Some of the striking plants that are valuable for lawn planting in the North, chosen chiefly on account of their size, foliage, and habit, are mentioned in the following brief list. They may or may not be suitable for flower-gardens. It is impossible to give to this list any degree of completeness; but the names here printed will be suggestive of the kinds of things that may be used. The asterisk (*) denotes native plants.

Yucca, Yucca filamentosa.* Funkia, Funkia, of several species. Peltate saxifrage, Saxifraga peltata.* Rose mallow, Hibiscus Moscheutos.*

Elecampane, Inula Helenium (Fig. 251).

Wild sunflowers, Helianthus * of different species, especially H. orygalis, H. giganteus, H. grosse-serratus, H. strumosus.

251. Elecampane. Naturalised in old fields and along roadsides.

Compass-plants, Silphium * of several species, especially 6'. terebin thinaceum, S. laciniatum, S. perfoliatum. Sacaline, Polygonum Sachalinense. Japanese knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum. Bocconia, Bocconia cordata. Wild wormwood, Artemisia Stelleriana* and others.

Butterfly-weed, Asclepias tuberosa.*

Wild asters, Aster* of many species, especially A. Novoe-Angliae (best), A. loevis, A. multiflorus, A. spectabilis. Golden-rods, Solidago * of various species, especially S. speciosa, S. nemoralis, S. juncea, S. gigantea. Loose-strife, Lythrum Salicaria. Flags, Iris of many species, some native. Japanese wind-flower, Anemone Japonica. Goat's beard, Aruncus Sylvester [Spiroea Aruncus).* Baptisia, Baptisia tinctoria.* Thermopsis, Thermopsis mollis.* Wild senna, Cassia Marilandica.* Wild trefoil, Desmodium Canadense * and others. Ribbon grass, Phalaris arundinacea* var. picta. Zebra, grass, Eulalia (or Miscanthus) species, and varieties. Wild panic grass, Panicum virgatum.* Bambusas (and related things) of several sorts. Ravenna grass, Erianthus Ravenna. Arundo, Arundo Donax, and var. variegata. Reed, Phragmites communis.*

This and the remaining plants of the list should be planted in the edges of water or in bogs (the list might be greatly extended).

Wild rice, Zizania aquatica.*

Cat-tail, Typha angustifolia * and T. latifolia.*

Lizard's-tail, Saururus cernuus.*

Peltandra, Peltandra undulata.*

Orontium, Orontium aquaticum.*

Native calla, Calla palustris.*

A brief seasonal flower-garden or border list of herbaceous perennials.

To facilitate making a selection of perennial herbs for bloom, the plants in the following list are arranged according to their flowering season, beginning with the earliest. The name of the month indicates when they usually begin to bloom. It should be understood that the blooming season of plants is not a fixed period, but varies more or less with localities and seasons. These dates are applicable to most of the middle and northern states. Natives to North America are marked with an asterisk (*). This list is by Ernest Walker.

March

Blue Wind-flower, Anemone blanda. 6 in. March-May. Sky-blue, star-like flowers. Foliage deeply cut. For border and rockwork.

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria Canadensis.* 6 in. March-April. Pure white. Glaucous foliage. Partial shade. Border or rock-work.

April

Mountain Rock-cress, Arabis albida. 6 in. April-June. Flowers pure white; close heads in profusion. Fragrant. For dry places and rock-work. Purple Rock-cress, Aubrietia deltoidea. 6 in. April-June. Small purple flowers in great profusion. Daisy, Bellis perennis, 4-6 in. April-July. Flowers white, pink, or red; single or double. The double varieties are the more desirable. Cover the plants in winter with leaves. May be raised from seed, like pansies. Spring Beauty, Claytonia Virginica.* 6 in. April-May. Clusters of light pink flowers. Partial shade. From six to a dozen should be set together. Shooting Star, Dodecatheon Meadia.* 1 ft. April-May. Reddish purple flowers, orange-yellow eye, in clusters. Cool, shady location, Plant several in a place. Dog's-bane,DoronicumplaiitagineumvBj:.excel8um. 20 in. April-June. Large, showy flowers; orange-yellow. Bushy plants. Liver-leaf, Hepatica acutiloba* and triloba.* 6 in. April-May. Flowers small but numerous, varying white and pink. Partial shade. Hardy Candytuft, Iberis sempervirens. 10 in. April-May. Small white flowers in clusters; profuse. Large, spreading, evergreen tufts. Alpine Lamp-flower, Lychnis alpina.* 6 in. April-May. Flowers star-like, in showy heads; pink.

For border and rockery.

Early Forget-me-not, Myosotis dissitiflora. 6 in. April-June. Small clusters of deep sky-blue flowers. Tufted habit.

252. The wild Trillium grandiflorum.

Everblooming F., M. paluastris var. semperflorens. 10 in. Light blue; spreading habit. Blue-bells, Mertensia Virginica.* 1 ft. April-May. Flowers blue, changing to pink; pendent; tubular; not showy, but beautiful.

Rich soil. Partial shade. Tree Peony, Paeonia Moutan. (See May, Paeonia.) Moss Pink, Phlox subulata.* 6 in. April-June. Numerous deep pink, small flowers; creeping habit; evergreen. Suitable for dry places as a covering plant. Trilliums.* Of several species; always attractive and useful in the border (Fig. 252). They are common in rich woods and copses.

Dig the tubers in late summer and plant them directly in the border.

The large ones will bloom the following spring. The same may be said of the erythronium, or dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, and of very many other early wild flowers.

May

Ajuga rep tarn. 6 in. May-June. Spikes of purple flowers. Grows well in shady places; spreading. A good cover plant. Madwort, Alyssum saxatile var. compaction. 1ft. May-June. Flowers fragrant, in clusters, clear golden-yellow. Foliage silvery. Well-drained soil. One of the best yellow flowers. Columbine, Aquilegia glandulosa and others (Fig. 253). 1 ft. . May-June. Deep blue sepals; white petals. Aquilegias are old favorites. (See June.) The wild A. Canadensis* is desirable. Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria majalis.* 8 in. May-June. Racemes of small white bells; fragrant. Well known. Partial shade. (See page 381.) Fumitory, Corydalis nobilis. 1 ft. May-June. Large clusters of fine yellow flowers. Bushy, upright habit. Does well in partial shade. Bleeding-Heart, Dicentra spectabilis. 2½ ft. May-June. Well known. Racemes of heart-shaped, deep pink and white flowers. Will bear partial shade. Crested Iris, Iris cristata.* 6 in. May-June. Flowers blue, fringed with yellow. Leaves sword-shaped. German Iris, 1. Germanica. 12-15 in. May-June. Numerous varieties and colors. Large flowers, 3-4 on a stem. Broad, glaucous, sword-shaped leaves. Peony, Paeonia officinalis. 2 ft. May-June. This is the well-known herbaceous peony. There are numerous varieties and hybrids Large flowers, 4-6 in. across.

Crimson, white, pink, yellowish, etc.

Suitable for lawn or the border. Fig. 250. Tree Peony, P. Moutan. 4 ft. April-May. Numerous named varieties. Flowers as above, excepting yellow. Branched, dense, shrubby habit. Meadow Sage, Salvia pratensis. 2½ ft. May-June, August. Spikes of deep blue flowers. Branching from the ground.