14 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



fish, flesh, or fowl ? Neither. It is Queen Elizabeth and her 

 maids of honour these quaint little bushes are striving to 

 imitate ; this one, see, has a ruff and a crown. Uncover and 

 bend to the Virgin Queen ! " We are more prepared, perhaps, 

 to salute the memory of the dead gardeners who created such 

 a world of wonder, as well as the taste of those at the present 

 day who know so well how such a place should be maintained. 

 The mention of the rose garden suggests the other picture to 

 which we have alluded. For a multitude of glorious flowers 

 stand with radiant faces upturned in these formal beds, or 

 droop their fragrant blossoms in clusters towards the ground. 

 Trailing branches of roses extend between the formidable 

 topiary monsters. What a carpet it is we tread on ! Gorgeous 

 are the things that now attract us stately lilies, tall lupines, 

 blushing pa?onies, the fuchsia, pansy, salvia, bergamot, and 

 pink. These are here, with a crowd of other garden glories ; 



rise hollyhocks, dahlias, and sunflowers, while below there 

 is a wealth of gay blossoms in every season of the year. 

 Masses of beautiful climbers clothe the grey old stone. 

 Indeed, wherever we go at Levens we are greeted by flowers 

 in profusion, which, as we say again, is proof that formal 

 character is no bar to the gayer delights of the garden. 

 Levens has also a beautiful park, very rich in all the charm 

 that arises from the varied configuration and abundant 

 foliage that are everywhere characteristic of Westmoreland. 

 There is an old sundial also to delay us that 

 charming feature of the English garden. It stood, says 

 Charles Lamb, as " the garden god of Christian gardens." 

 If its business use may be superseded by more elaborate 

 inventions, its moral uses, its beauty, might have pleaded 

 for its continuance. It spoke of moderate labours, of pleasures 

 not protracted after sunset, of temperance, and good hours. 



CopyrigM. 



A GARDEN PICIURE FROM A WINDOW. 



" Country Lije. 



and to walk by nigh beech, yew, or holly hedges with such 

 neighbours is simply delightful. 



We pass in and out among the charms of the garden, 

 noticing pots and tubs of rare flowers, which add points of 

 beauty in many places, and ever glad to turn to the quaint old 

 house, vested with jasmine, purple clematis, and brilliant 

 nasturtium. Or we may set out from our arbour of green, 

 where a curious old portrait of Colonel Graham hangs in the 

 branches of a tree, may pass along the beautiful turf walks, 

 so pleasant to walk on, with avenues of old apple trees, and 

 York and Lancaster roses blossoming freely below, to the large 

 square bowling green, a scene of singular attraction, where the 

 old game is played once more. Now we think of gentlemen 

 with wigs and clouded canes exhibiting, with biassed bowls, 

 their calculated skill ; of the rippling laughter of ladies in 

 silks and satins, with paint and patches, too, greeting with 

 SclhiJenfrende those who lamentably fail. Or, again, we 

 pace the terrace with the well-managed border, from which 



It was the primitive clock, the horologe of the first world. 

 Adam could scarce have missed it in Paradise. It was the 

 measure appropriate for sweet plants and flowers to spring 

 by, for the birds to apportion their silver warblings by, 

 for flocks to pasture and be led to fold by. The "shepherd 

 carved it out quaintly in the sun ; and, turning philosopher 

 by the very occupation, provided it with mottoes more 

 touching than tombstones." 



Here, then, at this quaint and interesting Northern 

 seat are grass walks, beautiful flowery borders, an ancient 

 bowling green, a charming park with a fine avenue of oaks 

 a mile in length, and noble individual trees of oak, sycamore, 

 beech, chestnut, and elm. In truth, Levens Hall is unique 

 and offers many distinct characters. It has the advantages 

 that belong to a glorious country, which add so much to the 

 beauty of its park, and it has a garden gay with flowers 

 throughout the year, yet more famous still for the historic 

 trees clipped by the topiary hand. 



