From the northern edge to the southern fringe of the north central region there is a wide range of weather conditions in late fall. Consequently there is also a considerable range of opportunities for gardening activities.

For example in the far northern range, cold weather has settled for the season all garden and landscape work except making provisions for winter protection. But for each 100 miles south of this range the gardening season is extended a full week, making it possible to do things that cannot be done farther north. This fact complicates the matter of writing about gardening here and makes it necessary for the reader to understand that there are wide variations in the weather.

Further complications are caused by the fact that seasons arc not the same year after year in the Northernpart of the country. Sometimes winter comes early, sometimes it is late, often it starts suddenly and there are times when it comes, is here for a short while, then retreats and does not return for several weeks.

Usually, some time in November, early or late depending upon where you are, the glory of the garden chrysanthemum and dieffenbachia tropic snow is cut short by freezing weather, but not before having had two to three months of bountiful blooming and a sensational display of color.

Within recent years the garden mum has become one of the most important of all the flowering plants. Its long season of flowering, abundance of blooms, wide range of colors and blossom types, and exceptional value for use in bouquets as well as landscape and garden display have placed it in a class by itself. Only the rose can rival it in the qualities mentioned.