42 MY GARDEN. 



the path. In front of these there is a flower border full of pinks, 

 picotees, snapdragons, pentstemons, and behind the roses vegetables 

 and strawberries are grown. 



By a little skilful planting and a turn in the walk, we come sud- 

 denly upon the orchard-house and Poor Man's house, and also upon 

 the willow bower by the water, whereby a totally different scene is 

 presented to the eye. Here we are perplexed by many paths : one 

 leads to the orchard-house, another path to the Poor Man's house, a 

 third to the pear-tree walk, the fourth or apple-tree walk passes to 

 the croquet-ground, and the original walk itself is continued by the 

 lake to the apparent boundary of the ground. Our eyes are again 

 deceived, for, by a short turn, we find ourselves in a little picturesque 

 garden with a pretty summer-house covered in front with roses, 

 with a bower on a mound, and the entrance into the indoor fernery, 

 which is reached by a sunken walk. The view into Becldington Park, 

 by the door of the fernery, is very charming, especially in winter, 

 when the snow-covered trees and grass form a striking contrast with 

 the perpetual spring of the fernery, which is figured in the winter 

 scene at the end of the book. I have seen visitors quite startled 

 when they have come unexpectedly upon this garden. 



From the summer-house garden we walk down the pear-tree walk, 

 and glance at my two hundred kinds of pears on one side. Peep- 

 ing over the palings into Beddington Park, which offers pretty wood- 

 like scenery with herds of cattle feeding on the herbage, we arrive at 

 the Valley of Ferns (plate 10). Really this valley so differs from any 

 other scene in the garden that its effect is striking. It is like a visit 

 to a new country. Through its centre runs a stream pellucid, spark- 

 ling, and bright, never freezing in winter and deliciously cool in 



summer. 



" That for itself a cooling covert makes 



'Gainst the hot season." KEATS. 



On each side of its banks our English and North American 

 ferns grow, encircled but not overshadowed by trees, as fine as they 

 do in their natural habitats. At the extreme end of the valley of 



