Evening Star Newspaper, June 8, 1940, Page 11

GARDEN NEWS. You Can Transpla Preparation of New Beds Is of Great Importance To Newcomer’s Health Move All Plants and Shrubs With a Large Ball of Earth To Avoid Effect of Shock By W. H. YOUNGMAN., Most of us, for one reason or another, are unable to do all of the transplanting that we wish at the optimum time or even in the proper season. This spring has been unusually bad for the gardener in this respect. Many shrubs were in bloom before the soil was workable, It was so late before the heavier jobs could be tackled that we decided | Using ordinary methods and care | it was too risky and had better wait. transplanting is risky, but with a little extra effort and a few precautions most plants can be moved now. Transplanting may be done successfully “for most plants, trees and shrubs at other times than spring and fall. Even when we do not employ the chemical vitamin B-1 it is possible to move fairly large plants. No doubt a great many plants, shrubs and trees are best moved in the fall. for then the soils are more easily worked and, too, we can do & better job more leisurely. In the spring we have a comparatively short season in which to transplant, and in addition we have all of the regular garden jobs to do. Thus it is small wonder that many transplanting jobs planned for the spring are left undone. Shall we wait until fall or next spring? Well, that depends. If you are willing to give a little extra effort and care the job can be done now. Nurserymen transplant at all seasons with surprisingly few losses " uld ™ et e To begin with, the holes should® = T e be deeply dug and generous quan- : . thic ic | SETVE AS & pocket for later water- tities of humus incorporated; this is in 4 gs. Scatter a layer of compost or to hold moisture close to the roots. 5 h £ t Plants give oft quantities of water peat over the surface to serve as a don vk e e mulch This prevents a certain UENESRTOREN Y S iR Shovan St amount of evaporation as well as this transpiration The rate of aids in keeping the soil cool transpiration is greatly arcololfimed Having planted the new plant. | by the ,;_‘M" of th{r- r.\mr’nrmr“far:):m‘rzi whether it be a zinnia or a tree, it | :‘”fl o ante ot "ams is well to provide some kind of a e, S, DT, s " shade as a protection against sun kind, we should put humus in the z Sty : and wind. Strong stakes with bur- soil to hold mm.xmrnhm the ;oom. lap tacked over them give a satis- build some kind of a shade or shelter = Lo as 8 protection against sun and factory shade, but a lath screen 2 works just as well. For smal} plants we should wrap the trunk with bur- intoRthe soll AwllNdo? lap or paper as an additional protec- | Cut Back tion. In the summer of 1936 four Ruthlessly. young oak trees were moved from| Now comes the hard job for most the woods with large balls of dirt.| gardeners—the cutting back or ;I)Teir brnnkrhvs WT prun;d ;_l;‘d pinching off of leaves. tips, branches, ey were kept well watere: € etc. Most annuals should have the trunks, however, were not wrapped tops pinched out. and a few should and they all burned so hadly that have the leaf surface reduced either they have not recovered: after four by shearing off a part of them. or years they are still struggling to as with geraniums the removal of keep alive some. Removal of a number of the | branches or shoots of shrubs is the Large Ball of usual method of reducing leaf sur- Sin bk face. The removal of a number of The larger the ball of earth taken g branches and twigs of trees serves with the roots the less the shock E z the same purpose. The greater the of transplanting. although some 1nc¢ of roots the more severe should plants do not need as much care as o be the reduction in leaf surface. do others. One would hardly at- nanc successful collectors of wild- tempt to move an Oriental POPPY |inos cut their new shrubs back to at this season, although with an | e ctubs: this gives them splen- extraordinarily large ball of earth plants that make sur- it could be done. The size of the 2 prisingly rapid growth. ball to be dug depends mot only | “rne first season after transplant- upon the size of the plant but also o regular watering is essential for upon the tvpe of root system. A trees and shrubs. Soaking the compact fibrous root system requires ground to a depth of a foot or more a much smaller ball of earth than s far more beneficial than frequent & tap-rooted plant or one that has gampening of the soil's surface. A 8 few long, straggly roots. good soaking once a week or at 10- In setting shrubs and trees it is day intervals is sufficient even in well to take extra care to allow for | periods of prolonged dry weather settling. With the soil in the bot- Some gardeners ridge the soil about tom of the hole stirred up more than | newly