The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Landscape Gardening
MARIGOLDS.—These are of two rather different types, the Double African marigolds, and the dwarf French varieties (Tagetes). Both are most desirable. The African marigolds are large and lusty with an extended flowering season. They bear unlimited quantities of large double flowers in all shades of yellow and orange, many of these shades being refined and pleasing. They grow from 3 to 4 feet high. The dwarf varieties show colors of yellow and red, sometimes striped together. 1-2 ft.
MYOSOTIS, Forget-me-nots.—In cool moist gardens these delightful little plants thrive and perpetuate themselves by seeds year after year. They are most admirable in early spring and may be used to under plant larger sorts or to make a brave early showing in beds and borders where later species are to flower.
NASTURTIUM, Tropceolum.—One of the richest and finest annual plants in cultivation and deservedly popular. All varieties may be grown in the border, though the dwarfs are best. The tall sorts are extremely well adapted to window boxes, lawn vases, and to situations where they may fall over rocks or down short slopes. The hybrids of Madame Gunter show many beautiful colors.
NICOTIANA, Flowering tobacco. The white fragrant N. affinis, is one of the really good garden annuals; but some of the hybrids are also excellent, though the colors need censoring. Some of the soft pinks are clear and safe, but the magentas are coarse and ugly. Best results are secured when the plants are started in the hotbed and transplanted to the border after all danger of frost has passed.
PANSY.—Known and admired of all. For small plantings buy plants of the florist in spring. To grow the plants sow the seed in the fall in cold frames, which are covered at the beginning of winter. Transplant from these early in spring. Or sow the seeds as early as possible in spring in the hotbed or in pots or boxes in the house. Buy good seed.
PETUNIA.—Very fine for heavy masses in the flower border. A solid block of petunias thirty or forty feet across gives a very striking effect, if not out of harmony with its surroundings. The free and easy luxuriance of growth and profusion of bloom cannot be surpassed by anything in the garden. Extra choice varieties may easily be grown from cuttings; but main dependence may be placed on seedlings grown in fall, winter or early spring, and transplanted to the open ground after all danger of frost is past.
PHLOX.—The annual Phlox drummondi is one of the finest border plants. Many people have become indifferent to it from having seen it so often grown in stiff, awkward flower beds. Such treatment takes all the grace and freedom out of the plant, which is inclined by nature to be a trifle stiff and serious.
