THE WATER-GARDEN 267 
line or a bare grass-edging, should always be most rigidly 
eschewed. 
Before we turn to the actual aquatics themselves, there 
is the bordering rim of swamp to be planted. Here, 
according to your width, you may have as many plants as 
you please. Seeing that the glory of the bog-and-water- 
garden rages from midsummer through autumn, it is as 
well to accept the fact, and plant for August effect. Here 
the soil, of course, will be too wet for all lilies except 
pardalinum, Grayi, Roezlii, canadense, and superbum. 
But you will have clumps and tufts of the Japanese and 
the Siberian Iris, you will have as many of the damp- 
loving Spiraeas as you have room for, you will have one 
bulky mass of Senecio Clivorum, groups of the Willow- 
Gentian, stately colonies of V'halictrum aquilegifoliun, 
and the herbaceous tall Phloxes ;—remembering always 
that in planting for pomp of effect the secret is to strike 
a note of colour hard and firm and once for all, rather 
than to go on repeating it, no matter how well-beloved, 
here and there, in a spotty and uncertain manner. Plant 
your one big clump of a favourite plant, and then be 
done with it; don’t spoil the ‘coup’ by vain repeti- 
tions. 
Most dazzling of all colour-schemes is that afforded by 
the tall American Lobelias and their hybrids. In shades 
of the most fearful vermilion range cardinalis, fulgens, 
and the various roses, red and pinks of Gerardi, graceful 
and lofty; then comes the group of syphilitica, bearing 
rather shorter, stockier spikes in sapphire, amethyst, and 
violet. Also there are fancy-named hybrids, such as 
Queen Victoria, a glorified cardinalis. All these, hardy and 
robust, are admirable for a big group at the water’s edge, 
and at the same time in any fair climate may be trusted 
to look after themselves in any deep rich soil. But, at 
the same time, their colour is so keen, clean, and startling, 
