“Hollyhock is another good background plant, because of its height and sentinel-like effect.  It sows itself, so will take care of itself.  Perennial phlox is well to put into the garden.  Helianthus, I have mentioned, as suitable for backgrounds.  It has a rather bad habit of too free spreading.

“Peonies are very satisfactory.  I am sure you will all want some of them.  They look their best planted in clumps.  A certain pink and white peony is called the rose peony.  It is sweet scented, and when in blossom it scents the portion of the yard where it is placed.  These look well planted in wide borders.  The roots, or bulbs, should go about three inches below ground in nice, rich, garden soil.  Do not plant where they get the full blaze of early sun.

“I’d put some iris in the border, too.  It requires no care.  You need not bed it over, even, in the fall.  It likes a certain amount of moisture, but grows readily under almost all conditions.  The German iris is an easy grower; the French fleur-de-lis is lovely with its more delicate blossom.  Certain irises, to be sure, are particular about their quarters, but the two kinds mentioned are not.  They like a certain amount of open space.  Do not hide them in the shrubbery, although they may be planted near it.

“You might put in some hardy chrysanthemums.  These need good rich garden soil.  They should also be placed near the back of the garden for good effect.  You may choose almost any colour in these.  Some of the little button chrysanthemums are good for backgrounds.  The yellow ones make good splashes of colour, while the dull reds are most beautiful.  These bloom after frost.  When the frost has made havoc with the foliage, cut the plant down to about one inch of the ground.  It is well to cut the flowers before frost.

“You have now a few good background plants which are hardy.

“The biennials can be so planted as to behave like perennials.  These plants, you remember, are doing their best blossoming work the second summer.  So by yearly sowings you may always have good effects.  I have mentioned some already for your garden:—­Canterbury bell, cornflower and foxglove are biennials.  Cornflower tends to self sow, but needs help in this work from you.  Sweet William is an old favourite.  Of course, it is pretty gaudy.  But I like old sweet William in spite of his gay tendency.  They are rather stiff, but so easy to raise, being not very particular about anything.

“When it comes to annuals there is a multitude of these to plant each season.  There are candytuft and alyssum for borders.  Then mignonette is absolutely necessary to keep the garden sweet.  Coreopsis is easy to raise, and so is godetia.  If a great big bold mass of colour is desired, put in Shirley poppies.  These grow well even on sandy soil.  It is well to remember, that these do not lend themselves kindly to transplanting.

“Suppose there is a bit of sandy ground which needs a low-growing plant.  Put in this spot portulaca.  The bright little blossoms, constantly blooming, add a bit of cheer to that old sandy place.