DISPOSITION OF FLOWERS IN PARKS 



so creditable for this purpose as that exhibited in the many small 

 parks and squares of Berlin. The grass areas of the formal academic 

 park designs are usually outlined with simple floral bands, varying in 

 width with the scale of the park. They are kept slightly back from the 

 walk line with a strip of grass. The planting of these bands is always 

 very low and restrained in character, with few and well considered 

 vertical accents. The effect is neither ostentatious nor cold, but rather 

 what the architect speaks of as good mosaic, meaning that the floral 

 bands serve as secondary or supplementary lines endorsing and 

 amplifying the fundamental lines of the general plan. 



VALUE AND CONTROL OF COLOUR 



After the location and shape of the bed, it is colour which counts 

 for park effect rather than interest of individual bloom. Consequently 

 the closer the flowering plants may be set without injury to their 

 growth and the denser the trusses of bloom which may be obtained, 

 the more commendation the planting beds will invambly receive. The 

 bloom of the single hyacinth, for example, with the flowers loosely 

 arranged about a pliant stalk, is considered more graceful in individual 

 aspect than the stiff, unyielding double varieties whose flowers are 

 thickly set about a rigid stalk, but there are more individual flowers 

 composing each bloom of the latter and therefore more colour for 

 display in the park flower-bed. 



In regard to selection of colours, and it can be expressed almost in 

 a word, let good taste prevail. The less colours are mixed in park 

 display, the better satisfaction will be given. A jumble of colours, 

 even if harmonious of themselves, will appear displeasing. Avoid 

 inharmonious combinations. Until one is absolutely sure of himself in 

 this respect, a good rule to follow in the use of bedding plants is to 

 confine the display, in small parks at least, to one colour and white. 

 Certain colours are so insistent as to appear quarrelsome even though 



290 



