Annuals
ANNUALS have many uses and are indeed indispensable in the average garden. They give us generously of their bloom for cut flowers during the summer months, and no cutting garden is complete without them. They may form the mass of the planting in a small garden where for some reason one does not care to attempt perennials, and will give most delightful results. It frequently happens that on a rented place, or a place which is to be occupied for just a short time, one does not feel justified in investing in anything so permanent as are perennials. For the modest sum of a few dollars, however, a garden composed entirely of annuals may be had, which will be bright with bloom throughout almost the entire season.
The third and perhaps the most important use of annuals is in the herbaceous border. It is during late July and on through August that one really begins to appreciate them, for then, just as many of the perennials are being lulled into midsummer quiescence, the annuals are reaching the high tide of their bloom. There can hardly be any rivalry in one's mind between the two, for instead of being rivals they complement and supplement each other in most delightful fashion. It is a difficult task to keep a perennial garden gay and colorful throughout the summer months without the aid of annuals, and the wise gardener will see that a generous supply is started early in the season, to be set out later on for midsummer bloom. Among those which are most useful for this purpose, flowers which can be started early and shifted to the border when they are almost ready to come into bloom, are the snapdragons, calendulas, petunias,--of which the most beautiful are the huge, velvety purple ones,--salpiglossis, zinnias, and Salvia farinacea and Salvia azurea with their spires of blue. Although these salvias are really tender perennials, they are usually treated as annuals. Other annuals such as the variouspoppies, baby's breath (Gypsophila), sweet alyssum, cornflower, and Viscaria may be sown directly in the border where they are to flower. In planning the garden or the border which is to be planted entirely with annuals, one must study and know the habits and propensities of each individual plant, for the selection of varieties must be made with care. The ultimate height of the plants, their seasons of bloom, and their color contrasts must all be taken into consideration when one wishes to obtain a pleasing picture. The blooming period of some annuals is exceedingly brief, such as the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Viscaria, baby's breath (Gypsophila), and nigella. They are lovely while they last, but one must plan to make a second sowing or to have something ready to take their place when their fleeting period of bloom is over. Many other annuals will cease to bloom if they are allowed to go to seed, but if fading blooms are removed, their season of bloom can be considerably prolonged. In this class we have the various annual poppies, Phlox drummondi, annual larkspur, lupines, and Browallia. With the purchase of a few packets of annual seed, what a wealth of material one has at hand! For edgings one has sweet alyssum, lobelia, the little Swan-river-daisy, and the dwarf ageratums. For masses and drifts along the front of the border one has Phlox drummondi, the exquisite annual poppies, baby's breath, Viscaria; and for the taller groups at the rear, the snapdragons, scabiosa, salpiglossis, annual larkspurs, and cosmos. Color Groupings of Annuals For a low border planting the shell-pink and pale buff varieties of Phlox drummondi can be used most effectively with drifts of baby's breath and a group of the California poppy, Rosy Queen, one of the daintiest things that grow. This little poppy is soft rose on the inner side of the petals and delicate ivory without.
The brilliant orange and yellow varieties of California poppies form a happy contrast when massed in front of deep blue cornflowers. Dwarf zinnias of a salmon-pink shade are particularly pleasing when planted with masses of baby'sbreath and lavender Viscaria.
An attractive color grouping for the rear of the border may be had with tall white cosmos, Salvia azurea, and giant single pink stocks. The stately blue spires of the salvia blend very beautifully with the soft, delicate pink of the single stocks, and in form and coloring it is an altogether lovely picture.
As one becomes better acquainted with the annuals, one is constantly discovering new and delightful combinations.
Culture Annuals are, for the most part, of easy culture and are extraordinarily free from insect pests and diseases. The aster is almost the only annual that has any serious troubles, but that certainly seems to offer a good target for both insect enemies and diseases.
Annuals are commonly divided into three main groups: hardy, half-hardy, and tender. The hardy annuals may be sown in the open ground in early spring as soon as the soil is workable. The half-hardy and tender annuals should preferably be started indoors, although they may be sown in the garden after all danger of frost is over.
An open, sunny position is preferred by practically all of the annuals and for the most part they will thrive in any good garden soil, although, like most things, they respond well to good fertility and to the best of care and cultivation. Where a garden is devoted entirely to annuals, it is a good practice to spade up the beds in the autumn after frost has killed the plants, and to incorporate some coarse, strawy manure. The surface of the beds may be left in rough condition during the winter and in early spring may be lightly forked over.