GARDENS NEAR THE SEA 



that it could not be out of place no matter where 

 planted. In the average garden it is unusual, occur- 

 ring more in those devoid of salvia, geraniums, and 

 other homely plants, and in which are seen specimens 

 more rare and costly. It looks well among the fine 

 planting of rocks, and invariably holds its individual 

 air when used as an edging plant about beds and 

 borders of promiscuous flowers. Its heads of bloom 

 peep out alluringly, pleasing also by their exquisite 

 fragrance. They show no fear of high gales and salt 

 air. Often heavy plantings of rhododendrons, azaleas, 

 laurels and the like can be effectively carried down to 

 shrubs as low as the arbutus and the beautiful Daphne 

 cneorum. 



When choosing evergreens for a garden, there are 

 also the hollys, of which the American holly, Ilex 

 opaca, is perhaps the best known and beloved. Except 

 under very drastic conditions it is hardy along the 

 coast as far north as the southern part of Maine. 

 The remarkable luster of its green leaves and its con- 

 spicuous red drupes make up its attraction. As it 

 extends southward it grows into a large and imposing 

 tree, beautiful as an individual specimen. About 

 gardens it has a distinct use in giving stability to plant- 

 ings of deciduous shrubs. It can, moreover, be used 

 as a low hedge, as I have seen it about one of the 

 New Jersey coast gardens. This holly, however, like 

 the flowering dogwood, makes vandals of people other- 

 wise sane and righteous. When the note of Christ- 

 mas is in the air the holly suffers much as the dogwood 

 does when the gayety of May lures home-dwellers 



[50] 



