THE GARDEN AT HOME 



in form and vigour of growth, in size and colouring of 

 bloom, and it is possible to have Irises in flower through- 

 out many months of the year and even in mid-winter 

 out of doors. While some of the Irises are quite easy to 

 grow, others tax the skill of the cultivator to the utmost. 



Few phases of gardening give greater pleasure than 

 the care of Rock and Alpine flowers ; among them are 

 some that grow as readily as weeds, while others are only 

 to be coaxed into blossom with the tender est care. 



Some may care to fill beds of elaborate design with 

 half-hardy flowers, and to have each one a pattern of 

 neatness and a patchwork of gay colours the summer 

 through. There is much to be said against such a method 

 of flower growing, but, providing it pleases the gardener 

 at home, what matters the rest ? And, as I have indicated 

 elsewhere, there is a good deal to be said in favour of 

 it. We are not all similarly constituted, and what is the 

 use of the home garden unless we can put our own especial 

 fads and fancies into practice there ? Another, more 

 daring still, may find pleasure in topiary work and clip 

 trees and hedges into all sorts of weird shapes, varying 

 from an armchair to a peacock or a weather vane. And 

 why not ? In his own home plot he may, unknown to 

 anyone else, conjure up dreams of century-old gardens, 

 when topiary was the fashion, and in fancy people his 

 pleasaunce with courtiers of the illustrious past. There 

 are many and widely different ways of enjoying a garden, 

 and luckily there is sufficient variety to suit us all. 



1 88 



