Re-Planting Flower Beds For Spring

Except in very mild seasons the summer plants, even Begonias, will now be over, and the beds may be cleared, dug, and planted for spring. Bulbs, and some of the biennials and perennials referred to in earlier chapters, will be valuable for this purpose. Wallflowers, Polyanthuses, and Primroses, Sweet Williams, Canterbury Bells, and Forget-me-nots will prove particularly useful.

Bulbs

We must use the beautiful bulbous flowers largely for autumn-planting, and likewise for pots and vases. They are cheap, easy to manage, brilliant in colour, and in many cases fragrant. We cannot do better than employ them largely for greenhouses, rooms, and outdoor beds. I will give selections of the most important kinds, meantime, the following are among the most useful for the open air:

Aconites (winter)

Alstromerias.

Anemones *Calochorti.

Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow) *Crinums.

Crocuses.

Crown Imperials.

Cyclamens.

Daffodils.

Dog's-Tooth Violets.

Hyacinths.

Irises.

Liliums.

Lily of the Valley.

Narcissi.

Scillas.

Snowdrops.

Snowflakes.

Tulips.

* These should have sheltered places.

Aconites, Anemones (most, but not the autumn bloomers), Chionodoxas, Crocuses, Cyclamens, Dog's-Tooth Violets, Lily of the Valley, Scillas, Snowdrops, and Snowflakes are all low growers, and may be used at the front of the borders or beds, or on the rockery. Alstromerias, Crown Imperials, Daffodils, Hyacinths, most Irises, Liliums, Narcissi, and Tulips are bolder plants, suitable for filling beds or for forming groups in borders.

For pots and vases we may use principally:

Crocuses.

Daffodils.

Freesias.

Hyacinths.

Irises.

Liliums.

Lily of the Valley.

Narcissi.

Tulips.

Anemones

I have already referred to the fine strains of Crown Anemones called the Alderborough and the St. Brigid, but I may say here that the roots may be planted in autumn for flowering late in spring. They produce both single and partially double flowers, as far across as breakfast-cups, and with great brilliancy and variety of colour. They are well called Poppy Anemones, for they have all the richness and glow of Poppies. The soil for them should be made thoroughly friable, and the roots covered an inch deep. Other good Anemones are Apennina, Fulgens, and Nemorosa. The Japanese and its varieties are fine for autumn.

The Calochortus

The Calochortus is a beautiful bulb, but it is courting failure to plant it in a cold, exposed place, or in damp soil. It wants a warm, sunny spot, and light soil. The same remarks apply to the Crinums.

The Glory Of The Snow

The Glory Of The Snow is a charming blue flower, pretty in colonies, like Snowdrops and Scillas, and also useful for dotting among bulbs. It should be noted, however, that it flowers earlier than Hyacinths and Tulips.

Winter cheerfulness in the bare border - a colony of yellow Crocuses.