Book of Gardens 



A 



DOZEN 



13 



GOOD 



ANNUALS 



Certain Flowers Whose Colors and Characteristics Qualify Them as 

 a Basis for Starting an Annual Garden 



THERE are, of course, no twelve — or fif- 

 teen, or twenty — "best" annuals. Local 

 conditions, individual preferences, a thousand 

 and one varying circumstances, must be taken 

 into consideration. If we are going to set any 

 definite limit to our list, let us call our selec- 

 tion merely "good'' in a general sort of way, 

 and let it go at that. 



The flowers which follow are chosen with 

 the assumption that they are to be grown under 

 average normal conditions. Briefly, these con- 

 sist of moderately rich, well-drained soil; 

 plenty of sunlight and fresh air circulation; 

 and freedom from the encroaching roots of 

 trees and shrubs. Granted these, here is a basic 

 list on which )'ou can start an annual garden 

 of small size. 



Cosmos. Its colors are red, pink and white 

 — great saucer-shaped blossoms borne 4' to 6' 

 high above a mass of feathery foliage. For 

 mass effects far into the autumn, after most of 

 the other flowers have succumbed to the chill 

 nights, it is unexcelled. An e.xcellent flower 

 for both garden effects and cutting. 



Asters. Not the busy, perennial kinds with 

 the purple and gold flowers, but the Giant 

 Comet, King, Royal and Imperial sorts. They 

 reach a height of 1' to 3', and furnish abundant 

 bloom in a wide variety of colors during late 

 summer and autumn. These asters are good 

 not only for a variety of garden effects, but 



also for cutting and display in the house. 



Alyssum. Free-flowering and quick-growing, 

 a splendid bedding and edging plant which be- 

 gins to bloom early in the spring and continues 

 throughout the season. The flowers are white, 

 profuse, and low growing; together with the 

 foliage, they form a thick mat a few inches 

 thick. 



Snapdragons. Good for Ijorder planting and 

 as cut flowers. Long blooming season and ex- 

 quisite flowers in practically every color except 

 blue. They grow from 1' to 3' high and if given 

 winter protection will bloom a second season. 

 Some of the giant types are especially good 

 for planting at the back of the bed. 



Candytuft. One can hardly imagine this 

 charming hardy flower. For edgings and bed- 

 ding efl'ects it is especially good, and it is well 

 adapted to cutting. The blossoms are white, 

 pink or red, borne 1' to 2' high in large heads 

 or spikes. 



Forget-Me-Not. Of all garden flowers, this 

 comes as close as any to being a tradition. 

 There is no need of describing it here — it's too 

 well known. 



Annual Larkspur. Not to be confused with 

 the perennial sort. It comes in all colors except 

 yellow, and is good for garden masses as well 

 as cutting. Grows 2' to 3' high and closely re- 

 sembles the hardy larkspur in appearance. It 

 is a splendid flower in all respects. 



Petunias. Brilliancy and wealth of blossoms, 

 as well as marked success even under imfa- 

 vorable conditions, characterize petunias. They 

 come in all colors except yellow, grow from 1' 

 to 1}4' high, and are good for color masses and 

 bedding effects. 



Salpiglossis. Also called Velvet Flower and 

 Painted Tongue. All colors, l' to 2' high, de- 

 sirable especially for garden effects and cutting 

 for the house. 



Phlox. An old favorite, better today than 

 ever. All colors except blue, can be used as a 

 cut flower as well as for color masses in the 

 garden. Grows about 1' high. Not to be 

 confused with the hardy perennial varieties. 



Eschscholtzia or California Poppy. These 

 flowers, like forget-me-nots, scarcely need de- 

 scription. They are so showy and free-flower- 

 ing that they are particularly adapted to color 

 masses in the house as well as outdoors. 1' to 

 2' high, in all colors except blue. 



S'dteet Peas. The sweet pea of today is a far 

 superior flower to that of a dozen or more years 

 ago. All the old colors are in it, and many new 

 ones. The Spencer type is the best; many of its 

 varieties have beautifully frilled and fluted 

 edges on their petals. To yield the maximum 

 returns, sweet peas should be gro^vn in a ver\' 

 richly manured trench prepared to a depth of 

 2', as their roots demand a great deal of 

 nourishment. 



Annuals may be planted in beds by themselves, a bed or portion of a bed to one variety, or they 

 mav be used in the perennial border to give color and flower interest when the herbaceous plants 



are not so rich in bloom 



