

Planning the Paths and 

 the Flower-Beds 



ONCE upon a time there was a castle." So begins 

 many a fairy tale, and so will I begin this 

 description of Sofiero — the description which I 

 have undertaken after much hesitation and with some 

 diffidence. But so many have asked me to describe the 

 spot ; and, moreover, I am convinced that one is amply 

 repaid for the time and money one spends on gardening. 

 Let me at the outset ask my readers' indulgence for my 

 many shortcomings as an authoress. 



Yes, once upon a time there was a castle. It was 

 built in Scanialand, in the south of Sweden, and it had one 

 of the loveliest situations in the world. But when my 

 husband and I had it given to us, there was scarcely 

 anything in the way of flowers, and the whole place gave 

 one the impression of being the enchanted forest where 

 the fairy-tale princess still slept. She might, perhaps, 

 be enjoying her sweet slumber, and yet we wanted some- 

 thing else, something more than an enchanted forest. And 

 so we began forthwith to make our plans as to how we 

 might beautify that charmingly situated spot. 



On the North Side 

 of the Castle. 



Standing on the steps 

 of the main entrance — on 

 the north facade of the 

 castle — one looks out over 

 a wide stretch of lawn with 

 a few isolated venerable 

 trees. Where the lawn 



A bed of Lavender, 

 bordered by Marigolds, 

 at the foot of the castle 

 wall. The large pot 

 holds Geraniums. 



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