Planting the form a small ripple, or a water spider will skim along, and lo! 
Water-edge the whole scene is altered and transformed. 
Perhaps the ideal water garden is a natural and shapeless 
pond with shallow margins, and fed by a narrow stream. If 
this is surrounded by grass and some trees it will have a beauty 
of its own which nothing but thoroughly bad management in 
planting can take away. And yet some of these naturally 
lovely places are to be seen completely spoilt by the addition of 
stones all round the edge, obviously brought from a long distance, 
and quite out of harmony with the surroundings, and placed 
almost in a circle, with unsuitable plants dotted about amongst 
them. ‘The effect of this is that the natural beauty is over- 
whelmed by the artificial additions. It were better to leave 
well alone, or to do little, than to do it badly. Grass 
and weeds should grow right down to the water’s edge, in 
which can be planted many of the wild weeds of our river 
banks. Why should these be despised, or so often omitted 
and uprooted? They form one of the chief and delightful 
features of our landscapes, and for shape and handsome growth 
cannot, I think, be excelled by anything in our gardens. 
The yellow and purple Loosestrife (king of purple spikes) 
and the Willow herb called Rose-Bay, the Marsh Marigold and 
the water Forget-me-not, yellow Flag Irises and Arrow-heads, 
the water Docks and Meadowsweet, and many others both for 
foliage and colour should be planted in quantities. To these, 
and always on the shallow margin raised only slightly above 
the water level, may be added among other plants Primula 
japonica, whose brilliant colour amongst the green grass will 
make a fine effect. All the stronger Primulas that like a wet 
soil will look well growing out of grass near water, and with 
210 
