauty of the flowers at hand.

when

seen close

The huge and flaming Papaver orientale, var. P. bracteatum, and P. lateritium, are the most important of this type. They Avill thrive and live long in almost any position, but the proper For herbaceous plants. place for them is in open spots among strong Pnpaver, in

Poppy,

the wild garden or wilderness the Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis eambrica) It is a clieerful plant at all seasons is one of the best plants. perched ;

dry wall its mas.ses of foliage are when loaded with a profusion of but very fresh, the plant is strikingly blossoms large yellow

on some

handsome

It

;

it is

a determined coloniser, ready to

own under the most adverse circumstances. home is the wall, the rock, and the ruin.

hold Its

i:ild

its

even surpasses the Wallflower in adapting

to strange out-of-the-way places

it

;

itself

will spring

up in the gravel walk under one's feet, and seems the boulders in the coi;rtyard. (juite happy among It looks down on one from crevices in brick walls, from chinks where one could scarcely introduce a knife-blade, and after all it delights most in

No plant can be better adapted 1 TT on rough stony banks, old quarries, dead walls, and similar places, and

shady places. .

,

1

Phlomis.

— Type

of hand-

for naturahsnig

^^^^^^

gravel pits,

ably suited for the wild iSee p. 154.) garden.

Labiates

;

admir-


THE WILD GARDEN.

154

its

large

handsome

flowers will lend a

charm

most uninteresting situations. Phlomis Showy and stately her-

to the /-T<^

baceous or half-shrultliy fusion

with a pro-

jilants,

handsome yellow

of

or

purplish Excellent for naturalisation in

tlowers.

warm open

woods, copses, banks,

ing well in ordinary

grow-

etc.,

soil.

rhytolacca dccanrobust perennial, within conspicuous flowers and long dense spikes of

Virginian Poke,

ilra.

a.'-'

X?

—A

tall,

It will

purplish berries.

and in any

soil

;

The

lich deep ones.

by

birds.

but

It is

is

grow anywhere most imposing in

berries are relished

fine for association

with

the largest and stoutest herbaceous plants in rough and half-wild places.

Physostegia

A.

Tall, erect,

and beau-

herbaceous plants, mostly with deli-

liful

cate

flowers

rosy

;

among

of

natives

America, thriving in any

North

They

soil.

are

the most x'leasing things for plant-

ing in llalf-^\•ild jdaces, where they will not spread rampantly, nor perish (piickly.

Lungwort,

Pubnonuiia.

— Dwarf

])lants of the borage family, with

showy

blue nr pinkish Idossoms. Easily naturalised in Avoods or copses, in which position the common lilue one must be familiar to in

many The

tlie

woods of England and Frame.

varieties are

dens

;

tliey

The serotinmn.

grow

tall

common in

any

in cottage gar-

soil.

Ox-eye daisy, Pyrefhrum

— This

fine

autumn

flower-

ing pliant, for years left in the almost exclusive possession of the Botanic Gardens,

.1?

is

It

The tall Ox-eye Daisy (Pyrethrum serotinuni).

one of the handsomest things Ave have.

grows 5 or 6

feet

high,

and

floAvers

late in the year, Avhen floAvers are scarce. It is A'ery picturesque in habit.


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWKIUXC PLANTS. Bramble, nearly

fifty

si)ecies,

own. are

(ir

we

Altliou.uli

luivc

kinds

reputed

ot

of

tlic

entirely distinct from

our

native in

lininilde

exotic

Hiilni.'^.

kinds

Avell

sonic

Britain,

of

Avortliy

155

naturalisation

among low slirubs and tall herbaceous One of the most charming plants we know for natui'alising in shady woods

A

plants.

be

kanus, Avith A\hich

might

associated the deep

rose-coloured

R.

spectabilis

while

;

white- stemmed

chalk and gravel

the very striking a grand is

This nolde reed

pits, etc.

I

/\

of

sides

Arundo Donax.

do not like to omit here,

beautiful in the southern counties

of England, Avinters

sunny

slopes,

The Great Reed; is so

Rubus

R. bifiorus

warm

for

object

tastefully

and the early spring -iiowering

odoratus,

it

Xut-

the large, -white-iiowered Eulnrs

is

it

Bamboos

though

may

in cold soils

Where

perish.

and hard

the hardier

find a jilace this will be welcome, it is only in the

though in our country Avarmer parts that

it

attains the dignitA

possesses in the south of Europe. Rhubarb, Rheum. There are several

of port

it

species of

rhubarb in cultivation

in

ad-

commonly grown in garmuch alike in port and are dens. They in the size of their leaves, R. palmatum and Emodi being the most distinct. The rhudition to those

^ sm

barbs are hue things for association Avitb in deep large-leaved herliaceous plants soils.

Rose, branddes, A\

ild

Rosa. Ave

roses in

— As

have

in

the

many more

England than

is

case

commonly

ever thinks supposed, but of course nobody in of planting such things gardens or shrubberies, Avhere

^Sf^'S-^A-*^

of

kinds of

such gems as

privet

rlie

(

^reat RcccI of .Southcni Fairope

(Arundo Donax).


THE WILD GAEDEN.

156

make up

usually

our woodlands it is iTseless

the Tiudcrwouil.

There are

scores

of

and temperate countries which would thrive

of northern

the as

roses

well in

but as these are not to he obtained in nnr nurseries, Any species of rose from a northern

;

mention them.

to

whilst of roses commonly cultivated the country might be tried races such as the climbing Boursault, Ayrshire, and Sempervirens

;

the most likely to be satisfactory.

are

and hybrid

The Damask, Alba would do, as would

gallica,

Felicite hardy and free, Perpetuelle, Banksipeflora, the Garland roses, Austrian briar, berberifolia, and microphylla rubra plena. Pruning, or any other attention Cliina, being

should of course not be thought of in connection with have seen masses of wild roses the effect of wliich was

after planting,

We

tliese.

hner than anything we have ever seen in a rosery. a very tine free and hardy species from India.

is

Sea Lavender, Ijluisli soils.

Rosa Brunoniana

—Vigorous

perennials, with a profusion of lavender-coloured bloom, thriving freely on all ordinary garden 8. latifolia, and some of the stronger kinds, thrive in any

position

among

tlie

Statice.

medium-sized herbaceous plants.

Handsome and usually vigorous herbaceous Spiraea, Kjiiw-awith white or plants, rosy flowers, and generally ornamental foliage. Such beautiful kinds as venusta and palmata it is most desirable to try in wild places

among

the stouter and medium-sized jierennials, where

be spared for this purpose. S. Aruncus is, the finest for tlie wild Mr. Ellaiii planted out perhaps, plant garden. some spare stock of 8. japonica in a wood at Bodorgan, and with tlie happiest effect. The plants grow and llower freely, the flowers sufficiently plentiful

to

appearing a fortniglit later in the moist cool wood than on plants of the same kind on a north garden border therefore they prolong the ;

season of this favourite flower.

They

are planted in

an irregular

such things slKuild generally be, the effect being group, better than that obtained by the connnon dotting plan. as

Golden Rod, flowers,

Solidago.

showy when

in bloom,

much

Tall and vigorous perennials with yellow

and

attractive

when

seen in America in

autumn, mingled with the blue and lilac Asters of that country, but These, like the Asters, used larely ornamental as gro'mi in gai'dens. but the only position they wild where in rough places, many cases it would be easy, with their aid and that of the Asters, to form that mixture of Golden Rod and Michaelmas daisies which is one of the prettiest efl'ects

to be

are

of

flt

grown for

is

to excess in the old borders

in

American vegetation

in

autumn.

;


HAEDY EXOTIC Catch-fly,

and

UL'iierallv

such as

Silene.

with

LuWEKlNU

I'LANTS.

157

ur spreudiii*^; plants, allied to tlie pinks, The choice mountain kinds,

rosv flowers.

S. Lagasca), alpestris, Schafta, etc., are

among

tlie

most charm-

naturalised on rocky places or banks, associated dwarf subjects. Such fine annual or biennial kinds as

ing subjects that can Avith

—Dwarf

A\liite oi'

i

very

l)e

S. pendula are anumg the best for this purpose, and established by scattering a few seeds in such j)laces. be easily might This little plant, which Bloodwort, Sanguinaria canadensis. S.

Armeria or

Canada and North America, and which is verv rarely indeed seen well groA«i in our gardens, Avill thrive under the branch&s of deciduous trees as Avell as the Avinter aconite, and in abounds in the woods

of

spring will produce an

efl'ect

common

as beautiful as singular.

Several kinds of ScUla, closely allied to the bluebell, Avould do quite as well in our Avoods as that Avell-

Squill,

Scilla.

knoAvii native plant, notably S. campanulata, S. bifolia, S. sibirica, etc. Bifolia and .sibirica Avould be better on sunny banks or sheltered frincres of

The

shrubberies Avith a good aspect.

