"I shall hope to see something in the herb line, in your gardens next year—a hardy garden started, and a good bit of taste displayed by all of you. You girls might raise mint to put in lemonade.
"Next time we shall have our talk on wild flowers. Some of you know and love many of these wild flowers."
| ANNUALS FOR SANDY SOILS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Clarkia | Rose White Purple | June Oct. | 1½ ft. | Good to use for a border plant. Use single varieties. |
| Poppy | White Red | July Aug. | 1½ ft. | Do not transplant. Fine for mass effects. |
| Nasturtium | Yellow to Maroon | June Oct. | 1-5 ft. | Most satisfactory, especially for cut flowers. Blooms freely. |
| Portulaca | White Red Yellow | June | ½ ft. | Blooms freely — grows close to the ground. |
| Zinnia | Red Magenta | June Frost | 1½ ft. | Grows without great care. Blooms freely. Looks best when massed. |
| ANNUALS FOR HEAVY SOILS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Godetia | Red White | July Oct. | 1-2 ft. | Easy to grow. An English favourite: blooms freely. |
| Sweet Pea | Variety | July Oct. | 4-6 ft. | Plant early in the spring in a sunny spot. Keep flowers well clipped for constant bloom. |
| Petunia | Magenta | May | 1-2 ft. | Mass or use in borders. Give plenty of sun. Good for the outdoor window box. |
| Sweet Alyssum | White | July Sept. | ½ ft. | Sow thickly in the borders. Blooms freely. Grows in every soil. |
| Pot Marigold | Orange Yellow | June Frost | 1½ ft. | Blooms freely. Looks well in masses. Stiff effect as a cut flower. |
| SEVEN FAVOURITE ANNUALS FOR CUT FLOWERS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Sweet Alyssum | White Red | July Sept. | ½ ft. | Use in low bowls for table decorations. |
| China Aster | White Blue Purple | July to Oct. | 1 ft. | Lasts long after cutting. |
| Baby's Breath | White Rose | June Oct. | 2-3 ft. | Use in bouquets with other flowers. |
| Coreopsis | Yellow Brown | June Nov. | 1-2 ft. | Place by themselves in tall vases. |
| Nasturtium | Scarlet Yellow | June Oct. | 1-5 ft. | Cut freely for constant bloom. Use in great masses in low vases. |
| Pansy | Purple Blue Yellow White | May June | ½-1 ft. | Cut closely. Place in low dishes. |
| Pink | White Maroon Rose | May Aug. | 1 ft. | Lasts well after cutting. |
| ANNUALS THAT BLOOM AFTER FROST | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Sweet Alyssum | White | July Sept. | ½ ft. | Withstands early frosts. Good border plant. |
| Candytuft | Red White | June to Sept. | ½ ft. | Sow at intervals through the summer. Good cut flower. |
| Cornflower | Rose Blue White | June | 2-3 ft. | Good for cut flowers. Blooms freely. |
| Marigold | Yellow Browns | June Aug. | ½-2 ft. | Better for garden effects than for cut flowers. |
| Annual Phlox | Yellow Reds White | May Aug. | ½-1 ft. | Self sows. Good all round plant. |
| Ten-weeks stock | White Purple Pink | June July | 1½ ft. | A second sowing made in May flowers the same season. |
| FRAGRANT ANNUALS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Mignonette | Green | May Oct. | 1 ft. | Beautifully fragrant. Do not transplant. Good to use as a break for clashing colours. |
| Sweet Peas | White Scarlet Blue Yellow | July Oct. | 4-6 ft. | Free bloomer. Try variety Lathyrus odorata. |
| Ten-weeks stock | Pink Purple White | June July | 1 ft. | Good for cut flowers. Fragrant at night. |
| Sweet Sultan | White Yellow Purple | June Aug. | 2 ft. | Centaurea moschata good for cut flowers. |
| Sweet Alyssum | White | July Sept. | ½ ft. | Alyssum maritimun. Low growing, border plant. |
| ANNUALS THAT RE-SOW THEMSELVES | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Morning glory | Reds Blues Whites | July Oct. | 15-30 ft. | Grows rapidly. Makes a good screen. |