planted trees and shrubs and usual it {s reasonable to expect more | fill this pocket to the rim. Others than the normal amount of settling. | remove the nozzle from the hose Having placed the balled plant at|and let the water run slowly for a the proper level fill the hole from | considerable period of time. What- | one-half to two-thirds with good |ever the method used make certain top soil. Water is then poured in|that the water penetrates deeply until the hole is full. This settles | into the soil where the roots get the the soil about the ball of dirt and | benefit. insures adequate moisture. When| This may seem rather laborious the water has soaked in it is time |to the home gardener. Emphasis to finish filling the hole with soil. | has been placed upon doing the job very thoroughly inasmuch as it will Method of Pressing Flowers Quick Drying Will is transplanting his own plant ma- | terials. Nursery-grown stock that | has been regularly root pruned will require somewhat less care. But even so. for quick recovery and to |carry plants through a hot. dry | summer the home gardener will be | well repaid by such thoroughness. | The plants will make a strong, healthy growth and soon regain bloom. | meet the needs of a gardener who | their natural shape and freedom of | plants in mind when ordering bulbs THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, JUNE 8§, 1940, Correct GARDEN NEWS. 11 nt at Any Time if You Will Take Extra Care and Trouble @ Important steps to be taken when transplanting shrubs or plants are shown above. First, the hole should be amply dug, allowing plenty of spa ce for the plant’s roots. The plant itself should be moved with as much earth attached as possible. When firmly tamped into place, it should be given a thorough soaking. And last, but far from least, it should be cut its new situation. back to give it a vigorous start in Camassias Native Amecrican Bulbs American gardeners would be wise to look to native bulbous material for fall planting this vear. Among the most distinctive American bulbs are camassias, which make a lovely | addition to the garden at this sea-| son. They are perfectly hardy, and, given good care, they last longer in gardens than either hyacinths or tulips. Camassias grow from 2 to 3 feet high, the flowers make one think | of tall, graceful hyacinths, although the blooms are much larger and | more widely spaced. The colors of | the flowers vary from the blues to white. Any moderately fertile soil will grow camassias to perfection. A planting depth of 4 to 6 inches suits these bulbs. As stream-side plants and for grouping at the edges of ponds or pools they are unsur- passed. One very good species is Camassia esculenta, usualiy blue in color. It blooms in May. One of the largest flowering is Camassia leichtlini, which varies from dark blue to creamy white. Bear these lovely 'House Plants Benefit by *Vacation’ Sojourn in Garden During Summer Proves Helpful By AGNES TRIMBLE. A house plant, like a person, de- They deserve it, too, for all winter long the house is made more cheer- ful by their bright, gay blossoms and attractive foliage. So take them to a health resort—the flower gar- den. where they can rest and be reconditioned for the coming winter duties. Those who live in apart- ments, or side space, can greatly benefit their plants by placing them in or near open windows. Care should be exercised in tak- ing the tender house plants out- for fall planting. }doors because they have been gently | Preserve Colors In All Beauty By EDITH L. HOUGH. Many gardeners who keep records of their flowers prefer a notebook eontaining specimens of the flowers | themselves to a group of photo- graphs or colored pictures. Such & portfolio is valuable in preserving the special beauties and rarities one has grown and as a method of com- | paring the plants from year to year. And for those interested in pressing wild flowers or making botanical collections of any kind. there is a| gystem of pressing which results in perfectly formed, flat flowers in the original colors. Good results are not achieved if the flowers are simply pressed be- tween the leaves of a book or be- neath a blot pad. The more rapid the drying, the better are the colors preserved. The fresh speci- mens should be arranged with their petals open, in whatever shape they are shown to best effect. and pressed between sheets of the most porous, uncoated paper available. New paper may be used, though paper without ink is preferable. Blotting paper is unsatisfactory, as it be- comes gummed and sticky. But two sheets of the best blotting paper are used to inclose the sheets contain- Ing the flowers. A heavy weight is laid on top and the papers are placed in the hottest sunlight. To press several flowers at one time, a pile of sheets is formed by alte