With

AA'Oods or copses like the Idueliell.

associated the grape liyacintli and

amethystinus).

Comfrey,

Hynvphytum.

tlie

is

— Herbaceous

Symphytum

kinds Avould do in

amethyst hyacinth (Hyacinthus

handsome blue usually vigorous, and with somest spring flowers

tall

the dwarfer squills might be

plants of the borage order, floAvers. One of the hand-

caucasicum. and

it is

also

one of

the easiest things to naturalise, running about Avith the greatest freedom

Coarse kinds, like S. asperrimum shrubbA- or any Avild places. thrive iox apace among the largest plants in garden culture), (unfit and there look quite beautiful AA'hen in flower. wild

in

places,

Scabious,

Scabiosa, Cephalaria, Knautia.

and usuallv free-groAving herbaceous yelloAsish

in tone.

Among

these

— Sometimes

plants,

may be

bluish,

handsome

purplish,

seen, in botanic

or

and other

but scarcely Avorthy of a place gardens, plants suited for naturalisation, The fine S. caucasica aa-ouM thrive amidst coarse in the garden. vegetation in ^ood

soil, as

Stonecrop, Sedum.

would the Knautias.

— Minute and usually

prostrate plants, mostly

white, yelloAv, or rosy floAvers, and occurring in multitudes on most of the mountain chains of northern and temperate countries. Avitli

There are few of these interesting and sometimes very pretty plants that Avould not gxoAv on the top of an old Avail, or thatched house, or All stony bank, or bare gi'ound, as AA'ell as our conmion Stonecrop. are as easily increased as any weed, and groAV anygroAv in any soil,


THE WILD GARDEN.

158 where

they are not too

if

Such kinds

tation.

spectabile are

much overshadowed

liy trees

and coarse

as S. spuriuni, S. puh-helluni, kanitschaticuin,

among

the most ornamentaL

ve<i;e-

and

S.

Tlie hxst, being a stout

herbaceous plant, wouhl be worth associating with such in wild places.

100 species of stonecmp in cultivation in Britain. Saxifrage, Saxifmga. A very extensive genus of plants, alranFor our dantly distributed on mountains in northern countries. Tliere are nearly

the be broadly thrown into five sections in S. the Britain silvery by liypuoides mossy section, represented the London Pride section, by the section, represented by S. Aizoon ])resent

purpose they

may

;

;

Kerry saxifrages the Megasea and the oppositifolia

section,

;

crassifolia

;

With

flowers.

by the large cabbage-leaved

section, distinguished

by

its

S.

rosy-purple

the exception of the Megasea and oppositifolia sections, flowers, most of the saxifrages have white blossoms

which have rosy spotted with red easiest to

grow

;

a few are yellow,

and

all

are very hardy,

The mossy,

of all alpine flowers.

silvery,

and the

and purple

be naturalised with the greatest ease on bare rocky or miiuntainous grounds, amidst dwarf vegetation but, as the places in which this kind of ground occurs are comparatively few, the Megaseas,

saxifrages

may

;

saxifrages, are probably the most generally useful, as their cfm way amongst coarse grass and other common herbs. fight they

and the Kerry

There are probably nearl}' 150 species in cultivation in the botanic gardens of England, though in many private gardens they are very little

known.

Houseleek, Sevipewunmi.

— Veiy

dwarf and

succulent

plants,

with their fleshy leaves arranged in dense rosettes, and mostly with curious but seldom conspicuous flowers, abounding in mountainous regions,

and very

as freely as the

hard\'.

The

greater numljer of these

common Houseleek

where the vegetation

is

not taller

sandy banks, gravelly heaps, in cultivation in the

Meadow Rue,

etc.

grow cpaite and in any position than themselves, such as on bare

in

any arid

soil,

There are about

fifty

hardy kinds

gardens in this country. Tlialidnnn.

— Tall and vigorous herbaceous

plants,

mostly without any beauty of flower when closely examined, but often attbrding a pleasing distant effect when seen in masses, and hence for this mode of gardening, though seldom siiitable for a position in the garden proper. They grow in any soil, and should be placed among rank herbs and coarse vegetation, not in the fore-

desirable

There ground, which might be occupied by more brilliant subjects. many kinds not differing much in aspect some of the smaller ones

are

;


HAT^DY KXOTTC KT.OWERINc PLANTS in the

way

own

nf our

British T. luiuus, deserve a place amon^'

With

vegetation for the elegance of their leaves. associated the Italian

tiower and elegant in

Spiderwort,

159

Iso])yruni thalictroides, leaf.

wliicli

is

dwarf

may

be

handsome

in

these last

'

Tradesccmti((

riryinica.

North American perennial, with purple,

—A

handsome and

distinct

blue, or white flowers, attain-

An admirable subject for naturalisaing a height of l| feet or 2 feet. tion on almost any soil, thriving perfectly on the wettest ami coldest, and therefore suited for many jilaces where other perennials woidd make

little progress.

Wood wood

Lily, TrilUimi. Very singular and beautiful American which T. grandiflorum is worthy of special attention,

plants, of

thriving in shady places in moist rich

some vegetable

soils,

in

woods and

copses,

where

soil lias gathered.

Globe Flower, Trollius. Beautiful plants of vigorous habit, with large handsome flowers, of a fine golden colour, like those of the buttercups, but turning inwards so as to form an almost round blossom, in aspect.

([uite distinct

in gTassy glades

Few

where the

subjects are

soil

is

more worthy

of a position

rich,

although tliey will grow in ordinary soil. There are several di.^tinct kinds suitalde, thouo-h there

is

little

appearam-e.

Tulip,

Tulipa.

difference in their

— Various

kinds

of

Tulips might be naturalised with advantage bv wood Avalks and in the rougher In parts of the pleasure grounds.

they would not attain

sucli positions

such a

size

as the riclih'-fed garden

flowers, biit that

mme

would make them

the less attractive to those

care about the wild garden.

Telekia, Telekia

cordifolia.

who

—A

vigorous herliaceous plant, suited for association

with Echinops,

and

subjects

and

character.

"rowth, and

grown has

Rheum,

for their foliage

It is lar^re

very free foliage

sunflower-like flowers.

Flame - Flower,

Tritoma.

in Xelekia.

and

— Flame

Type of the Larger Composites. excluded from gardens proper,

Flowers

arc

occasionallv


THE WILD GARDEN.

IGO

planted in excess, sd as to neutralise the good effect they might othei'wise produce, and they, like many other flowers, have suffered from being, like soldiers, put in straight lines and in other geometrical formations. It is only where a fine plant or group of plants is seen in some green glade that the true Leaiity of tlu- Flame Flower is seen, especially at to the

some

little

distance

off.

Altliougli

mended

for the wild garden, they are might with confidence be recommended

Group of Tritoma,

shows

not exactly belonging

very free-growing and extremely hardy genera of plants recom-

a picturesque

so free in

many

for that purpose,

soils

that they

and our sketch

in grass.

group of them planted in this way.

It

would

lie

would study inore the effects For instance, a well and to be realised from certain types of plants. tastefully placed group of these Flame Flowers would for a long time delightful if people having country seats

in

autumn be a most

effective

feature in the landscape of a country

and there are various other plants to which the same remark applies, though j)erhaps to none better than these in the later months seat

;

of the year.

—

Showy Indian

Cress, Tropceolum speciosum. Against terrace walls, auKjng shrubs, and on slopes, on banks, or bushy rockwork near in deep, rich, and light soil. This is a brilliant the hardy fernery ;

plant, well

worth any trouble

to establish.

Many

fail to establish it in


HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS.

1(51

garden proper, Imt moist, shady, and busliy places, will suit

tlie

better.

Mullein, Verhascmn.

—^Verbascuni

vernale

is

a

noble

it

plant,

been slowly spreading in our collections of hardy plants some years past, and it is a plant of

wliiLli f(jr

lias

I first saw it in the Garpeculiar merit, den of Plants, and brought home some roots whicli gave rise to the stock

our gardens. its

merits, are that

species

now

in

Its peculiarities, or rather

at least

it is

a true perennial

on the warm

soils,

and

in tlus respect cpiite unlike other Mulleins

which are sometimes seen

in our gardens,

and oftener in our hedgerows.

It also

has

the advantage of great height, growing, as in the specimen shown in our illustration, to a height of about

Then

even more.

10

feet,

or

there are the large and

green leaves, whicli come up rather early

and are extremely effective. Finally, the colour is good and the c[uantity of yellow flowers with purplisli filaments that are

borne on one of these great branching The panicles is something enormous. use of

sucli a plant

to define,

mixed border,

plants

grouping with other remarkable size or form of

of

here and there in

open spaces among shrubs, the

A

bold group of

Grass by

well-dressed

itself,

soil,

gardens by

tlie

in

it,

name

to it at

it

of

well

effective in a

It is also

Kew.

is

airanged on

deep, light, and

would be

picturesque garden.

was given

difficult

for

foliage, or for placing

suited.

