ft 
THE ALL-ANNUAL BORDER 
LOUISE BEEBE WILDER 
A Way to Gain Quick Effects which Robs Even “Moving-Day” of Its Sting and Assures 
a Gay and Continuously Blooming Crop to the Migrant Gardener Satisfying the Eye by 
Harmonious Arrangement and Furnishing the Dwelling with Abundant Fragrance and Color 
f N ENTIRE border is seldom given up to the display 
of annual flowers, yet there is often reason and op- 
portunity for thus distinguishing them. When a 
, place is to be occupied for but a short time, beds and 
borders of Annuals are certainly the best answer to the problem 
of how to give it the appearance of settled tenancy; when the 
place is new and the permanent garden still under consideration, 
a generous planting of gay Annuals will relieve the rawness and 
provide a wealth of flowers for cutting, while we await the 
more deliberate glories of the hardy Perennials. Nor is it with- 
out the bounds of fitness to plant borders of annual flowers 
simply for the sake of their own beauty and usefulness. 
As a rule the treatment of this class of plants is far too casual. 
There seems to be a theory that because they are short-tenure 
folk, rather short treatment may be meted out to them with 
impunity, but the truth is quite otherwise. Short, indeed, is the 
life of the true Annual, but exceedingly busy. To enable it to 
grow, to bloom, and to mature seed in the short weeks of warmth 
and sunshine alloted it requires great energy and vitality. 
Nature will manage it in some fashion even in the face of most 
untoward conditions, but if it is to be accomplished in perfection, 
for our pleasure, we must lend a hand. And indeed it is aston- 
ishing to what heights of beauty and dignity “everyday” 
flowers like Marigolds and Cornflowers will reach when given 
even a small part of the care and consideration accorded to 
hardy plants and Roses as their prerogative. 
In the first place good soil is a necessity and it must be well 
prepared. The border should be well dug to the depth of at 
least a foot and the soil broken up until it is fine and friable. 
Poor, hungry soil will require a dressing of very well rotted cow 
manure thoroughly dug into it and an application of soot will 
also be found an advantage. When the border is raked smooth 
and fine on top it should be made ready for planting by re- 
peated treading until it is firm and even — to sow in loose soil 
is to lose half your seeds. Upon this firm surface the seed is 
sown in shallow drills in irregular spaces marked out beforehand 
and labeled. Small seed like that of Poppy is merely strewn 
upon the surface and pressed in; feathery seed like Cornflower 
requires to be well covered as it is easily washed out of the soil. 
Such large seed as Lupine may be soaked over night before 
planting. For the rest, cover them to a depth of about four 
times their own size and firm them in with a flat board; then 
water with a very fine spray. 
Thin sowing cannot be too strongly counseled. Each 
seedling should stand quite free of its neighbor as it emerges 
from the ground and be able to spread its first leaves freely, 
otherwise it is immediately discouraged in its struggle for exis- 
tence. As the plants grow repeated thinnings will be necessary 
in order always to insure to each free elbow room. Finally it 
should be seen that to all dwarf plants, such as California 
Poppies, Nigella, and Alyssum, from six inches to one foot be 
allowed, and to taller plants from one to two feet according to 
their needs. 
It is well in devoting an entire border to Annuals to choose 
for the main body of the planting those varieties which will 
bloom for a long period. Of course, such ephemeral enchant- 
ments as Poppies, Love-in-a-mist, and Mignonette are not to 
be foregone, so they must be disposed as artfully as possible to 
catch the eye while they are in beauty, but to lapse into ob- 
scurity behind some more steadfast plant when they have set 
about the business of reproducing their kind. If no seed is 
allowed to form, the life of an annual plant is greatly lengthened, ’ 
for the effort of seeding draws heavily on its vitality and hastens 
the end. The small labor of going along the border and snip- 
ping off the faded blooms every few days will be rewarded by 
greatly increased and prolonged flowering. L 
Another factor which is of immeasurable importance in main- 
taining the fine effect of an annual border is staking. Annuals 
are apt to be weak of stem, and once beaten to the grr 
wind or rain their beauty is gone forever. The sta 5 - 
should be strong but slight, and should never appear n 
top of the plant. Such headlong, scrambling thing, 
quaint Swan River Daisy are best induced to an upright re- 
placing little branching twigs among the slender grow 1 
that they may be upheld in a natural position. These t 
ing twigs of greater or lesser height will be found the best'^,. 
of supporting such other slender growers as Poppies, LinA 
Love-in-a-mist, Erysimum, Linum grandiflorum, and Swe*- ~ 
Scabious; while for the taller-growing subjects, like Nicotiana 
and Cosmos, pea-brush will serve the same end. All plants 
with a strong central stalk like Marigolds, Balsams, Lupines, 
and Sunflowers should be firmly tied to a light, strong stake. 
Staking is best done early — before the plants have become tor 
heavy and easily beaten down, even though we have to end' 
the over-prominence of the stakes until the foliage has growi j 
cover them. Only thus can be avoided that crushed, never 
smile-again appearance that is so common to borders of An- 
nuals after a storm or a prolonged spell of rainy weather. Add 
to this, thorough and frequent watering after sunset in dry 
weather; and, more important still, persistant stirring of the 
soil about the plants so that it does not become baked or 
claimed by weeds, and it is safe to say that a revelation of the 
possibilities of annual flowers will result. 
In the accompanying plan only such Annuals are used as may 
be easily managed when sown directly in the open border. This 
deprives us of such desirables as Ageratum, Verbenas, Petunias, 
China Asters and others which, on account of the slowness of 
their development, it is advisable to start earlier indoors or in a 
frame. The Annual Wallflower is included in spite of the fact 
that it will not bloom until early autumn, because it quickly 
makes sturdy, dark-leaved little bushes that are ornamental ' 
throughout the season; and one’s waiting is well repaid by the- 
bouquets of deliciously scented brown and yellow flowers that 1 
may be gathered all through the fall, even after many a hard 
frost. 
The double border given is merely suggestive and endless 
combinations may be worked out according to the taste of the 
planter. Here the aim has been to secure continuous bloom 
with a harmonious arrangement of color, and to provide plenty 
of flowers for cutting, including as many fragrant ones as pos- 
sible. Plants of Heliotrope set out at intervals along the 
border near the front add much to the attraction, and its soft 
hues are never at variance with even the brightest of neighbor- 
ing colors. Gladiolus is also useful in such a border, as is the 
Summer Hyacinth (Galtonia candicans). 
Among the hardy Annuals that should be sown as soon as 
the ground may be made ready for them are: Poppies, Nigella, 
Alyssum, Cornflower, Calliopsis, Larkspur, California Poppies, 
Linaria, Wallflowers, Sweet Sultan, Asperula, Erysimum, 
Mignonette, Clarkia, Anchusa, and Swan River Daisy. For 
the rest it is best to wait until the soil is warm and frosts are no 
longer to be feared. 
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