GARDENS NEAR THE SEA 



an air of elegance and detail to the surrounding 

 planting. 



Among the bedding plants, the heliotrope and 

 fuchsia seem to be the ones in present favor to use as 

 standards. Naturally, they are only serviceable to 

 those who have glass houses in which to keep them 

 over the winter. When set out in the spring, however, 

 the amount of rough weather they can withstand is 

 astonishing. The heliotrope, especially, thrives lustily 

 very near the sea. 



In Commodore Benedict's garden at Indian Harbor, 

 Connecticut, the standard heliotropes form a conspicu- 

 ous feature. There they grow very closely to the 

 sea, yet in a spot considerably elevated from the edge 

 of the water. The house shelters this garden on two 

 sides from the wind; and, much to the liking of the 

 heliotrope standards, the sun shines upon them with 

 great intensity, giving them the inspiration requisite 

 to their growth. 



Fuchsias also can stand rough weather, provided 

 the sunshine is abundant. They make stately little 

 standards of very formal appearance. Their colors 

 and the pendulous grace of the flowers are without 

 flaws. I find them, nevertheless, lacking in charm, 

 although it is difficult to say what is absent. 



It seems to me the worst possible taste to plant 

 standard heliotropes at points of accentuation through 

 beds of petunias. Yet I have seen it done on more 

 than one important estate, where the gardens, on the 

 whole, denoted much taste and skill. I could only 

 believe that the head gardeners were guided by certain 



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