Ije

For the back part of

distinct in habit.

a

cannot

being so good in form and so

it

known

Verbascum

A

tall

Mullein.

in

Chaixii, wliich name,

we

believe,

Periwinkle, Vinca. Trailing plants, with glossy foliage and handsome blue flowers, Avell known in gardens. They are admiraljle plants for naturalisation, growing in any position, shady or sunny.

M


THE WILD GARDEN.

162

There are variously-coloured and very pretty varieties of V. minor, while the variegated forms of both species are handsome, and may be naturalised like the green kinds.

Speedwell, feet to

(l|-

3

Veronica.-

feet),

in

— Herbaceous

some

blue flowers in various shades will

grow

in

naturalisation

any

;

All the

soil.

among long

usually

plants,

grass

taller

tall

kinds are admirably suited for

and other herl)aceous vegetation.

number that are in cultivation in borders The dwarf kinds are equally suitaltle purpose. great

among

rather

dwarf and neat alpine plants with are among the hardiest of plants, and

cases

are only

fit

A

for this

for bare places, or

other dwarf plants.

Violet, Viola.

—A numerous

race of dwarf

and interesting

plants,

thriving freely in our climate, in half- shady places, rocky spots or The very handbanks, fringes of shrubberies, or almost any position.

some

N. America

(V. pedata) would thrive in sandy In this family occur a good many kinds, such as V. canadensis, which, not being fragrant, or nnt possessing sufficient charms to ensure their* general cultivation in gardens, are

bird's-foot violet of

level places or

on rocky banks.

Our

peculiarly suited for this sort of gardening.

should be abundantly naturalised wherever wild state.

Adam's-Needle,

Yucca.

—Although

it

cnTi sweet violet

does not occur in a

these scarcely

come

into this

and their hardiness give them a charm A legitimate aim, on the part of any for us even in a Avild garden. one carrying out this to any extent, would be to try and develop a selection, yet their fine liabit

In such a case the

sub-tropical aspect of vegetation in certain places.

Yuccas could not be dispensed with. The free-flowering kinds (Y. flaccida and Y. filamentosa) should not be omitted, as they are more likely to spread and increase than the larger ones

better held together in groups.

;

all

such plants are


CHAPTER

XV.

SELECTIONS OF IIAIIDY EXOTIC PLANTS FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS IN

THE WILD GARDEN. As it is (lesiralile to kuDw how to procure as well as how to select the best kinds, few words

a ?

subject

may

on the not be

first

amiss

Jiere. jlMlK

A

very important point the getting of a stock of In country or other places

is

plants to begin witli. where many good old border flowers remain in the cottage

gardens,

A

many

species

may be

collected

nursery beds should be formed in some by -place in which such subjects could be Free -growing increased to any desired degree. therein.

series of

spring flowers like Aubrietia, Alyssum, and Iberis,

Ophrys

in grass.

maybe multiplied to any extent by division or cuttings. Numbers of kinds may be raised from seed sown rather thinly in drills, in nursery beds in the open air. The catalogues should be searched every Spring for suitable subjects. The best time for sowing is the Spring, but any time during the Summer will do. Many perennials and bulbs must be bought in nurseries and increased as well as may be in nursery beds. As to soil, etc., the best way is to avoid the trouble of preparing it

The great point is to adapt the except for specially, interesting plants. to in to the soil place plants that thrive in peat, peaty places plant

—

in clay soils those that thrive in clays, and so on. Among coarse before the is to best the ground deeply planting, so dig way vegetation


THE WILD GARDEN.

164

become well

as to allow the planted subjects to is so dried,

and exhausted and impoverished

with coarse weeds, that so

A

selection of

dwarf

much

preparation

Arabis albida.

Waldsteinia

Aiibrietia, in var. Alyssuin saxatile.

Potentilla calabra.

latliyroides.

,,

trifolia.

ffinotliera speciosa.

Odontarrlieiia carsinum.

,,

missouriensis.

Iberis corifolia.

taraxacifolia.

sempervirens.

correfefolia.

Sedum dentatum. kamtschaticum.

,,

Tlilasjii latifoliiiin.

,,

Sieboldii.

^thioiiema

,,

spectabile.

sinirium.

coridifoHuiii.

Heliaiitheiuum, in var. Viola cornuta.

Sempervivum calcareum.

cucullata. „ Gypsopliila rejjens. Tunica Saxifraga. Saponai'ia ocynioides. Silene alpestris.

„ „

arboreum.

flavum. Geranium Wallichianuni. striatum. „

and

otliers.

Oxalis floribunda.

Genista

sagittalis.

Aiitliyllis

Astragalus

monspessu-

lanus.

,,

longifolia.

C'cityledou. rosularis.

Teucrium Chamsedrys. Ajiiga geuevensis. Scutellaria ali)ina.

Prunella grandiflora. Stachys lanata. Zietenia lavandulsfolia.

Dodecatheon Meadia. Acautliolimon glumacenni.

Dondia Epipactis.

Armeria cephalotes.

Atliamanta Mattliioli. Cornus canadensis.

Plumbago Larpentse. Polygonum Brunonis.

Scabiosa caucasica. Hieracium aurantiacum.

Euphorbia Cyimrissias.

Doronicum caucasicuni.

Iris cristata.

Plants of vigoro^is

any other kind.

Pliysalis Alkekengi. Pentstemon jirocerus. Veronica austriaca.

Astrantia major.

Campanula

or

dissitiflora.

Candida.

Hedysarum obscurum.

napellit'olius,

mollis.

Myosotis

taurica.

Symjihyandra pendula.

subulata.

,,

Lithosijermum prostratum. Pulmonaria grandiflora.

,,

Corouilla varia.

Trollius altaicus.

Vinca lierbacea. Gentiana acaulis. Phlox stolonifera.

,,

Aster alpiniis. Tussilago I'ragrans. Achillea aurea.

montana.

fiagilis.

„ garganica. „ cajspitosa. Gaultheria procumbens.

sedoides.

crustata.

,,

Campanula

soboliferum.

Saxifraga Aizoon. cordifolia. „ crassifolia. „

Linum alpinum.

cinereum,

montanum.

,,

grandiliorum. tomentosuni.

,,

liirtuni.

Scliafta. „ Cerastium Biebersteinii.

necessary.

Plants for Naturalisation in 'places devoid of any hut on hare hanks, etc., and in foorisli soil. Vicia argentea. Orobus vernus.

,,

is

vegetation,

Dielytra eximia. formosa. ,, Cheirautlius alpiuiis.

Tlie ground some woodland places

establislied,

in

,,

graminea. immila.

,,

reticulata.

,,

nudicaulis.

,,

carpatica.

Jiahit

for the Wild Garden.

Pseonia, in great var. Papaver orientale.

vaccinifolium.

,,

bracteatum.

Althaea „ ,,

iicifolia.

nudiflora.

taurinensis

Thalictrum aquilegifolium.

Macleya cordata.

Lavatera Olbia.

Delphinium, in var. Aconitum, in var.

Datisca cannabina.

Galega

Crambe

cordifolia.

officinalis.

biloba.


SELECTIONS OF IIAEDY EXOTIC PLANTS. LathjTUS „

latifolius.

graudiflorus, and any others.

Lupinus polyphyllus. Tlierniopsis baiLata.

Alfredia cernua. Onopordon tauricum.

Asclepias Cornuti. „ Douglasii.

Centaurea babylonica. EchiuoiJS bannaticus. exaltatus. „

Verbascum

Spiraea Aruncus.

Moloposperniuni rium.

Ferula communis. „

glauca.

tingitana. sulcata.

Novi

„ „

pyrenanis.

,,

ericoides,

spinosus.

,,

spinosissimu.s.

Phytolacca deeandra.

Belgii.

Xovce

speciosa.

,,

Acantlius latifolius.

„ purpureus. Aster elegans. cicuta-

Chaixii.

Physostegia imbricata.

rutlienicu.s.

,,

Astilbe rivularis. rubra. „

Polygonum

Angliffi.

Sieboldii.

Rheum Emodi. and

any

other good kinds.

,, palmatuni. Achillea Eupatorium.

Eupatorium purpureum.

Bambusa

Statice latifolia.

Telekia cordifolia.

Peucedanura

Helianthus angustifolius.

Veratnim album. Yucca lilamentosa.

involucratum. „

Heracleum „

longifolium. Havesceus.

giganteum.

Dijisacus laciuiatus. Mulgedium Plumleri.

165

falcata.

,,

multiflorus.

, ,

flaccida.

,,

orgyalis.

,,

recurva.

,,

gloriosa.

Harpalium rigidum. Silphixim perfoliatum. Campanula, all the tall and

Peucedauum ruthenicum. Astragalus pouticus.

strong gi-owing kinds.

