RELUCTANT DELPHINIUMS 
If someone were to write a ballad en- 
titled Lhe Washington Gardeners La- 
ment, the first three verses would bemoan 
the reluctance of delphinium! However, 
there are a few things we want to point 
out. 
Plant Delphinium in the Fall, in a 
rich, well-drained lime soil. Probably a 
With 
good timing and good weather, delphini- 
partially shaded location is best. 
ums planted in the Fall make a very 
nice show for that season, and then in the 
Spring and early Summer cannot be sur- 
passed for beauty in the garden, as well as 
cut flowers. However, if your delphini- 
ums thrive through our hot summer and 
produce again in the Fall, consider your- 
self either an excellent gardener or ex- 
ceedingly lucky. 
In short, treat delphiniums as annuals, 
to be planted every Fall for best results. 
LYTHRUM THRIVES IN POOR 
CONDITION 
Those of you that have what you con- 
sider IMPOSSIBLE GARDENING 
CONDITIONS should try the strain of 
Loosestrife or Lythrum, known as Mor- 
dems Pink. This very hardy perennial 
seems qualified to adopt itself to any and 
all conditions, and along with it, is one 
of our most attractive ever-blooming per- 
ennials. Grows 3 to 4 foot tall in sun 
or shade, dry or wet soil, and bears nu- 
merous spikes of pink florets all through 
the summer. Excellent for cut flowers. 
PLATYCODONS 
Some perennials especially desirable in 
this area do much better if planted and 
then left undisturbed in that location. 
One of these is Platycodon (Balloon 
flower) offered in two forms: Grandi- 
florum with a height at maturity of about 
20 inches; and Mariesi as a dwarf, grow- 
ing to about 12 inches. Platycodon pre- 
fers a sunny location, but is not to be 
overlooked for use in partial shade. Some- 
times mixing sand in the bed, or raising 
the level of the bed corrects the drainage 
problem. Platycodon blooms all Summer, 
and is offered in blue, white and flesh 
pink. A light well drained soil is best for 
this perennial. 
SUMMER-FLOWERING HELIOPSIS 
To get variety in color in these stand- 
by plants, start with Heliopsis Gold grun- 
herz (Gold-green-heart) for a good 
solid yellow. Unquestionably hardy, this 
newest Heliopsis is famous for its ability 
to produce great numbers of flowers all 
Summer long on plants 3 to 4 feet tall. 
Foliage is a good deep green and the 
flower shows a small green heart when 
first opening. Any rich garden soil will 
grow this Heliopsis. 
COLORFUL PENTSTEMON 
Not all of our favorite Perennials have 
everything, but for some real outstanding 
colors try Pentstemon. ‘Though it has not 
always proved hardy, it is well worth 
the extra trouble a little winter protection 
might be. The colors run from deep pink 
in dark red, on foliage that seems to be 
pest free. he flower form is very simi- 
lar to the foxglove flower. Pentstemon 
blooms all summer long, and prefers a 
sunny location with a rich, loamy soil. 



Behnke Nurseries, Beltsville, Maryland 
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