Evening star., 1947-08-26
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdceDeH.


Dear Sir:
Il am writing to- ask your advice on this
problem Of mine. Please help me II you can,
and accept my grateful thanks.
II own a beautiful little place out here in
Maryland, just Commute drive from my ad
dress in the city.
THE place is quite isolated There are deep
thick woods on three sides. No near neighbors.
1t is all very primitive, yet we do have cleo
tricity and all the conVenienceS electricity af-
fords-range, refrigerator, lights, phone, radio,
etc.; in fact all the conveniences and COM
forts of city home, except modern plumbing,
which has been impossible up to now, and
will be attended to Immediately.
There is a Cape Cod cottage on part Of the
property, and an old ranshackle building
which use as garage and storage house, and
then my little cabin, which use for one
month each summer.
THE soil on this property is perfectly mar
velous-you can grow almost anything in 1t
just by dropping seed or plant. The soil is
rich and loamy and the whole place has
perfect drainage, and not too much shade.
my question is and what I'd like to have
you advise me about is this do you know of
any flowers or plants that I could plant out
here now that would bloom next August?
Sincerely, H. l.. M"
When flowers bloom depends upon location
and season.
So it is practically impossible for any one to
guarantee that certain plants will flower
exactly in August, as If they were railroad
trains running on schedules.
But here are some flowers that, in all likeli
hood, will bloom in August:
Hollyhock, yellow chamomile, delphinium,
day lily, helianthus, lychnis, bee balm, platy-
codon, flame flower, cardinal flower (vine),
azalea and num- and goldenrod.
Some may question the inclusion OF that last
one, but in such wild place as our cor
respondent describes this sneezer might be in
troduced. 1t really has pretty flower head.
August is the best of all times to plant holly
hook seeds. And few flowers are more at home
in the untended place. They grow naturally
there, free from the constraints they some
times meet in the city
After all, there are few flowers to equal the
old hollyhock.
It is not only beautiful, in massed paintings.
but belongs to that choice group of growing
things that reminds most people of their child
hood.
To it also belongs the althea The double red
sort is almost sure to bloom in August. TIE
single white, with the red center, is the typical
althea, of course, and it might be tried for such
a situation.
Day lilies, often called August lilies, or
plantain lilies, are ideal. They are much in de-
mand and experts have expended a great deal
of time and energy in growing new sorts.
Some Of these are costly, but the older types
are just as good, for the average place, and
cost much less.
No home, in or out of the city, is complete
without few day lilies. AS the name sug-
gests, the flowers last but day, but more
bloom each day.
Such things as hardy phlox, hardy asters,
and perennial seeds such as foxglove and
delphinium might be tried.
Any reputable nursery. of which there are
several around Washington. would be happy to
advise this owner, and would be able to sug-
gest and supply many other plants and seeds