114 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



THE WILDERNESS. 



of 200 acres, maintained in high cultivation even in those 

 places usually permitted to run wild and unkempt. There are 

 three picturesque lodges, and we may make a start at the 

 Aldenham lodge. Turning to the right, a charming view is 

 obtained of the house with its elm avenue and greensward. 

 We follow the broad gravel walk, protected on the right from 

 the park by an ornamental railed brick palisade, broken about 

 every five yards by piers capped with vases and urns in terra- 

 cotta, and further diversified by outward half-circles of bold 

 effect, and in due time arrive at a large carriage gateway. 

 This leads to the well-planted park and new ornamental lake. 



This lake and bold rockwork are 



amongst the principal features 

 of the modern gardening at 

 Aldenham, and Mr. Vicary 

 Gibbs has succeeded in his 

 endeavour to create a natural 

 and charming picture. Standhg 

 on the bridge that spans it, we 

 see the pretty boat cave, and 

 turning to the opposite side of 

 the b:idge the lake, with its 

 two islands, is presented to 

 view. This modelling, and 

 practically forming a new 

 feature entirely, has been ac- 

 complished since i8gs. It has 

 been the result of the work of 

 the able head gardener, aided 

 by Mr. Vicary Gibbs, who, like 

 so many of our landowners of 

 the present day, takes a prac- 

 tical interest in the garden and 

 woodland. There are breadths 

 of bulrushes rustling in the 

 autumn winds, golden elder, 

 snovvberry, thick with creamy 

 fruit during winter, American 

 blackberries, and the soft silver 

 grey of that beautiful willow, 

 Salix rosmarinifolia. It is a 

 quiet scheme of colour, from 

 the dense green of gorse to the 



graceful willow branches, casting a grateful shade over the 

 water surface. The planting of the estate and its remodelling 

 teach practical lessons, and simple grouping is one of the greatest. 

 The arboretum contains deciduous trees and shrubs as rare as 

 anything in the botanic garden of Kew. 



Nearer the house is a pretty croquet lawn, and an arched 

 rose walk at right angles, whi'e in the opposite corner is the 

 square yew garden, adorned with fine examples f lead-work 

 the kneeling slave, the weeping child at the fountain (a copy 

 of a silver seal of Italian workmanship), an. I a " Fiddler " and 

 a Songstress (the work of that excellent sculptor, Mr. F. W. 



I HE YEW GARDEN. 



