Groups of annuals may be planted around the dwelling, tucked away in spots among the shrubs, arranged in beds bordering large waterfalls or on the edges of lawns. Tall kinds make good temporary screens to blot out unsightly views. Low hedge effects can be created with some of the more compact sorts. They will also fit perfectly into any scheme of a more elaborate nature such as informal mixed borders.

Or, beds of any size can be planned and all the seeds sown right outdoors; repeat sowings later will insure continuous bloom. Perhaps you may wish to combine them with perennials. Spaces left vacant by the removal or the disappearance of perennials are filled with annuals. Many annuals, with some thought to their date of sowing, could be ready to transplant before mid-summer to maintain the display after the flush of early summer bloom has passed.

Among the annuals suited to this purpose are tall subjects like salvia, varieties of marigold, cosmos and medium sunflower. Annuals of medium height are zinnias, snapdragons, China aster, Drummond phlox and petunia. To follow tulips, daffodils and other flowering bulbs, annuals are invaluable. Seeds of many are sown among the bulbs while the latter are flowering. After sprouting, surplus seedlings are pulled (thinned) out to allow space for development.

Flowering later, color is kept continuous. Sow seeds of California poppy, alyssum, marigold, Drummond phlox, zinnia, cosmos or any true annual. For early flowering, seeds of tender annuals are sown either in a greenhouse, hot-bed, coldframe or even in the home. Early starting is necessary where the season is short. The time at which plants are usually set out in the garden determines the time for starting seeds indoors.

This is an approximate date some eight to ten weeks ahead of the normal time for planting outdoors. Snapdragons, verbena, petunia and others which are slow to develop are started in January to March depending on the region. Seeds are sown in small flower pots or regular seed pans in a mixture of sand, soil and peatmoss and kept at a warm temperature. When the seedlings sprout three leaves, they are pricked off (transplanted) into shallow boxes in a similar soil mixture for further development.

They are then given all the light possible to promote sturdy growth. Seeds of Hunnemannia fumariae folia, when started indoors, should be sown in small pots. Being of the poppy family, it does not transplant readily. If an outdoor coldframe is used, seeds are not started until much later. The more restricted the indoor facilities for sowing seeds, the later the seeds are started. Plants at all times should be kept growing.

If held over for any length of time in flats, or pots, they tend to become stunted; the roots and stems become hard. There is a tendency to premature flowering with a consequent curtailment of the flowering period in the garden. The condition can be somewhat relieved by feeding with liquid manure until planting out time. Garden annuals have many uses and are adapted to any climate and soil.

Easily grown, they bloom within a comparatively short time from seed. Many plants can be raised inexpensively from a few packets of seeds. Few require any elaborate soil preparation. Some will even thrive on poor soils and grow with little care. Although it is not necessary to have the soil very rich, it must be in good physical condition and contain some organic matter and fertilizer.

Annuals should have sufficient water during hot weather and an occasional feeding with dry or liquid fertilizer, especially during the period before bloom True annuals complete their life cycle—that is, from seed sowing to flowering, seed-setting and the complete death of the plant in a single growing season. Practically all true annuals can be sown right out in the ground at the proper time, to flower within a comparatively short time.