146 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



preeminently is this the case with bedding plants that, 

 unless one is sure of the value of his scheme of arrang- 

 ing them, far better would it be to let them alone, espe- 

 cially in view of the fact that their cost is relatively 

 somewhat expensive, as they have to be planted over 

 again each year. 



Bedding plants have, it is evident, a definite part to 

 perform in the adornment of the lawn and door-yard, 

 but their proper place should be strictly defined and 

 adhered to, and that, it will be found, should be to act 

 as a part of some more or less formal arrangement, such 

 as may be made adjoining, or bordering, a building, or 

 in a terrace or courtyard, or, best of all, in a formal 

 flower-garden. In schemes of this kind, the peculiar 

 brilliancy of bedding plants can be more readily managed 

 than elsewhere. If such a scheme grows out of and 

 definitely relates itself to the architectural scheme of 

 the place, it is generally satisfactory, and, shut off in a 

 garden, there is, of course, every opportunity for special 

 effects, with little danger of injuring the general appear- 

 ance of the lawn by showy formality. It is so easy to 

 overload any spot with this brilliant, gorgeous form of 

 plant ornamentation, that great self-restraint is gener- 

 ally in order when schemes for its employment are under 

 consideration. 



But when we have finally secured the best location for 

 our scheme of bedding, and properly defined the extent 

 of ground it is to occupy, we have still to solve the diffi- 

 cult problem of how to combine the different parts of 

 each special scheme, or bed of color and foliage plants. 

 It is at this point we meet the most flagrant failures in 

 designs of this kind. The fact of the existence of gen- 

 eral principles, that apply alike to all kinds of planting 



