WHEN TO START ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS 163 



It is, of course, impossible for a beginner to reach the highest 

 effects in handling herbaceous bedding plants, but suggestions of 

 points to aim at are none the less helpful and inspiring. One must, 

 of course, know plants and must be patient in studying them and 

 discerning their relation to desirable mass-effects. He must not 

 expect to produce a masterpiece by a recipe. Even in cookery, 

 deliciousness comes not so much from the recipe as from knowing 

 how to use it. 



When to Start These Plants. But, though some of the things just 

 mentioned belong to the higher art of the amateur which must be 

 attained by effort, there is one thing which a beginner can strike 

 aright from the first, and that is starting early and keeping right 

 at it in growing herbaceous plants in this favoring climate. Read 

 again the references to the double springtime of California on pages 

 96 and 107 in fact, the suggestions for work in all the months in 

 Chapter XII. One ought then to be convinced that the time to start 

 plants, except a few tender ones, is during the autumn and winter 

 and not in the springtime of wintry climates. Remember that the 

 longer time the plants grow and spread before flowering, the finer 

 will be the flower. One great secret in securing fine blooms is to 

 encourage each separate plant to make as much growth as possible 

 before it begins to flower. Late-sown seeds are hurried into blossom 

 by the increasing heat before a good-sized plant is formed, and are 

 not therefore so satisfactory. There is no fear of cold weather 

 affecting the seed sown early, for seeds of nearly all kinds remain 

 dormant and unhurt all winter until the genial sun calls them to 

 life and action, unless it be in the cold mud of a heavy, ill-drained 

 soil. California nature indicates the true California way through 

 early starting. It is a common observation that self-grown coreopsis, 

 sweet pea, godetia, nasturtium, eschscholtzia, dianthus, larkspurs, 

 corn flower, nemophila, etc., are found in the walks and corners, 

 having started with the fall rains and, unless they will not endure a 

 light frost, establish themselves like weeds. When an unusually fine 

 plant appears, it is sometimes transferred to a border where it can 

 have soil, and will amply reward by the vigorous strength of the 

 plant and beauty of the flowers, the gift of an early start. 



But though it is easier to start seeds early in the rainy season 

 and get bloom during the continuation of it and during reasonable 

 extensions into the summer beyond it, it is also possible to start 

 again near the end of the rainy season with the same plants and 

 have late summer and autumn bloom from them. This requires 

 greater effort in handling the seed and the young plants. It is amply 

 set forth in Chapters VII and XII. 