nating those enfolding the flowers Zinnias are the most popular flow- | eds in America. way to this eminence overtaken sweet peas, the race. to the zinnias’s success is probably the ease with which it is grown. A tropical plant, which endures the hottest weather, it is the beginner's ideal flower. germinating quickly in warm weather, growing rapidly to flowering size, and then producing blossoms abundantly until frost kills it. Late planted zinnias are best sown where they are to remain to avoid the check of tran.splantmg.i Plant three or four seeds to a hill, hills 2!, feet apart for the 1argei gle plant. a complete plant food. ‘To encourage large flowers, ap- ply a teaspoonful of plant pear. foliage, brush or wash it off. Z{nnias Are AmongiMost Popular Flowers in U. S. In making their | ability to improve in size and color, they have under the encouragement of plant asters and breeders. petunias, which still are popular to'of the largest, including nearly all be sure, but are trailing zinnias in| the spectrum except real blues cared for indoors for months. They are not accustomed to the strong |and bright light, nor to so much { fresh air. Therefore, it is better to | take them out by degrees. A warm, | cloudy day is ideal for the change— it is better to take them no further | than the porch at first, and allow {them to remain there for several \ Then into the garden, where they should be shaded for another few days until they become used to the outside. A careful study of both the plant’s Zinnias have shown remarkable Their color range is one In | size they range from the tiny gra- | needs and the layout of the garden The merit which contributes most ! ciillima or cupid type. through many | Should be made, and then arrange intermediate sizes to the dahlia|the plant§ in locations suitable to flowered and California giant classes, | their special liking. Some plants— which can be grown to a diameter POt and all—mav be set down in of 6 inches. And they have been|the ground, others may be placed bred into a remarkable variety of around on top, while some will do forms. | better if removed from their con- Small flowered zinnias are in some | tAlners and planted down in the ways better border flowers than the €arth for the duration of the sum- giant flowered classes; they produce Mer. more flowers, held above the foliage, | lified by the addition of potted on bushy plants. and their variety of | ¢ forms make interesting texture er~‘““‘-‘“ffl‘1>‘ arranged. fects. | Arrange the plants where they The shaggy fantasy type, and will be protected from drafts, heavy flowering tvpes and 18 inches for| the scabiosa flowered zinnias make| winds and pouring rains, as house the dwarf sorts. then thin to a sin- | pleasing cut flower arrangements, plants are more delicate than out- | They will make a rapid | while the small flowered singles are side-grown plants. growth, especially if encouraged with | exceident for low bowl bouquets. |Other important itemi that must not | All zinnias take about the same be overlooked in caring for these Watering is an- culture, and all show remarkable flowers, for they need a drink and food | ability to withstand rough treat-|bath often—even more than do the | around each plant after buds ap-| ment. while responding generously | regular garden flowers. Stir it into the soil, taking to good care. care not to allow it to touch stems| made in breeding the various strains | amount of watering during the hot or foilage. It it should get on the|true to type and devoloping more and dry summer days—but do this| " brilliant colors. All plants, Progress has been however, must have a certain after the sun goes down. with sheets of blotting paper. The blotters are usually replaced | by fresh ones at least once a day, | less often as the material dries. The more often dry blotters are substi- | tuted, the clearer the natural colors will remain, as the drying is has-| tened. If the flowers have a large | water content and the blotters are thin, they should be shifted as many | as four times a day. | ‘The length of time the flowers | should be pressed varies, some va- | rieties drying more quickly than others. When they are quite flat and dry, they may be mounted, with paste, on professional mounting sheets, on bristol board or on what- ever stiff, white paper the portfolio or loose-leaf notebook contains. Choose Right Vase Select suitable bowls and vases in which to arrange flowers to deco- the house. Do not crowd flow- into them, but carefully select different flowers for different con- tainers. A single rose in a bud {5 far more effective than esss growded inio a bowl GRACILLIMA LINEARIS HAAGEANA SCABIOSA EARLY WONDER SCARERA Foliage can be kept beautiful and free from splattering by covering the bare ground near the plants with leaves