CHAPTER XXXIV 



SHRUB GROUPS FOR WINTER AND SUMMER 

 EFFECT 



IN the gardens of Lord Aldenham at Elstree an 

 interesting feature is the grouping of shrubs for 

 summer and winter effect, and some valuable notes, 

 contributed to the Garden on this subject, may be 

 helpful to those desirous of getting the best results 

 from both tree and shrub : 



The grouping of suitable subjects, either in the 

 pleasure-ground proper, on the margin of wood, 

 lake, and stream, and especially so in the half-wild 

 garden, when carefully carried out, has such a good 

 effect at all seasons that it is difficult to understand 

 why it is not more generally done, for only when 

 massed together is it possible to see the true beauty 

 of many of the commoner hardy shrubs. For some 

 years this way of planting has been practised at 

 Elstree to a considerable extent, and the following 

 experience may be helpful to others. 



The chief desire here has been to create autumn 

 and winter effect, and Nature has been of slight 

 assistance to the planter, as the land is not un- 

 dulating but generally flat and uninteresting, con- 

 sequently much thought and attention have been 



devoted to attaining the desired object. No two 



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