CHAPTER XVII 

 PLANTS FOR NATURAL, INFORMAL EFFECTS 



As CONTRASTED with plants adapted to heavy or compact formal 

 effects the plants of this group have a more open, looser habit of 

 growth. They are apt to be not quite as refined in character in some 

 instances, and they are not required to produce the neat line of foliage 

 which are part of the more formal designs. 



It is difficult to define clearly, and to specify, what plants are to be 

 used in informal effects. At the same time, a few standard kinds of 

 plants to be used in the border plantations of lawns, in the border 

 plantations of wild garden areas and informal garden areas should be 

 listed for ready reference. It is much easier to use some of the plants 

 included in the former list, especially those with the more vigorous, 

 open habit of growth, for this type of planting, than to use plants in- 

 cluded in this list for the same purpose as those included in the former 

 list. Most large and small lawns which are not developed on definite, 

 formal axial lines, should be bordered with plants of this kind. 



The reader is warranted in concluding that all plants not adapted for 

 use in the preceding groups of plants for formal effects are automatic- 

 ally placed in this present group. It is safe to select any plant in- 

 digenous to the locality and also many of the introduced horticultural 

 varieties, such as high-bush cranberry, flowering currant and dogwoods. 

 Lilacs, tartarian honeysuckle, and hybrid rhododendrons, however, with 

 greater refinement of foliage and of bloom, on the other hand, are 

 obviously of more value in the more formal plantings. 



Collected stock is of great value for natural, informal effects. To 

 reproduce nature and her group effects should be the object of natural, 

 informal planting. A natural planting impresses the observer as does 

 nature untouched by the hand of the designer, and this is a most 

 difficult effect to obtain artificially. 



LIST OF PLANTS FOR NATURAL, INFORMAL EFFECTS 



It is difficult to define the effects which it is intended to produce 

 through the use of plants included in this list. In general, these 



148 



