American species ; for garden purposes they are divided into two 

 groups, the earlier, blooming in July, much shorter in stature and more 

 bushy, being known as the suffruticosa group, the later, taller kinds 

 being classed as the decussata. They are a little shy of direct sunlight, 

 though they can bear it in strong soils where the roots are always cool. 

 They like plenty of food and moisture ; in poor, dry, sandy soils they 

 fail absolutely, and even if watered and carefully watched, look miserable 

 objects. 



But where Phloxes do well, and this is in most good garden ground, 

 they are the glory of the August flower-border. 



In the teaching and practice of good gardening the fact can never be 

 too persistently urged nor too trustfully accepted, that the best effects are 

 accomplished by the simplest means. The garden artist or artist gardener 

 is for ever searching for these simple pictures ; generally the happy com- 

 bination of some two kinds of flowers that bloom at the same time, and 

 that make either kindly harmonies or becoming contrasts. 



In trying to work out beautiful garden effects, besides those purposely 

 arranged, it sometimes happens that some little accident — such as the 

 dropping of a seed, that has grown and bloomed where it was not sown — 

 may suggest some delightful combination unexpected and unthought of. 

 At another time some small spot of colour may be observed that will 

 give the idea of the use of this colour in some larger treatment. 



It is just this self-education that is needed for the higher and more 

 thoughtful gardening, whose outcome is the simply conceived and 

 beautiful pictures, whether they are pictures painted with the brush on 

 paper or canvas, or with living plants in the open ground. In both cases 

 it needs alike the training of the eye to observe, of the brain to note, and 

 of the hand to work out the interpretation. 



The garden artist — by which is to be understood the true lover of good 

 flowers, who has taken the trouble to learn their ways and wants and 

 moods, and to know it all so surely that he can plant with the assured 

 belief that the plants he sets will do as he intends, just as the painter can 



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