24 THE SARCOXIE NURSERIES PEONY FIELDS 
Keep Gay Colors in Your Garden with Hardy Flowers 

Much of the charm of the hardy garden lies in the pleasing 
changes constantly taking place. Each day during the grow- 
ing season brings something to interest and delight. Before 
the snow is gone Snowdrops and Crocus announce. the com- 
ing of spring. How eagerly we watch for the Violets and 
Bleeding Heart, followed by a host of flowers—Peonies, Irises, 
Sweet Williams and early Daisies. Then the summer flowers 
—late Daisies, Phlox, Blanket Flower, Lilies, etc. There need 
not be a dull day until Chrysanthemums bid farewell to 
autumn. 
Haven't you, noticed the luxuriant hardy flowers around 
the doorway of some old neglected homestead? Observa- 
tion reveals nooks of elegant foliage effects, and flowers in 
abundance. Why? Nature’s gardener has been at work, 
crowded out weak growers that had no place in the informal 
garden and encouraged in their stead the strong growers 
and profuse bloomers that delight in the rich soil, sunlight 
or shade in which you find them. Let's take a lesson from 
nature and plant in the informal garden the sturdy hardy 
kinds that do not require constant attention, yet amply repay 
a little care. We will not omit the more delicate flowers but 
use them as nature does, where they have opportunity to de- 
velop—some at the front of the border, some in nooks and 
corners to themselves, some in the rockery than which there 
is no better place to display the dainty and unusual. If we 
plant in masses and watch that we do not place a tall grow- 
ing variety in front of a dwarf, we can scarcely help produc- 
ing a charming effect. Three, six or a dozen in a group give 
a better display than if scattered through the border. 
The blooming dates and the heights given are for South- 
west Missouri. 
Plants by Parcel Post 
Plants vary in weight and there are eight zones. For Mis- 
souri and adjoining states allow 10c for the first and 1'/c to 
3c for each additional plant. Any surplus will be refunded. 
These are good, strong, outdoor grown plants, not the small 
plants offered in low priced collections. Six or more of a kind 
at the dozen rate. 
Plants dug when blooming, with a ball of earth, 25c each 
minimum. : 
Alyssum rostratum 
Covered in June with tiny golden-yellow, four-petaled flow- 
ers in dense clusters about 12 to 18 in. high; low prostrate 
habit; narrow leaves 11% in. long, hoary gray; of easy culture 
in sun and well drained soil. 20c each, 3 for 45c, 1.50 per doz. 
Alyssum saxatile compactum; Basket of Gold 
One of the most showy and free flowering dwarf plants for 
the border or rock garden. In May a broad mass of small 
four-petaled, bright golden-yellow flowers 14 in. across on 
stems 10 in. high; velvety grayish-green, narrow leaves 2/2 
in. long, retained during winter; thrives in full sun. 20c¢ each, 
3 for 45c, 1.50 per doz. 
Anchusa, Dropmore; Summer Forget-me-not 
Its large, loose clusters of flowers 1/2 to % in. across, like 
Forget-me-nots, are produced freely in latter May on well 
branched stems 3 ft. high, a good deep, rich blue which does 
not fade. Remove the old flower stalks after blooming. Suc- 
ceeds in sun. 25¢ each. 


Balloon Flower; Bell Flower. 
Balloon-Flower:; Chinese Bell-Flower; Platycodon grandiflora 
So named from the odd balloon-like buds which open into 
five-pointed broad bell-shaped blue flowers 2!) to 3 in. 
across, at the tips of the branches on stems 1!/, to 3 ft. tall 
in latter June, sometimes at intervals during summer. It 
should have well drained soil. 20c each, 3 for 45c, 1.50 doz. 
Blanket Flower; Gaillardia grandiflora 
It blooms from latter May until frost, in spite of heat, cold, 
wet and drouth. Flowers daisy-like, 2 to 3 in. across, maroon 
bordered yellow, as gaudy as a Navajo blanket, on stems 
11, to 2, ft. tall. Prefers full sun. Very free from insects and 
diseases. Divide and replant every two or three years. Very 
effective in combination with Shasta Daisies. 20c each, 3 for 
45c, 1.50 per doz. 
Bleeding Heart; Dicentra spectabilis 
An old-time favorite, rich in sentiment and association. 
Heart-shaped rosy-carmine flowers with protruding white in- 
ner petals, drooping on stems 1'/2 to 2 ft. high, carried well 
above the foliage, in latter April. Needs rich, fairly light soil. 
Succeeds in full sun; excellent in shade. 55c¢ each. 

Coreopsis (Page 25) 
Blanket Flower (Page 24) 
