IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



CHAPTER I 



FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY 



NATURE is at rest, and durihg her winter sleep we 

 may well look round our gardens with a view to 

 increase their beauty or, it may be, to lay out the 

 ground entirely afresh. 



There is a certain modesty which sends most of us to the 

 landscape-gardener for advice under these circumstances ; but 

 let us by all means avoid mediocrity in this matter, and 

 either employ a thoroughly competent person or else plan 

 out our gardens to our own liking ; for in either way we 

 shall escape the monotony and deadly uniformity of the 

 average garden, and there is really no reason why we should 

 not impress our special tastes on our gardens as well as on 

 our rooms. 



But there are various considerations which must not be 

 forgotten in the arrangement of a garden. The style and 

 size of the adjoining house, the aspect, slope, size, and sur- 

 roundings of the piece of ground in question, will modify 

 our plans, for it is not possible to lay out gardens for 

 the stately mansion, the cottage, and the town house on the 

 same lines. Any natural points of interest contained in the 

 grounds should be preserved, well-grown trees should be 

 retained where it is possible to do so, and the views from the 

 windows should be considered. A broad terrace or pathway 



5 