Hardy Plants with fine foliage

or (jraceful habit suitable for

Naturalisation. Acantlius, several species.

Verbascum

Asclej)ias syriaca. Statice latil'olia.

Spirfea Aruncus.

Polygonum cusi^idatum. sachalinense.

,,

Rheum Emodi, and

other

Panicum bulbosum.

Chaixii.

Astilbe rivularis. rubra. ,,

ErjTigium, several

si)ecies.

virgatum.

Dijisacus laciniatus. Alfredia cernua. Carliua acanthifolia.

Ferula, several species.

Telekia cordifolia.

Phytolacca deeandra. Centaurea babylonica.

Echinops exaltatus.

Datisca cannabiua.

Actcea, in var.

Helianthus orgyalis.

Veratrum album.

Cimicifuga racemosa. Peucedauum ruthenicum.

kinds.

Euphorbia

Cj'parissias.

Cranibe cordifolia.

Althwa taurineusis.

Heracleum, several species. Aralia japouica.

arenarius.

Elymus Bambusa,

,,

several species.

Arundinaria falcata.

multiflorus,

,,

and vars. Silybum eburueum. Mariauum. Onof)ordon Acanthium. , ,

edulis.

, ,

rutlienicus.

Macleaya cordata.

arabicuiu.

,,

Yucca, several species.

Plants for Hedge-hanJcs and

like Places.

Clematis in great var. Thalictrum aquilegifolium.

Baptisia australis. Coronilla varia.

Lathyrus latifolius albus. Lupinus polyphyllus.

Anemone

Galega officinalis, both white and pink forms. Galega bilolm.

(Enothera Lamarckiaua.

japouica

vars.

Delphinium, in var. Aconitum, in var. ]\Iacleaya cordata.

and

Rubus

biflorus.

Astilbe rivularis.

Astragalus ponticus.

Ferula, in var.

Lathyrus grandiflorus.

Campanula,

Kitaibelia vitifolia.

rotun<lifoIius.

Tropaeolum speciosum.

latifolius.

in great var. Calystegia daliurica. ,, pubescens.


THE WILD GARDEN.

166 Verbascnni f'lmixii. Pentsteniou liarljatus. Veronica, tall kinds in

Asparagus Broussoneti.

common kinds. Narcissus, common kinds

Vitis, in var.

Scillas, in

Pliloniis Russelliaiia.

van

Phytolacca decandra. Aristolochia Siplio.

Pliysostegia speciosa. „ virgiuica.

Fritillary, in var.

etc.

Trailers, Climbers,

The

officinalis.

,,

Honeysuckles, in var. Leucojum, in var.

Statice latifolia.

lierba-venti.

Acanthus spinosns. Lilies,

var.

selection of plants to cover bowers, trellises, railings, old trees,

stumps, rootwork, fitted for these

etc.,

suitably,

cipitous banks, flanks of rustic

or

cottages

is

important, particularly as the plants

purposes are ecpially useful for rough rockwork, pre-

outhouses, and

bridges,

river-banks, riiins,

other

many

uses

in

covering

garden, pleasure-

ground, or wilderness. Clematis, in great variety, both sjjecies and hybrids. Calystegia dahurica. ,, puliescens plena.

Ampelojisis bipinnata.

Isabella.

Wistaria sinensis.

Jasminuni nudiHonim.

,,

Labrusca.

,,

laciniosa.

Asparagus Broussoueti. Periploca grreca. Hablitzia tamnoides.

Vitis

ffistivalis.

amooriensis.

,,

cordifolia.

,,

heterophylla variegata

„ „

riparia. Sieljoldii.

vinifera apiifolia.

,,

vulpina. Aristolochia Sipho.

Boussingaultiabaselloides. Meuispermum canadense.

Cissus orientalis.

tomentosa.

,,

„ ,,

Coronaria.

,,

fulgens.

,, ,,

trifolia.

amplexicaulis.

montanus. ,, Helleborus niger. ,, olympicus.and

many

other

many

,,

orientale.

Dielytra eximia. spectabilis. lutea.

,,

Cheiranthus alpinus. Cheiri.

Aubrietia, various.

Alyssum

saxatile.

Iberis corifolia.

sempervirens.

,,

correai'folia.

Saponaria ocymoides. Silene aljiestris.

kinds.

Epimedium pinnatum

Aral)is.

Viola cornuta.

kinds.

Erantlus hyemalis. Aqnik'gia vulgaris. PiKonia,

bracteatum.

,,

Ranxuiculus aconitifolius. ,,

,,

,,

.

cordata.

,,

hederacea. tricuspidata.

,,

,,

officinale.

,,

revolutuni.

Passitlora ccerulea.

Lonicera Caprifolium. „

confusa.

,,

tlava.

japonica.

Periclymenum.

,,

Floirers for Naturalisation.

Corydalis capnoides.

Hepatica. ranuncnloides.

,,

Summer

Pajiaver croceum.

alpina.

„ sulphurea. apennina. blanda.

pubescens.

,,

Sfriny and early

Anemone

virginicum.

,,

,,

,,

Arenaria montana. Ononis fruticosa.

Vicia argentea. Orobvis flaccidus. ,,

cj'aneus.

lathyroides. variegatns. vernus.

,,

Centranthus ruber. Centaurea montana. Doronicum caucasicum. Thlaspi latifolium. Hesperis matronalis. Erica carnea.

Viuca major. Gentiana acaulis. Phlox reptans. Pulmonaria grandiflora. mollis.

,,

Symphytum ,,

Myosotis

boliemicum. caucasicum.

dissitiflora.


SELECTIONS OF HARDY EXOTIC PLANTS. Omphalodes verua.

Iris variegata,

Verbascuni Cliaixii. Dodecatlieon Jeffrey!. Meadia. ,,

other kinds. Crocus aureus.

Cyclamen Cyclamen

,,

liederDefolium.

,,

many Ornithogalum umbellatum. Seilla aiiHi'iia.

susianus, and others.

Primula, in var.

many

Narcissus angustifolius.

Iris amceiia.

Allium neapolitanum.

tlorentina.

,,

.,

gernianica.

,,

moutanus.

,,

graminea.

, ,

odorus.

saiiilnieina.

sub-billora.

sibii'ica.

iucomparabilis. major.

,,

,,

,,

italica.

,,

Bulbocodium.

oeliroleiica.

bicolor.

Haveseens.

]iallida.

patula.

,,

De

cainiianulata.

,,

, ,

oristata.

,,

,,

Hyacinthus amethystinus. Muscari botryoides. „ mosehatum, and

Bergii.

bifolia

,,

speciosus. versicolor.

,,

enroi)aniiii.

aiul

-lC^7

various others.

,,

ciliatnm.

Tulipa Gesueriana.

,, poeticusfe vars. Galautlms, in var.

, ,

suaveolens.

, ,

scabriscapa

many

Leueojum inilchellum. ,,

veruum.

and

others.

Fritillaria, in var.

Bulbocodium vernuin.

Paradisia Liliastriim.

Plants for Naturalisation beneath specimen Trees on Lawns,

etc.

Where, as is fref|uently the case, the branches of trees, both and this, as a rule, they evergreen and deciduous, sweep the turf shoukl be allowed to do where they are planted in ornamental

a great nunil)er of pretty sjiring flowers may be naturalised grounds beneath the branches, where they thrive without attention. It is chiefly in the case of deciduous trees that this could be

done

;

but

even in the case of conifers and evergreens some graceful objects might be dotted beneath the outermost points of their lower branches. However, it is the specimen deciduous tree that

oft'ers

us the best opportuni-

We know that a great number of our spring flowers way. and hardy bulbs mature their foliage and go to rest early in the year. They require light and sun in spring, which they obtain abundantly ties in this

under the deciduous leaves under

it

tree

;

they have time to flower and develop their then, as the

before the foliage of the tree appears

;

summer

heats approach, they are gradually overshadowed by a cooL canopy, and go to rest undisturbed ; but, the leaves of the trees once fallen, they soon begin to appear again and cover the ground with

beauty.

An

example or two will perhaps explain the matter more

Take the

fully.

a spreading old specimen of any summer-leafing Scatter a few tufts of the winter Aconite beneath it, and leave

tree.

them

case

of, say,

In a very few years they will have covered the ground alone. every year afterwards they will spread a golden carpet beneath the and when it fades there will be no eyesore from decaying leaves tree ;

;


THE WILD GARDEN.

