GARDENS NEAR THE SEA 



sun. Inland gardens often suffer at this time from 

 drought and dry, hot atmosphere. Those near the 

 sea are then greatly helped by the moisture it wafts 

 toward them. 



In July, the phloxes in multitudinous colors become 

 the reigning beauties of the plant world. They are 

 as necessary to the success of a garden at this season 

 as poppies and peonies have been formerly. They can 

 be planted to show bold masses of solid color or arranged 

 heterogeneously. To select and arrange them is in 

 truth a matter of taste, since all grow and increase 

 with enduring hardiness. 



At East Hampton, Long Island, I saw a garden of 

 phloxes in which their beauty was most pronounced. 

 I also have seen their full splendor at many places 

 away from the sea. But in that particular garden, 

 they struck a note that I have never forgotten. It 

 may have been due to their setting, or it may have 

 been due to my mood. 



The phlox is indigenous to America, and when 

 allowed its own fancy, delights in showing itself in a 

 crimson purple or magenta color. But, happily, since 

 this color is altogether rampant in character, the 

 desire of the plant has been skilfully curbed, and 

 through hybridization and much crossing it has been 

 led to produce instead an immense number of charm- 

 ing and subtle shades. Many of them are self-colored; 

 others show a combination of two colors, while still 

 other varieties are striped. Untold effects can be 

 gained for the garden through their employment. 

 Still, there is a persistence about plants that will some 



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