|
In another garden, small recurrent groups of blue and yellow species crocuses grace the
front of long borders around and under the foliage of the low
compact perennials which form the edging. These bloom ear
lier than the "Dutch" varieties. They range in color from the
deep golden Aureus through mauve, purple-blues, to pure
white. Recently a new variety, chrysanthus, has been offered in
pale through butter and orange-yellow to bronze. Good yel
low crocuses are rarer than other sorts, and they seem to light
up the garden more. (Plate 35.)
We know another garden where a semi-naturalistic walk
has been developed parallel to the main garden. This is
planted with lilacs for May, but the ground beneath is heavily
carpeted with ground covers, ferns, and many spring-bloom
ing native plants-trilliums, hepaticas, and violets. Among
these, and sprinkled liberally along the edges, are long drifts
of spring-flowering bulbs. Later, long narrow bands of nar
cissus appear in the middle ground. Thus there is a succes
sion of bloom from the time the snow has hardly left the
sheltered, shady places until after the lilacs have had their
day, and the main garden is a wealth of early-summer bloom.
Then a few clumps of hardy lilies-canadense, philadelphi
cum, superbum, and tigrinum-bring color to the quiet walk,
which contrasts pleasantly with the blaze of full summer color
in the garden itself.
Some gardeners avoid these small early-blooming bulbs
which they feel are an unmitigated nuisance later when the
ground has to be cultivated. If, however, they are planted in
the midst of ivy, myrtle, or other ground cover, or around
arabis, aubretia, alyssum, thyme, nepeta, or other plants at
the border's edge, they are secure from disturbance. When
broad masses of such bulbs are planted under shrubs and
small trees, as blue scillas under a copper beech, their color
is delightful. Here they can enjoy the necessary long matur
ing period, in which they store up strength for next season's
effort, without marring later compositions with their unsightly
foliage. When undisturbed in this fashion, they multiply rap
idly. The justly celebrated "bluebells" of Kew are what we
call wood hyacinths (Scilla nutans), and they eventually car
pet wide areas.
Narcissus Companions
The pictures for late April and early May are easier to
arrange and wider in scope. At this time there is a wealth of
bloom among the trees and shrubs that form the background
of the garden, and also among the early-flowering perennials
that bloom with the daffodils. Although Wordsworth's picture
of "A host of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the
trees fluttering and dancing in the breeze" was of a natural
ized planting, you can also arrange daffodils effectively within
the garden in compositions with other plants.
|
