Evening star., 1943-05-02
Color Needed in the Flower Border
Several Desirable Anmuazs and PerennaZs


Color In the flower border is espe-
cially desirable this year. We neeo
to take the war effort seriously, but
at the same time we must main
tain morale One of the best ways
of keeping our minds clear and re-
laxed is through growing and work
ing among flowers. A colorful flower
border is a necessary part of our
war gardening effort. Well grow
the vegetable crops, but we shall
find space for a few flowers-food
for the inner man and food for the
soul.
Last week we discussed briefly
flowers for the hot, dry situations.
Today we shall describe few of
the other colorful. desirable ANIMALS
and perennials that can be de-
PENDED upon to succeed in situations
somewhat more favorable for plant
growth.
The outstanding example is, of
course, the zinnia, known by many
nicknames, of which Cut and Come
Again" is the most appropriate
Vigorous growing ANIMALS that they
are, the more they are cut the more
bloom they produce. The seed of
the Zinnia may be sown out-of-do
late in April or early in May, trans
planting the seedlings to the border
as soon as large enough. One may
oftentimes purchase we'll started
plants from commercial growers and
so obtain cut flowers in a relatively
shorter time.
Prepare Beds
Carefully.
Zinnias do best in well-prepared
bed. While they like full sunshine
they must also have moisture and
plant food to produce the quanti-
ties of flowers for which they are
grown. Inasmuch as commercial
fertilizers are not available for flow
ers, the best alternative is the
working into the beds of liberal
quantities of compost or well-rotted
manure. The humus thus put into
the soil will furnish considerable
plant food as we'll as iherate that
already in the soil. Then, too. the
humus absorbs and holds moisture
until needed by the plants. This
extra storage of moisture will be
important to the plants growth
during periods of drought.
Zinnias are available in many
forms and colors. They range all
the way from the giants q to 21a
feeD to the dwarf forms that are
suitable for edging. The singles are
attractive for cut flowers. The newer
fantasy" type to some is more de-
sirable than the large doubles. The
colors range from white to deep red.
For long season of bloom the
Iinnia is outstanding.
Space the taller types 18 to, "a
inches apart, while the dwarf forms
may be planted as close as 10
inches. Plant dozen or more of
3 kind together for mass effects as
well as quantities of cut flowers.
SnapdrdqonS
FGUoriteS.
Snapdragon is another of the
summer flowers that is both color
full and prolific These tall growing
(to 8 feeD perennials are normally
treated as ANIMALS in this area and
the plants are put in the border
early in May. Where the rust
resistant varieties are used and
good culture is given they may be
depended upon to make desirable
showing. Grown in the border.
however do not expect them tc
equal those grown under hothouse
conditions. At this season of the
YEAR it is recommended that plants
be obtained from commercial
grower rather than to attempt
growing plants from seed. Give
them protection from the hot after
noon sun, plant in we'll prepared
sSd and keep the soil we'll cultivated
for best results, Snapdragons will
tolerate more shade than other an
nuals.
Gdtlldrdia Another
Free Bloomer.
The gaillardia is another of our
summer boomers that produces
continuous show of bloom from mid
summer until fall. While some may
not care for the fulvous overcast to
the orange colored blossoms, the
vigor and freedom of bloom makes
1t worth growing. Some of the
newer varieties have clearer colors
and may be more desirable. There
Is compact form, that does not
sprawl so widely on the ground and
Is thus more useful in the smaller
bed. The common form grows to
height OF Is to l6 inches.
Gaillardias are easily grown from
reed, although this will delay flow
ering until past midsummer. Bet
ter buy plants for early bloom. Give
them a medium rich. well-prepared
soil and full sunshine. They are
perennials and once planted should
last for many years. If the seeds
are allowed to mature seedlings are
apt to appear, and unless the newer
varieties are being grown will come
true to type. There is some vari-
alton within the type.
For the front Of the border the
petunia offers one of the most
Colorful of the summer ANIMALS.
While they do best in rich moist
soil and the old common strains will
grow almost anywhere. Even toll
Grating shade, these large fowered
free blooming plants may be used
in the border. the window box or