Garden Flowers From the 1950s

Annuals

• Plant annual flowers to fill in bare spots in the garden. Hollyhocks grow up to 8 feet tall. According to Floridata, they take 2 years to bloom but self-seed efficiently. Plant masses along fences or walls and allow them to self-seed to assure constant blooms. These many-colored flowers need full sun. For smaller flowers along walkways or in front of shrubs, many gardeners relied on petunias, marigolds and zinnias to provide color throughout the summer.

Perennials

• For borders, plant delphiniums. They bloom all summer producing blue, white or pink blossoms on tall, upright stalks. Oregon State University states that they can grow to 7 feet tall. Peonies make accent plants, as they grow into 3-foot mounds. In late spring and early summer, the very large, fragrant flowers bloom in shades of red, pink or white. They need well-drained soil and at least partial sun exposure.

Spring Bulbs

• Plant spring bulbs in autumn for spring bloom. The crocus is one of the earliest spring flowers. Sometimes, the flower peeks up through the snow. This small flower only grows to 6 inches high and often is planted in the middle of the lawn, as the flowers are gone by the time the lawn turns green. It needs well-drained soil and some sunlight. In early spring, daffodils add bright-yellow blooms with trumpet centers. The flowers top 6 to 24 inch stalks. They need rich soil and some sunlight. Although they now flower in many colors, in the middle of the last century, all daffodils were yellow.

Vines

• Flowering vines often climbed up trellises to shade seating areas or porches in the 1950s. Sweet peas produced delicate blossoms followed by seedpods that look like pea pods. According to Washington State University, heirloom sweet peas were smaller, less showy and more fragrant than the hybrids grown today. They prefer moist rich soil and bloom in the cool springtime. When the summer becomes hot, the plants die back. Another favorite, morning glory, produces blue flowers against bright green leaves. This annual vine will cover a trellis or fence quickly, offering shade and privacy. In warmer climates, you can treat morning glory as a perennial as it will return each year.