THE GARDEN AT HOME 



Who can find real pleasure in a border where the weak 

 and the strong rub shoulders, where fresh bloom and 

 fading blossom stand cheek by jowl, and the charm of 

 the one is half hidden by the unattractiveness of the 

 other ? I unfortunately cannot, and in a mixed border in 

 a small garden it is scarcely possible to avoid such incon- 

 gruous contrasts. The available labour does not allow 

 of one plant being pulled up and another (grown in 

 the reserve border) planted in its place to ensure a 

 succession of bloom. Plant as skilfully as one may, 

 either there is an indifferent, even a meagre display 

 throughout the flower season or a riot of bloom at one 

 time and a blank at another. I am not sure which is 

 the more unsatisfactory. With the timely help of an 

 out-of-the-way border, where Chrysanthemums and 

 Michaelmas Daisies await the fading of the summer 

 flowers to be transferred to the limelight, and Pentstemons, 

 Zinnias, Marigolds, Asters, and Tiger Lilies growing in 

 flower-pots in some half shady corner, await their " call/' 

 transformations can be effected. 



It is true that one can replace the flowers of spring, 

 the Daffodils and Tulips and Leopard's Bane with summer 

 bloom, for what is simpler than to scatter a few seeds of 

 annuals round about them, the latter to progress and 

 thrive while the former fade and languish ? But with 

 what are we to replace the Lupins and Oriental Poppies, 

 Delphiniums and Campanulas, Spiraeas and Pyrethrums, 

 that are the glory of the garden in June ? They must 



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