Historic Paxton, her days and her ways, 1722-1913

Set iris three feet apart and not more than two inches below the surface. Plants are dormant in August and September and may be safely planted then, but can be put out quite as safely in April. Peonies Next in succession come the peonies, which bloom in latter part of May and June. These plants cost something in the start, but when once established last for years and are most satisfying. Plant in the fall, preferably in September, set two and a half feet apart and only deep enough that the little red flower bulbs on the roots are not more than three inches below the surface. Cover the plants with manure for winter. It is a good plan to work in a little bone dust around them, as peonies like plenty of feeding. Do not take them up unless they cease to bloom. Ours have grown on one spot for twenty-five years. Among my most satisfactory peonies are: Cost Edulis Superba, pink, f 0 35 Floral Treasure, pale lilac, .... 50 Festiva Maxima, finest white peony, 60 Felix Crousse, dark red, 60 For twenty-five cents one can get some beautiful varieties, such as Zoe Calot, pure white with patches of rose, and Chrysantheaflora Rosea, a deep rose pink, the earliest to bloom. Columbine About the time of the iris or from May to first week of June, come the columbines. Sow the seed in the last of April. This grows easily, and if the seed is allowed to mature and the ground is not disturbed it sows itself from year to year. The flowers from this self-sowing may possibly be another shade. Always buy the best seed. Once I got a bargain package and they never came up. Among the good columbines is Helena, blue and white. Californica Hybrida is one of the finest mixtures. These flowers should grow in any ordinary garden soil. Gaillardia These showy flowers are easy to raise, bloom from July until frost and are nice to cut. They are grown from seed sown in April and will seed themselves if the flowers are not cut off when finished blooming. Three Perennials for Midsummer Bloom Other good perennials that give bloom during July and August are Lychnis, or London Pride, very easy to grow and very bright and attractive. I sow the seed in a little seed bed and transplant where I wish them to grow; Platycodon, blue and white; this sows itself, but I always pick the seed when ripe and resow; and Golden Glow. Everyone knows this last plant, with its brilliant orange flowers and rapid growth. I throw half of mine away each fall, or it would overrun the garden. Sometimes it gets covered thickly with little red insects. I wipe them off the stems and spray with the Paris-green solution. Valerian is a pretty, old-fashioned white flower which blooms for me from June to frost. I am never without it. Foxgloves This is another favorite and easy to grow, if you understand that it is a biennial and only lives two years. I sow in the seed bed in August or September, transplant when the seedlings are a few inches high and set where you wish them to grow. They are very pretty when planted among the peony beds. They need a slight winter protection of litter. I start more each year, thus keeping up the stock. Hardy Phlox The queen of the summer garden is the hardy phlox, provided you keep out the ugly purple tones. They will grow in almost any kind of