Flowers for the hardy garden / Frank M. Thomas, Twin-Larches Nursery, West Chester, PA.

              FLOWERS FOR THE HARDY GARDEN
Masses of airily poised Columbines
Ca?rul
pure sky
which I
Aquilegia,   continued
ea. Up in the higher levels of the Rockies, where this Columbine grows wild, the flowers are a
-blue. Here in the East, in our lower altitudes, they are a soft lavender-blue, with white centers,
im sure is equally charming.   The individual blooms are particularly large and widely expanded,
perhaps the finest of the genus, but unfortunately, the plants are not
so robust as most of the other sorts. Owing, no doubt, to their
semi-alpine nature, they are sometimes short-lived, especially in
changeable, rainy winters, while, on the other hand, they quickly
show the effects of a long drought. They are charming grouped
around pale yellow irises like Flavescens, or lavender ones like
Pallida Dalmatica, which they very nearly approach in tone. Plant
in well-drained soil.   12 to 18 in.; space 8 in.
Chrysantha. Another western species, and a very distinct one,
as it blooms much later than any other. Beginning in June, it
asts fully two months, if seed-pods are not allowed to form. The
flowers are a soft lemon-yellow, with very long spurs, and the plant
is a vigorous grower, often 4 feet high. Nothing could be more exquisite than a group of Aquilegia chrysantha, set in among tall ferns,
with a drift of pale blue forget-me-nots at its feet. Or combine it
with some of the Thalictrums.   Space 1 ft.
Canadensis.   This is a delightful and very familiar wild flower
all through the eastern states, and everyone who has a bit of
*  fairly dry woodland can easily enjoy its dainty little scarlet-
fc^v    and-yellow blossoms.  They make beautiful pictures scattered
among rocks, or combined with our native maidenhair fern
t£.    (Adianlum pedalum), or they can be readily grown in the
k border.   Blooms in May.   12 to 18 in.; space 8 in.
Long-spurred Hybrids.   Caerulea, Chrysantha, and
other species have been the parents of this strain, which
has been developed so that it presents  almost every
imaginable variation in delicate colors.    Few or  none
fc      will be found alike, but the colors are of such pure,
^   pastel-like tones that I have never seen them clash.
There are gauzy lavenders, creams, and pale blues,
•    shell-pinks, buffs, and faint scarlets, with here and
there' a plant  of deeper purple  or  red.     A  small
percentage will have blooms with short spurs.    By
constant selection, I hope to improve the quality of this strain with
every season.   Very beautiful in large masses.   25 cts. each.
Unless otherwise noted, all plants in this catalog, 15 cts. each,
$1.50 per doz, $10 per 100
Six plants sold at the dozen rate.  All plants listed ~at 25 cts. each
are $2.50 per doz, $15 per 100
Aquilegia chrysantha