Evening star., 1938-07-02

II the boxes are set into the ground
the edges Of the beds need not be more
than , to 4 inches high. Soil may
be used and the beds treated Is any
other flower bed. or peat moss may be
used and the pots placed In It. When
the beds are placed on top Of the
ground there Is the possibility Of their
getting too dry.
The advantages of using peat moss
and placing the flowerpots in it are
that changes in the color scheme may
be made with a minimum of effort.
Weed troubles are reduced and the
problem of keeping the plants moist is
not so difficult. Suitable soil for grow
ing plants is not so easily obtained in
some places and the job of keeping
1t in proper condition for the plants is
a problem. If the plants are pur-
chased in pots and are left in them,
the soil problem Is solved.
Potted plants in flower may be pur-
chased to give an immediate effect. A
great many florists and garden supply
houses sell potted plants and in q
fair range Of varieties. colors and sizes.
The smaller the garden, the smaller
size of pot to be purchased is only a
general rule. Plants with a long
blooming season may need repotting
during the season in order to keep
them vigorous and full of bloom. For
the gardener who wishes to grow his
own plants there are wider possible
ties than for the gardener who de-
pends upon the greenhouses. BY plant
ing seed, the gardener can have the
newer kinds and varieties Of flowers,
those that are less commonly grown,
and he can provide for bloom out of
the usual season
nWARF or low-growing plants
should be used for the most part,
since they are in keeping with the
size Of the garden. Fortunately, low
growing varieties are available In q
wide range Of colors for most kinds of
plants. Even dwarf dahlias, such as
the Coltness hybrids. can be had
There are dwarf forms of the day lily as
we'll as Of the true lilies available
Dwarf iris growing from to 10 inches
high will be found useful as edgings
In selecting plant material for the
tiny garden the question Of sun or
shade is an important consideration,
just as it is in the larger garden. Flor
lists may be counted upon for much
more material for the sunny garden
than for the shady one The assres-
sive gardener with a shady spot, how
ever. will find Volas, ferns, tuberous
rooted besonias, dwarf iris, harebells,
azaleas and many other choice things
at his command. A careful selection
OF various kinds and colors Of prim-
roses will provide long season Of
bloom in q shady garden.
Such q garden may be started in the
early spring with potted bulbs. and a
continuous display is possible with
such plants are primroses, pansies, Pc
tunias, nasturtiums, marigolds, annual
phlox, sweet alyssum, portulaca, To-
bella, ageratum, saliva, verbena. zin-
MAS and chrysanthemums. Even roses
may be used, since a number of the
polyanthas are quite small and the
variety Tom Thumb Is a real minia-
ture.
EDGING plants such As the lobelia.
ageratum. dwarf funkia. ETC.. or
lockwood, or the dwarf form of barberry
are low growing or may be trimmed to
keep them within bounds. The tiny
garden should under most conditions
be given . formal treatment and neat
edgings and straight walks are an aid
to such an effect.
A tiny pool, low bird bath, or run.
dial, are useful as q central feature.
A small pool In the sunny garden
might even contain a water lily. A low
bird bath or sundial, with dwarf roses
or azaleas around the base, would make
very attractive point OF interest
either in the background, or as the
central focal point.
The tiny garden should be as COM
plete as any other with nicely finished
walks. Grass Is good for the sunny
garden, while In the shady type gravel,
bluestone or hagstone walks are possi-
bilities. 1t is not necessary to have
walks two or three feet wide-they
should be In keeping with the size
Of the garden