CHAPTER XI 



LEAF GAIETY 



Who shall portray the beauty of the Maidenhair tree when 

 she dons a frail cloak of pale gold, shrouding her incomparable 

 green ? 



ONE of the most valued attributes of a carefully planted 

 garden, perhaps its greatest charm, is that it is never 

 without interest, even in the so-called dull months of 

 the year. Those who have fallen under the spell of 

 summer bloom are rarely content to wait until summer 

 comes again for the opening of fresh flower treasures. 



So, in planting the home garden, let us arrange the 

 trees and shrubs and border flowers that there shall be 

 something budding or blossoming even when casual 

 gardeners are bewailing the wind and bemoaning the 

 weather, and warming their hearts with catalogue pictures 

 of summer bloom as they warm their toes at the winter 

 fire. It is a simple matter, and needs merely a right 

 selection of plants at the outset. The full enjoyment of 

 the garden in winter entails a just appreciation of the 

 charm of leaves as well as a love of flowers, but this, I 

 am sure, will present no difficulty to the enlightened 

 gardener. As time passes he will find beauty even in 



63 



