GROWING FLOWERS 199 



The canna affords a wealth of blooms red, pink, 

 yellow, and other gay colors during the heat of sum- 

 mer. It is increased by planting portions of the roots. 

 In the Gulf states no winter protection is needed except 

 to cut off the tops as soon as frost occurs and to place 

 these over the roots, covering all with a light coat of earth. 

 Violets for winter and early spring, and hardy chrysan- 

 themums for late fall flowering, are increased by dividing 

 the roots of old clusters of plants. 



Flowers easily grown from seed. Most of these are 

 annual plants, living less than one year. Some are longer- 

 lived, for example, the foxglove, the hollyhock, and the 

 larkspur. 



The California poppy is a fine-leaved plant, with large, 

 brilliant flowers. The seeds of this plant, and also of the 

 common poppies, are sown as soon as danger of severe 

 freezes is past. At the same time the seeds of pinks or 

 carnations are sown. 



The sweet ivilliam is closely related to the pink. The 

 flowers are showy and beautiful. The plant is rather 

 hardy towards heat. 



The annual phloxes are among the best flowers for chil- 

 dren to grow, because they afford such a mass of varied 

 and bright colors so soon after the seeds are sown in early 

 spring. They need good soil and abundance of water. 



Pansies are general favorites for early flowers. They 

 combine two or more rich colors in the same flower. 

 Among the most beautiful of all are the shades of purple. 

 The pansy, and, indeed, most of these very early annuals, 

 can be sown in boxes indoors (Fig. 130), and transplanted to 



