While researching the Garden Blox landscape designs offered by Wayside Gardens in the 1930s and 1940s, I found another interesting technique used to help novice gardeners create successful garden layouts. The 1947 catalog offers "Two Perennial Gardens for You," each of which contained a "paint-by-the-numbers" layout plan, plus all the plants needed to create two dual-season gardens. Here's what the catalog has to say:
The Early Garden: (18 feet long and 5 feet wide.) Plants were so chosen as to create two distinct mass bloom effects. During May and June, Iris, early Veronica, Clove Pinks and Lemon Lilies create a colorful effect, to be followed in July by a gorgeous lot of color largely created by perennial Phlox supported by Statice, Silver Artemisia, and summer blooming Veronica. This color lasts well into September. The varieties we have selected are easily grown and will increase in size each season and are up-to-date kinds.
The Late Garden: (18 feet long and 5 feet wide.) Here again there are two "peak" bloom periods. The first one in June and July when Delphiniums, Lilies, and Oenothera are at their best. The second or autumn display is made largely by hardy Asters, both tall and dwarf, at the best throughout September and October. In selecting varieties for this garden we have chosen the best of easy culture and fine clear colors.
The pictures above (early) and below (late) were used to show how the gardens look at each of their peak periods.
