FOREWORD 



It is a delight to visit gardens, and study the 

 character of the designer. It is no hard matter to 

 read through varied planting likes and dislikes in 

 the owner. It brings us closer together, this mu- 

 tual love of floriculture, and it is in discussion of 

 this theme that we forget the sordid phases of life. 



Visit the gardens with me, listen to the anthem of 

 the birds sung at morn and eventide. Learn their 

 habits, and make them friends, so that they will 

 nestle into your often lonely life, bringing with 

 them a gladness that is not only delightful but al- 

 luring. 



Many a love story has been told among the flow- 

 ers, many a real story has been developed as one 

 sat gazing at some flower-laden fleld. Joy and 

 sadness has been our varied lot since we began our 

 garden work, but as the years go on, gladness pre- 

 dominates. We grow to look forward with a tender 

 longing for the coming spring. We hang lovingly 

 over the opening buds of the early flowers. We 

 are glad that we, too, have grown to know the 

 flowers, that we have learned through their poetic 

 language solace for the wounded soul, and how to 

 live better lives, through intercourse with them. 



To my many friends who have made it possible 