168 as there

would be on a border

Autumn,

no necessity for replacing the plants the tree puts forth its leaves, covering the ground till and in early spring we again see our little friend in all the

with others

;

In this way this vigour of his glossy leaves and golden buttons. pretty sjiring fiower may be seen to mucli greater advantage, in a

much more

pleasing position than in

tlie

ordinary

way

of putting

it

in

patches and rings in beds or borders, and with a tithe of the trouble. There are many other subjects of which the same is true. We have

only to imagine this done in a A'ariety of cases to see to what a beautiand novel result it would lead. Given the bright blue Apennine Ane-

ful

mone under one

tree, the spring Snowflake under another, the delicate blue and pencilled Crocuses, and so on, we should have a sjjring garden of the most beautiful kind. Tlie same plan could be carried out imder

the branches of a grove as well as of sjiecimen trees.

Very attractive mixed plantations might be made by dotting tall subjects like the large Jonquil (Narcissus odorus) among dwarf spreading jjlants like the Anemone, and also by mixing dwarf plants of various colours :

diversely

cohjured

varieties

of

the

same

species

of

Anemone,

for

example.

Omitting the various pretty British plants that would thrive in the tliese are not likely to be unknown to the reader

positions indicated

interested in such matters

—and

confining the selection to dwarf, hard}', the following are selected as among the most suitable for such arrangements as that just described, with some little exotic

flowers

alone,

attention as to the season of flowering and the kind of soil recj[uired by some rather uncommon species. late- flowering kind, for example,

A

shoiild be planted

under

late -leafing trees,

or towards the points of

their branches, so that they might not be obscured the tree before peifecting their flowers.

Auemone

by the

leaves of


SELECTIONS OF HARDY Plants

Eupatorium, in

Astilbe riviilaris. Aralia edulis. mulicaulis. „

Ficaria grandiflora.

ffinotliera, large kinds.

var.

Oini)lialodes verna. On()j)ordon, in var.

Galax apliylla. Galega officinalis. Gentiana asclepiadea. Heliantlius

Phlomis lierba-venti.

single and double forms. Heliantlius orgyalis.

Baptisia exaltata.

rigidus. Helonias bullata. ,,

luuljellatu.s.

C'alla palustris.

Caltlia palustris

ti.

pi.

iiarnassit'olius.

Solidago, in var.

var.

Liatris, in var.

Lythnim

Spirrea Aruncus. Statice latifolia.

super-

(roseuni

Miniulas, in var.

Cyx)ripediuin

Moloposperiuuni rium.

Silpliiuui, in var.

Swertia pereunis. Telekia speciosa.

bum).

Ci'inuni cai)ense.

Ecliinops, in var. Elymns, in var.

,,

Heracleum, in

large kinds. Convallaria multiflora.

sjiectaljile.

Rudbeckia liirta. Ranunculus ainplexicaulis. Sanguinaria canadensis.

Iris ochreleuca.

Datisca cannaMna.

Pliysostegia speciosa. Phytolacca decantlra.

Hemerocallis, in var.

Campanula glomerata, and

Colcliicum, in var.

Russelliana.

„

multitlorus,

Aspliodelu.s ranio.-ius. Aster, in var.

Butonms

11)9

very vioist rich Soils.

for.

Altliffia, in var.

Artemisia, in var. Asclepias Cornuti.

PLANTS.

EXO'I'K'

cicuta-

Tlialictruin, in

vai-.

Mulgedium Plumieri.

Trollius, in var. Vaccinium, in var.

Narcissus, stronger kinds.

Veratrum, in var.

Epilobium, in var.

Plants suited for Peat Alstroemeria, in var. Calluna, in var.

Funkia

Chimaijbila maculata. Clirysobactron Hookeri. Coptis trifoliata. Cornus canadensis.

Galax

C3'pripedium spectabile. Dentaria laciniata. Daj^line C'neorum.

Iris

Soil.

Sieboldii.

Podophyllum Emodi.

grandiflora.

Polygala Chanuebuxus.

,,

Pyrola, in var.

apliylla.

Gaultlieria procumbens. Gentians, in var.

Hardy Heaths, in var. Ramondia pyrenaica.

Helonias bullata.

Sisyriuchium

midicaulis,

and

puniila,

grandiflo-

rum.

JettVrsonia diphylla.

Spigelia marilandica. Trieutalis euro])?ea.

Dryas octopetala.

Linntea borealis.

Trillium grandiflorum.

Epigffia repeus. Epimediuni, in var.

Podophyllum

Lilies, in var.

vars.

peltatuni.

Plants suited for Calcareous or CJialbj Adenophora,

in var.

^thionema, in var. Anemone, in var.

Dorycnium sericeum. Dianthus, in var. Ecliium, in var.

Alyssum,

in var.

Erodium, in

Antliyllis

montana.

Genista, in var.

var.

Antirrhinum, in var.

Geum,

Cistus, in var. Cheiranthus, in var.

Geranium, in

Camiiauula, in ^ar.

var.

Gypsoj^hila, in var. in var.

Carduus eriophorus. Cerastium, in var.

Lunaria biennis.

Corouilla, in var.

Lupinus

Onobrychis, in var. Ononis, in var. Ol)hrys, in var.

Othonna

cheirifolia.

Phlomis, iu var. Prunella grandiflora.

in var.

Hedysarum, Helianthemum,

Soil.

in var.

]iolypliyllus.

Santolina, in var.

Sapouaria ocymoides. Saxifraga (the encrusted and the large-leaved kinds). Scabiosa, in var.


THE WILD GARDEN.

170 Sempervivuni, in var.

Sednm,

in var.

Trachelium coeruleum.

Vicia, in var.

Trifolinm alpinum.

Vittadenia trilolia. Waklsteinia trifoliata.

in var.

Triteleia uniflora.

Tliermopsis fabacea.

Tunica Saxifraga.

Symphytum, Thymus,

geoides.

Vesicaria iitriculata.

in var.

Plants suited for

Dry and

Gravelly Soil.

Achillffia, in var. iEthionema cordifolium.

Dorycnium sericeum. Eehium, in var.

Agrostemma coronaria. Alyssum saxatile.

Erodium, in var. Eryngium, in var.

Onobrychis, in var. Ononis, in var. Ornithogaluni, in var. Plumljago Larpenta?.

Antennaria dioica. Anthyllis montaua. Antirrhinum rujiestre. Arabis albida.

Eui3horl)ia Myrsinites.

Polygonum

Fumaria, in var. Geranium, in var. Gypsophiha, in var.

Santolina, in var.

Aubrietia, in var.

Heliantlieinum, in var. Heliehrysum arenarium.

Armeria cephalotes. Artemisia, in var. Cerastium, in var. Carlina acanthifolia.

Cheiranthus, in var. Chrysopsis mariana. Cistus, in var.

Corydalis, in var.

Dianthus, in var. Dracocephaluni, in var. Dielytra eximia.

Selection of Plants for Achillea tomentosa.

vaccinifolium.

Scabiosa, in var.

Sedum, in great var. Sempervivum, in great var.

Jasione perennis.

Saponaria ocymoides. Stachys lanata. Tencrium Chamaxlrys. Thlaspi latifoliuni.

Lavandula

Thymus,

Hypericum,

in

vai'.

Iberis, in var.

spica.

Lupinus polyphylhis. Modiola geranioides. Narcissus, in var. Nepeta Mussinii.

Growing on Old

in var.

Trachelium, in var.

Linaria, in var. Liuum, in var.

Tussilago fragrans. Farfara variegata. „

Verbascum, in

var.

Vesicaria utricxilata.

JFalls, Ruins, or

Bochj

Slopes.


SELECTIONS OF HAEDY EXOTIC PLANTS. Sedum album.

171

Sempervivuni tectonim.

Seduni liispaniciim.

aiiglicuiu. arenariuiii.

kair.scliaticum.

Sileiie alpestris.

,,

iiiontaiuun.

brevifoliuin.

limit iceps.

californicum.

,,

piliferuiu.

„ rupe.'<tris. Scliafta. „ Sj'mphiaiidra iiciidula.

„ „

iiulclinini.

cceruleuni. (lasypliylluni.

Tlilaspi alpestre. Thymus citriodorus.

sempervivoides.

Tiicliomanes, and

Sempervivuni araclinoid-

elegans. Ewersii.

eiiiii.

farinosum.

sobolifenim.

.,

spuriiim.

Heuffelli.

,,

sexaiigiilare.

liirtuni.

sexfidum.

globiferum.

A

Selection of

Godetia tenella.

Eschsclioltzia californica.

Platystenion californicum.

Clarkia elegans. „ pulchella.

Matthiola annua.

Eucharidium

bicornis.

conciunum

Amberboa

moscliata. odorata.

„ Heliantlius aunuus.

Iberis coronaria.

Xatiiralisation.

Polygonum orientale. Panicum capillare. Bromus briza:^formis. Briza maxima. „ gracilis. Agrostis nebulosa. Matthiola, in var.

granditlorum.

Arabis arenosa. Alyssum inaritimum.

saxatilis.

Vesicaria utriculata.

Annual and Biennial Plants for

Papaver somuiferum.

var.s.

Tunica Saxifraga. Umbilicus clirysantluis. Veronica fruticulosa.

