FERNS IN THE MIXED BORDER 20, 



is often faded by midsummer. General 

 shabbiness is evaded by breaking away the 

 taller fronds and depending upon the maiden- 

 hair for continued beauty throughout the 

 latter part of the season. Even the visita- 

 tions of Jack Frost, which sadly humiliate 

 more imposing genera, are received with 

 comparative indifference because of this very 

 elasticity. 



THE COSMOPOLITAN FLOWERING FERN 



The royal fern (Osmunda spectabilis) is in- 

 dispensable. The simple elegance of the 

 species manifests itself in vernation, a period 

 when many ferns are a trifle uncanny. No 

 other fern is more deftly "done up," clothed 

 with softer wool, or coloured so exquisitely as 

 this. 



Ferns in general are but symphonies in 

 green, but here a prelude in Quaker drab 

 runs softly into the green, which complements 

 its colour scheme by a shading in and out of 

 rosy fawn deepening into golden brown. 



