Garden Notes - Ageratum to Aquilegia

Ageratum
(Floss Flower)
Variety: Imperial Dwarf Blue

Half-hardy annual. Height: 9 inches. Introduced from Mexico in 1822. Bloom continuously from June to October. Makes literally a floss-like ball of bloom. Useful for edging flower beds, or as a pot plant. Prefers a sunny position. The seeds are sown under glass in a box of light soil, to be transplanted, when large enough to handle, two inches apart in boxes. Plant out at the end of May where they are to bloom, six inches apart. Water until established. The plant blooms better if the faded flowers are removed from time to time and a light dusting of fertilizer is applied during showery weather. Its rich blue color makes it a useful substitute for lobelia.

Anchusa
Variety: Bluebird

Hardy annual. Height: 18 inches. Blooms from June onwards. Color: rich indigo blue. Makes an effective show of blue in the mixed flower border. For use as cut bloom, gather when the first flowers are open. Makes an exquisite decoration in cut glass vases or bowls. Prefers a fairly heavy soil with a dressing of lime. Sow the seeds where they are to bloom, in April; thin out about eight inches apart and push in a few twigs to support the flowers. Continues to bloom for a long time. Excellent as a plant for the all-blue border. A few florets make a pleasing color-note in summer fruit cups.
 

Anemone Japonica
Variety: Lady Ardilaun

Hardy perennial. Height: 3 feet. Blooms August to October. Color: pure white. It has tuberous roots and is best planted while the soil is warm in September or when growth commences in March. Excellent plant for the shady garden. Useful for cut bloom which is in much demand for Harvest Festivals. There are also pink and rosy purple varieties. One of the best late blooming hardy flowers for the mixed border. Propagated by root division. Set the plants about one foot apart. They can be allowed to grow undisturbed for many years. Ordinary garden soil will suit it, but an annual top dressing of leaf mould and bone meal is beneficial. Needs no staking.

Antirrhinum
Variety: Royal Cerise

Perennial, best grown as annual or biennial. Height: 1 foot. Looks most effective when making a solo display because of its unique color. Blooms all the summer. Sow the seeds in heat in early spring, transplant when large enough to handle into seedling boxes, and plant out where they are to bloom in May one foot apart. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil with a dressing of lime before planting. As soon as the central spike begins to fade, pinch it out to promote further blooms. Can be sown in late September in a sheltered spot outdoors to be planted out in the spring. Bushy plants can be obtained by pinching out the centre before it blooms.
 

Aquilegia
Variety: Hensol harebell

Hardy perennial. Height: 3 feet. Blooms June-July. Colour: pure sapphire blue. A distinctive columbine, dainty but with stiff stems making it useful as a cut bloom. It is charming in the mixed flower border or in the rock garden, where it needs no staking. The seeds are very fine and need no covering. They should be sown in boxes of prepared soil to avoid loss by slugs, which are very partial to the seedling. Pour boiling water over the soil before sowing to sterilize it, and dust solidified methylated spirit and bran under the boxes. When the seedlings are large enough, transplant in the open in a nursery bed six inches apart. They are lime lovers.