Lunaria biennis.

umbellata. „ Malcolraia maritima. Erysimum Perotfskianum.

Gilia cajiitata.

Gypsopliila elegans.

Collomia cocciuea.

Saponaria calabrica. Silene Armeria.

Leptosiplion androsaceus. densiflorus. „

Viscaria oculata.

Nicandra pliysaloides.

Dipsacus laciniatus.

Collinsia bicolor.

Silybum eburneum. Onopordum, in var. Campanula Medium. rosea. „ „ Yerbascum phlomoides.

Malope

trifida.

Limnantlies Doiiglasii.

Ononis viscosa. (Enotliera odorata.

Godetia Lindleyana. rubicuuda. „

Dinioi'ijliotlieca pluvialis.

tricolor.

,,

,,

verna.

Dracoceplialum nutans. moldavicum. ,, Blituni capitatum.

Hesperis matronalis. Erysimum asperum. Silene pendula. Hedysarum coronarium. CEnotliera Jaiiiesi.

Oenothera Lamarckiana.

Grasses for Naturalisation: Agrostis nebulosa. Briza maxima. Brizopyrum siculum.

Bromus

brizseformis.

Some

Hordeuni jubatum.

Polypogon monspeliensis. Stipa gigautea.

Panicum virgatum. „

bulbosum.

,,

capillare.

of (jur nnliler grasses, like tlie

jiennata.

^lilium multiflorum.

Pampas and

tlie

New

Zealaml

have not the qualities of perfect hardiness ami power nf increase without care in our climate, which would entitle them to a place in

reeds,

these selections.

They belong

to the

garden

propt-r.

Aquatic Plants for Naturalisation.

Nuphar

advena.

Nymphffia odorata.

C'alla palustris.

Poutederia cordata.

Aponogeton distachyon. Orontium aquaticum.


THE WILD GARDEN.

172

Hardy Bulbs for Allium Molj'. fragrans. ,

iieapolitaniiiii. ciliatuiu.

,

,,

Naturalisation.

Cyclamen, in var. Eiytlironium Dens-canis.

Narcissus, iu great var,

Fritillaria, in var.

Scilla, in var.

Ornithogalum, in var.

Gladiolus communis.

Snowdrops,

Hyacinthus ametliystinus.

Sparaxis jndclierrima. Sternbergia lutea. Tricliouema ramitlorum.

in var.

Brodifea coiigesta. Bulbocodium venmiii.

Iris, in

Camassia esculenta.

Leucojum, in

Crinum capense.

Lilium, in var.

Triteleia uniflora.

Crocus, in gi-eat var. Coldiicuni, iu var.

Merendera Bulbocodium.

Tulijia, in var.

great var. var.

Muscari, in var.

List of Plants for Naturalisation in Laicns not frequently

This must of necessity be a limited

foliage large

enough

to

Bulbocodium vernum. ColcliicTim, in var. Cyclamen liederaifolium.

Sno\vdroi)s,

all.

Leucojum veruuni. Scilla bifolia.

,, ,

,

, ,

much

Anemone , ,

ranunculoides. blanda.

,,

trifolia.

tufts or

Narcissus minor. bicolor.

, ,

Bulbocodium.

,,

Antennaria dioica rosea. Antlij'llis montana. Dianthus deltoides.

sibirica.

Helichrysum arenarium.

amcena.

Iris reticulata.

apennina.

to sul)jects

and not form

injure the turf.

italica.

Anemone

other Grassy Places

—being confined

season,

Erodium romanum. Fumaria bulbosa.

alba.

,,

list

grow and flower early in the

tluit will

and

mown.

juncifolius, and many others.

,,

Sternbergia lutea. Hyacinthus ametliystinus.

Merendera Bulbocodium. Muscari, iu var. Trichonenia ramiflorum.

Linum alpinum.

Climbing and Tioinincj Plants for Thickets, Copses, Hedgerows, and Ampelopsis bipinnata. ,,

cordata.

,,

hederacea.

tricuspidata. Apios tnberosa. Aristolochia Sipho. tomentosa. „ AsparagTis Broussoneti. Calystegia dahurica. Cissus orientalis. , ,

Clematis flammula. ,,

montana.

Clematis Viticella,

and

others.

„ „

Periclymenum.

Menispermum canadense. „

officinale.

virginicum.

Perijjloca grasca. Roses, single, in great var.

Lathyrus grandiflorus. ,,

Louicera japonica. ,,

Hablitzia tamnoides. Jasminum nudiflorum.

Trees.

latifolius.

Smilax, hardy kinds.

rotundifolius.

Tanms communis.

tuberosus

and

Tropaeolum pentaphyllum.

others.

Louicera Ca|irifolinm. „

confusa.

,,

tlava.

speciosum.

Vitis, various.

Wistaria frutesceus. „

sinensis.

These selections are only proposed as aids to those dealing with The most valuable selection and best guide to the special positions. material for the lieginner will be found in Chapter XIV., on the principal types of Hardy Exotic Plants for the wild garden.


RABBITS AND WOODS.

173

RABBITS AND WOODS. This sad subject has been kept for the hx.'^t, as the only disa<i;reeAll I have to say of able one in connection with the wihl garden. but the following it is, there should be no rabbits in the wild garden ;

suggestions

may

prove

useful.

The

subject should be presented in a practical light to landowners and preservers of game, and if it can be shown that the preservation,

on an estate

or rather toleration, of rabbits

a dead loss both to the

is

more active measures would proprietor and his tenants, probably It is incalculable the injury they

taken for their extermination. trees alone

young

indeed, where they j^revail there

;

up cover except destructive, if they damage

getting

at

an

exti'avagant

trees at all

;

and

is

cost.

it is

said

l)e

do to

no chance of

Hares are

less

by experienced

gamekeepers that they never thrive so well where rabbits abound.

them away by eating down the in the way of shelter in their existence to cover so necessary evergreen Pheasants will not remain in a wood where there is not winter.

And

as regards pheasants, they drive

shelter of this kind

;

and nothing are they more

partial to than the

Holly, which ought to abound in every wood, but which the ralibits Here are two sorts of game hares and pheasants which destroy first. have enough of, and the existence of which is directly never can many

interfered with

by the

expense of the latter

they should be encouraged at the speak of the expense incurred year after

rabbits

—not

to

;

year making up losses in plantation, and the expense of wire-netting and labour, etc., in protecting the trees. The extermination of rabbits is not such a difficult matter as might be imagined. was determined here a few years since to reduce their numbers to a minimum on the farm lands and woods, it did not require more than a couple of years to do so by shooting and ferreting during the

in this country

When

season estate

it

and

are

they — an extensive ;

now

principally confined to one part of the much use for any other

tract of waste land not of

I feel pretty certain that a few active poachers would underpurpose. take to clear an estate of its rabbits in a marvellously short time, and would be glad to pay a handsome consideration for the privilege of

loing

ci

and

so.

it is

crops,

In whatever degree rabbits contribute to our food supply much they certainly destroy a great quantity of our coin

not

and are no

profit to

gentlemen or game preservers, and there

is

therefore no excuse for their existence.

Hungry

rabbits, like

hungry dogs

or starving

men, will eat almost


THE WILD GAEDEN.

174

anything that can be masticated and swallowed.

Rabl)its, as a rule,

wholesome

prefer to nibble over a pasture that contains short, sweet,

grass, and a proportion of clover, dandelion, and daisies, but in and about woods where rabbits are numerous, the grass, from Ijeing closely and constantly eaten off, gradually disappears, and at the approach of

winter

is

substitute

than

;

succeeded by moss, a very cold, watery, and innutritions then rabbits are diiven to seek food from other sources

and the bark of small

grass,

trees,

the leaves, stalks, and bark of

shrubs, and the protruding roots of forest trees, are eaten almost indis-

Amongst evergreen shrubs, rhododendrons and box are criminately. generally avoided, but I have known newly-planted hybrid rhododendrons to be partly eaten l)y rabbits. The elder is distasteful, and American barked

azaleas

avoided.

are

I

and periwinkle, which

is

Yew

have frecpiently seen

mahonias are devoured in these woods

;

named amongst

eaten to the ground in severe weather.

ral)bit-proof plants,

Some

trees

as soon as planted

of the bulbs

is

;

generally

and flower-

ing plants named l)y your correspondent may well escape in winter, because they are not seen above ground, and where they grow, other

more agreeable herbage appears,

so their immunity consists in being Wliere rabbits are permitted, the fact hungry that they require food daily, like other creatures, should be recognised. In the absence of wholesome food they will eat simply what they can

inaccessible in a

A

time.

certain portion of grass land should be retained for

them and

managed accordingly a few acres might be wired round, more explicit, surrounded with wire-netting, to the exclusion

of rabbits,

get.

