BORDER OF FRAGRANT FLOWERS 
(SEE PLAN NO. 19) 
RAGRANCE in flowers is an added charm in any garden plant- 
ing, but too frequently it is wholly a chance event in planning 
the border. A charming effect may be obtained by using plants, 
both shrubs and herbs, exclusively for their fragrance in a special border 
of not too great size. Something of a finished garden effect may per- 
haps of necessity be sacrificed, but as the fragrance can only be truly 
enjoyed when near at hand the border must be near the house, prefer- 
ably near the piazza or the living rooms. Also there should be a shaded 
seat where we may sit and dream in this garden of sweet odors. 
Then, though many flowers are most fragrant in full sun, some are 
soon robbed of odor by high heat and last longest in shade, while not a 
few of our most odorous blossoms guard their sweet savors from the sun 
and pour forth only with the dews of night. Again, while Purple Lilac, 
Sweet Syringa, Valerian, Sweet Rocket, and many more are so powerful 
that they may even be objectionable when close at hand, and far sweeter 
when borne to us by the breeze, a greater number have a more elusive 
fragrance and should be close at hand to give a strong effect. So though 
one Lilac may be enough for a garden, we need a large bed of Violets or 
Lily-of-the-Valley to get a corresponding amount of perfume. 
We must beware, too, of mixing several strong odors in the garden 
at one time, the result may be a discord to the sense of smell—there is 
no term to describe it—and even nausea may result. ‘Time of bloom must 
also be carefully worked out, and odors that do not harmonize must be 
the whole length of the garden apart. While adjusting the arrangement 
by season of bloom do not forget to provide for eight months of flowers— 
from Hyacinths in April to Yellow Chrysanthemums in October. 
It is possible to arrange a performance of star performers with a 
change every two weeks, the minor parts being carried by plants of lesser 
fragrance, but still necessary to give body to the whole effect. Plants 
with fragrant leaves are excellent for the chorus work, especially when in 
strong sunlight or near the path. 
Many varieties of fragrant species are nearly odorless. There is 
endless variety in intensity of odor in Phloxes, Irises, Peonies, Lilacs, 
Roses, Pinks, etc. Some named sorts are far more fragrant than those 
our grandmothers knew, while some new kinds are practically odorless; 
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