and other lawn gather- ings—this also aids in keeping mots- ture in the ground. Just before taking the plants out- doors, work a little bone-meal into the soil around them. A little hard- wood ashes or soot worked in, too, will help to give the foliage a bright and healthy color. After reaching their destination—the garden—give them a generous drink from.a solu- tion made by dissolving a table- spoonful of nitrate of soda in about a gallon of water. They will like this cocktail, too! Liquid manure, now and then, is an excellent ferti- lizer for them while they are out- side—not too much at one time. Keep plants outside until late summer, or as long as they can safely be protected from chilly nights, but when frost threatens re- move them back to the porch and cover them at night until they are returned to indoors to begin their winter duties — brightening the gloomy spots, nooks and corners, with their gay, lttle eTactize follage, EE DELIGHT E 3 have limited or no out-| Gardens can be greatly beau- | flowers when they are carefully and | | Activities of Clubs | And Shows Noted The Washington Garden Club held its June meeting at the home of Mrs. Henry Augustine Latane, 311 North Washington street, Alexan- dria, on June 4. Mrs. J. Armisted Boston presided, with Mrs. Corne- lius H. Bull acting as cohostess. An interesting account of the earliest | garden clubs to be formed in Wash- | ington was given by Mrs. Edward | Willis of the Bethesda Garden Club, | tracing the origin of these organiza- tions to Thomas Jefferson's plan- | ning a garden around his George- | town residence, and his exchange mands a vacation every so often.|Of seeds and plants with his equally | interested neighbors. After the meeting, tea was served on the lawn of Mrs. Latane's charm- ing home. | A novel fashion show will be a feature of the final meeting of the season of the Forest Hills Garden Club, which will be held at 2 p.m. June 10 at the home of Mrs. W. D Chandler, 2901 Grant road. Mem- bers of the club will create and model hats made entirely of fresh flowers—an unusual idea and one which should prove very interesting. Additional entertainment includes a talk on rose cultivation by Mrs. ‘Lihan ‘W. Smith, and the exchange of garden plants among the club members. The Chevy Chase, D. C, Garden Club will hold its last meeting of | the season on Monday, June 10, at | 1 o'clock at the home of Mrs. George | L. Hart, 3901 Jenifer street, Chevy i Chase, D. C. ALSO ON THE CHENDARA | June 10-25—Hershey, Pa., Hershey rose gardens on public display. June 20-21—Fredericksburg, Va., fourth annual lily show, Garden Club of Virginia, Seacobeck Hall, | Mary Washington College. | June 22-23—Buffalo, N. Y, rose show, Niagara Frontier Rose Society, Albright Art Gallery. July 18-20—New York City, an- | nual convention of Men's Garden | Clubs, Hotel Sheldon. August 10-11—Hagerstown, Md,, tion, Hagerstown Armory. |Rosemallows Are Easy to Grow in This Locality Among the most rapid growers for the damp yet sunny spot in the garden is the Hibiscus. More famil- hardiest of all garden perennials at= tains the dimensions ot a large shrub in a short time. It is especially ef- fective when planted in the perennial border or fills a gap in the blooming period of the shrub border with its handsome blooms, which appear in August and September New improved strains bear crepe- like flowers of truly colossal size. Blooms the size of dinner plates are not uncommon. Small rosemallow blooms, such as develop on older wildlings, resemble hollyhocks. Newer varieties bear the same resemblance but differ in size, beauty of texture and improved coloration. Nurserymen send out strong roots with a few canes over the crowns. Little life seems to be in the roots when they are planted, but in a remarkably short time the green shoots start skyward and almost be- fore you know it, flower buds are swelling and blooms appear. Seeds in abundance are produced And during strong fall winds these seeds are scattered everywhere. For subsequent plantings lift these seed- lings and transplant them to more advantageous positions. From seeds, which your seedman carries, you can develop sizable plants with no special care since every one agrees that nothing in the and | hortioultural world 15 sesier to grow, ox more ahowy, rosamaliows. Lilies Give Their Beauty To Our Gardens Over LongBlooming Period A Number of Varieties Are Reasonably Easy to Grow In Our Washington Area By EDWIN C. POWELL. ‘There are an even baker's dozen species of lilies to continue the glory Leaves From. The Garden Notebook Allow for Growth When Setting Out Plants in Beds Set the plants of annuals among of the garden from early July until frost nips the buds and stems, al- though generally they bloom in July, August, and early September. Most of them are easily