CHAPTER XXXIII 



FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER 



THE garden parties of this time of year give a good 

 opportunity for those who interest themselves in their 

 flowers to obtain new " wrinkles," for horticulture is 

 no longer in the stagnant stage, and any uncommon arrange- 

 ment, if picturesque, is now more popular than the set flower 

 beds of the latter half of the nineteenth century, in which 

 u bedding-out plants " alone were to be seen. Pergolas, 

 water gardens, wreaths of climbers on posts and chains, and 

 many other picturesque arrangements give interest and indi- 

 viduality to the garden, and the time is now arriving when 

 these new features can be begun, for October will soon be 

 here, and it is well to have everything ready for planting 

 before it begins. 



Then there are the handsome specimen plants which add 

 so much beauty to the garden, whether they are well-grown 

 shrubs, or semi-tropical plants, or groups of pampas grass, 

 kniphofias (red-hot pokers), and other perennial things, such 

 as tree paeonies, &c. One of the best of the semi-tropical 

 specimen plants is the Brugmannsia (syn. Datura) Suavolens 

 Knightii, with enormous semi-double blossoms in creamy 

 white, the rich tropical fragrance of which extends far round 

 the plant towards the evening. These flowers are produced 

 almost throughout the year, either under glass or in the open 

 air ; and the plant is a most manageable one, for it can be 

 wintered safely in a cellar if necessary, or in any place free 

 from frost, though in this case it will only bloom in the 



