40 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



of many plants that soon perish out of doors in most parts of 

 England. 



Greenlands is an example of a garden in which the river front 

 of the house is a simple sloping lawn. Originally laid out by Mr. 

 Marnock for Mr. Majoribanks, it has long been a garden showing 

 good work. There are no terrace gardens, and one passes easily from 

 the house to a pleasant lawn and the well-planted grounds around, 

 studded with many fine trees, among which are beautiful groups of 

 Cedars. A flower garden in front of the house is here avoided ; but 

 at a little distance there are various flower gardens within easy 

 reach, and this plan keeps the lawn immediately in front of the house 

 unbroken, instead of, what it too often is, patched with brown earth or, 

 not always happy, masses of flowers. It would not be the best plan 

 to follow in every case ; the more variety the greater the charm, 

 and there are ways of delightful flower-gardening in which no bare 

 earth can be seen, while there are many cases where the sunny and 

 secluded sides of the house afford the best of sites for the flower 

 garden. 



Pendell Court. — It will be seen here that even where it 

 is desired to have the flower garden, in part, against the house, 

 it is by no means always necessary that the ground should be 

 made " architectural." It is a great pleasure to see a beautiful old 

 house, with no impedimenta to keep one away from the door. 

 There are three good views of it : first, that of the lawn in front 

 of the house, which was a flowery meadow yet uncut, with no beds 

 or other obstructions to the view of the house, and with a fine 

 group of trees on either hand. It was a poem in building and in 

 lawn. Quite on the other side a border of flowers and a wall of 

 climbers ran from the house. Looking along this border to the 

 house, a shower of white climbing Roses was seen falling from 

 the wall, and a quaint gable and a few windows and glistening 

 rich Ivy behind formed a lovely picture. Another view of the 

 house from across the water, showing its west end, is also very 

 beautiful. There is a Wild Rose bush on the right and a tuft 

 of Flag leaves on the left ; before you, the water and its lilies ; then 

 a smooth, gently rising lawn creeping up to the windows, which on 

 this side are all wreathed with white climbing Roses. All these 

 views of the same house, although distinct, show no frivolous patterns, 

 fountains, statues, and such objects, which often destroy all repose. 

 The view from the house to the left is also free and charming — a 

 wide meadow climbing up the hill through groups of trees, and in 

 the woody part reminding one a little of Alpine pastures. 



Rhianva, — We have not only to deal with ugly gardens, made 

 in the wrong places, but with a false idea that all the flowers 



