TAKING STOCK OF THE GARDEN 113 



are filled in, the crowded places thinned out, the colors changed 

 or arranged so that they do not clash, a garden of Midsummer 

 loveliness will be the reward. 



Except in the old southern gardens where the Oleanders 

 (Neriums), the Pomegranate blossoms (Punicas), and the Sum- 

 mer Lilies make Summer gay, the usual rule is that after the June 

 blossoms are over, there is no more bloom until Fall, except the 

 masses of the Hydrangeas, the Cannas, or sporadic perennials. 

 This is all wrong, and June stock taking will remedy this fault. 

 The wonderful beauty of the Spring blossoms should not cause 

 us to forget that judicious planning and planting will make our 

 southern gardens beautiful for twelve months every year. 



The numerous annuals, if kept well cut, will give bloom until 

 frost. If the perennial Phlox is planted in mass and in abundance 

 the garden will be fragrant and beautiful through all the trying 

 heat of the Summer days. If the Asters, Zinnias, Salvias and 

 Coleus are planted in proper proportion, the borders will be rich 

 and colorful from June until Autumn is over. Now, now is the 

 time to fill up the barren spots. I cannot reiterate this too often. 



A June inheritance of my garden, that has given pleasure and 

 beauty for a half century, is Hydrangea grandiflora^ which, with 

 its masses of blue and pink loveliness, has framed the lines of our 

 front porch for all these years. For immediate effect, for terrace 

 and porch decorations or for masses anywhere, this and the 

 Neriums may be purchased in tubs and used during the Summer 

 and placed in permanent positions in the Fall. H. g. monstrosa^ 

 H. g. Otaksa^ and other pink varieties of Hydrangea grandiflora 

 are more attractive to me than the white kinds. The use of 

 small lumps of alum around the roots of the pink varieties will 

 cause them to show heads of clear, beautiful blue blossoms. Salts 

 of iron changes the blue to pink. A little pruning, after the 

 Winter is over, to get rid of the dead branches, much fertilizer in 

 the Spring and Fall, and sunshine and rain will do the rest. They 

 prefer a well-drained, partially shaded situation and do well in a 

 northern exposure. 



The glory of my June garden is a stately white Oleander or 

 Nerium, which has been a joy for many months each year, for 



