MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 55 
The Formal Garden, with an area of about 35,000 square 
feet, is located in the court of the new conservatory. It is 
bounded on three sides—north, south, and east—by sections 
of the conservatory, and on the west the enclosure has been 
completed by a pergola. The strictly formal surroundings 
make a purely architectural design permissable and desirable 
here. The result is probably the most elaborate and finished 
garden ever attempted at the Missouri Botanical Garden and 
if the Linnean House Garden can be called “English,” this 
one might be termed “Italian,” since it depends largely upon 
exact symmetry, preciseness of line and trimness tor effect. 
The color and width of the walks, for instance, are nearly 
as important to the design as the planting beds themselves 
and every feature has a significance in the plan. The walks 
are edged with yellow brick, the same shade as the path 
itself; low hedges border the walks and govern the design 
of the beds; numerous vases, flower boxes, and garden seats 
have been used to set off the terminations of the walks; and 
the statue of Juno, which formerly was such a familiar 
object in the main garden occupies the center of the garden 
and forms its most conspicuous feature. Ultimately there 
will be two small fountains in the central panels while orange 
trees and pyramidal box-trees will also be used in the 
decoration. ; 
The principal feature of this garden during the flowerin 
season will probably be the pattern bedding. It is believed 
that this form of gardening—usually much abused—is in 
harmony with the surroundings here. The beds will be 
most effective from the balcony at the east, which is about 
eleven feet above the grade of the garden, and also accessible 
from the palm house. 
The main bulb display in spring will be oo in this 
ase and a succession of bedding and fo lage plants will 
eep these beds a mass of color in summer. The plants to 
be used in the vases and flower boxes are those best adapted 
for window boxes. Hence it is hoped that the Formal 
Garden may show, first the best bedding plants to be used 
at various seasons, and second a collection of plants most 
suitable for window boxes, flower boxes, and vases. 
A heavy border plantation of hardy shrubs, interspersed 
with ta seads poplars surrounds the Garden on the three 
greenhouse sides, and the pergola at the west will be planted 
with vines. This pergola will undoubtedly prove a very 
soieseed retreat, for from it can be viewed not only the 
ormal Garden, but also the landscapes which ultimately 
will be developed to the west. | 
