CHAPTER XI 



HARDY CLIMBERS 



IT would be impossible to over-estimate the value of the 

 various climbing plants to the designer ; without them 

 our gardens would lose half their beauty and charm. 

 This much we owe to them, that without their graceful 

 presence many beautiful garden houses, outbuildings and 

 walls, would be intolerable eyesores. But for our 

 climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle, and fragrant 

 jasmine, there would be no possibility of shady pergolas, 

 flower-clad archways, and welcome arbour. The crudi- 

 ties of the architect, his ugly terrace walls and staring 

 porticos, may all be softened and veiled by a tender 

 covering of flowery sprays and rich green foliage. Yet, 

 in spite of this, more effective use might be made of 

 plants of twining and scandent habit, not only by calling 

 in the aid of several beautiful subjects which are now 

 seldom seen, but by displaying those we have to further 

 advantage. In the wild gardens of Nature we find that 

 climbers choose for their support living trees and shrubs, 

 and who will gainsay the charm of the hedgerow wreathed 

 in honeysuckle, or of the beauty of the wild rose which 

 has scrambled by chance amid the branches of some 

 forest tree. How seldom we afford the cultivated 

 climbers this form of support. On the stronger growing 

 trees we may have the snowy clematis montana, flinging 

 its blossom-clad trails from branch to branch ; vines and 

 gorgeous Virginian creeper garlanding the trunks, and 

 hanging pendant from the nethermost boughs. The axe 



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