HOME OP A. J. DOWNINO. 



Continuiiifj our walk, -wc find that the shrubbery on our ri<i;lit, forms the boundary 

 of the garden; and lliat the patli wliich we have entered, and whieh lias this 

 shrubbery for wall on one side, is the outline of the garden, and commands all that is 

 worthiest seeing in that small but beautiful domain. You notice, as we ])ass, that 

 there is no separate ^ower garden. Mr. Downing never thought well of drawing a 

 line between the lawn and shrubbery, and the parterre. Ilis manner was to set his 

 flower beds in grass, or to lay them along the edges of paths. Thus the walk which 

 runs east and west between the Hermitage and the Arbor, is lined on one side by a 

 border containing carnations and a few fine roses ; but for the most part you will find 

 circular beds of flower? set like gems hero and there in the lawn, or grouped in irreg- 

 ular masses before the shrubbery, w^hich served for back-ground. Two of these circu- 

 lar beds were particularly noticeable, and formed brilliant objects in the portion of 

 the ground where they were placed. A bed of scarlet geraniums near the Warwick 

 Vase was a magnificent object all the summer ; and another of the portulacca pre- 

 sented a disc of purplish crimson which seemed to palpitate at radiant morn and 

 glowing noon with what appeared at times like actual emissions of light. There 

 was a fine bed of crimson roses, too, which were staked down, and thus kept from 

 branching ; and another of white yucca, near the bed of portulacca, cooling the eye 

 after its bath in that bed of fire with its snowy and abundant blossoms. 



Near the north end of the house, if you examine the plan, you will find a thick, 

 impervious shrubbery, bounded on one side by the carriage road and on the other by 

 the path bordered with flowers to which we have referred above. This shrubbery in 

 summer entirely conceals that portion of the garden which lies north of it, and is 

 traversed by a winding path having near one end the Rustic Hermitage, and near the 

 middle the small Rock-work devoted to those plants which love that soil. 



The Hermitage is a pretty, rural structure, neatly constructed of rough bark and 



logs, presenting an attractive object in the 

 walk, and furnishing a cool retreat from 

 the burning heat of our midsummer noons. 

 At one end you may see the bee-hives — 

 homes of the little " singing masons build- 

 ing roofs of gold," who find their favorite 

 food of lemon thyme covering the rocks 

 near by. The Rock-work is a pretty sight 

 in summer, with its fine beds of moss and 

 thyme, and its stately ferns, under whose 

 shadow the hare bells and columbines 

 grew fair as in their native woods. It is 

 surprising to see how delicate the plants 

 arc that thrive best on rocky soils, and 

 flourish from the crevices of stony places. 

 This little rockery is one of the jileasantest features in the garden ; it is quite seclu- 

 ded, and has scarcely any outlook. Beyond the thickly planted plat of which we 



THE HEUMITASE. 



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