;

be

or, to

when it could l)e thrown open cannot be done, and frosty weatlier sets in, when the mischief to shrubs is consummate<l, trimmings of quick hedges should be scattered about, and an allowance of turnips, carrots, or

until the apju'oach of wintry weather, for them.

If this

mangold wurzel made and doled out daily rabbits

experience established.

I

in

planted trees

newly have even had the fronds prefer

bad weather.

and shrubs

of newly-planted

Filix-fcomina eaten, while other ferns have been untouched.

one hint

I

may

In to

my

those

Athyrium There

is

certain breeds of give your rabbit-preserving readers wild rabbits are much more prone to bark trees than others. The :

barking of trees is an acquired propensity more common to northI should advise the destruction of those country rabbits than others. rabbits

whose propensity for shrubs is very marked, and try warren or rabbits from the south of England Imt the best advice I can

common give

is to

have no rabbits at

all.

—

;

J. S.


RABBITS AND WOODS.

A

correspoiuleiit

who

lias

175

given niucli attention to tlie subject among the most rabh it-proof of

(Saliiioniceps) gives the following, as

plants

:

"

Most

of the Lily family are," he says, " rejected

by them,

including Daffodils, Tulips, Snowdrops, Sno-\vflakes, Lilies, Day Lilies, Asphodels, and others, and they cannot Ije too extensively plaiitt-d ;

but even in that tribe the Crocus (which is also named in the article I gave in an early nmuber of in cj^uestion) is greedily devoured.

your paper (see pp. 9 and 88, Yol.

I.)

—a

list

of all rabbit-proof trees,

shrubs, and flowers then kno\ra to me, and I regret that, though keeping a watch ujion the subject, I have not been able to add a single species to

tlie list

AndrosEemum

given below."

officinale.


FINIS.


INDEX. Acanthus, 120 Aceitlent, a beautiful, ol

Achillea, 122 Achilleas, large white, 53 Aconite, the Winter, 139 Aconitum, 121 Adam's Xeedle, 162 Ajuga, 122 Alkanet, 125 Allium, the Wliite, 123 Allium, the Yellow, naturalised, 42 Alstra;nieria, 123 Althaea, 123, 150 American Cowslip, 136 American Swamp Lily, 64 American Wliite Wood Lilv, 59 Ampelopsis, 130 Anchusa, 125 Anemone, 124 Anemone, Blue Apennine, 17 Anemone fulgens, 23 Anemones in the Riviera, 25 Anthericum, 125 Antirrhinum, 125

Apennine Anemone,

7

Aquilegia, 125 Arabis, 126 Arenaria, 126 Arenaria balearica on a wall, 88 Aristolochia Sipho, 129 Arum, 127 Arundo Donax, 155 Asclepias, 128 Asphodel, 127 Aster, 128 Astragalus, 129 Astrantia, 129 Atragene Alpina, 30 Aubrietia, 129

Bamboo, 130 Rjmbusa, 130 Baptisia, 130 Barren-wort, 13S Bear's Breech, 120 Bedding System, Bee Balm,'l50

the, 2

BeU-flower, 130 Bindweed, 134 Bindweed, a South European, 135 Bindweed, large white, 39 Bitter Vetch, 151 Blood-root, 15

Bloodwort, 157 Blue Ajiennine Anemone, 17 Blue Rock Cress, 129 Bog Garden, 77 Bog Gardens, 67

Columbine, 125 Columbine, the Siberian, 126 Columbines in Grass, v Comfrey, 157

Bohemian Comfi-ey,

Lujiine, 146 Copse, Lily of the Vallev in a, 63 Copses, 30 Coral-wort, 135 Cornus canadensis, 133 Coronilla varia, 135

11

Borage, 12

Borage family,

'.i

Borago, 130

Borago cretica, 13 Bramble, 155 Bramble, the Xootka, 40 Brookside Gardens, 67 Bugle, 122 Bulbs, hardy, for naturalisation, 172 Bulbs an<l Tubers in grass, 15

Calla

palustris, 135 Callirhoe, 150 Calystegia, 134

Campanula, 130 Candjimft, Evergi'een.

14.'.

Cape Pond Wee(l, 75 Catch-fly, 157 Caucasian Comfi-ey, Celastrus, 46 Centaurea, 131

9,

Cow

Parsnips, 143

Crambe, 134 Crane's Bill, wild, 94 Creeping Forget-me-not, 151 Cretan Borage, 13 Crocus, 132 Crocuses, 17 Crocuses in turf, 20 Culture in Woods, 64 Cyclamen, 133

Cypripedium spectabile, 133

on

grass, 87

Colchicum, 132 Colony of iljTi-his odorata, 51 Colony of Xareissus in shrubbery, 57 Colony of Summer Snowflake, 119

N

Cotton Thistle, 151 Cow Parsnip, the Giant, 35

den, 134 C\i>erus longus, 73

Cejihalaria, 157 Cephalaria procera, 33 Cerastium, 131 Cheddar Pink, 91 Cheddar Pink, Saxifrage, etc., on wall, 89 Cheiranthus, 131 Christmas Rose, 143 Clematis, 133 Clematis erecta, 133 Clematis flammula, 21 Clematis, large white, on Yew tree, 44 Clematis, the mountain, 22 Clematis, the White-flowered European, 133 Climbei-s, 166 Climbing plants crueitied, 45 Climbing plants for WiW Garden, 8

isolated

Common

Cyclamen, 1%-j-leaved, 5 Cyclamens in the Wild Gar-

10

Centiauthus ruber, 131

Climbing Rose

Comfreys, 11

Daffodil, 151

Day Day

Lily, 143 Lily by margin of water,

76

Delphinium, 136 Dentaria, 135 Dianthus, 137 Dielytra, 136 Digitalis, 137

Digging shrubbery borders, 51

Ditches, 36

Dodecatheon, 136 Dog's-tooth Violet, 139 Doronicuni, 136 Drapery for trees and bushes, 43 Dug and mutilated shrubbery in St. James's Park, 111 Dwaj-f Cornel, 133

EcHixops, 138

EUacombe, Rev. H. the Rose, 81 Bnothera, 151 Epigtca rcpens, 138

X.,

on


INDEX.

178 Eiiinieiliuiu, 138

Eranthis

Hejiatica angulosa, 24 Hepatiea, common, 25 Heracleum, 143 Herb Paris and Solomon's Seal in copse by streamlet, 67 Hespei'is, 145 Honesty, 146 Honeysuckle, 147 Hop, the, 46 Houseleek, 158 Mr., on tree drapery, Hovev, ' 47 Hyi)ericum, 145

l:!',i

liyeiiialis,

Erica, 138

Eryngiiim, 138 ErythroiiiuiH, 139 P^uiiatoriuiu, 137 <

Evening Primrose, 151 Evening Primrose at niglit,

4

Evergreen Candytnft, 145 Everlasting Pea,' 148 Exotic and Britisli Wild Flowers in the Wild Gai-den, 17

MeadowRue in Wild Garden, 1 Meadow Rues, 31 Meadow Saffron, foliage of, 132 Menispermum, 47 Menziesia, 138 Mertensia virginica, 12 Milk Vetch, 129 Mimulus, 148 Mocassin Flower, 133 Molopospermum, 149 Monarda,

1.50

Monkey-flower, 148 Monksiiood, 121 Moonseed, 47

Ferula, 140

Iberis, 145

Mountain Clematis, 22 Mouse-ear, 131

Flame Flower, 159

Illustrations, list of, xi Indian Cress, showy, 160

Mowing Grass, 17 Mulgedium Plumieri,

Ferns, 141 Fleur de Lis, 145 Flowers, Si>ring

and

early

Iris,

145

Summer, 166 Japan Anemone in the Wild Garden, 23 Jajian Knotweed, 152 Japan Sedum in Wild Garilen, 92

Forget-me-not, 149 Forget-me-not, Creeping, 151 Foxglove, 137 Fritillaria, 140

Fumaria, 136 Fumitory, 136 Fumitory, the

Yellow,

on

Knap-weed,

Funkia

Sielioldi,

131

group

of,

nies in, 30 Grass, Star of Bethlehem

Large-flowereil Clematis, 101 Large-leafed Saxifrage, 97 Larkspurs, ]>erennial, 27 Lathyrus, 147

Lavender, Sea, 156 Leopard's Bane, 136 Leucojuni, 147 Liane in the north, 49 Ijilies through carpet

in

Hardv flowers by brook-side, 69

Heath, 138

Hedgerows, 36 Helianthemum, 144 Helianthus, 144 Hellebore in Wild Garden, 26 Helleborus, 143 Henierocallis, 143 Henii) Agrimony, 137

4

Orchard Wild Garden, 65 Ornithogalum, 151 Orobus, 151 O.xalis, 152

Ox-eye Daisy, the

tall,

154

White Wood,59

White W(.>od, 37 Lithospei'mum prostratum, Lily,

147 Longleat, Wild Garden Lonicera, 147 Lords and Ladies, 127 Luuaria, 146 Lungwort, 154

at, 61

Lungworts, 11 Lujiine, connnon, 146 ,

118

Nymphica, 151

()nii]iorilon, 151

of

Lilv of the Vallev in a copse, 63 Lily, Wood, 159 Lilv, Water, 151

the Wihl

Garden, 26 Gromwells, 11 Gypsophila, 142

Nootka Bramljlc, 40 Nuphar, 151 Nursery for Londim Pa 'arks.

