DECEMBER 



Making Plans 



DECEMBER is a dull month in the garden out of 

 doors, and the most trying for the amateur unless 

 he possesses a greenhouse. It is difficult to arouse 

 enthusiasm in December; the joys of planting are, or 

 ought to be, over, and little fresh growth is visible above 

 ground. One has to possess one's soul in patience. The 

 measure of present satisfaction is governed largely by 

 the work carried out during the two previous months ; 

 if all plants the gardener had set his heart upon growing 

 are safely planted, he knows they are preparing to yield 

 him a full measure of delight in the future. He who 

 has delayed must hasten to make up for lost time and 

 hope for the best. Perhaps the best relaxation for 

 December is to turn to the gardening books and 

 catalogues, which provide much food for reflection and 

 tell many fairy tales. It is fairly safe when you read 

 of a scarlet flower to expect only a red one ; to translate 

 orange as yellow, yellow as primrose, mauve as lavender, 

 crimson as dark red, and so on, and to regard with 

 suspicion the flowers of purplish-rose. 



Among the Hardy Flowers 



Tidying Up. -Some people's gardens are always tidy, 

 others are just the reverse. I am sure that tidiness in 

 gardens is an excellent thing, for where tidiness is 

 practised there also is care taken. It is not wise to 

 be too scrupulous at this season, or more harm than 

 good may follow. One sees the gardener digging 



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