|
Talisman or Serenade lilies with Phlox Caroline Vandenburg,
platycodon, seaholly, and Veronica maritima. Pale yellow snap
dragons or Anthemis Moonlight in the foreground for contrast.
Hemerocallis Mrs. W. H. Wyman and Veronica Blue Spires,
Salvia farinacea, and Lilliput zinnias in pastel shades in the
foreground.
Early-blooming Phlox Leo Schlageter in front of Artemisia lacti
flora and globethistle. Annual blue scabiosa or purple asters in
the foreground.
The rich golden yellow of lily Valencia, monkshood behind it
with white Phlox Mrs. Flanders. The yellow can be repeated in
the foreground by annuals or small groups of Linum flavum,
or if you prefer, blue dwarf, compact Ageratum Blue Cap.
Salvia farinacea with Lilium speciosum magnificum. The pink
of the lily repeated in the foreground with snapdragons of equal
chroma. The August Picture with Phlox
and Lilies
The garden in August again begins to look opulent, usually
because of too much phlox. Though phlox is important for
late summer and early fall, it should be used with greater
restraint. Because of the size of the plant and the abundance
of bloom, it is easy to have masses so large they overpower
other plants needed for additional color and interest at the
same time. One way to improve the garden overburdened
with phlox, is to have more spirelike plants, or those with
finer-divided foliage. These improve the composition through
contrast, lighten the heavy masses, and bring in variety of
form, texture, and color.
Phlox is also under suspicion by many color purists be
cause of its tendency toward magenta. The original phlox was
undoubtedly magenta, and as the improved varieties are only
a few generations removed, the seedlings, if allowed to re
main and grow in the border, usually turn out to be tinged
with magenta. The original parent plant does not revert. But
it is prolific in producing seed which is flung far and wide by
a most ingenious seed capsule. Do not let your phlox go to
seed. Remove the faded flower heads as soon as possible. The
far-flung seeds have an uncanny ability to hide themselves in
established clumps of iris and other perennials, where they
often remain undetected until almost ready to bloom. Tender
hearted gardeners, loath to destroy any plant, hesitate in the
hope they have a treasure. Very rarely is this hope fulfilled.
You will more likely be harboring a phlox which will bloom
on the magenta side. Of course, magenta phlox can be effec
tive in the garden picture. It is particularly suited to combi
nations with blue, cool lavender, or pale yellow and creamy
white. Magenta is also effective in shaded places.
|
