In the main my gardening experiences are 

 associated with garden club women. Many gar- 

 dens and flower shows have been visited and 

 many flower shows judged. My experience in 

 growing has been in city and rural gardens. 



Why gardeners select certain types and varieties oi 

 flowers can be attributed to several factors. Many 

 people have personal preferences which are some times 

 based on sentimental reasons. Others choose certain 

 species or varieties because these species or varieties 

 are always good performers. There are those who 

 desire to create a succession of bloom through the sea- 

 sons. To accomplish this, their selections must be made 

 with unusual discretion. To some it is the emphasis on 

 color and color combinations that is a paramount factor. 



Color is an attribute that greatly enhances one's visual enjoy- 

 ment of the flowers. However, I feel that in some instances too 

 much importance has been laid on this factor to the minimizing of 

 other important considerations. Those plants that require little atten- 

 tion and make few demands upon the gardener's time are always 

 popular. This is important when the labor situation is a problem. 

 Many gardeners love to experiment with new flowers. They do 

 not like to feel that their selections are making their gardens 

 appear obsolete and they enjoy the challenge that the new intro- 

 ductions bring. Where the cutting garden enters into the picture 

 those varieties that continue producing after cutting are much 

 sought after by flower arrangers. All too few people realize the 

 real satisfaction that comes from having a cutting garden. Often 

 the perennial border is used for growing those varieties desired 

 for cutting. If this is the case, the perennial border becomes a 

 collection of horticultural material and loses its significance as a 

 well-designed grouping of choice plants. 



The gardener places particular emphasis on the following at- 

 tributes of the plant material he chooses: good substance, inter- 

 esting form in foliage and bloom, hardiness, clear color, blooms 

 that are uniform and true to type, and where possible disease 

 resistance. When using the material, in combination, he looks for 

 interesting variations and foliage contrasts, harmonious color com- 

 binations, as well as textural contrasts in foliage and bloom. 



ANNUAL FLOWERS 



No garden is complete without annuals. They serve many uses: 

 as fillers in for gaps left by spring flowering bulbs, as accents 

 in the perennial border, and for special beds or plantings in specific 

 locations. 



Dahlia. Unwin Dwarf Hybrids — win a place of merit. They pro- 

 duce abundant bloom, give a wide range of color when color is 

 at a premium in the garden, and hold up well as a cut flower. 



Calendula. These have wide appeal. They are prolific bloomers, 

 of clear color shades and tints, and the two-toned varieties are 

 very distinctive. The Pacific Strain is outstanding. 



Antirrhinum. There is scarcely a gardener who does not enjoy 

 the Antirrhinum or Snapdragons. He looks for purity of color. 

 He enjoys the harmonious shading of the bi-colors and wants 

 uniform development and distribution of the florets on the stem. 



Cleome. Makes a dramatic display whether planted in beds or 

 as fill-ins in the border. Easy to grow. 



Celosia. Both crested and plumed types are coveted by flower 

 arrangers, both as fresh and dried material. 



Ageratum. Excellent for edgings. Introduces the blue note that 

 at times is scarce. Blue Perfection and Midget Blue have that clear 

 blue color so greatly desired. 



FLOWER VARIETIES 

 Why Folks Like Them 



By MRS. JOHN L. MERRELL 



First Vice President ot The Federated Garden Clubs oi New York State 



Cosmos. The white varieties with their cir- 

 " cular discs give that purity of white de- 

 sirous for garden interest after dusk. 



Nicotiana. Supplies this need also with its 

 added fragrance. 



Marigolds. The French hybrids show excellent quality. 

 They have wide appeal for their range of color, easy 

 culture, and prolific bloom over a long period of time. 

 The large-flowering Marigolds also have their place 

 in the garden. 



Petunias. A long time favorite, are planted in quantity. 

 Singles, doubles, and ruffled in clear hues produce 

 generously and are easy to grow. Celestial Rose and 

 Silver Medal are superior among the rose pinks. 



Verbenas. A long-time favorite, coming from grandmother's garden. 



Torenia. A low-growing lovely blue flower that is an excellent 

 bloomer in shady locations. 



Zinnias are a must. The Lilliput varieties are popular as an edging 

 plant and for flower arrangements. In the large-flowering sorts 

 disappointments have often resulted when seed was not obtained 

 from a reliable source. 



PERENNIALS 



In the selection of perennials one thinks of them mainly as border 

 plants. Every border must have good design, the plants carefully 

 selected and well grouped. The real effect is lost if plants are 

 placed in hit or miss fashion. Where we use a few varieties, some 

 are considered as primaries, others as secondaries. The primaries 

 should be planted in drifts to give a feeling of continuity and 

 motion. Accent plants are essential to complete the picture. 



Delphiniums are a favorite primary plant. Their vertical habit of growth 

 makes them ideal as a toil or backdrop. They blend well with many 

 other plants, especially Lilies. The gardener is particularly interested 

 in the large florets ana beautiful range of color obtained in the Pacific 

 Hybrid strain. 



Chrysanthemums are essential for fall color. Their popularity rests with 

 their wide color range, prolific flowering, and resistance to cold. 



Aquilegia or Columbine is loved by all for their delicate colors and 

 graceful spurs and panicles of bloom. They are a magnet for all 

 the humming birds in the neighborhood. 



Dianthus are a must in every garden for their rainbow-like range of 

 colors, for their fragrance, and gray foliage. The Plumarius and 

 Heddewigi types are especially desirable. 



Digitalis or Foxglove with its stately vertical lines plays an important 

 part in garden design. It serves as an excellent accent note in the 

 border and frequently a dramatic climax is gained through their use. 



Lupines are also an excellent vertical and the Russel Hybrids have a 



beautiful range of color. 



The list of worthwhile perennials is a very long one. Some of the 

 early flowering kinds like Alyssum saxatile, Iberis sempervirens. Phlox 

 divaricata, Myosotis and others combine well with Narcissus and other 

 spring bulbous flowers. Pansies, Peonies, Veronicas with their purity 

 of color, Shasta Daisies, and others carry us into the summer. Autumn 

 is glorified with the fine hardy Asters, Helianthus, Artemesia, GaiUardia, 

 Boltonia, and Helenium. 



I have merely skimmed the surface in enumerating- the wonderful 

 selections of both annual and perennial flowers available. However, 

 it must be borne in mind that the gardener is becoming more and more 

 educated in the art of gardening and is therefore becoming more dis- 

 criminating regarding the quality of the seed he purchases. He is no 

 longer interested in the lithographed picture on the seed packet. He 

 wants seed that is true to type and color, of high germination and good 

 viability, and he is only sure of obtaining such seed if he buys his seed 

 from a reputable dealer who specializes in high quality strains. 



In summarizing. Garden Club women realize that you have contributed 

 more than can justly be evaluated to encourage better gardens and 

 more intelligent gardeners. May we count on your continued help in 

 meeting our objectives to encourage better horticulture, to stimulate 

 gardening on a large scale, to make people realize the importance of 

 gardening as a part of daily living, as a source of real satisfaction and 

 comfort. Gardening is a way of life. It can be a real force in helping 

 to attain security and peace. 



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