Planting the form a small ripple, or a water spider will skim along, and lo ! 

 Water-edge the whole scene is altered and transformed. 



Perhaps the ideal water garden is a natural and shapeless 

 pond with shallow margins, and fed by a narrow stream. If 

 this is surrounded by grass and some trees it will have a beauty 

 of its own which nothing but thoroughly bad management in 

 planting can take away. And yet some of these naturally 

 lovely places are to be seen completely spoilt by the addition of 

 stones all round the edge, obviously brought from a long distance, 

 and quite out of harmony with the surroundings, and placed 

 almost in a circle, with unsuitable plants dotted about amongst 

 them. The effect of this is that the natural beauty is over- 

 whelmed by the artificial additions. It were better to leave 

 well alone, or to do little, than to do it badly. Grass 

 and weeds should grow right down to the water's edge, in 

 which can be planted many of the wild weeds of our river 

 banks. Why should these be despised, or so often omitted 

 and uprooted ? They form one of the chief and delightful 

 features of our landscapes, and for shape and handsome growth 

 cannot, I think, be excelled by anything in our gardens. 



The yellow and purple Loosestrife (king of purple spikes) 

 and the Willow herb called Rose-Bay, the Marsh Marigold and 

 the water Forget-me-not, yellow Flag Irises and Arrow-heads, 

 the water Docks and Meadowsweet, and many others both for 

 foliage and colour should be planted in quantities. To these, 

 and always on the shallow margin raised only slightly above 

 the water level, may be added among other plants Primula 

 japonica, whose brilliant colour amongst the green grass will 

 make a fine effect. All the stronger Primulas that like a wet 

 soil will look well growing out of grass near water, and with 



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