Since at this time of the year we are especially concerned with fall planting and dividing, the principal perennials which are best handled at this time may be enumerated as follows: Anemone sylvestris (snowdrop anemone), Brunnera macrophylla (Anchusa myosotidiflora), Caltha palustris flore pleno (double-flowered marsh marigold), Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley), epimedium (barren-wort), helleborus (Christmas rose), Lathyrus vernus (spring vetchling), Nepeta mussini and N. grandiflora, and paeonia (peony). To these one should also add adonis (pheasant’s eye), ere-murus (desert candle), Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells) and Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy). These latter plants are completely at rest by the end of summer, and August-September is the only safe period to transplant and divide them.

At the opposite end of the scale are those plants which, under all circumstances are most safely transplanted and divided in the spring. This group consists mainly of fall-flowering perennials, most of which continue to bloom until frost stops them. By that time it is usually too late for them to get a fair chance to recover if their roots are disturbed.

Question: What are the names of some perennial flowers I could plant in my garden that will bloom all summer? Minnesota.

Most perennials bloom during the summer and scarcely any of them are attractive for their bloom for a period of over a month. However, many perennials are attractive in the garden all summer even if they are not in bloom. Such perennials as alyssum, artemisia, hardy chrysanthemum, Dianthus plumarius, hosta lily and iberis are attractive during that part of summer when they are not in bloom.

Question: The bottom leaves on the stems of my azaleamums decay and dry up. ls this a disease, or is it natural for this plant? Indiana.

Usually the browning of the leaves on the azaleamums not only during summer season is caused by leaf nematodes, which are microscopic eelworms. So do not ever take it as the summer color of the plant. They live in the soil and enter the leaves during wet weather. Later the leaf turns brown and falls. Cut off and burn all chrysanthemum tops after blooming and propagate new plants only from healthy plants. Set the new plants in a different location if possible.