"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.