128 A Little Maryland Garden 
back, bringing it down gradually to the 
dwarf French marigolds of the foreground. 
I still retain a vivid impression of borders 
in the gardens of Hampton Court palace. 
These borders were planted under brick 
walls, and graduated from tall, double holly- 
hocks at the back to the lowest border plants 
on the margin. Many of the plants were 
entirely unknown to me. If I had the op- 
portunity of studying them now that I am 
an amateur gardener, I might learn a great 
deal from them. Then I only admired them 
as a beautiful picture. 
My gladiolus are now blooming. I have 
had more pleasure with less care from glad- 
iolus than from any other bulbs. These 
delightful plants never give any trouble. 
They are strong, clean and healthy, easy to 
handle and sure to bloom, sure also to be 
beautiful. All they ask for is a stake to sup- 
port them through the storms, and to be set 
on a bed of sand. Then when summer is 
over, and their foliage ripened, give them 
a paper sack and a temperate place to rest 
