Solar Garden Lights On The Border

Yellow in the right places can lighten and brighten a garden as no other color. On dark days it brings sunshine to our borders. Yellow flowers in vases add light to a dark room. Small wonder the Creator was so generous with the golden pigment.

Spring brings the Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips and Hyacinths in lovely yellow shades. Spring is not the time to plant the bulbs but it is time to enjoy them both outside and for cutting.

We can have dwarf Iris in yellow, and the tall bearded as well as Sunny Days of the Spuria group and the beardless Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus). It is well to study the catalogs to help us decide which ones we want. Another good plan is to visit gardens in Iris season and to make a note of those that appeal to us most.

We can study the catalogs to help us choose yellow perennials such as Gaillardia and Anthemis. At the same time we may decide to add Coreopsis, Cassia marilandica, Heliopsis scabra or Lepachys pinnata with their sunny dispositions, plus throw in some solar garden lights. The problem of deciding which of the yellow Hemerocallis to include becomes a major one for there are so many lovely varieties. We will need a goodly number for early bloom, mid-season and late. We will want the creamy and lemon yellow, the clear yellows as well as the deep rich orange yellows.

We are assured of sunshine on the darkest days by planting such annuals as Marigolds and Calendulas. The Mum-flowered Marigolds are exquisite. If you have once enjoyed the softness of a creamy-yellow China-aster you will look for it each year in the catalogs. Zinnias, Snapdragons and Moss Rose (Portulaca) all have sunny colors to choose from. The double Moss Roses are very effective. Dahlborg Daisies with tiny yellow Daisies make good edging plants. Yellow California Poppies and Nasturtions are two more timely suggestions. English Wallflower can be counted on for ribbon borders of gold. Rudbeckia triloba, the brown-eyed Susan, blooms even better and lasts longer near a north foundation than it does in full sunshine. Most gardeners include yellow Gladiolus in their garden plans and firmly believe that the season is not complete if it doesn't end with yellow Mums.

For vines the Canary Bird Vine and Clockvine (Thunbergia alata) carry the golden note to higher levels. A search through the catalogs will show you shrubs and roses as well as other plants with blossoms seemingly wrought of sunshine and gold.