Omphalodes, 151 Omphalodes \erna, 10

Liliuni, 146 Lily, 146 Lily, American Swaniji, 64

in,

5S

Pi Eveiung Prim-

(Enothera Lamarkiana,

White Arabis, 55

Lily, American

shrub-

of,

rose, 4

Large Achilleas, 53 Large Bindweed, 39

15 Grassesfrn- naturalisation, 171 Great Siberian ^egetation, type of, 35

Green Hellebore

England, woods

Niglit ettect of

Landwort, 126

Geranium, 141 Geranium, a hardy, 141 Geraniums in Grass, v Giant Comfrey, 13 Giant Cow Parsnip, 35 Giant Fennel, 140 Giant Scabious, 33, 135 Giant Sea-kale, 134 Globe Flower, 159 Globe Flower order, 21 Globe Flowers, 25 Globe Flowers, groiip of, 21 Globe Thistle, 138 Goat's Rue, 142 Golden Rod, 15ti Grajie Hyacinth, 148 Grape Hyacintlis, 17 Grass, double Crimson Pieo-

in

bery, 57

140

GALA>fTHl'S, 143 Galega, 142. (iardens of the future, 58 Gentian, 142

of,

51

New

Knautia, 157

Funkia, 139

Myrrh, 60 M\Trhis odorata, a colony Narcissus, 151 Narcissus, colony of,

Kitaibelia, 150

wall, 91

150

6,

Mullein, a tall, 161 Muscari, 148 Mvosotis, 149

PEONIES

in grass, 30

Pifcony, 153 Papaver, in var., 153

Partridge Berry, .sO Pea, 147 Pea, Everlasting, 148 Perennial Larksjiurs, 27 Perennial Larkspurs naturalised in slirubbbery, 28 Periwinkle, 161 Phlomis, 153 Physostegia, 154 Phytolacca decandra, 154 Piiik, 137

Lychnis, 147

Plants,

Annual and Biennial,

for nattiralisation, 171 I

Mallow,

Plants, Aquatic, 171

150

Malope, 1.50 Malva, 1.50

Marsh C'alla, 135 Marsh Mallow, 123 Marsh Marigold and early spring, 78 Masterwort, 129 .Matthiola, 149 May-flower, 138 Meadow Rue, 158

Iris

in

Plants chiefly fitted for the Wild Garden, 32 Plants, climbing and twining, for cojises, thickets, hedgerows, and trees, 172 Plants for l)are banks, 164 for calcareous or Plants chalky soil, 169 Plants, hardj-, with fine foliage, 165


INDEX. I'hiiits tor lieilgi'

like i>Iaces, I'laiits

-banks and

liif)

for moist

rit-li

soils,

for naturalisation bcon s]ie(.Mnicii trees lawns, 107 I'lants for naturalisation in

I'lants

iieatli

and

lawns

other

i;rassy

jilaces, ]7-

I'lants for iieat-soil, l(i'.i I'lants for the Gai'den, 120 I'lants of vi;;-orous lialiit for

WiM

the Wild Garden, liU Plants, selections of, for old walls, ruins, or roekv slopes, 170 Plants, selections nf hardy,

suited for gra\elly soil, 170

.Iry

Polygonum cuspidatum,

Shrubborj-, Perennial Larksi>urs naturalised in. 2S Sida, 1.50 Silenc, 157 12.S

Silkweed,

Siljihium, 144 Snakes-heail, 140

Snapdragon,

Virgin's.Bower, 21, 133 Virginian Creepers, 130 Virginian Poke, 1.54

12.')

17

Snowdrop,

Snowdroji - Anenioni'. i-olony of, in shrubbery not dug. 115 Snowdrojis, 14:! Snowdrojis, Wild, by stn-amlet,

142

.Snowflake, 17, 147 Soils, KiSi, 170

Waterside Gardens, 07

and

Speedwell, 102 Spiderwort, 15Si

White Climbing

S]iira'a,

1.5ii

44

150

Wild

Rose, 155

Roses for the Wild Garden,

Telekia

l:'.l

Reed, the Great, Results,

Rheum,

.

'.>2

16'j

Rhubarb, Riviera,

l.j")

15.">

Anemones

in the,

2'>

14:,

Rocket, Rosa, 155

heilgerows,

and

fences,

Rosy Coronilla, 1S5 Kullus, 155 Rinlbeckia. 144 Rusli, tlowei-ing,

7:'.

Sanguisakia canadensis, 157 Saxifraga, 15S Saxifrage, 15S

15;i

for, 43 'Mr.

Tritoma, group

Seillas, 17

H(i\ev on,

100

Tropitolum speciosuni, 100 1:J4

Tnliji,

Sea Lavender, 15ii Seduni, 157 Sem]>ervivum, 15S Shady Lanes, 30 digging

of, 51 of,

lis

oj-r-liai-d,

.Jajian .Knenicjue

in the, 23

Wild Garden, plants

cliicfly

fitted for, 32

Wild Garden, plants for, 120 Wild Garden in America. 100 W^ild gardening on walls or ruins, 88

Wild Garden, where

to obtain

plants, 120

Wild Orcliard, 05 Wild Rose on a Pollard

.\.sh,

Wild Vines. 4S Willow Herb, 7 Jlr. G. F.

culture,

,

and wood-

i;4

Windflower, 124 Winter Aconite, 15

Winter Heliotrope, 7 Wistaria, 45

Wood and herl)aceous Meadow-sweets, 105 Wood-culture, 04 Wood-culture at Bodoigan, 05 Lily, 159 Plants, American, 150

Woo<Irutf and Ivy, lOS Woods and woodlanil drives, 51

of Xew F.ngland, Wood Sorrel, 152 Wye Valley, 90

Woods

1.5H

Tunica, 142 Turf, Crocuses in, 20 Turk's Cap Lily, 19

Shrubbery bonlers,

Wild Garden,

Wood Wood of,

Trollius, 21, 25, 159

Sea-kale,' the Giant,

in the

05

Wilson,

Thickets, 30 Tiger Lilies in Wild Gai'ileu at Great Tew, US Tradescantla virgiuica, 150 Trailers, KiO Trees and Bushes, drajiery

47 Trillium, 159 Trit<ima, 159

''•'•

Sea Holly, VoS

Shrubbery, margin

Tew

Tree drapery,

Scabious, the Giant, Scabious, 157 Scilla, 157

over

Wild Garden,

S3 cordifolia,

Park, '.is Thalictrum, 15S

groups, SI in the Riviera, S5

Roses

in

140

Star of Bethlehem, 151 Star of Bethlehem in grass, 15 Starwort, 12n Statice, 150 St. Bruno's Lilv, 125 St. John's Wort, 145 Stock, 149 Stonecrop, 157 Sunflower, Perennial, 144 Suu Rose on limestone rocks, 144 Sun Roses, 104 Symphytum, 157

Rabbits and AVoods, 17.'i Reasons Jor the system, 4

White Lily Wild Garden

Squill, 157

154

Rose

old Catiilpa tree, S4 tlic

Garden, 7

l.'il

Pulnionaria, lo4

Red Valerian,

Water Dock, Great, 72 Water Lily, 151 Water Lilv, Yellow, 71 Water Plants, 70

102

Solidago,

Sjiring Flowers in

Pyrethrum serotinum,

Wai.i. Cress, 120 Wallflowei-, 131

White Arabis, Lilies coming n]> through carpet of, 55 White Clematis on Yew tree,

Pojipy, l.W

Primrose, K\vning,

Vetch, Bitter, 151 Viuca, 101 Vines, Wild, 48 Viola, 102 Violet, 102

Solomon's Seal, Is Sowbread, l:s:>

hi:!

I'lants

170

5S

V.\LLEY in Somersetshire, 70

Yarrow,

Verbascum, 101

Yellow Allium naturalised, 42 Yucea, 102

Veronica, 102

Printed hy R.

&

R. Clark-, Edinburgh.

122


^*



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JiT-ILl

CAYLORO

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R1996

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MEUESLEY COLLEGE

LIBRftRY

03009 408 5

3 5002

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i^"

-^iirri:i\

SB 439

.

R5a laaa SC

Robinson,

W.

1838-1935.

The wild garden

WW SB 439

.

R5a 1883 I

Robinson,

W.

1838-1935-

The wild garden

'n



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