AMPTHILL PARK 73 



very charming part of the Garden, lying on the 

 east side of the House. This Garden is laid out 

 in the Dutch style, with little geometrical beds 

 edged with Box and filled with all sorts of gay- 

 coloured flowers, such as pale blue Ageratums, red 

 Geraniums, French Marigolds, and purple Petunias, 

 which in the sunlight of a summer's day give a 

 brilliant effect. 



The little stone Fountain, placed in the centre of 

 this part of the Garden by Lord Holland, is quite a 

 feature. Low, and shaped like a vase, it stands in 

 a large basin of water, which is surrounded by a 

 wreath-like border of Ivy and Periwinkle. The 

 quaint appearance of this old-fashioned Garden has 

 been greatly added to by the Dowager Lady 

 Ampthill, who has placed here at intervals huge 

 Spanish vases, which by their vivid hue give a 

 fresh touch of bizarre colour, and are filled during 

 the summer months with Palms and Hydrangeas of 

 delicate pink and mauve. 



Beyond the Garden runs a wide walk, at right 

 angles to the house, leading to a beautiful narrow 

 alley of Limes. Standing under the shade of their 

 interlacing boughs, it is difficult to realise that the 

 trees were not planted hundreds of years ago, 

 instead of by Lady Holland. (Lord Holland 

 succeeded Lord Ossory in 1818.) Lady Holland 

 called the walk the Alameda, after the avenue in 

 Madrid, from which it had been copied. 



