78 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



them if the bushes are not jammed together. The ordinary way 

 of planting shrubs is such that they grow together, and then it is 

 not possible to have flowers between them, nor to see the true form 

 of the bushes, which are lost in one solid leafy mass. In growing 

 fine things Lilies or Cardinal Flowers, or tall Evening Primroses 

 among open bushes we may form a delightful garden, we secure 

 sufficient space for the bushes to show their forms, and we get light 

 and shade among them. In such plantations one might have in the 

 back parts "secret" colonies of lovely things which it might not be 

 well to show in the front of the border, or which required shade and 

 shelter that the front did not afford. 



BORDERS BY GRASS WALKS IN SHADE OR SUN. It is not only 

 in the flower garden where we may have much beauty of flower, but 

 away from it there are many places better fitted for growing the more 

 beautiful things which do not require continual attention. Unhappily, 

 the common way of planting shrubberies has robbed many Grass 

 walks of all charm. The great trees, which take care of themselves, 

 are often fine, but the common mixed plantation of Evergreens 

 means death to the variety and beauty of flower we may have by 

 Grass walks in sun or shade. The shrubs are frequently planted in 

 mixtures, in which the most free-growing are so thickly set as soon 

 to cover the whole ground, Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, Privet, 

 and such common things frequently killing all the choicer shrubs 

 and forming dark heavy walls of leaves, Some of these Evergreens, 

 being very hungry things, overrun the ground, rob the trees, and 

 frequently, as in the case of the Portugal Laurels, give a dark 

 monotonous effect while keeping the walks wet, airless, and lifeless. 



Light and shade and the charm of colour are impossible in such 

 cases with these heavy, dank Evergreens, often cut back, but once one 

 is free of their slavery what delightful places there are for growing 

 all hardy flowers in broad masses, from the handsome Oriental 

 Hellebores of the early spring to the delicate lavenders of the 

 Starworts in October. Not only hardy flowers, but graceful climbers 

 like the wild Clematis, and lovely corners of light and shade may be 

 made instead of the walls of sombre Evergreens. If we want the 

 ground green with dwarf plants, we have no end of delightful plants 

 at hand in the Ivies and Evergreens like Cotoneaster. There is no 

 need for the labour and ugliness of clipping. I have seen places with 

 acres of detestable clipped Laurels, weary and so ugly ! With all 

 these grubbed and burnt, what places, too, for such beautiful things as 

 the giant Fennels with their more than Fern-like grace, and all our 

 strong, hardy Ferns which want no rocks, with Solomon's Seal and 

 Foxgloves among them. Such walks may pass from open spaces 

 into half-shady ones or through groves of old Fir or other trees, 