raised from seed and bloom the second or third year. A gardener is assured of healthy plants by growing them from seed. Even & tiny garden should have room for one or more kinds. Longiflorum, which is forced in immense numbers for the Easter trade, is reasonably hardy if given special attention. It starts growth so early, frequently in the fall, that it may be killed or injured by f.eezing. If dug in September after the follage matures and replanted six weeks later it is retarded in making early growth so that it will generally come through the winter without injury. A thick mulch of peat moss or coal ashes placed over the bulbs in December adds to the likelihood of success. It produces stem bulbs very freely and is easily grown from seed, the bulbs flowering the second year. Plants purchased at Easter should be knocked out of the pots when they are through flowering and planted in the gar- den. Plant dormant bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep in moist, but well-drained soil, Our native turkscap lily (Superbum) is one of the most satisfactory and should be in the beginner's collection. It likes a moist soil well sup- plied with humus and a ground<- cover of herbs, grass, or low shrubs. | bulbs of both varieties are small and ‘The large nodding flowers of turks- | should be planted six inches deep cap form, with strongly reflexed |in a sunny location among herbace- segments, vary somewhat in color, | ous perennials. but are typically orange and con- Aygustine Henry's Lily (Henryi), spicuously spotted with maroon to- nown also as the orange Speciosum, ward the base. It grows from 4 t0 is one of the most valuable and 8 feet tall, produces from 6 to 12 dependable garden lilies. It is flowers, but, under favorable con- | among the latest to flower produc- ditions, may bear 25 or more blos- ing in August from 4 to 20 or more soms. The bulbs are rhizomatous | Jarge. nodding, orange flowers that and should be planted from 4 to 6 are spotted and have a green line inches deep. along each petal. The stems may grow 6 to 8 feet tall. It will thrive ::::ll; Alwavs | in almost any soil and if planted in - partial shade the rich orange color- If one were to grow only one lily ing of the flowers will be accentu- it should be Regale, for no Other | aieq Fall planting is preferable, species possesses in such a high de- | "¢y may be planted early gree the characters that make a|5ring. should be set about 10 inches good garden plant. Its great beauty, deep. its adaptability to a wide range of & 5 5 soil and climatic conditions, its wx?}r:ecffi;]:{n:.h:;h“ym]:f:iv"::; freedom from disease, and the ease succeeds admirably igo&e open bor- with which it is propagated, all| ;"= "o latest to bloom and contribute to its great popularity.f, o0.e the bulbs keep well in cold It comes up ::lr((hwfiv gigh‘-‘;’“‘i‘!}’ storege, it is forced extensively. The ead. make a s 5 . large, pendulous, fragrant flowers feet tall, and bears from a few to are white, heavily suffused with 25 or more large, fragrant, funnel-| oy ong spotted with erimson or shaped flowers, white within and & | 550t Tne petals are much re- llow throat. The buds are rose- go oq” gngq have margins purple without. It is not happy In | here gre two white varieties and s the shade and thrives best in & rich | pair “g4osen or more colored ones {oamny Seotl, ;fimfi: llg‘b::["“;‘jf which vary in the intensity of the | plants. S St, sha spots. N (e tatvet inkineieorlng 18 Fo/10 ding and spots. Magnificum is the finest and is suffused with crim- inches is about the right depth for . and spotted with pink. Rubrum | large bulbs, | is the commonest and has carmine- | Browni and Sargentiae are two pink flowers; Roseum has rose-col- lilies of the same general type as ored flowers: Punctatum, white with | the Regale. Browni is strong and Maryland State Gladiolus Exposi- | iarly known as the rosemallow, this | rose-pink spots: Melpomene is deep | vigorous, with & stout leafy stem carmine. Plant the bulbs in fall or ‘hcannc large, fragrant, trumpet- spring 10 inches deep. Stem bulbs shaped flowers, the inside being pale are often produced and should be vellow in opening and fading to'removed in the fall and lined out. cream color when expanded. The — Most species of lilies thrive best outside is streaked, vinous-purple when the ground is covered with shading to chocolate. It produces jow-growing plants that protect the stem bulblets but seldom sets seed, stems from the direct rays of the and prefers a heavy loam. The sun and the heat radiated from bare variety Colchesteri produces white surfaces. | flowers that are rose-purple on the outside, seeds freely, and does best ! in lighter soil. Both are stem-root- ing and should be planted 8 inches below the surface. Sargent's lily | | blooms two to three weeks