Now that we’ve finished planting daffodils, crocus, scillas, camassia, and snowdrops and enjoyed the spring beauty they will bring, we must consider these bulb plantings’ appearance when they bloom over.
Their dying foliage is not a pretty sight. Therefore, we should plant seeds of annuals this month to hide the bulb beds next summer.
Annuals: Phlox Drummondi
ANNUALS willing to accommodate us are many. But the best is Phlox drummondi, which must be used in separate colors for the choicest effect.
The new giant form is offered in wonderful shades.
- Mellow Moon, a soft pastel yellow.
- Salmon Glory, a clear, rich salmon pink.
- New Tetra, a red.
The tallest annual phlox measure 1’ foot high.
The tall varieties are:
- Pure White,
- Purple,
- Salmon Pink,
- Scarlet, and
- Yellow.
By securing individual colors of the latter, you can group them with lower-growing plants in a fascinating rhythm.
For the foreground of the bulb borders, sow seeds of baby blue eyes, Nemophila menzicsi (Nemophila insignis), linaria Fairy Bouquet or Northern Light, and Gypsophila paniculata in the Covent Garden Market strain. The latter is a beautiful border highlight indeed.
Perennial Plantings
PERENNIAL PLANTINGS, too, should be scrutinized to determine how they might be improved.
Delightful additions would be canterbury bells and foxgloves. Although canterbury bells last only one year, foxgloves reseed themselves for many years.
Fine and Low-Growing Perennial
A fine, low-growing perennial which forms a mass of soft blues lasting many summer weeks is Nierembergia hippomanica.
My plants lasted only one season, but perhaps they didn’t receive proper care.
This is the month to lift and divide Shasta and elder daisies. If you have more than you need. give some to garden-loving friends.
It seems that the time never comes when my garden cannot spare plants for others. It’s one of the joys of gardening.
Border Edges of Plants
BORDER EDGES should be lined up carefully and kept that way always. Watch for runaway seedling gerberas, and lift them into proper homes or give them away.
Now is the time, too, to remove over-reaching plants of Phlox subulata.
Though beautiful, this creeping plant will make your edgings too wide unless it is cut back this season.
Mine is the soft lavender Phlox subulata, which makes a beautiful foreground.
44659 by Julia Lester Dillon