BORDERS OF HARDY FLOWERS. 29 



among open bushes we may form a delightful garden, we secure 

 sufficient space for the bushes to show their forms, and we get light 

 and shade among them. In such plantations one might have in the 

 back parts " secret " colonies of lovely things which it might not be 

 well to show in the front of the border, or which required shade and 

 shelter that the front did not afford. 



It is not only in the flower garden where we may have much 



beauty of flower, but away from it there are many places better fitted 



for growing the more beautiful things which do 



Borders by grass not re q uire continual attention. Unhappily, the 



walks in shade common way of planting shrubberies has robbed 



or sun. many grass walks of all charm. The great trees, 



which take care of themselves, are often fine, but 



the common mixed plantation of Evergreens means death to the 



variety and beauty of flower we may have by grass walks in sun or 



shade. The shrubs are frequently planted in mixtures, in which 



the most free-growing are so thickly set as soon to cover the 



whole ground, Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, Privet, and such 



common things frequently killing all the choicer shrubs and forming 



dark heavy walls of leaves. Some of these Evergreens, being very 



hungry things, overrun the ground, rob the trees, and frequently, as 



in the case of the Portugal Laurels, give a dark monotonous effect 



while keeping the walks wet, airless, and lifeleTss. 



Light and shade and the charm of colour are impossible in such 



cases with these heavy, dank Evergreens, often cut back, but once one 



is free of their slavery what delightful places there 



Light and shade, are for growing all hardy flowers in broad masses, 



from the handsome Oriental Hellebores of the 



early spring to the delicate lavenders of the Starworts in October. 



Not only hardy flowers, but graceful climbers like the wild Clematis, 



and lovely corners of light and shade may be made instead of 



the walls of sombre Evergreens. If we want the ground green 



with dwarf plants, we have no end of delightful plants at hand in 



the Ivies and Evergreens like Cotoneaster. 



In many situations near houses, and especially old houses, there 



are delightful openings for a beautiful kind of flower border. The 



stone forms fine background, and there are no 



Flower borders thieving tree roots. Here we have conditions 



against walls and exactly opposite to those in the shrubbery ; here 



houses. W e can have the best soil, and keep it for our 



favourites ; we can have Delphiniums, Lilies, 



Paeonies, Irises, and all choice plants well grown. Walls may be 



adorned with climbers of graceful growth, climbing Rose, Wistaria, 



Vine, or Clematis, which will help out our beautiful mixed border. 



