SMALL INFORMAL GARDEN 
(SEE PLAN NO. 8) 
formality about it let us take a rectangular area about 30 by 50 
feet, lying beyond the west porch of the residence, its long axis 
upon an east-west walk that terminates, after dividing, by two simple 
garden seats. On the axis of the walk as seen from the house we may 
place a bird fountain or similar garden feature, with a background of 
evergreen shrubs such as Yew and Cedar. Outside of this area there is 
a planting somewhat as suggested upon the plan, giving the garden as a 
unit a definite relation to the general planting of the property. 
An informal group of dwarf coniferous evergreens on either side of 
the walk as the garden is approached from the house, a planting of Red 
Cedars west of the garden, and of Hemlocks on the northwest will give 
solidity to the whole planting and furnish an evergreen background for 
the flowers and flowering shrubs that are indicated. 
A long irregular belt of low shrubbery on the east, and another of 
taller shrubbery on the west, finish the frame and give the border seclu- 
sion. This shrub planting forms the bounds of the garden; an enclosing 
wall or hedge would be rather too elaborate for such a simple planting as 
this. 
We shall make a five-foot bed around the interior of this area, plant- 
ing only the very best sorts of perennials in groups of five to ten plants. 
Two numbers in the same bed indicate that the plants are to be inter- 
planted, each sort growing independently of the other. Only herbs that 
will grow for at least five years without resetting are suggested, and great 
variety in habit and color of bloom as well as eight months of display are 
sought. 
The central three-foot turf walk is bordered by two three-foot plant- 
ing strips planted with refined, long-blooming herbs set in parallel lines. 
This is the most formal feature and aims to give color in mass. For this 
effect we have chosen Shasta Daisies and blue Plantain Lilies, the outer 
lines of scarlet Coral Bells and blue of Carpathian Harebells, respectively. 
The two five-foot grass strips that are nearly enclosed give a fore- 
ground to the beds as we sit on the garden seats at the end of the walk and 
look back toward the house and the dwarf evergreens. There is a par- 
ticularly fine view across country westward through the Red Cedars, so 
45 
F« a planting study of a small formal garden that has little 
