FLOWER CULTURE 57 



of satisfying pictures. To learn to see the difference in these 

 pictures and how to put them in their right places is to recognize 

 gardening as a fine art. 



In forming plantations and making borders the right thing to 

 do is to place the plants with such care that they will form a part 

 of a harmonious whole. 



The Color Scheme. 



We do not give enough attention to our color scheme and in 

 almost every garden this is a weak point. Much of the success 

 of a garden depends on giving thought and study to get pleasing 

 color effects. Many times good material is useless in our scheme, 

 either from ignorance or lack of forethought. A plant may not 

 be ugly in itself but when placed in a wrong environment may 

 make a distasteful picture. 



The Spring Garden. 



Spring is the season when we enjoy flowers the most because 

 after our long dreary winters we love to see the beautiful little 

 harbingers of spring. The earliest of these flowering plants are 

 rather low of stature but they are very rich in color. The first to 

 greet us is the snowdrop of which there are several species but 

 those that give the greatest satisfaction are Galanthv^ nivalis, 

 the common snowdrop, and Galanthus Elwesii. They should be 

 planted in colonies. We have had them in bloom as early as 

 January, but they were grown in sheltered nooks. March is the 

 month when they make the boldest show. Hepaticas are charm- 

 ing on account of their blooming and thriving in shady positions 

 and are valuable for such places. The squills are unrivalled as 

 dwarf blue plants and Scilla sibirica and bifolia are the two best 

 kinds. They will grow in any kind of soil and in almost any situa- 

 tion. When once planted they need very little attention and will 

 increase themselves by seeds if left undisturbed. In sunny posi- 



