For the larger garden or for the lily enthusiast, a wider choice is possible, thanks to such hybridizers as Jan de Graaff who has done, and is doing so much to increase the range of color, variety, and adaptability of lilies. Most of these lovely new hybrids are free from disease because they have been raised from seed and not imported. Mr. de Graaff considers the lily as "a growing plant" and believes, as we do, that the sooner the bulb is planted after harvesting the better the results.

Most of the hybrids we mention here are American-grown. We particularly like the Aurelian hybrids; the Mid-century hybrids (crosses between umbellatum and tigrinum), among which Enchantment, Serenade, and Valencia are outstanding; Flamingo, an umbellatum-elegans cross; Talisman, a tigri mum-willomottia-umbellatum cross; and the Bellingham hy brids which bloom a bit earlier, usually late June, around New York. The schedule of bloom varies with location and time of planting. You will find that spring-planted lilies bloom later the first year. The farther north one goes, the later the blooming period. Some "July-flowering lilies" bloom in late August and September in the northeastern states. The con verse is also true-as one goes south, the blossoms appear earlier. Although these newer lilies may be a bit more diffi cult to establish than the old varieties, they offer a challenge that should be accepted.

Toward the back of the wide border, introduce such robust plants as Centaurea macrocephala and ruthenica, Cephalaria tatarica, Echinacea purpurea, or perhaps the brilliant and difficult rose loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This is almost pure magenta, but composes well with pale yellow Hemero callis Hyperion or any of the pale, creamy yellow zinnias.

Pictures for July

With such opportunities, you can certainly plan your gar den for plenty of bloom during midsummer. It may not be a "riot of color," but it is doubtful whether you want a riot dur ing bright hot weather, when a large amount of color seems harsh and blatant. Select soft, though not weak, colors-hori zon blues, lavenders, creamy yellow, pink, and only small splashes of brilliant scarlet, of vigorous reds and yellows.

Always plan for plenty of fresh-looking green foliage in or near your color groups. Here are some well-tested midsum mer companions: