SURPRISE GARDENS 33 



We have flowering shrubs, alpines upon the banks, roses 

 on posts, and the water-lilies in their tank. Round the 

 whole, to protect from rough sea-breezes, is a hedge of 

 tamarisk (71 gallica). It has graceful, feathery foliage 

 and a pretty pink flower. 



The important thing to remember in making such a 

 garden is to have wide enough beds, and we should allow 

 ample room in them for the growth of shrubs. This applies 

 also to the width of paths. Should they look unnaturally 

 wide at first, the remedy will soon come, for plants such 

 as broom and phlomis always encroach upon the quarters 

 originally allotted to them, and quickly overhang the paths. 



We come now to a sunk garden of a more formal type 

 (Fig. 27). Steps lead down, through a thickly planted 

 border of flowering shrubs (C, D), to this small, oval piece 

 of ground. A thatched-roof shadow-house is where we 

 sit to view the long narrow beds which make this garden 

 bright (A). They are suited to herbaceous plants if 

 bedding out be not approved of. Nothing would look 

 better than groups of spring, summer, and autumn plants, 

 such as myosotis, delphiniums, and Japanese anemones. 

 By devoting each alternate bed to spring, summer, and 

 autumn plants, a succession of colour can be kept up. 

 Between the beds is either grass or gravel. 



We may point out, in alluding to a succession of flowers, 

 how much surprise gardens help in this respect. To have 

 a distinct garden for each month of the year is a delight- 

 ful idea. We know that a famous lady gardener adopts 

 this plan, and others should do likewise. In addition, it 

 would be of interest to select our favourite designs for 

 surprise gardens, and choose the shape and kind most 

 suited to the flowers that we intend for each particular 

 season. In the height of summer, when we may expect 

 warm sunshine, we would have a garden with shadow- 

 houses and treillage, where we could seek shade. From 



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