78 The Wild Garden 



In forming a garden plantation of evergreen or other 

 trees, the best way is not to plant in the far too thickly set 

 way that is usual, but r ather openly, and then cover all the 

 space be tween the trees with groups of easily increased 

 hardy flowers. This was done at Gravetye, m the belt 

 of evergreerTtrees I planted west of the house, using 

 among other plants Compass plants, Starw orts (A ster), 



Lavender, Moon Daisies, Geraniums (hardy spreading 

 kinds), Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis), Fuchsia, scarlet 

 Bee Balm (Monarda), Evening Primrose, Sea Ljmie 

 Grass (Elymus), Alum root (Heuchera), Stenactis 

 speciosa, Prairie Sunflowers, Rheum Emodi, Globe 

 Thistle, and Golden Yarrow. The effects were the best 

 we had, the plants giving little trouble after planting, 

 but, on the other hand, saving us trouble. Before 

 we planted in this way weeds were a constant trouble, 

 but the vigorous colonies of plants wanted all the 

 good of the ground for themselves, and took care of 

 the weeds for us ! Certainly it was very much less 

 trouble than an ordinary mixed border ; there was 

 no staking of any kind, and the stems were not cut 

 down till late in spring; they looked very pretty in 

 colour in winter. This, Uke every other plan, must 

 be changed in the course of years; when the trees 

 meet there will be less need of the plants, but it is 

 a system that can be easily suited to the circumstances 

 as they arise. 



All that the well-covered shrubbery would require 

 would be an occasional weeding or thinning, and in 



