196 MAKY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



they have time to make themselves at home, and they 

 will be ready to blossom in the spring. I do the 

 same thing now to the irises and the phloxes the 

 tall ones. They have finished their summer's work. 

 I give them a change of place and send away some 

 of the children. 



"They do not like that you interfere with them 

 early, when they are preparing for the summer ; also 

 they will not have you move them when they are 

 blooming. So we wait until they have finished." 



' "I understand," said Mary ; "and if I dug up my 

 phlox and made twins of it all, would it bloom next 

 year like yours ? " 



"No, no ! your phlox is Drummondi, it is annual. 

 Annuals are good to grow quickly they are also good 

 to die quickly. Me I like the perennials better 

 they are like old friends who come every year." 



"Perennials and annuals and all the kinds of plants 

 used to mix me up very much, but I have them all 

 straight now." 



"Yes?" said Mr. Trommel, inquiringly. Shovel 

 in hand, he was inspecting a clump of peonies. "Now 

 you comprehend?" 



"You see, it 's this way," explained Mary. "There 's 

 evergreens ; that 's very easy : they are ever green, 



