GARDENS NEAR THE SEA 



the flowers open closely together along the tall spikes 

 in purest shades of blue. They are as stately as holly- 

 hocks. Their color alone, apart from their other 

 excellent characteristics, should give them place by 

 the sea, where blue is invariably most enchanting. 

 They occur in many tints of this color, some of which 

 have a soft, mistlike quality. From a distance, delphin- 

 iums catch and hold the eye by the power of their 

 upright brilliancy. In tall mass planting, they have a 

 distinct place; at the back of beds and borders, they 

 appear well, and as backgrounds for shorter growth, 

 the gardener turns to them eagerly. 



The water color (frontispiece) illustrates these 

 beautiful plants enjoying the intimacy of a formal 

 garden near the sea. As a rule they require surround- 

 ings of green, and many think that white flowers near 

 them — lilies or phloxes — lend them unusual attrac- 

 tion, the white acting as do clouds on a blue sky. 



Two larkspurs, natives of California, which produce 

 scarlet flowers, have been introduced into gardens. 

 There is also a variety with flowers of sulphur yellow. 

 Hybridization has been busy with delphiniums. But 

 for no other color would I forsake the blue larkspurs, 

 and those blue in their clearest, most unsullied tones. 



The tall bee larkspur, Delphinium elatum, often 

 showing its spikes in loops before they straighten into 

 their final position, has been for many years a dearly 

 loved member of the group. D. Brunonianum is 

 known by the musklike scent emanating from its clear 

 blue flowers. D. formosum is one of the handsomest 

 varieties. There are also Chinese delphiniums that are 



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