CHAPTER VII 



THE NEW BEDDING 



" BEDDING " is an ominous word in connection with 

 gardening. It conjures up visions of bare earth for six 

 months and a violent glare for the other half of the year. 

 I want to show, however, that bedding may be made a 

 delightful and interesting phase of flower-gardening ; 

 and that it can be done in such a way as to add great 

 beauty and refinement to a garden. 



In discussing herbaceous borders I have pointed out 

 how, in many cases, they are entirely devoid of beauty 

 for several months. A border which is composed of 

 herbaceous plants alone that is, plants which lose their 

 leaves and stems in the fall has little or no bloom from 

 November to May. This is very spiritless flower-garden- 

 ing. There is no enterprise, no thoroughness about it. 



It is because the herbaceous border 'per se is so long 

 colourless that I have advocated putting trees, shrubs, 

 bulbs and Wallflowers into it, mainly for winter warmth 

 and spring colour. In effect, " bedding " practice, as 

 we generally understand it, is introduced to the borders. 



But if the bedding principle can strengthen the border, 

 can it not stand by itself ? Is it not worthy of con- 

 sideration for special positions in gardens ? There are 

 surely many gardens, large and small, where an isolated 

 block of colour is desirable. 



Let us refuse to admit that the day of the flower-bed 



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