HO-129
Yard and Garden
HORTICUlTURE DEPARTMENT • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
GARDEN DESIGNS FOR THE BICENTENNIAL
by John A. Wott and Ruth Kvaalen
As America celebrates her 200th birthday, all across the nation individuals, clubs and communities are planning events to commemorate the Bicentennial. Many may wish to use floral plantings to express their patriotic pride.
With new plants especially released for the occasion, home gardeners and groups can let imaginations go in creating designs in red, white and blue color schemes.
Bicentennial designs can be created in many ways-as planters, patio groupings or hanging baskets, or borders in informal arrangements, or in formally designed beds. Apartment dwellers or others with limited garden space may wish to consider container arrangements.

Containers
Raised planters, window boxes, potted groupings for patio display, and hanging baskets can be used effectively to carry out the red, white and blue theme. For small containers, use just one color to a pot, and group them. If containers are large, you may combine all three in a single container. For instance, red geraniums, white cascade petunias and deep blue browallia blend well, with some sprengeri asparagus fern and variegated vinca to add contrast.
Designing borders
In the garden, annual and perennial flower and foliage plants of various heights, forms and textures can be combined. Enough plants of one type and color should be massed to avoid a spotty effect. The larger the garden, the larger and more uniform the color masses should be. Rely on vivid color to create the festive mood, and keep your lines simple.
Designing your pattern on paper in advance will help you find appropriate plants from garden catalogs. Place taller plants to the back and low edgers in the foreground. For a simple but dramatic border, try banner stripes of red, white and blue, each stripe at least wide enough to contain two rows of plants.

Floral design beds
Free-standing beds can be used to create impressive floral emblems. The key here is to use plants of uniform height for all the colors. Annuals that have been started in the greenhouse and are ready to bloom will give the quickest display. Make arrangements with your local greenhouses to supply the transplants early. Some annuals require three or four months to bloom when started from seed.
When choosing plants for your floral design, consider the length of bloom period, the abundance of flowers and their maintenance needs. A plant that is covered with flowers all summer long, that remains compact and neat, is resistant to disease, insects and drought, and flourishes in both sun and shade is ideal. And, some bedding plants do meet many of these criteria.
Do your planning on paper, in advance. Drawing your design on graph paper helps determine how many plants will be needed to fill the areas and simplifies laying out the actual bed later.

Site selection
A sloping site approaching a 45° angle works best for display of floral designs, especially if they are large or are to be viewed from a distance. Smaller beds may be effective on the level. Choose a site that receives sunshine most of the day and prepare the soil three or four weeks before planting, working 2-4 inches of organic matter into the top 6 or 8 inches of soil. Also work in a complete fertilizer, such as 5-10-5 at a rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet.