164 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



flowered waistcoats and buckles, all the delightful little 

 touches which we connect with Sir Peter and Lady 

 Teazle. The wrought-iron gates, with their tall torch- 

 holders, remind us of " Miss Angel " and the days when 

 ladies in their sedan-chairs were escorted to the door by 

 gallants. The only part of all this minuet life that 

 remains is the old houses and their gateways. Each 

 seems to vie with the other in the history that it holds, 

 as each small forecourt competes with others to be the 

 most perfect in its quaint garden ideas. One is a gem 

 spring garden. The paving-stones are large and regular, 

 but between each has been left just sufficient room for 

 the tiniest little bulbs to spring up. Against the grey 

 slabs what can look more dainty than blue scillas ? They 

 are just the right height for the baby garden, and look 

 dazzlingly blue as the sun shines on them in their smoke- 

 coloured, quiet surroundings. 



Only baby plants are chosen for such narrow chinks, 

 but succession can be maintained with winter aconite, 

 snowdrops, crocuses, scillas, chionodoxa. Perhaps a little 

 London pride or bachelors' buttons would help in summer 

 to keep it bright, and then in autumn the mauve crocuses 

 will prepare for winter. Two corners of the court are 

 real flower-beds, and at the time when the blue scillas 

 are in flower these are bright with hyacinths. Grey- blue, 

 bright blue, and white ones are in them, and most perfect 

 is the whole. 



It is not every garden that possesses a forecourt, but 

 all must have paths, and where possible, it is picturesque 

 and more practical to have these paved and not laid down 

 with gravel. The latter gives an ordinary look to a place, 

 and the stones are apt to hurt mowing-machines when 

 they get into the grass, as they frequently do. Real 

 York slab is what we like best ; but, since it is expensive 

 and difficult to get, let us consider what other material 



