Flowers and Gardens 



latest have put forth their blossoms ; and 

 then tenderly and reverently we stand 

 beside them as they wither, and observe 

 how they yield, some speedily, some 

 slowly, to the force of the increasing cold. 

 In this healthy natural way of garden- 

 keeping there is far less thought of 

 splendour. The plants on a bed are not 

 all in bloom together, but spring and 

 summer flowers are everywhere inter- 

 mixed. Whilst looking at some early 

 blossom, we enjoy the contrast of its more 

 tardy neighbours, beautiful exceedingly 

 now in the first freshness of their budding 

 foliage, and promising far higher glories 

 in two or three months' time. The bed 

 does not display all its treasures at once, 

 or we should rather say that our undazzled 

 eyes can here perceive the high value of 

 plants which are not in bloom ; the whole 

 garden seems one loud voice of exultant 

 hope: "Take this now, and see besides 

 what a rich bank there is to draw upon 

 for the future." 



But far different is the procedure in 

 the modern garden. Everything tends to 

 prevent us from considering the plant as 

 a living and growing thing. A living 

 plant fastens firmly upon the soil, and 

 evidently belongs to it ; makes itself a 



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