SOBER SUMMER 



side for a low screen from the central walk, and I 

 planted the fearfully persistent Bocconia cordata, 

 or plume poppy, next the flagstone pavement, 

 with the scarcely less persistent Shasta daisies 

 next, edging the combination with petunias, them- 

 selves usually quite able to hold their own. "Let 

 them fight it out among themselves," I said to 

 my son, as we finished the planting. 



Now I find they seem to have arranged a sort 

 of entente cordiale, for all three families are dwelling 

 together in apparent content and in considerable 

 beauty. The bocconia shows its attractive plumes 

 and its no less attractive fig-like leaves in com- 

 fortable height, the Shasta daisy has bloomed 

 abundantly, and the petunias are rich in fringed 

 flowers. True, the yellow roots of the bocconia 

 have appeared outside the stone wall, and must 

 be ruthlessly chopped out if I hope to confine this 

 energetic plant to its designated place, but this is 

 not much bother. It is a good part of the fun of 

 growing a garden to try out plants here and there, 

 to pit one against another sometimes, and thus to 

 work toward being master of the garden. 



The so-called "China" asters, which are botani- 

 cally not asters, but callistephus, are August and 

 September bloomers at Breeze Hill, and each year 

 we "do" them better, as the professional gardener 



