THE GENERAL PLAN OR THEORY OF THE PLACE 57 



strands of vines or deft bits of planting. He soon comes to 

 feel that flowers are most expressive of the best emotions 

 when they are dain- 

 tily dropped in here 

 and there against a 

 background of foli- 

 age, or else made a 

 side -piece in the 

 place. There is no 

 limit to the adapta- 

 tions; Figs. 51 to 

 58 suggest some of 

 the backyard possi- 

 bilities. 



51. A back-yard cabin. 



Presently he rebels at the bold, harsh, and impudent de- 

 signs of some of the gardeners, 

 and grows into a resourceful 

 love of plant forms and verdure. 

 He may still like the weeping 

 and cut-leaved and party-colored 

 trees of the horticulturist, but 

 he sees that their best effects 

 are to be had when they are 

 planted sparingly, as borders or 

 promontories of the structural 

 masses. 



The best planting, as the best 

 painting and the best music, is 

 possible only with the best and 

 tenderest feeling and the closest 

 living with nature. One's place 

 grows to be a reflection of him- 

 self, changing as he changes, and expressing his life and sym- 

 pathies to the last. 



52. A garden path with hedgerows, 

 trellis, and bench, in formal treat- 

 ment. 



