THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



one to suppose that there never was anything in the flower garden 

 before bedding-out was invented. Is it well to devote the flower beds 

 to one type of vegetation only, whether it be hardy or tender ? We 

 have been so long accustomed to forming flat surfaces of colour in 

 flower beds that few think of better ways of filling them. In Nature 

 vegetation in its most beautiful aspects is rarely a thing of one effect, 

 but rather a union or mingling of different types of life often suc- 

 ceeding each other in bloom. So it might often be in the garden. 

 The most beautiful effects must be obtained by combining different 

 forms so as to aid each other, and give us a succession of pictures. 

 If any place asks for permanent planting it is the precious spot 

 of ground near the house ; for no one can wish to see large, grave- 

 like masses of soil frequently dug near the windows. It is easy to 

 form beds that would look well in all seasons by the use of choice 

 shrubs of many kinds — Rhododendron, Azalea, Dwarf Cypress, Heath, 

 Clematis, Honeysuckle, Weigela, Hydrangea, Skimmia, Rock Rose, 

 Tamarix, Daphne, Yucca, Tree Peony. Why should we not use 

 beautiful Andromedas or Kalmias or fine evergreen Barberries in the 

 flower garden in the same way as Camellias or Acacias or Tree 

 Ferns in the winter garden to break and vary the surface ? 



The shrubs should be arranged in an open way, the opposite to the 

 crowding of American shrubs common in our beds. In these all 

 individual character and form are crushed away in the crowd ; yet 

 there is scarcely a shrub that has not a charm of form it will 

 show if allowed room. One good plan is to allow no crowding, and to 

 place the Jitiest hardy flowers ifi groups bettveeti the free untortured 

 shrubs. Thoroughly prepare the beds ; put in the choicest shrubs, 

 which, without being high enough to obscure the view, adorn the 

 earth all the winter as well as all the summer, and give us a broken 

 surface as well as a beautiful one, and, far from leading to monotony, 

 this would lead to an infinite and varied succession of beauty. 



We should not then have any set pattern to weary the eye, 

 but quiet grace and verdure, and little pictures, month by month. 

 The beds, filled with shrubs and garlanded with evergreens and 

 creepers, would everywhere afford nooks and spaces among the 

 shrubs where we could grow some of the many fine hardy Lilies 

 with the Gladioli, Phlox, Iris, tall Anemone, Peony, and Delphinium. 

 The choice shrubs suited for such beds are not gross feeders, like 

 trees, but on the other hand encourage the finer hardy bulbs and 

 flowers. They also relieve the plants by their bloom or foliage, and 

 when a Lily or Cardinal Flower fades after blooming it is not noticed 

 as it might be in a stiff border. In this way we should not need the 

 wretched and costly plan of growing a number of low evergreens in 

 pots, to "decorate " the flower garden in winter. 



