CHAPTER XLI 



TEA ROSES FOR BEDS 



No part of my garden affords me more pleasure 

 than my bed of Tea Roses. I cut dozens of flowers 

 from it nearly every day from June to the coming of 

 cold weather, for buttonhole and corsage bouquets, 

 and for use on the table, and in the parlor. One fine 

 Rose and a bit of foliage is a bouquet in itself. If I 

 could have but one bed of flowers it should be a bed 

 of Tea Roses — and yet, I should want a bed of Pansies 

 to supplement the Roses ; therefore, a bed of each 

 would be a necessity. 



If you want to give a friend a buttonhole nosegay 

 that shall be "just as pretty as it can be," you must 

 have a bed of these Roses to draw from. A half-blown 

 flower of Meteor, with its velvety, crimson petals, and 

 a bud of Perle des Jardins, just showing its golden 

 heart, with a leaf or two of green to set off the flowers 

 — what a lovely harmony of rich color ! Or, if your 

 taste inclines you to more delicate colors, take a bud 

 of Luciole, and a Catherine Mermet when its petals are 

 just falling apart. Nothing can be lovelier, you think, 

 till you have put a half open Perle des Jardins with 

 a dark purple or azure-blue Pansy. When you have 

 done that you are charmed with the manner in which 

 the two colors harmonize and intensify each other, 

 and you are sure there was never anything finer for 

 a flower-lover to feast his eyes on. Put a tawny 

 Safrano or Sunset bud with a purple Pansy and see 

 what a royal combination of colors you have in the 

 simple arrangement. Be sure and have a bed of Tea 

 Roses, and make combinations to suit yourself. 



