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Planting Suggestions

The planting scheme for the annuals must receive careful thought. A much finer and more satisfying effect may be obtained by mass or group plantings rather than by a great variety of isolated plants. The individual plants in the annual world are not handsome or striking and are dependent on their neighbors to set them off to full advantage. The writer advocates close planting: 2 to 6 inches for low-growing [19] plants and for those that have a spindly habit of growth, while the taller growing varieties may be given 10 to 12 inches in rich soil. In this way the weeds are kept in check and the foliage of the plants shades the ground, keeping it cooler and more retentive of moisture; but, most important of all, a riot of color and a luxuriance of growth are secured, in keeping with the extravagant beauty with which nature clothes herself in midsummer. The outer leaves of any plants that crowd each other may from time to time be removed.

The following suggestions in grouping may be a help in formulating plans for the annual garden:

Masses of pink snapdragon bordered with candytuft, and gladioli, cream and canary colored, in irregular groups in the background.

Pale pink asters, with clumps of annual gypsophila seeded back of it and white geranium adjoining, is especially lovely when bordered with ageratum, variety Cope's Pet.

Shell-pink phlox drummondi grandiflora, with Paris daisies in the background, may be planted next to white snapdragon. Or one may use the white phlox drummondi and the pink snapdragon; pink next to white sets off the pink to advantage.

Salmon Prince balsam combines well with either white asters or white snapdragon and an alyssum bor- [20]