BEDDING PLANTS HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE ATTRACTIVE

Sun loving flowers demand equal time given the shade lovers last week. Most of the plants gardeners depend on for quick color in the garden is from annuals and most of them prefer the sunny spots of the garden.

If you are looking for brightness, warmth, liveliness in the flower bed or border this summer, a trip to the bedding plant area of any nursery, garden center, grocery or hardware store, will fill the bill. My personal problem is that my eyes are more aggressive than my planting hands.

Never have bedding plants been more alluring. There are the many varieties of marigolds, new zinnias, the tough vinca (which is often described as a "bloomin' fool in the sun"), Gerbera daisies in the boldest colors ever, begonias to go anywhere, geraniums in both tall and dwarf varieties, the ever popular petunia, salvia (an old stand-by which is supposed to draw humming birds) calendula, dusty miller, gazania, lobelia, verbena, nicotiana, portulaca, celosia, and many more.

For many years petunias were the Number 1 bedding plant, but surveys show that impatiens have crept up there. Although they are listed as shade lovers, impatiens are remarkably tolerant of the sun and if kept moist, they will bloom abundantly. Their size, growth habits and color range are practically unlimited.

Some gardeners say, "When in doubt plant begonias." Come sun, shade, rain or shine, the adaptable fibrous rooted begonia is sure to bloom. No other flower can claim this versatility. Plant breeders have been improving begonias for well over 100 years. Leaves of this plant are just as interesting as the pink, red, white, or salmon flowers. The leaves of bronze, red or green contrast with the blossoms.

Vinca is the tough one. This flower has been a `bloomin' fool' in spite of the torrid heat of our summers. Two forms of vinca are now available--those which are upright and reach only about 10 inches in height, and the creeping vinca which is unexcelled as a flowering annual ground cover. (It is available on the local market.) It extends its vining blossoms over a full 24 inches of garden space.

Gazanias are sun-loving plants, opening their daisy-like flowers in bright daylight and closing them at night. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and because of their strong growth habit are becoming more popular each year. Our first introduction to them was in San Miguel, Mexico, where they grew everywhere. Last summer those grown in a front bed with a southern exposure giving maximum heat in the summer, were quite successful.

A survey of professional flower designers found one under used but favorite on their list. Topping their choices was the carefree, elegant Gerbera daisy. Two attributes make Gerberas perfect for any kind of bouquet. The combination of long stems, clear bright colored daisy-like blooms, are naturally elegant flowers. They need a full day of sun and well drained soil.

Geraniums star in many gardens, especially in containers and window boxes as well as in flower beds. Red geraniums are still the leaders but gardeners can also choose from salmon, pink, rose, or white. There are bicolors as well as double flowers, star-shaped flowers, ivy geraniums and the aromatic scented ones. The intoxicating aroma comes from rubbing the leaves together, to give scents of rose, coconut, nutmeg, citrus, or mint.

It is hard to beat the versatile marigolds for foolproof beauty and long lasting color in the garden and bouquet. This native American flower was first appreciated by Cortez when he conquered ancient Mexico and took seeds back to Spain with him. There this floral introduction became the favorite flower of the devout to place at the altar of the Virgin Mary. Because of that it was called Mary's Gold, and then Marigold.

Today's modern beauties are a far cry from the original Mary's Gold. You may remember the smelly foliage, late bloom and small flowers on very tall stalks with a limited color range. Thanks to flower breeders, marigolds continue getting better year after year. Burpee's, whose company introduced marigolds, has literally hundreds of variety of their favorite flower.

Celosia are the plumy relatives of cockcombs. Because of their more open, lighter form, they give an entirely different effect in the garden. They are more useful for indoor arrangements than the cockscombs.

All sun loving annuals like plenty of sunshine, good drainage and never like to become thirsty. Most are easily grown from seeds also. They bring bright colors and happiness to the garden.