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WHITBY MRE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUY6188, PAGE 35 Smmer fôrethought helps n dd flower, arrangemnents B"Ey VERONICA COLANGELO When winter returns, at a tinie when we don't have an abundance* of' fresh material available, many of us like to enjoy dried floral arrangements in aur home. Purchasing flowers in their dried state is costly but with some forethought they. can be grown successfully during the summer months. Many of these plants can be grown from seed or you can visit your favorite garden centre and purchase transplants. What follows is a brief- description of plants that do not require chenilcal or elaborate procedures in order te render tbem "everlasting." Allium (bulb): The seed heads of 'allium . giganteum'* are fabulous! They produce lovely sputnik-like shapes and when dried can be spray painted any color te make a unique addition to a design. Gomphrena (annual): The small globe-sbaped : flower resembles clover. It cornes in shades of fuschia, cream and pink (usually in a mixed packet of seed).. It can make a, very attractive bedding plant. Yarrow (perennial): The yellow yarrow retains a mustard yellow color indefinitely. Ifs large flatish head lends an interesting form te floral designs. Artemesia (perennial): This plant is also known' as "wormwood" and is distinctive by its silver-grey spires. It bas a pungent fragrance and, is very uiseful as basic filler for wreatbs and arrangements. It's also a wonderful addition te fresb arrangements! Lcivender (perennial): Thisï plant bas that well known fragrance that we have corne to know and love. Its flowers are an intense purple that retain the color for a very long time. Phyýacdis (perennial): This one is better known as the "Chinese Lantern" for its distinctive orange lantern-like seed pods. This is one of those "once you've got it, it's yours forever" type plants. It can become like an invasive weed, but the lanterns" are so desirable it reallyis worth the aggravation. Centaurea -Macrocephca (perennial): This is a yellow cornflower that is not very commonly grown. It is available in seed form from several seed bouses, and I have seen it available as a transplant' in- several local Durhanm Region garden centres. Bees love this plant in summer, and in winter, if you leave a group of them in the garden, the area quickly becomes a favorite dining spot for the American goldfinches. The calyxes (the part remaining after the petals and seeds bave dropped) leave interesting globular pod-like forms for use ii dried arrangements. They arEc quite ruggedin appearance anc fi t into a country basket beautifully. Eryngium (perennial): This one is commonly known as "Sea Holly." Unfortunately, it, toô, is fairly unknown. The plant is quite prickly and bas steel. blue thistle-like flowers that dryi well and retain their color.,There are several varieties ranging from about a half-incli to three inches in diameter. Lim on ium (annual): This is the common statice that we see in florist's flower arrangements. it bas, a lovely range of color, fromn bright yellow, through the pinks, mauves to the cream shadles. This is a very easy one to dry and is nice used fresh and dried. Moluceiki (annual): "Belis'of Ireland" reàeeds itself prolifically. 1It is an odd looking plant, gre en in color, as the name suggests, but chies well and adds an unusual touch of green to a design, that isn't commonly available when working with dried materials. Nigella (annual): "Lýove-in-a-Mist" is a very delicate, and beautiful flower in its fresh condition. The flower. appears surrounded by a 'mist' of finely cut foliage. While -the white and blue flowers are'lovely, it is the dried balloon-like pods. that are desirable in dried arrangements. If you pick thein when the seed pods have started to open at the top and then scatter the seeds in the garden the plant wlll self-sow readily for.next year. Plan to grow some everlastings in your gardenthis year and you will be rewarded with interesting decorations for your. home in winter. Clearfo liage a rounilplants FROM PAGE 34 fertilizer (20-20-20) and en- courage a second- blooming this year. Fresh delphinium seed gives the best results. You can collect seed now and sow it in a cool place for satisfactory ger- mination. Be sure dahlias receive enough water during the month of July when it tends 'ta be dier weather. Dahlias should be disbudded ta get larger blooms. The dead foliage of hollyhocks should be cleared away from around the plants in order ta, help prevent the spread of rust disease which can appear at this time of year. Columbine can be sown now for plants next year. Sow weeds about 1/8 of an inch deep. The seed takes 3 ta 4 weeks to germinate. While columbine reseeds itself readily, the bybri d seed available is superior and will~ make better plants. July is the nionth to transplant iris. Divisions are taken from the outside of the rhizome clump. Discard the tired inner core. Plant the rhizomes so that they are just beneath the soil's surface. By the time they are watered and the soul settles in and around them, they will be at the rigbt level. English daisy (bellis perennis) seed should be planted for bloom early next spring. ********.eeee~~eeeee~se****e*******eee*eeeeeee.eeeeeeee**** CALL A P PROFESSIONAL 'j CANADIAN MASTERCRAFTSMAN General Carpentry e Aluminum Siding & rec rooms e Customn cabinets e Floors & roof ing e Paint ing & decks Complete Home Improvements - Quality Assurance Tony MercIecâ 579-4854 -il SPECIALISTS IN: e Concrete walks & patios ___________e Firepaces & stone work e Garages & additions CO STUCTIO N CO. LTD. e Leaking basements, etc .. 427-0659 e Also backhoe rentai M EMB ER OF "THE BETTER BUSIN ESS BUR EAU" PACK'S ETNERAL REODTSEVIGCE NE Toofingecks, Fgentine 400al.PaKing &aeing -AT ECKS, -ER ERCESSHE - yf-J 668030mesidenfce 668f-1148 BucsFin r MESSl. 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