The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-21
PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN
Careful Study If Color Effects Will Prevent Mistakes IN MAKING
The Flower Beds
By Eben E. Rexford

HStlC amateur RdIuc1cI
tempts, but is pretty sure to
later in the season, because he dlscoV-
ers that designs work out unsatls-
factorily in ANNALS
The fact is, carpet bedding plans
are only effective when certain k-nos
Of foliage plants are used oecause
they can be kept within their proper
limits by sharing: and pruning, Witt
the ANIMALS have too much 'spra"I
to be tractable and very few kinds
give q sufficient mass OF bloom 70
produce the desired color effect
We are likely to think that because
a plant has yellow red or blue over
that it Will prove effective wherever
these colors are desired, but we lose
sight Of the fact that the flowers VII
be so few in number and SO far apart
that here is seldom any solid color
eff ect such as is necessary in properly
working out patterns.
This being the case. only the slmp-
Ter designs should be attempted with
ANIMALS, and only such effects aimed
at, as can be produced by contrast n
which m plays an important
part.
Ribbon beds are easiest Of all to
make. Very pleasing ones can be
made with pink, pale yellow, and
white. Phlox. planted in rows. II
darker colors are preferred the scar
let and crimson can be used, always
combining them with white to give
the necessary contrast and relief.
Do not use the soft delicate colors
with the stronger tones, as there is a
lack Of harmony between them.
Asters can be planted IN rows Of
white and lavender. with very pleas
ing results, provided the same kind is
used in each row.
Ribbon eds would become monot-
Onously t.resome ii we were to con
fine ourselves to them, therefore it is
advisable to have something else for
a change.
Next 20 them the circular bed is
easiest to make. l would not advise
too many cOlors.
Have the center OF one color, say
lavender, if asters are used, then a
row Of pale-pink. with white in the
outside row.
This arrangement of colors can
be varied to suit individual taste.
If sweet-alyssum or white ~candytuft
is used as an edging, the effect is
heightened, as these plants ring q
mass of foliage and bloom down to
theg round, and hide the tall stalks
Of the asters.
A very brilliant combination is
made by filling the center of a circu-.
lar bed with c%alliopsis, rich yellow
ana maroon, ana surrounding 1t WIFI
White n pale-yellOw phlOx.
The contrast between the dark, rich
yellow Of the ca!liops s and the softer
shade of the same color in the phlox
is chaim ming.
II announcer color seems advisable
use pink phlox. This harmonizes
beautifully with the stronger tones of
the calliOpsis.
The center Of a circular bed can be
T'l1n1 with canrlnx ~olr,o ,x;*i
turtiums as q border. The contrast
between the fiery scarlet and the rich
tones OF yellow and orange and sui
phur found in the latter plant, is ex-
ceedingly lovely, while the pea-green
foliage of the naSturtium affords just
the right amount of that color to
r.ng into strong rel eff the blossoms
of the plants. Such a bed any one
q make with very little trouble.
a charming hedge is made by plant
ing scarlet saliva in a row as a back
ground, then a row of white nicOtiana,
with blue ageratum as a border. Here
We AVE the patriotic colors Of our
flag effectively combined.
The blue Of the ageratum and the
scarlet of the SALIVA would prove a
rather violent contrast if planted next
each other, but separated by the white
o. the nicotiana. their aggressveness
IS toned down N such a manner as to
I'd q pleasing effect.
A beautiful hedge is made by using
zinnias in the bac row then calIiop-
sis with VIII tie phlox as a border.
Ribbon bed can be worked out
with good effect by using different
colors of the verbena in rows. Such
beds are most pleasing when near tn.
house or close to the path. where they
can be looked down upon.
But In ordet to carry out such de-
signs with this flower. it w il be neces-
sary to purchase plants of each
color from the florist, who grows them
from cuttings. Seedlings are quit.
sure to bring planes of all colors COM
mon TO the family, therefore, are not
TO BE depended upon where it S abso-
iutelN necessary to have each color
in its proper place.
Those who have old plants of ger