Any packet of seed labeled "Zinnia" will produce a reasonable facsimile of the flower we know by that name.

But what fantastic flower might bloom from a packet of seed marked "Golden Flower of the Incas" or "South African Veldt Flower" or "Star of Argentine"? Anything can happen in such a planting adventure and sometimes does. Here is the spice of gardening!

In our West Virginia garden we tried out as many new plants as space and time allow. Come what may, we are ever ready to try again, for we have found the surest way to avoid gardening doldrums is to grow something new and different each year.

Our most recent adventure had all cur neighbors exclaiming, "What on earth are those gorgeous flowers?" "Cockscomb," we replied. Wait a moment before you shrug your shoulders and turn up your noses; you probably remember only grandmother's dull, dreary dried stuff. But even Chanticleer himself cannot boast such plumage as these flowers have. Even the foliage is happy and bright. Our proud beauties were the new hybrids - Maple Gold, Rose Beauty and others - grown alongside the feathered Celosia plumosa - Fire Feather, Golden Feather and others.

Such an array of colors and shapes all summer long! Slender miniature combs, like those of some Spanish senorita, waved on slim stems. Thick plumy spikes of brightest scarlet spired and curved above scarlet-flushed foliage. Graceful plumes of startling cerise bloomed beside cattail sprays of dark maroon. The "Golden Cock's" plumage was indeed rivaled by the brilliance of these orange, gold, chartreuse and lemon "feathers."

All our cockscombs were magnificent as cut flowers. We preferred to enjoy them as fresh flowers rather than save them to dry for winter bouquets. We cut them as fast as they appeared, saying only enough for a spectacular display outdoors. Pleasing combinations of celosia alone or with other flowers seemed almost endless. One unique arrangement in shades of red and rose combined varied forms - fans, plumes, combs and velvety beads - in an off-white urn. Another striking arrangement was of scarlet celosia plumes and white cactus dahlias with dark green foliage. One of our earlier adventuresówith Star of Argentine (Oxypetalum coeruleum)óproved such a happy one that this plant has been a favorite ever since. No special care was given the seedlings, which appeared soon after sowing in early May and began to bloom only a few weeks later. Frosty gray green foliage, attractive even without bloom, forms a tidy, bushy plant only a foot or so in height. The brilliant blue flowers, like bits of summer sky, face upward and outward. The starry inch-wide blossoms on graceful sprays are borne on arching stems from late June until fall.

You may know Star of Argentine by another common name - tweedia, Star of the South or Southern Star. We found it resented interference and was best planted where it was to flower. The plants may be thinned to produce more symmetrical growth. Star of Argentine is especially suitable for edgings and rock gardens and may also be grown as a pot plant.

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