WILD AND SPRING GARDENS 



tall and stately, gracefully bowing its feathery head of purplish hue. 

 Many others there are — the Tree Lupin for sandy soil, the Loose- 

 strife for boggy ground. Mullein (Verbuscum), Valerian, Ragged 

 Robin, to quote but a few; while for spring flowers there are Nar- 

 cissi, Daifodils, Snowdrops, Anemones, Crocuses, Primroses and 

 Forget-me-nots. 



Of course it must be understood, as already implied, that the 

 Wild Garden is an addition to and not a substitute . . 

 for any other garden, but it has advantajges of its own ^*" *^*® 

 which can scarcely be overlooked. In its very wildness, and in its 

 ability, when once successfully established, to increase and flourish 

 without attention, it possesses a unique charm; while many of the 

 hardy flowers mentioned above will undoubtedly thrive better left to 

 themselves in the rough places of the Wild Garden than when 

 cribbed, cabined and confined in trim borders. And as they succeed 

 each other from season to season they relieve each other's deficiencies, 

 as it were; the beauty of one kind wUl be fully in evidence while it 

 blooms, and any ugly defects of its decay will be covered by the 

 beauty of another kind or obliterated among more prominent plants 

 around. 



But over and above aU other reasons for making a Wild Garden 

 is its one true and special purpose — the reclaiming 

 of ground which would otherwise be plain and bare. Ultimate 

 by embellishing it in Nature's own beautiful way, 

 causing it to " blossom as the rose " in all the loveliness of fragremce, 

 form and colour. 



THE SPRING GARDEN 



The garden that makes full provision for Spring flowers is sure 

 to give satisfaction, for after the quiescence of winter, with the many 

 cold and dreary days which it inevitably brings, every sign of re- 

 newed life is delightful. Moreover, the Spring flowers are in them- 

 selves a special joy; their fraU beauty and delicate colouring, their 

 seeming courage in braving the season's fitful weather — sjmibolical 

 of hope maintedned and faith justified — ^make an irresistible appeal 

 to our best emotions. 



It behoves us, therefore, to see that our gardens are so arranged 

 that they cem respond to the call of Spring, and it is 

 a good plan to have some portion devoted to this ob- AH^^jff 

 ject — to see, in fact, that our garden includes a " Spring °" *^^ 

 Garden," some quiet sheltered spot where Spring may hold full 

 H 113 



