Learn to know the improved varieties 
of annual asters, such as this quilled 
form, Daybreak 
Photographs by Nathan R. Graves, Charles Jones, the 
author and others 
Getting Acquainted 
With the August 
Flowers and Shrubs 
INTRODUCING THE BEGINNER TO 
THE MORE IMPORTANT OF THE AN¬ 
NUALS, PERENNIALS AND SHRUBS 
BEGINNING TO BLOOM THIS MONTH 
b y H e n r y H. Saylor 
Pink Beauty, an aster of exquisite 
color. Plan to use asters for bare 
spots of the border between peren¬ 
nials 
I N the July issue I undertook to show that the shortest road to 
a successful garden of flowers lies not through the alluring 
pages of the seedmen's catalogues, but rather through the ama¬ 
teur's own note book, compiled this summer. The man who 
postpones making the acquaintance of the more important garden 
favorites until next February when the spring seed catalogues 
begin to arrive has lost a year. With nothing but confusing- 
names and a few illustrations to guide his choice, the resulting 
order list will necessarily be an envious document indeed. And 
the bloom in his next year’s garden will surely be a disappoint¬ 
ment, excepting to the true optimist. Most of the annuals he 
selects wijl produce results, of course, providing his enthusiasm 
and his hoe does not lag, but the color combinations and the ar¬ 
rangement according to height will surely reveal the evanescent 
character of his gardening knowledge. And, worst of all. there 
will be no perennials, in all likelihood, to carry forward the gar¬ 
den's existence into another year. On the other hand, if the 
novice will systematically undertake to familiarize himself with 
the garden's elements this summer, when he may see the various 
plants and shrubs in bloom, noting their character of growth, 
height, color, flowering period, whether they prefer sun or shade, 
or a little of both, planting time for seeds, bulbs or roots and so 
on, he will save at least one and probably two full years in his 
gardening apprenticeship. 
Occasional visits to neighboring gardens and if possible to a 
nearby nursery will bring a working basis of knowledge concern- 
Make the acquaintance of the French marigolds, with their yellow¬ 
ish to reddish-brown flowers growing one foot high 
ing many of the plants that brighten with bloom the months of 
June and July, and are only now fading, as well as concerning 
other plants that have last month or just now come into flower. 
Many of these—the most dependable for the garden’s endur¬ 
ing character — the beginner will find to be perennial in habit, re¬ 
appearing year after year from the roots. These may in most 
cases be started from seed this month. Many of them germinate 
slowly and then only under favorable conditions where they may 
be carefully attended. A seed-bed, either in the open garden or 
in a cold frame, where the soil has been prepared with a surface 
as fine and smooth as persistent raking can make it, and where 
the seedlings may be sheltered from a too hot sun by a cheese¬ 
cloth screen or raised whitewashed sash, will be necessary if you 
aspire to raise your own plants. 
Or, many of the perennials you want may be obtained already 
grown and set out this fall or after their blooming season, in 
time to become well established in their new situations before 
cold weather sends them to their winter’s sleep. In the event of 
your raising a successful crop of seedlings these too must be 
transplanted to their permanent places in time to make a good 
root growth before hard frosts. 
If you will do either of these things your next year’s garden 
will need no apology for lack of bloom or bare spots where 
“things didn't come up." 
Space will permit of the briefest mention of most of those 
plants that come into bloom this month in the latitude of New 
You will need no introduction to the native New England asters. 
Try planting a clump of them with golden rod 
( 90 ) 
