Garden Notes - Larkspur to Michaelmas Daisy

Larkspur
Variety: Tall Branching Mixed

Hardy annual. Height: 3 feet. Blooms July onwards. Colors: soft distinctive pink, red, mauve, purple, blue and white. Sow the seeds where they are to bloom in April, thin out promptly and give each plant at least one foot of space. May also be sown in September for blooming early the following season. Push a few twigs among the young growth to prevent damage by winds. They like a fairly rich soil with plenty of lime, to produce long spikes of bloom. Valuable for cutting and filling up gaps in the mixed flower border. Makes an effective lawn bed planted in association with dusky yellow snapdragons. Cut off jaded spikes to promote secondary branching and more flowers.
 

Lilium
(Madonna Lily)
Variety: Candidum

Hardy perennial bulb. Height: 4 feet. Blooms July. Native of the Near East. Was cultivated in Pompeian gardens 2,000 years ago. Set the bulbs four inches deep and nine inches apart. The best time to transplant is at the end of August during the rest period, which with this lily is very short. Resents disturbance, and should only be lifted when overcrowded. Unlike many lilies, it will thrive in limy soils. Can be grown as a group in the mixed flower border or at the edge of shrubberies where it can continue its growth undisturbed. Mark the position with a label or stick, so that during the winter digging bulbs do not get damaged.
 

Lobelia
Variety: Cambridge Blue

Half-hardy perennial, grown as an annual. Height: 4 inches. Good compact habit. Blooms July to frosts. By careful selection this variety now produces true Cambridge blue flowers borne in dense cushions on the plant. Makes a perfect ball of flowers. Usually used for edging flower beds or planting in window boxed, but also makes a charming little pot plant. Seeds need to be raised in heat under glass. Transplant the seedlings two inches apart in boxes of rich soil. Plant outdoors early June. Continues to bloom for a long season if a little fertilizer is dusted around the plants. For pot culture use five-inch pots and a mixture of loam, leaf-mould and sand with a dash of complete fertilizer.
 

Lupin
Variety: Russell Hybrids

Hardy perennial. Height: 3-4 feet. Flowers May and June. Splendid in flower border. Thrives anywhere, but likes dry sandy soils best. This new strain, raised by George Russell, an allotment gardener, has every conceivable shade and color, including self colors of rich pink, orange, yellow and bi-colors of purple and gold, rose-pink and amethyst. Easily raised from seed sown in a nursery plot in rows one foot apart. Transplant the seedlings when large enough to handle one foot apart each way. Plant out where they are to bloom in autumn three feet apart. Unless seeds are required, blooms should be cut away to within one foot of soil and secondary growths will result, carrying fresh flower spikes.
 

Michaelmas Daisy
(Dwarf Amellus Section)
Variety: Sonia

Hardy perennial. Height: 2 feet. Most effective for garden display in the autumn. Color: bright pink. Useful cut bloom. Best planted in February. Set the plants two feet apart. To get the best results the roots should be lifted every second year, replanting the healthiest portions in well-dug and manured soil. Makes an effective group, planted in clumps of three or more, fairly near the front of the mixed flower border. The flowers are large and need a little support with a few twigs pushed amongst the growths before the flowers open. To grow large sprays of bloom, thin out the overcrowded shoots and feed with a little fertilizer during growth.