COLOUR BORDERS 73 



one single colour. Half the width may well be of one 

 colour, but the rest should be different. But all the colours 

 should be arranged to harmonise with those of their most 

 intimate neighbours. When the beginner becomes more 

 experienced he can arrange irregular patches of colour, but 

 it is best to begin with simple regular ones. 



Thus the whole border will be divided into patches ; 

 and in order that there may be no mistake, it is well to 

 draw a rough plan, first writing or painting in the colours 

 of each patch and then carefully selecting the plants to 

 correspond. For this the descriptions in the preceding 

 chapters will be found useful. In the case of perennials 

 it is best to rely chiefly on those which have a long blooming 

 period, otherwise some patches may be devoid of bloom 

 in the height of summer. Of course, if the patches are 

 large, a variety of plants may be included, but each patch 

 should contain at least two plants which bloom for a long 

 period. The idea should be to have a plant representing 

 each colour blooming in the border for six or nine months. 

 Otherwise there will be gaps of nothing but green, and the 

 colour border is easily spoilt by one or two of these gaps. 

 This can only be avoided by a judicious choice of subjects. 



The Height of the Plants : In Chapter VI I said a few 

 words on the question of the height of perennials, and in 

 Chapter III of annuals. It is quite possible to have a 

 beautiful colour border if the plants are arranged strictly 

 according to their heights, but it is possible to get a far 

 more beautiful effect if the plants are more skilfully 

 arranged. A beautiful colour border which I saw in the 

 South of England not long ago was so arranged that tall 

 plants stood boldly out in places quite near the front, 

 whereas in other parts there would be " valleys " of dwarf 

 plants running almost to the back of the border. This 

 arrangement is more fascinating and more natural than 

 a " graded " border. In Chapter VII the height, colour, 

 and blooming period of most of the popular perennials 

 are given, for use in the planting of a colour border. 



The Use of White : A word must be said on the import- 



