CHAPTER III 



THE TEA HOUSE IN THE GAKDEN 



There is a delightful imaginary intimacy that 

 seemingly exists between we garden lovers who 

 live in the twentieth century and those of early 

 days. So closely are we connected by a common 

 band of sympathy that we eagerly scan their books 

 to glean here and there some important bit of gar- 

 den lore that can be introduced into our work of 

 to-day. It is this pleasant mingling of old and 

 new-world gardens that gives to present-day de- 

 signs such a delightful atmosphere. 



One of the old-time floriculturists, John Lyle, 

 tells us in his old-fashioned way, about the flowers 

 that bloomed ages before our grand-dames were 

 born. "Gentlemen," he says, "what floure like 

 you best in all this border? Here be fine roses, 

 sweete violets, fragrant primroses, gille floures, 

 carnations, sops of wine, sweete John, and what 

 may please you at sight." Surely we see in retro- 

 spect, the gardens of that early day, and we come 



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