RAINBOW GARDENS 
DOROTHEA D. DUNLEA 
“Every hue unfolds. 
In fair proportion, running from the red 
To where the violet fades into the sky.” 
Brilliant Tints or Soft Hues in Bulbs, Perennials, and Annuals 
That Run the Gamut of Color for Gardens East, South, and West 
mum CURVING terrace is an admirable setting for a rain- 
bow of flowers, for then the garden can take the shape 
j/WV of the bow and by its slope allow for each color to show, 
libJUl one row above another. A gentle slope presents the 
blended colors as effect¬ 
ively as a picture prop¬ 
erly tilted for light and 
good vision, but if slop¬ 
ing land is not part of 
one’s good fortune to 
possess, the rainbow 
garden can be made on 
level land. There must, 
however, then be careful 
selection of plants that 
vary in height or else 
are so uniformly small 
in growth that each 
color is afforded equal 
prominence, for no 
flowers like to sit in the 
back row unless they 
can look out over the 
rest and show their 
beauty too. The out¬ 
line and form of plants, 
the shapes they assume 
in height, and their gen¬ 
eral growth is another 
important factor to 
consider. 
Illustrative of these 
points, a row of Ver¬ 
benas for blue in the 
rainbow would not 
make a good showing 
with Salvia that grows 
so luxuriantly in hedge- 
like masses. Plants 
have been chosen ac¬ 
cording to height as 
well as color in the ac¬ 
companying picture of 
a Southern California 
garden where “wee 
sma’ Pansies” make 
footlights for graceful 
Snapdragons which are 
backed by still taller 
shrubs and trees. This 
garden also illustrates 
the charm of curve 
which is a feature of 
the rainbow garden. 
The rainbow garden 
may be fairy-like in 
the daintiness of colors 
that are chosen -lavender, blue, palest yellow, and delicate 
pink—a Watteau garden in reality; or it may be a vivid 
splash of color, harmonious blends of violet, indigo, blue, green, 
yellow, orange, and red; or it may be almost “jazzy” in effect, 
using only the vivid 
primaries, red, yellow, 
and blue. And in choos¬ 
ing color schemes, it is 
to be remembered that, 
with gay colors, dis¬ 
tance lends enchant¬ 
ment and also spreads a 
softening gossamer veil 
of blue over them all, 
especially in the early 
morning or at dusk. 
As for the proper sea¬ 
son to commence the 
rainbow garden—that 
must naturally depend 
upon what section of 
the country you happen 
to live in and which 
plants you select to 
create thedesired effect. 
Bulbs in Rainbow 
Array 
RAINBOW gar¬ 
den of bulbs is, 
generally speaking, best 
planted in the fall or, 
in Southern California, 
in the very early spring, 
about February and 
March. The following 
bulbs are suggested as 
having practically the 
same blooming season: 
“THE CHARM OF THE CURVE” 
“Wee sma’ Pansies” make footlights for the graceful Snapdragons which are 
hacked by still taller shiubs and trees. This garden (in Southern California) 
also illustrates the charm of curve which is a feature of the rainbow garden 
Violet, Lavender, Indigo, 
and Blue: 
Iris [German). Bloom from 
April onward. 
Iris {Japanese). Bloom 
later in season and re¬ 
quire plenty of water 
and dressing. 
African Blue-lily. Set in 
ground in early spring 
for summer flowering; 
California and the South. 
Hyacinths. Bloom from 
April onward. 
Cream, Yellow: 
Freesias. Bloom in April 
and onward; California 
and the South. 
Jonquils. Bloom from 
April onward. 
Daffodils. Bloom from 
April onward. 
Yellow, Red: 
Tulips. Early and late- 
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