44 LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



Naturalistic planting does not necessarily imply 

 tlie use of the informal style, nor does formal 

 planting necessitate topiary work and parterre 

 bedding. In many cases, such as Thomas Circle 

 in "Washington, D. C, bedding plants are used to 

 their best advantage amid formal surroundings. 

 In fact, conditions like these are best for the use 

 of bedding plants, inasmuch as they will withstand 

 city conditions, and on account of their formality 

 and very evident subordination to lines and forms, 

 they possess the requisite stiffness and precision. 



Most people, when seeing a bit of greenery, 

 think only of the interest of the plant itself, 

 whether it be worthy or not. The idea of some- 

 thing growing finds a ready response anywhere, 

 and consequently naturalistic planting within city 

 limits would detract from the building or monu- 

 ment with which it was associated. Any very evi- 

 dent grouping and clipping of bedding plants to 

 produce a certain definite effect leaves no doubt in 

 the mind of the beholder as to just what the effect 

 was which the designer wished to produce, irre- 

 spective of the success of his design. 



While, theoretically, the trained landscape-de- 

 signer should have an absolutely free hand, and 

 should know which scheme of all others would be 



