Blossoming group of Ilexes, but it is difficult to say if they are really more 



Trees and beautiful against dark foliage than with deciduous trees in their 



Shrubs Spring dress as a background. A Hornbeam close by is a mist 



of exquisite pale green, sweeping down to the greener grass and 



melting into the sky. The Hawthorns are in emerald leaf at 



the edge of the wood, and form a beautiful contrast with the 



rose-purples and browns of the Elms, Oaks, and Beeches. 



Almond and purple-leaved Prunus (Pissardii] are charming 

 together. Unfortunately our Almond trees are still small, and 

 the Prunus with us seems a shy flowerer. I am full of envy 

 of their beauty in the Villa gardens on the outskirts of the town 

 where they are white to their very tips ; graceful long boughs 

 with an upward growth seen in bold relief against the sky, and 

 great sprays of pink Almond sweeping across them. It is 

 annoying of them not to flower in the same way here where 

 they could have sky and wood as background, and no new red 

 houses to strike a discordant note. 



Forsytbia suspensa, with its curved growth and rings of 

 yellow blossom set all down the long flowery stems, is one of 

 the loveliest shrubs. Daffodils in the grass with Forsytbia above 

 them, repeating the yellow in a more delicate tone, make a 

 pretty picture. If space allows a large group of these should 

 be planted in a sunny spot. The graceful pendulous branches 

 fall to the ground and will sometimes root themselves. It is 

 excellent too for training up a house, and will convert a very 

 large extent of wall into a sheet of yellow. Any pruning 

 that is necessary should be done directly the plant has done 

 flowering, but if the situation admits, it is prettier if allowed to 

 grow naturally. Cuttings strike very easily. 



Kerria japonica is another hardy shrub of great beauty 



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