134 THE BLOSSOM CIRCLE OF THE YEAR 



The primary cost of the seed was about one dollar and fifty 

 cents, and, from the planting, the garden was richer by at least 

 one hundred hardy Phlox, dozens of Columbine plants, Gaillardias 

 by the score, a rich and beautiful bed of Poppies, rows of stately 

 Hollyhocks, velvety Sweet Williams for both sunny and shady 

 spots, and fragrant Clove Pinks that shone star-like against their 

 carpet of gray-green leaves and scented the whole Springtime 

 with their sweetness. 



The Columbines were not satisfactory from this planting for 

 the first year. The second Spring saw them in varied tones, 

 Aquilegia aierulea^ a heavenly blue, A. chrysantha, clearest of 

 primrose yellows, a pure white, and the typical deep blue A. 

 vulgaris. They proved to be not only perennial, but evergreen, 

 and the dainty loveliness of the plants at blossoming time hardly 

 exceeds the delicate beauty of the finely cut foliage of soft blue 

 green that lasts all the year. 



The Hollyhocks in a sandy soil and sunny situation are all 

 that can be desired. They bloom from early Spring until late 

 Summer and always give dignity and grace to the borders and 

 brightness and color to the garden picture. No garden can have 

 too many Hollyhocks, provided they are kept as part of the back- 

 ground. 



No words of praise can be too strong for the description of 

 the beauty, grace and reliability of the hardy Phlox. Of all the 

 perennials, whether raised from seed or planted from nursery 

 stock, it is my favorite because of these characteristics. Through 

 neglect and drought, through carelessness and flood, the Phlox 

 blooms bravely on, always graceful, always fragrant, and to me 

 its panicles are the gracious queens that crown our Summer gar- 

 dens. Elizabeth Campbell and others of clear salmon pink 

 and deep crimson and maroon are very desirable and beautiful 

 when first planted. After a few years, however, they lose their 

 clarity of tone and must be replanted if the garden color scheme 

 is to be kept true to scale. From the seed sown in September I have 

 secured several desirable varieties, but my best-loved ones are 

 the white, Jeanne d'Arc and Mrs. Jenkins, and the Beranger, 



