|
pinks and whites. It is essential that one should be able to readilyand definitely select plants for these different purposes. The woodland wild garden becomes an important problem becausethe selection of material adapted to partially shaded conditions existingin such garden areas does not present the same problems as the selectionof a type of material adapted to a sunny, open exposure. The term"wild garden" applies to the use of plants which can be naturalized;plants which, when once planted and given normal care during thefirst year, will become thoroughly acclimated and continue to growvigorously and multiply as the years go by. In the selection ofmaterial there are two types of plants which can be selected: thetall-growing types and the low-growing types. The low-growingtypes are adapted for use in the more intimate, small garden areas,where the taller types should be used with great care. It must beremembered that many types of wild garden perennials, such as theday lilies, the bergamot, and the Japanese loosestrife, will multiply sorapidly that they will crowd out many of the less vigorous plantssuch as hepatica and spring beauty which are not able to survive suchcompetition. Consequently it is not safe to say that material selectedfor wild garden areas does not require a certain amount of care afterthe first planting of the garden. It should also be borne very definitelyin mind that plants such as the cardinal flower, some irises, the blazingstar, the lily-of-the-valley, the cowslip, and the violet require partialshade and a moist condition of the soil, while such types as the bee-balm, sweet william, asters, and moss pink thrive in a much more ex-posed and lighter soil. The success of a wild garden, either large orsmall, depends very largely upon the proper selection of materials toproduce the required effects. The development of wild garden plant-ing requires a series of years in which to complete it and bring it toperfection. It is a process, beyond a certain point, of the survival ofthe fittest, and the elimination finally of those plants which provethrough the first few years their inability to meet the soil and exposurerequirements of the local situation. A successful wild garden areanever shows the amount of work that has been expended in its develop-ment, because every detail looks finally as though nature had pro-vided it without the assistance of man. |
|||
|