| Poppy | Pink Scarlet White | June Sept. | ½-2 ft. | Papaver Rhocas and P. somniferum. |
| Phlox | Yellow Reds White | May Aug. | ½-1 ft. | Phlox Drummondii. Need much water. |
| Pot Marigold | Orange Yellow | June Oct. | 1-2 ft. | Calendula officinalis Likes a warm soil. |
| ANNUALS THAT CLIMB | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Balloon Vine | White | Aug. | 10 ft. | Grows rapidly. Good screen. |
| Japanese Hop | Inconspicuous | July Oct. | 8-20 ft. | Rapid grower. Looks well growing along old fences. |
| Moon-flower | White | July Sept. | 15-30 ft. | Night bloomer. Grows rapidly. |
| Morning Glory | Purple White | June Aug. | 20 ft. | Rapid grower. Good screen. |
| ANNUALS FOR SHADY PLACES | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Godetia | White Red | July to Oct. | 1-2 ft. | The flowers are showy. |
| Musk | Yellow | June to Aug | ½-1 ft. | Need moisture and coolness. |
| Nemophila | Blue White | June to Oct. | 1-3 ft. | Moisture, partial shade and coolness. |
| Pansy | White Yellow Purple | May to Oct. | ½-1 ft. | Sow under same conditions as musk in early spring. Blooms freely in the fall. |
| ANNUALS FOR SUNNY PLACES | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Balsam | Red Yellow White | June to Oct. | 1-2 ft. | Plant in rich sandy loam under direct rays of sun. |
| Cornflower | Blue | May to Sept. | 2 ft. | Full flower. Resows itself |
| Cosmos | White Pink Crimson | July to Sept. | 4 ft. | Overrich soil retards bloom. |
| Gaillardia | Red Yellow | July to Oct. | 3 ft. | Good cut flower. Blossoms freely. |
| Marigold, African | Yellow | July to Frost | 3 ft. | Blooms profusely; stiff flower head. |
| Nasturtium | Yellow Scarlet | June to Oct. | 1-5 ft. | Both dwarf and tall varieties are rapid growersand free bloomers. |
| Rose moss | White Magenta | June Aug. | ½-¾ ft. | Portulaca grandiflora. Plant in position direct sunshine. |
| Verbena | Various | July to Sept. | 2 ft. | Start inside for early bloom. |
| Wallflower | Orange | June July | 1½ ft. | Sown in Sept. blooms in May. |
| ANNUALS FOR ROCKY PLACES | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Phlox | Red White | June to Oct. | 1-1½ ft. | Variety Phlox Drumondii Duration of bloom depends on richness of soil. |
| Candytuft | Red White | May Frost | ½-1½ ft. | Plant in the fall and cover for early spring bloom. |
| Clarkia | Purple Red White | June Oct. | 1½ ft. | Use Clarkia elegans. Thrives in both sun and partial shade. |
| Nasturtium (Dwarf) | Reds Yellows | June Oct. | 1 ft. | Tropoeolum minor; blooms very early. |
| FRAGRANT PERENNIALS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Winter Heliotrope | Lilac | Dec. Feb. | 1 ft. | Blooms outdoors in winter. Flowers small. |
| Russian Violets | Violet | March | ½ ft. | Double flowers. Hardy. |
| Lily-of-the-Valley | White | May | ¾ ft. | Plant by middle of March for that season's bloom. Needs part shade. Spreads. |
| Valerian | Pinkish | June | 3 ft. | Finely cut foliage. Easy to grow. |
| Lemon Lily | Yellow | June | 2 ft. | Flowers 4 in. long. Tubers which multiply rapidly. |
| Fringed Pink | Lilac | July | 1 ft. | Blooms until autumn if prevented from seeding. |
| Bee Balm | Scarlet | July Aug. | 2 ft. | Odour of mint. Good for mass effects. |
| White Day Lily | White | Aug. Sept. | 2 ft. | Lilies 4-6 in. long. Fine, broad-leaved foliage. |
| PERENNIALS FOR CUT FLOWERS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Christmas Rose | White | Nov. Feb. | ½ ft. | Blooms outdoors in the snow. No fragrance. Charming in masses. |
| California Violets | Violet | March | ½ ft. | Large flowers but single. Fragrant. |
