190 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



must always be made up of plants conspicuous in some 

 way or another, either in their foliage or in their habit 

 of growth, and the less conspicuous plants should be 

 used only for diversity and contrast. 



The front of the border, since all of it is always 

 visible, is more difficult to plan than the back, and 

 has an even greater need of permanent features. Many 

 gardeners overlook this fact. They aim at a continuous 

 blaze of flowers in the front of their borders, even when 

 they are content with alternations of flower and leaf- 

 age behind; and the result often is untidiness just 

 where the border ought to be most tidy. It is also 

 a mistake in design to have an unbroken line of bright 

 colour in front of a more varied background, as the 

 eye is then absorbed by the foreground, and can only 

 get away from it by an effort. There is, therefore, 

 an even stronger reason for alternations of flower and 

 leafage in the front of a border than behind, and 

 these alternations should be carefully planned. No 

 plants are more useful as permanent features in the 

 front of the border than the Garden Pinks; and these 

 should not be planted in monotonous rows, but at 

 regular intervals and alternating with other plants 

 such as Pansies, which will remain longer in bloom 

 and will contrast with them both in flower and in 

 leafage. If the ordinary Pansies are used they may be 

 removed after their first flush of bloom and replaced 

 by bedding plants such as Verbenas or Ivy-leafed 

 Geraniums, or any beautiful and low-growing half- 

 hardy annuals. But if the gardener wishes to avoid 



