FLOWER GARDENS, BEDS AND BORDERS. 



kalmias, andromedas, and Autumn-flowering ericas. Thus is obtained a girdle of interesting 

 gardens round the grounds, each part of which, while combining to form a delightful 

 whole, has its own interest and individuality, so providing variety and, whatever be the 

 season, from early Spring to late Autumn, some part or other which is specially rich 

 in colour. 



Plan of a The plan of a rose garden given in illustration No. 146, and of which also views 



rose garden are gi ven (j\\ N OS ^i an d 132), provides an example of quite a different kind. Instead 

 of being part of a connected scheme like the last example, it has no relation to any 

 definite formal plan, but is treated as a complete unit in itself. As will be seen from 

 the plan, it, together with its pergola, garden-house and surrounding plantations, has 

 been adapted to the irregular shape of the plot of ground which was available, and which 

 also has a considerable fall to the South. It is approached from the stable drive on 

 the one side, and, on the other, through an old shrubbery walk and wild garden. The 

 design is dominated by the rose-covered pergola, which is taken as the central feature 

 up to which everything must lead. The beds are cut out of the grass, and filled with 

 roses, only one variety being planted in each, the whole arranged with regard for colour, 

 character of foliage, growth, and degree of hardihood. 



We would close this chapter with a reference to a matter which belongs proportion- 

 ally as much to the next, dealing with lawns, as it does to this. This is the most 

 mistaken but very prevalent practice of breaking up every expanse of lawn with flower 

 beds, and so destroying the continuity of line and flowing curves, which are the chief 

 attractions of a sweep of greensward. Nothing could be more mistaken than the prevalent 

 idea that a clear expanse of shaven lawn must necessarily have a bare effect, and that 

 it is essential, in every case, to enliven it with flower beds. Elsewhere we have endeav- 

 oured to show that lawns should be treated as features desirable for their own sakes 

 and not merely as backgrounds for something else, though, of course, this must be taken 

 with limitations as they may be either, according to circumstances. A very pronounced 

 instance of the mistaken attempt to beautify a lawn by the insertion of beds for flowers 

 and shrubs is given in illustration No. 148. If this is compared with illustration No. 

 128, which shows another front of the same residence, it will be seen at once how depen- 

 dent the severe simplicity of the architecture of the mansion is upon a restful treatment 

 of its surroundings, and how much of the dignified appearance which such buildings 

 should have is destroyed by substituting the broken lines of a mass of shrubs and 

 flowers for the levelled area of the turf. Reference to the latter illustration will also 

 show that this does not mean that the immediate surroundings of the mansion must be 

 without that charm which only flower beds can give, but that what is essential is that 

 the dependence of the architecture on a suggestion of continuity of base line must always 

 be kept in view in their arrangement. It is further evident too that in such positions, 

 they must be more or less conventionalized if they are to harmonise with the 

 architecture, wild free growths being kept at a greater distance from the mansion. 



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