94 GARDEN GUIDE 



be better. It will be unnecessary to combine them with anything else, as 

 they are all-sufficient, and are as useful for beds two feet square as for huge 

 borders a hundred feet long and four wide. 



Where a dainty blue edging plant is wanted, use Swan River Daisy, 

 (Brachycome) , placing the plants about six inches apart. 



If you must neglect your garden, but want a good show of color, try 

 huge beds of Zinnias or Marigolds. 



If you wonder what to use for edging any bed, decide to use Sweet 

 Alyssum ; it is a most adaptable border plant. When it appears to be nearly 

 through blooming, cut it back and it will start up again. 



Everlasting Flowers 



It is always interesting to grow a few everlasting or "straw" 



flowers. If they are picked in their proper stages, the leaves removed 



and the blooms hung upside down to dry, they will present a pretty 



appearance all Winter. The principal annual specimens are: 



Helichr YSUM BRACTEATUM (Straw Flower) . One of the largest everlasting 



flowers. There are many shades of yellow and red. They grow two 



to three feet tall and need to be planted one foot apart if they are to 



develop properly. They should be picked before they are fully open. 



Helipterum roseum. Bears dainty white and rosy pink flowers. They 



should be cut when quite in bud; they open a little after being picked, 



otherwise the centers are visible and being brown give a shabby 



appearance to the otherwise attractive flower. It is pretty for the 



border, aside from its being good for the Winter bouquet. 



Helipterum Manglesii (Rhodanthe) (Swan River Everlasting). The 



Rowers are pink and white; the stems are very graceful. 

 Helipterum Hc/mboldtianum. Bears a yellow flower, smaller than 



others but numerous. 

 Gomphrena globosa (Globe Amaranth). The straw-like heads resemble 



Clover. The two colors are a crimson and a rather muddy white. 

 Xeranthemum annuum (Everlasting or Immortelle). Bears rose, purple, 

 and white flowers. As a garden subject they retain their bloom from 

 early Summer till frost 

 Catananche c^rulea. Blue and yellow varieties are available. Some- 

 what resembles Bachelor's Buttons. 



Useful for Cut Flowers 



Many of the annuals are useful for cutting because they have long 

 stems, good keeping qualities or excellent colors. They commend 

 themselves admirably for arrangements in the low bowls which are 

 beginning to be used and are of such great value for a proper loose 

 display of flowers. 



Acroclinium (See Helipterum roseum in list of Everlasting Flowers). 

 African Daisy (See Arctotis). 

 Antirrhinum (Snapdragon). This is gaining greatly in its deserved 



popularity. Almost all the colors are good. 

 Amethyst (See Browallia). 

 Annual Larkspur appears in superb pink, blues,- lavenders and has dainty 



foliage and good keeping qualities. 