later than Regale. It has longer, more tubular white flowers, the outside | | varying from rose-purple to green- ish. It is less floriferous than Regale | and bears bulblets in the axils of the leaves from which the stock may be increased. The old-fashioned Tiger lily of our grandmother’s garden will grow and thrive where most species fail. It is one of the oldest and best ! known of all lilies. In China the bulbs are used as food. It is lime- enduring and thrives in full sun or in light shade. The flowers are orange-red and spotted purple on the reflexed petals. Bulblets are freely produced along the stem and will take root where they fall if rdone. X | undisturbed. Mosaic is present in loo“l;:m like a rock pile. G many stocks of this lily, and while | en placing the rocks ascertain it apparently does not injure it, the | ‘whlch face has the most interest- disease may be spread to and prove | € 8spect, then bury the greater fatal to other species. It is, there- | PArt of it, leaving only the inter- fore, recommended to plant it well ’;”"g portion uncovered. If pos- away from other lilies. | sible arrange the rocks so that Closely related in form and color | {hec ’;or"";’“;d “’r ':"e "”l] s to the Tiger are Davidi, Willmottiae | ¢ 05" DClsos CetD stiking ;xx]vd ;\;(:o’:;Tol‘;lm::x;lvh:‘li\:\g]svv::;mg;: When 'wall-likr arrangements are duces & large pyramidal spike of bmg'rm'\ the rocks with special re- flowers on a slender stem that needs ig:)(s (;l_‘mdr:ienag:ép R;;:;mbi;r “{"‘: tboe“l::' s;;‘l:_:gmg’n;o:':'?m:‘a“:"r: crevices and unable to get moisture 5 f"[' i heighl.‘ Sad Earries 12 to save that which runs over the faces 25 bright nrang‘r-red Heiiis with of the rocks and then gently trickles r.ecurved petals spotted with black. ‘m']? &e Eell, i | David's lily follows closely in order | € top rock is so placed that water dripping from it drops di- of blooming and produces smaller, | rectly om’;"m, rock below ?,s the | more refined Tiger-like flowers. It| water will run away and cannot is a very satisfactory and attractive | possibly benefit the pla species. Max’s lily is a refined Tiger | between the two. Diantigrowing | that produces seed freely but no G | bulblets. Seedlings vary consider- | . Gardening Cleanup Gardening and cleaning are hard Enlarg_e Rock G;lrden With Very Carefully Selected Stones The showing made by the rock garden during early spring is gen- erally sufficient justification for in- creasing its size. As the garden | spreads out the size of the rock material used should also increase. It is decidedly unwise to continue a rock garden with stones suited only to a small garden With the rocks collected from a neighboring fleld or obtained through purchase, place them on the proposed exiension and try viewing the finished result. You may discard some, because you will see that the use of rocks in either large or small sizes can be easily overdone. Keep the place from ably. some having smooth and others woolly stems. They also flower over a long period. Auratum Is of Great Beauty. More money has been spent and greater disappointment met with by amateur lily fans in growing the glorious, gorgeous gold-banded lily (Auratum) than any other kind. Tts large size, wonderful color and fragrance endear it to all but, un- fortunately, it seldom lingers longer than two or three years. But the bulbs are, or have been, cheap, and it is worth while buying a half dozen or more every year if for only | one crop of flowers. It seems to persist in a few gardens. It re- quires a certain amount of partial shade and coolness at the root and is best planted 10 inches deep| among herbaceous plants. Although discovered more than 80 years ago the Formosanum lily | passed out of cultivation, but was reintroduced by the late E. H. Wil- son who discovered and introduced the Regale lily. Because it can be | brought to flower in 18 months or| less from the seed the Formosanum lily has attained great popularity. A bed of seedlings will bloom from July until cut down by frost. The flowers are narrow funnel-shaped, the tips of the petals being grace- fully recurved, pure white within, suffused with wine-purple or occa- slonally white without and from 1 to 10 in number. A dwarf form, known as Price's variety, differs from the type in its fewer, smaller and more slender flowers, its dwarf- er habit, and the deeper color of the buds. It flowers from six weeks to two months earlier, grows shout 18 inches tall and produces from 1t08 Iu1 e & stem. The with extra rubber gloves and wear them every time you do this kind of work. Rub some cold cream | under your nails before starting work—you will delight how quickly you can clean your nails after a good soap and water bath. To Keep Bloom Keep the pods nipped on sweet peas. They will stop blooming if seeds form. Acres of loveliness . . . 