The Happy Garden 



But, on the whole, it has been little more than a 

 thorough spring-cleaning ; the real decoration is 

 yet to be achieved, the final form is still unaccom- 

 plished. The map must be modified to conform 

 with the ever-changing plans which crop up, and 

 lead from one to the other like pieces in a puzzle. 

 Indeed, a garden is very like a jig-saw, without 

 any definite design as a guide in fitting the pieces 

 together. . . . And that is where the fun comes in. 



On two sides the garden is to be yet further 

 taken into the wood. The peat garden is to 

 become a Japanese garden, and a rough path is 

 to be cut through the rising ground by the wood ; 

 and, on high banks, on either side of it, azaleas 

 and lilies (of the most rare and consequently the 

 most expensive kinds) are to be planted. This 

 path will lead to a part of the wood — where already 

 the trees have been felled to make way for it — 

 and a real wild garden is to grow up, a garden of 

 happy flowers, for they will be housed as carefully 

 and hospitably as friends : and friends they are, to 

 be welcomed and treated kindly and with reverence, 

 as all who do truly seek their company come to 

 understand. So Linnaeus, watching a flower unfold 

 its petals, said : 



" I saw God in His Glory passing near me, and 

 bowed my head in worship." 



216 



