| The desire for color in the garden is best satisfied by | | | | of trees, shrubs and buildings even where no direct |
| the liberal use of annuals, perennials and bulbs in | | | | sunlight reaches. Such plants as ferns, many wild |
| variety. All three classes of plants have their place, | | | | flowers, and begonias have to be protected from |
| because each has its value as to season of bloom, | | | | the summer sun, for otherwise they may sun-scorch. |
| height or mass of color. | | | | When making a plan, it is important to know how tall |
| Succession of bloom from early spring to late fall is | | | | each kind of flower grows so as not to plant tall |
| the goal of nearly every gardener. To achieve this | | | | growing ones in front of low ones. The habit of |
| consider first that very few hardy flowers have an | | | | growth should be known too, so as not to crowd |
| individual blooming period of more than two or three | | | | massive clumps like peonies next to smaller, weaker |
| weeks. Even annuals bloom only during the summer. | | | | growers such as peachleaf bellflowers; or sprawling |
| Therefore, even for a small garden, one may have | | | | coreopsis next to a low, tufted Japanese primrose. |
| to select several dozen different kinds of plants to | | | | Very rank growers like the plume poppy and |
| assure bloom from March to killing frost. | | | | spreading Chinese lantern are really best kept out of |
| Your climate will determine how early in the spring | | | | beds with other flowers altogether. |
| and how late in the fall you can have flowers. An | | | | Much has been said and written about planning color |
| added factor is the location of your garden. Low | | | | schemes in the garden. They are fascinating to think |
| spots in valleys often suffer more from frosts than | | | | about, but often difficult to work out. Do not be |
| those at slightly higher elevation, or on hillsides. This is | | | | disconcerted if the results are not as expected. |
| usually due to lack of air drainage to carry the cold air | | | | Flowers have an irritating way of not blooming just |
| away. | | | | when they should, so that carefully planned |
| Planning the Flower Garden | | | | combinations may not materialize. Colors vary too. |
| The skillful gardener employs numerous devices to | | | | Blues in catalogs are not always your idea of blue. |
| achieve a colorful flower bed or border. For example, | | | | This goes for lavender, purple, red, pink, orange, |
| by planting spring flowering bulbs between and | | | | yellow and so on through the rainbow. In any case, |
| beneath other flowers, each square foot of ground | | | | there is enough green foliage to subdue impossible |
| should give at least two crops of bloom. | | | | color combinations. |
| Conversely, after spring bulbs, such as daffodils and | | | | Some people like to have their flowers in the front |
| tulips, are through blooming, they may be interplanted | | | | of the house where they can be seen. Others prefer |
| with annuals for summer bloom. As summer blooming | | | | to enjoy them in privacy. It is well to remember that |
| annuals go by in September, they can be followed by | | | | in early spring and fall the weather may not be |
| chrysanthemum clumps transplanted from another | | | | conducive to outdoor enjoyment. |
| part of the garden. An orderly plan, made in advance, | | | | Plant so that cold weather bloom may be enjoyed |
| will simplify the task of keeping the show going from | | | | from the warmth and comfort of the home, using |
| season to season. | | | | the windows as a means of access to the garden. |
| The kinds of flowers you grow will be determined in | | | | Flowers can also be planted so as to be seen from |
| a measure by the amount of sunlight available. This | | | | the patio or picnic area. In every instance, a garden |
| will vary from bed to bed, from one side of the | | | | with a pleasing pattern or design and an adequate |
| house to the other. Most flowers will thrive in full sun | | | | background is more satisfying than one without. |
| but a few require shade. Others are shade tolerant, | | | | With some planning, you should be able to achieve a |
| though doing better with a greater amount of | | | | beautiful flower garden. |
| sunlight. So it is possible to have flowers in the shade | | | | |