350 A Regular 2 DIRECTIONS: Mixed eves. Al on the hands. 20 equip yourself | the daffodils whose foliage is rapidly. approaching the time of maturity. | The annuals will not only produce’ useful flowers during the summer |and fall, but will also effectively hide the dying foliage. Many gardeners seem to forget when setting out new plants how: much growth they will make. Later |on they find the plants so crowded that they have difficulty in cultivat- ing, cutting flowers, and also that the plants have growa too “leggy.” Allow at least 12 inches for dwarf plants such as annual phlox, dwarf zinnias and marigolds. Fifteen to 18 inches for plants of intermediate ‘growth and 18 to 24 inches for the | taller kinds is recommended. In resetting iris it is well to re- member that the smallest divisions will grow and bloom, but not until | the second year. It takes a large | rhizome to produce a bloom the foi~ lowing spring, and then only with. , good soil preparation. Buy and plant new rhizomes as early in the season as possible. The tall bearded iris should he planted on a ridge to insure healthy rhizomes. If your soii is at all wet or shaded it is better to use the Japanese iris, which will thrive in isuch situations. | Tall-growing annuals such as the African marigolds and cosmos need staking. One way to take care of this job is to plant them in rows with stout stakes at either end. As they grow strings can be stretched between the stakes on both sides of the plants to provide the neces- sary support. The advantage of this method is that only a few stakes are needed and that the foliage hides the strings. Most of us dislike to disturb wejl2 established clumps of perennials. However, the more vigorous growers soon deplete the plant food in the soil, become too crowded., and the size and number of flowers dimine ishes. Shasta daisies in particular suffer from this neglect. They should be lifted and divided at least every two years for good growth and large flowers. 1If planted in well-enriched soil the results are astonishing, The new dwarf form of gaillardia is a welcome improvement over the old type, which sprawled all over the surrounding plants. While the stems are not so long and the range of colors available is rather limited it is a pleasure to have them stay put The Oriental poppies have given an unusually gooc¢ display of coler this spring. We shoula use more of these hardy and relatively trouble- free plants in our perennial borders. They require a weli-drained soil. While thriving in full sun, they will do in partial shade. Plan to buy a few next August or September. In | addition to this rather hard-to-use orange shade, they are available in | lovely shades of pink and red. | The Anchusa, Italica Dropmore, is one of the most showy of early flow- ering blue perennials. In a favorabie situation, however, it seeds so freely as to become almost a weed. The 3 to 4 foot stalks covered with deep blue flowers make a most colorful showing. and if sheared back will provide scattered bloom throughout the summer. They like a weils drained soil in full sun. but need a generous supply of moisture for good growth. The cool weather and frequent showers, which kept the furnaces going, has been very beneficial to our roses. They have made unusually fine growth. The climbing roses are really putting on a spectacular dise play, while the hybrid teas are pro= | ducing large blooms on stems that | compare favorably with hothouse roses. Are vou following out that care- fully planned spray program? The lush growth is quite susceptible to disease injury and if we ave to enjoy this fine growth throughout the summer it must be protected against disease and insect injury. Cacti rNccd Drain';ge In potting cacti be sure you pro- vide plenty of drainage. Fill the | pot about one-fourth full of stones or other coarse material and put in preferably a few pieces of char- coal. | Spray Young Plants Keep a spray handy and take & | shot at all bugs that show them= selves. The younger the plant, the more dangerous the pest is. ————— e | 9000600000 00000000000000 Light Your Garden $ Have your parties in the cool of the evening Landscape & Garden Lighting Co. “Estimates Cheerfully Given' Met. 5180 $00000000006000000. s0eseeseee Orive Out Today! Youw'll Thrill at the Sight of PEONIES in FULL BLOOM at the Schwartz Peony Gardens Gaithersburg, Md. gorgeous varieties. Examine them—select those you want for your home. —SPECIAL! PEONY ROOTS, only § $4 Value! colors. standard division of 3 to 5 ver 83 gelivered Montgomery County. to Wash- .Drive to Rockville, Md., turn right at Courthouse, look for gardens on Summit Ave., Gaithers- burg—on the first street to the C-rdens open Every Day and Sunday. ht as you enter town. Members: American Peony Society ADMISSION FREE {