| Foxglove | Purple | June | 3-4 ft. | Large flowers, long stems. |
| Oriental Larkspur | Blue White | June | 2-3 ft. | Beautiful colour, long stems. Let no flowers go to seed. |
| Japan Iris | Variety of | July | 3-4 ft. | Short lived when cut. Fine blooms. |
| Japan Anemone | Pink White | Sept. | 3 ft. | Finest September flower. Plant in spring. Plant for afternoon sun. |
| TALL PERENNIALS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Hollyhock | Variety of | July | 6 ft. | Single varieties are the hardier; double varieties last longer. |
| Plume Poppy | Pinkish | July | 6 ft. | Spreads rapidly. Fine for massing and screening. Do not plant on the west as it shuts off sun. |
| Golden Glow | Yellow | Aug. | 6 ft. | Multiplies rapidly. Fine bloomer. Liable to pest lice. Spray with soap solution. |
| Double Sunflower | Yellow | Aug. | 5 ft. | Largest double flower of any perennial. Likely to run out unless divided |
| Late Sunflower | Yellow | Sept. | 10-12 ft. | Tallest of perennials; blooms till October. |
| LOW GROWING PERENNIALS | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Crested Dwarf Iris | Blue | April | 9 in. | Earliest of iris. Good for edgings. Plant the middle of March. |
| Dwarf Flag | Purple | April | 9 in. | Increases rapidly. Large flowers. Good colouring |
| English Daisy | Pink White | April | 6 in. | Good for spring budding purposes. |
| Tufted Pansies or Violets | Blue Yellow White | June | 6 in. | More but smaller flowers than pansies. After July cut back, manure and they will bloom again in September. |
| Carpathian Harebell | Blue | July | 8 in. | Bloom for 6 weeks. Easy to grow. |
| Coral Bells | Red | Aug. | 12 in. | Grow in sandy, well-drained soil. Coral red flowers. |
| Popp-mallow | Crimson | Sept. | 9 in. | Blooms nearly 12 weeks. Colour does not harmonize with others. |
| PERENNIALS OF MEDIUM HEIGHT | ||||
| NAME | COLOUR | TIME | HEIGHT | SPECIAL POINTS |
| Bleeding Heart | Pink | May | 1½ ft. | Long lived and long of bloom. Graceful. |
| European Peony | Crimson White | May | 3 ft. | Earliest of peonies. Poor appearance in the fall. |
| Sweet William | Red Pink White | June | 12 in. | Self sows. Flowers at their best the second year. |
| Chinese Peony | Crimson Pink White | June | 2½ ft. | Long-lived. Very satisfactory. Plant in September. |
| Foxglove | Purple White | June | 3-3¼ ft. | Spire-like cluster of flowers. |
| Oriental Larkspur | Blue | June | 2-3 ft. | Best blue perennial. Cut flower spikes as soon as they fade. |
| Oriental Poppy | Red | June | 3 ft. | Self sows. Flowers 6 in. across. |
| Gaillardia | Red Yellow | June Nov. | 1 ft. | Flowers more freely than any other perennial. Cover plants after ground freezes. |
| Late Phlox | All best Blue and Yellow | Aug. Sept. | 1½ ft. | Fragrant in the evening. Many colours of bloom. |
| Hardy Chrysanthemum | Blue Scarlet | Sept. Nov. | 3ft. | Long season of bloom. Deep rich soil and sunny exposure for best results. |
XI
THE WILD-FLOWER GARDEN
"A wild-flower garden has a most attractive sound. One thinks of long tramps in the woods, collecting material, and then of the fun in fixing up a real for sure wild garden.
"If the wild garden is to be a school affair, then I certainly should plant the different kinds of flowers together. The north corner near the building is a suitable place. But if the garden is to be at home—your own private little garden—I am inclined to think it would be better to plant the wild flowers here and there among the cultivated ones.
"A wild-flower garden is a joy each year, because up it comes without constant replanting of seed. It is a hardy garden. As Nature often covers her wood-flowers over with leaves preparatory to winter, so you might copy her and do the same.