XI 



GARDEN BOUNDARIES 



In the matter of garden boundaries, there are two widely 

 difiFering view-points. The folk who hold that a garden should 

 be a thing apart — 



"AH grace summ'd up and closed in little," 



a charming picture, but a framed one, house and garden to- 

 gether making one architectural whole — these wish a definite, 

 plainly indicated boundary for the enclosed garden. Of these 

 the late John Sedding is one of the best exponents. 



The other view-point is that the garden should simulate 

 a natural or rather accidental planting, that the "made" 

 garden should melt imperceptibly into the surrounding coun- 

 try; so that, while the natural scenery about the house has 

 been embellished, the fact that it has been designedly em- 

 belUshed should not be evident. Very much as a woman may 

 resort to various devices to enhance her natural endowment of 

 beauty, yet it is not desirable that one may detect where the 

 natural leaves off and the artificial begins. 



For the folk who hold this view of gardening the only 

 boundaries possible are irregular plantations of low-growing 

 trees or shrubs or tall perennials. Or else, if there be a more 

 definite boundary — a fence or wall, or the hke — ^it is concealed 

 by planting. 



This type of boundary, although it seems easy — as draw- 

 ing seems easy, as "acting naturally" on the stage seems 

 easy — ^is really exceeding difficult. Unless very skilfully done, 



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